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As the trade deadline approaches, the MLB landscape is shifting rapidly. Teams are looking toward October: Some are doubling down for a playoff push, others gearing up to rebuild. From surprise surges to tough reality checks, this week’s updates highlight who’s heating up, who’s cooling off, and which franchises are making moves that could define their seasons.

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MLB Power Rankings

1. Milwaukee Brewers (🟰)

The Brewers keep rolling! This week, they officially claimed the best record in baseball all to themselves. At first, their series loss to the Marlins looked a little dicey, but they redeemed themselves with a series win over the Cubs to take control of the NL Central. If they add another bat to the heart of their lineup before today’s 6 p.m. deadline, watch out.

2. Chicago Cubs (🟰)

The Cubs are taking care of business where they should, but they faltered in a critical series against the Brewers this week. Gone are the days of controlling the NL Central – for now. They have the opportunity to bounce back this week with back-to-back series against the Orioles and Reds. Plus, Chicago is rumored to be targeting AL Cy Young winner Shane Bieber in a potential deal with Cleveland. With pitching depth a pressing need, landing Bieber could be a game-changer in their push for October.

3. Toronto Blue Jays (⬆️1)

The Blue Jays stayed hot early last week with key series wins over the Yankees and Tigers, but momentum stalled after dropping a set to the sub-.500 Orioles. It was an especially interesting weekend for Seranthony Dominguez, who was traded mid-series — switching dugouts and tossing a scoreless 7th inning for Toronto against his former team. Luckily, Toronto has a great opportunity to rebound in upcoming matchups against the Royals and Rockies.  

4. New York Mets (⬆️5)

The Mets are catching fire at just the right time. Their hot streak has given them a narrow lead in the NL East, but a lead nonetheless. Their back-to-back sweeps of the Angels and Giants vaulted them into control of their division and has made them legitimate contenders for the best record in baseball. But with the standings this tight, a sweep at the hands of the Padres has pushed them down to 4th in the National League. Luckily, bullpen acquisitions in Gregory Soto and Tyler Rogers should steady the ship for the second-half stretch.

5. Philadelphia Phillies (🟰)

The Phillies just love the No. 5 spot in these power rankings, don’t they? The good news is they have stayed consistent so far since the break, taking care of business against beatable teams while sneaking in a few key wins. They took an important series versus the Yankees over the weekend with an 11-run differential, thanks to Kyle Schwarber’s 1,000th career hit (which, of course, was a home run). Schwarber is now tied at third with Aaron Judge in homers and is on pace for 55. What’s even more promising? The Phils acquired Jhoan Duran, adding a much-needed piece to their bullpen.

6. Los Angeles Dodgers (⬆️1)

Last week, I said the Dodgers needed to figure it out – and they do before the postseason rolls around. But for now, they’ll be just fine. Despite dropping a series to the Red Sox over the weekend, they still have a comfortable league in the NL West and are vying for the best record in baseball. Blake Snell is poised to make a return soon, which could provide a huge swing in momentum for Los Angeles. But even with his return, the Dodgers still have some fine-tuning to do before facing October-level competition.

7. Detroit Tigers (⬇️4)

The Tigers have had a rough go of it lately, but it seems like they’re getting back on track. After a brutal sweep by the Pirates and series loss to the Blue Jays, they bounced back with a sweep of the Diamondbacks. Now is the time to keep that momentum going, but their upcoming series against the Phillies won’t make that easy. Still, Detroit has built itself a nice cushion in the AL Central, and with a 9-game lead over the Guardians, there’s still plenty left. 

8. Houston Astros (⬇️2)

The Mariners made a push, but the Astros quickly shut the door, reclaiming a 4-game lead in the AL West. Still, Houston’s recent stretch shows they’ve got some issues to iron out before the postseason. A sweep of the Diamondbacks was promising, but getting swept at home by the A’s raised major red flags. A series win over the Nationals has them trending upward again, but with a tough schedule ahead, the Astros will need to find consistency if they want to stay sharp for October.

9. New York Yankees (⬇️1)

Despite their recent acquisitions ahead of the deadline, the Yankees are trending downward. They’re dealing with a costly Aaron Judge injury, and they narrowly avoided getting swept by the Phillies. The silver lining? Their newest addition, Ryan McMahon, has made an immediate impact, going 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs in Sunday’s 4-3 win. Right now, the Yanks need to navigate how they can tread water without Aaron Judge. Perhaps their newest addition, Austin Slater, can fill the gap.

