Hey Team 👋

Another week of baseball has shaken up the landscape, and the chase for October is heating up. Some teams are firing on all cylinders, putting up historic streaks and dominating their divisions, while others are leaning into rebuilds and focusing on the future. Let’s break down who’s climbing, who’s sliding and who’s making noise in ways you might not expect.

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MLB Power Rankings

1. Milwaukee Brewers (🟰)

Another week of power rankings, another week with the Brewers on top. The Crew has yet to lose a game in August, and there’s no sign of them slowing down. With Tuesday’s win, Milwaukee joined the 2015 Blue Jays as one of just two clubs in the past 70 years to post multiple winning streaks of at least 11 games in a single season. On Wednesday, they got their 12th win, putting them only one away from tying their 1987 franchise record. And these wins aren’t even close – the Brewers have outscored opponents 103–39 during their current run. How are they doing it? By firing on all cylinders. The batting order is producing from top to bottom, the defense has been airtight and the pitching has been nearly untouchable. In a matter of weeks, Milwaukee has gone from chasing the Cubs to controlling the NL Central with a 7.5-game cushion.

2. Philadelphia Phillies (⬆️1)

Like the Brewers, the Phillies spent much of their season neck-and-neck with their own division rival: the Mets. But the Phils have won eight of their last twelve games to build a 5-game lead in the NL East. The offense keeps rolling, fueled by Kyle Schwarber’s 42 home runs, but the real surprise has been the pitching staff – bullpen included. If you were to tell me that Philadelphia’s bullpen would be one of its best assets heading into October, I would’ve called you crazy. But Jhoan Duran has rewritten the script. He’s gone a perfect 4-for-4 in saves and has allowed only one hit across his outings in Philadelphia.

3. Los Angeles Dodgers (⬆️2)

Who knew all the Dodgers needed was to get healthy? Well…everyone, but it was dicey there for a while. Max Muncy is back, Mookie Betts has shaken off his slump and Ohtani is doing Ohtani things. Since Muncy’s return, he’s set the offensive ablaze with eight hits, nine RBIs and four homers in just eight games. Betts is also back in form, tallying 12 hits and five RBIs in his last seven games. Ohtani has stayed steady, piling up 18 hits and five home runs in August alone. The offense was in desperate need of a reboot, as last weekend marked the first time LA has put up more than five runs in a game since July 22. And it’s not just the batting order getting healthy: In his second outing since returning from injury, Blake Snell struck out 10 batters over five scoreless innings, allowing only three hits. Now that the band is back together, the Dodgers look like the team we always knew they’d be.

4. Toronto Blue Jays (⬇️2)

The Blue Jays have been on a bit of a rollercoaster ride lately, but they’ve been holding their own. After a series loss to the Royals last week, they stormed back with a dominant sweep of the Rockies, scoring 45 runs in the process. This weekend, they lost another series – this time to the Dodgers. But losing to the Dodgers is hardly panic-worthy, especially with a healthy Blake Snell on the mound. Inconsistency aside, the Jays maintain a 4.5-game lead in the AL East. If they handle business against beatable teams and stay competitive against contenders, the division remains theirs to lose.

5. Seattle Mariners (⬆️6)

The Mariners are surging in the AL West – and fast. With a series win over the Rangers and back-to-back sweeps of the Rays and White Sox, Seattle has won ten of its last twelve matchups. Now, they only trail the Astros by one game. Cal Raleigh continues to anchor the offense, launching his 45th homer on Sunday, but production is coming from everywhere in the lineup. The Josh Naylor trade has been a game-changer for Seattle: He’s hitting .333 in August with 16 hits, 11 stolen bases, and four home runs. The Mariners look dangerous, and they haven’t even hit their ceiling. Since arriving in Seattle, Eugenio Suarez is hitting .081. When he settles in (and he will), this offense could be downright unstoppable.

6. Chicago Cubs (⬇️2)

Before the All-Star break, Chicago was an offensive juggernaut. Since then, however, they’ve struggled to come up with runs at the plate. In their last 23 games, the Cubs have scored five or more runs only six times. We could start to panic and wonder where it all went wrong, or we could be realistic and acknowledge that offensive slumps happen all the time, and they’re rarely a death sentence for the season. Plus, there’s always a silver lining: Rookie Matt Shaw has been scorching since the break with 20 hits, 15 RBIs and seven home runs. Being 7.5 games behind the Brewers isn’t ideal, but it’s far from insurmountable. Even if the division slips away, Chicago still has a great look at the NL Wild Card, especially once the bats inevitably heat back up.

7. Detroit Tigers (⬇️1)

Last week, I said the Tigers were slipping but had enough cushion in the AL Central to avoid panic. That’s still true, but it’s time to stay alert. The Tigers aren’t sliding anymore, but they’re also not firing the way they were before the All-Star break. Meanwhile, the surging Guardians have cut the Tigers’ lead to only six games. A full-blown division takeover by Cleveland would take a miracle, but the Tigers need to address problems on the mound and at the plate before October. The starting rotation – once their greatest strength– gave up 34 hits and 24 earned runs over just six games last week. Offensively, runs have been hard to come by. Most recently, the Tigers only came up with nine runs in their 3-game series against the White Sox. If they can steady both sides of the ball, the division should still be theirs to keep.