10. Boston Red Sox (⬆️1)

The Red Sox made a statement over the weekend, taking a key series from the Dodgers before following it up with a solid series win over the Twins. Things weren’t looking great for Boston in June, but they’ve been riding a July high with Alex Bregman’s return to claw their way back into the playoff picture. With the deadline looming, a last-minute addition could give them the extra push they need to stay in the mix down the stretch.

11. Seattle Mariners (⬇️1)

Now that Aaron Judge is out, the Mariners have the AL MVP frontrunner in Cal Raleigh. Big Dumper just keeps hammering homers. But now, so is Julio Rodriguez, who hit four bombs over the weekend during Seattle’s series against the Angels. Add Josh Naylor into the mix, and we’re looking at a scary lineup – definitely one that could hurdle Houston in the AL West.

12. San Diego Padres (🟰)

A series loss to the Marlins followed by a split with the Cardinals set off alarms in San Diego: Something had to give before the deadline to stay in the hunt. But just as panic started to set in, the Padres responded with an impressive sweep of the red-hot Mets, which eased those warning signals. The offense is finally coming alive, and Yu Darvish has finally notched his first win after going 0-3 since his return. But with the deadline just hours away, all eyes are on whether the Padres will make a meaningful move with their playoff hopes hanging in the balance.

13. Texas Rangers (⬆️3)

All the Rangers needed was some offense, and with Corey Seager fully healthy, they finally have it. The Rangers have one of the best pitching staffs in the MLB, but their 27th OPS-ranked offense has killed them all season. Just like the weather, the bats are heating up in Texas. An impressive 8-1 homestand has vaulted them into contention in the AL West, and a critical 4-game series versus the Mariners this weekend could shake up the division entirely. Just last week, they looked like potential sellers. Now, they have the opportunity to add a big bat at the deadline to round out this team.

14. Cincinnati Reds (⬇️1)

A weekend sweep of the Rays has pulled the Reds within one game of the Wild Card spot – a position that seemed unlikely just one month ago. But here we are. Still, the Reds need reinforcements wherever they can score them. They could benefit from an upgrade to the pitching rotation or another bat. The bottom line? Taking the NL Central is essentially out of the question, so something needs to be done before the deadline to stay in play for a Wild Card berth.

15. San Francisco Giants (⬇️1)

Getting swept by the Mets over the weekend didn’t help San Francisco’s Wild Card chances – and neither did Rafael Devers. So far, the blockbuster trade has not worked in the Giants’ favor, as Devers made a costly ground-ball error at first versus the Mets amidst his continuing offensive struggles. San Francisco’s scorching April is the only thing keeping them in the mix, but their continued slide has pushed them to a tipping point. They just dealt Tyler Rogers to the Mets, officially putting up the for-sale sign. 

16. Tampa Bay Rays (⬇️1)

The Rays are yet another team who have been coasting on their red-hot start. But since then, their slide has continued. They have lost 18 of their last 24 to fall to .500 despite opportunities against the Orioles and White Sox. Now, they’re facing back-to-back series against the Yankees and Dodgers. With no momentum in sight, the Rays are looking more like sellers every day.

17. St. Louis Cardinals (🟰)

Hope lingered for the Cardinals after a series win over the Rockies and a split with the Padres, but three losses in four games have cooled that optimism. Last week, the St. Louis was one of the teams on the cusp of being buyers or sellers. This week, the scale is tipping firmly toward sellers ahead of today’s deadline.

18. Cleveland Guardians (⬆️2)

Buyers or sellers? I guess we’ll find out today. The Guardians are getting hot just as the Tigers are ice cold. Their second-half schedule has been kind to them so far, as they’ve secured series wins against the White Sox, Athletics, Orioles and Rockies. The postseason is fuzzy, but it’s still visible. Cleveland has plenty of valuable trade chips in Shane Bieber, Emmanuel Clase and Steven Kwan. With Clase currently under investigation, his trade value is suppressed, potentially making the decision for the Guardians as they weigh their options.

19. Kansas City Royals (⬆️2)

Last week, I had the Royals penciled in as likely sellers. But I was proven wrong: They’re not backing down. Kansas City added a much-needed bat in OF Randal Grichuk via a trade with the Diamondbacks and extended pitcher Seth Lugo. The question is whether these moves will make a real difference on the road to the postseason, but you have to appreciate their aggressive mentality.

20. Arizona Diamondbacks (⬇️2)

The D-Backs entered the deadline with many coveted trade chips and wasted no time cashing in, kicking off the trade frenzy by dealing Josh Naylor to the Mariners. Then, they dealt Randal Grichuk to the Royals. While hope for this season might be gone, they hold the keys to the future in Eugenio Suarez. With many teams interested, the D-Backs just have to sit back and wait for the highest bidder.

21. Los Angeles Angels (⬇️2)

I know, Angels fans — Mike Trout’s 1,000th career RBI was a moment to celebrate, and he’s just three homers shy of 400. A split with the Mariners and a series win over the Rangers were solid showings. But let’s be real: It’s time to move on. The Angels are below .500 and fourth in the AL West. With several valuable trade chips on hand, the smart move is to sell now and build for the future.

22. Minnesota Twins (🟰)

Another Byron Buxton injury has left the Twins struggling to keep their head above water. At this point in the season, why try? Now that the Twins have traded Jhoan Duran to the Phillies, Minnesota finally has the opportunity to build a complete team – one that doesn’t rely on the health of a single player.

23. Miami Marlins (🟰)

After their sell-off last season, nobody expected the Marlins to be doing as well as they are. Granted, that’s not great, but they’re also not the Rockies. If you’re wondering how they’re hovering close to .500, look toward the bullpen. The Marlins have plenty of young talent they could use to make a push within the coming years. If they trade Sandy Alcantara, they could add even more talent to next year’s roster.

24. Baltimore Orioles (🟰)

The Orioles also have plenty of trade chips on the table, and they got to work early. They traded Gregory Soto to the Mets and Seranthony Dominguez to the Blue Jays. Ryan O’Hearn, Cedric Mullins and Zach Eflin are also still on the table. Baltimore is another team that has managed to stay within striking distance of .500 with back-to-back series wins over the Rockies and Blue Jays. However, they’re still at the bottom of a stacked AL East.

25. Athletics (🟰)

The A’s may still sit at the bottom of the AL West, but they’ve been punching above their weight lately, sweeping the Astros on the road and taking a series from the Mariners. For now, all eyes are on closer Mason Miller. He’s generated interest from both the Mets and the Yankees and could be on the move by tonight.

26. Atlanta Braves (🟰)

It’s time to face the music in Atlanta and start looking toward better days (otherwise known as 2026). With a roster decimated by injuries, the focus should shift to next season when a fully healthy, talent-rich lineup could be back in play. Still, even with key players set to return, staying competitive in next year’s NL landscape won’t be easy. And while a sell-off could help reset the roster, the Braves seem reluctant to go that route, choosing instead to ride it out and hope for a healthier tomorrow.

27. Chicago White Sox (⬆️2)

The White Sox haven’t looked like the White Sox lately – and that’s a good thing. They won their series versus the Rays, snuck in a 12-5 win versus the Cubs in the Crosstown Classic and just wrapped up a series win over the Phillies. All that said, playoff hope has long run out in Chicago. But there is a silver lining. The Sox dealt Austin Slater to the Yankees on Wednesday, and Luis Robert Jr. is generating interest from the Phillies and Mets.

28. Pittsburgh Pirates (⬇️1)

Sweeping the Tigers, taking a series from the D-Backs, then sweeping the Giants — who are these Pirates? Despite the recent surge, Pittsburgh’s outlook remains unchanged. The Pirates are still an enigma heading into the deadline. They dealt reliever Caleb Ferguson to the Mariners on Wednesday, but it’s unclear whether they’ll embrace an all-out sell off.

29. Washington Nationals (⬇️1)

Washington’s bats finally came alive on Saturday, putting up nine runs to snap their 22-inning shutout over three games. Other than that, there’s not much excitement on the horizon. The Nationals have a few players that may draw trade interest but none that will yield a meaningful return. Their best asset remains MacKenzie Gore, though it’s unclear whether the Nats are ready to part ways with him.

30. Colorado Rockies (🟰)

Reality has set in for the Rockies, and it’s refreshing to see a struggling team that’s actually embracing the deadline. They wasted no time getting Ryan McMahon out the door. Beyond that, they don’t have many valuable trade chips. But on the bright side, they notched their first back-to-back series wins of the year.