8. Houston Astros (⬇️1)

Despite a shaky grip on the division, the Astros remain on track for October. They took a key series from the Yankees last weekend as well as one from the Red Sox this week, and reinforcements are on the way. Christian Javier and Luis Garcia are nearing returns from Tommy John surgery, while Spencer Arrighetti rejoined the rotation last week after being sidelined since April. However, he’s off to a rocky start, giving up 12 hits and seven earned runs over only 8.2 innings. While the pitching staff rehabs, the offense has been able to hold down the fort. The Carlos Correa trade in particular has paid early dividends, with the shortstop collecting 16 hits, seven RBIs and two homers since his homecoming.

9. San Diego Padres (⬇️1)

The Padres made the right moves at the right time, and their deadline acquisitions are settling in quickly. Ramon Laureano has hit .333 since joining the Padres, collecting 15 hits, 10 RBIs and two home runs in the process. Meanwhile, Freddy Fermin is hitting .355 with 11 hits, five RBIs and a homer of his own since arriving in San Diego. Ryan O’Hearn is the only addition who has struggled to find his rhythm so far, but he showed promise on Wednesday, going 2-for-5 with an RBI to complete the sweep over the Giants. Despite their upcoming matchup versus the Dodgers, which could shake up the NL West, the Padres have the second-easiest schedule left in baseball.

10. Boston Red Sox (⬇️1)

The Red Sox dropped a series to the Padres over the weekend before surrendering another to the Astros. On the bright side, they scored 21 runs over three games despite the series loss. They’re only 4.5 games behind the Blue Jays, but now is not the time to get comfortable and settle for an American League Wild Card spot, especially with the Yankees lurking close behind.  Seven games remain against New York – a stretch that could define Boston’s postseason path. Offensively, Roman Anthony has been a standout, justifying the eight-year $130 million extension he inked last week. The rookie hit .329 in July and is hitting .314 so far in August with 11 hits, five RBIs and two homers. 

11. New York Yankees (⬆️1)

Back-to-back series losses to the Rangers and Astros left the Yankees in a bind, but New York bounced back with a series win over the Twins. To say New York has been struggling on the mound lately would be an understatement. Since the break, the pitching staff has posted a 4.77 ERA, ranking 25th in the league. The Yanks are holding onto the final American League Wild Card spot by a thread. Luckily, there are a few bright spots ahead. Aaron Judge is back in the lineup and has totaled five hits, three RBIs and a home run over seven games. Plus, the Pinstripes have the easiest remaining schedule in the American League, making their path to October a little more clear. If they can manage beatable opponents and survive in divisional challenges against Boston and Toronto, the Wild Card should be theirs to claim.

12. Cincinnati Reds (⬆️2)

Thanks to the struggling Mets, Cincinnati finds itself just two games back from the third NL Wild Card spot. But New York’s floundering doesn’t deserve all the credit: The Reds have been doing exactly what they need to do on their end too. They secured an impressive series win over the Cubs before splitting their series with the Pirates. Then, they notched a series win over the Phillies. So far, the Reds are checking most boxes. The challenge? Unlike the Yankees, the road ahead is brutal. The Reds have the toughest remaining schedule in the league, facing opponents like the Brewers, Dodgers and Blue Jays. 

13. Cleveland Guardians (⬆️2)

Against all odds, the Guardians are still very much in the mix for an American League Wild Card spot, just one game back from the third spot. How did they turn it around so quickly after being below .500 for most of the season? The offense is finally clicking. Since the break, Jose Ramirez has totaled 26 hits, 13 RBIs and seven homers to kickstart the offense. Luckily, he’s gotten support from Steven Kwan and Kyle Manzardo. Kwan has had 18 hits and seven RBIs since the break, while Manzardo has tallied 22 hits, 16 RBIs and six home runs. Cleveland has won 10 of its last 12 – admittedly against lighter competition – but the schedule only gets marginally tougher, with the Rangers and Tigers as their only real challenges.

14. New York Mets (⬇️4)

The Mets are in an absolute free fall. When they slipped six spots in last week’s power rankings, I thought they’d rebound. Apparently, the Brewers had other plans, handing the Mets their second straight sweep. Fortunately, they have a chance to regroup against the Braves. Unfortunately, the red-hot Mariners are up next. So, what went wrong for New York? Just two weeks ago, they were swapping places with the Phillies atop the NL East. Now, they find themselves slipping out of Wild Card contention. The Mets have struggled at the plate lately, but Tuesday’s 13-5 win over the Braves makes me optimistic. Plus, with all the action they got into at the deadline, something is bound to click. If they can improve their record on the road – especially with upcoming away games in Detroit, Philadelphia and Cincinnati – they have a chance to vault themselves back into the mix.

15. Texas Rangers (⬇️2)

I know this has been a theme for the Rangers all season, but seriously, just score more runs. Easier said than done, I know. But when you have the best pitching staff in baseball, you need to put some runs on the board to let it shine. Over their last eight games, the Rangers have averaged only 2.75 runs per game. The kicker? Five of their last six losses have been decided by two runs or less. If they can just get a little more juice, the outcome of these games could be completely different. They don’t need a perfect offense – average will do.

16. St. Louis Cardinals (⬆️4)

Even after the sell-off, the Cardinals are still a thorn in the side of every NL Wild Card contender. With upcoming matchups against the Brewers, Reds, and Cubs, St. Louis has the potential to deliver a spoiler down the stretch. The challenge (and the charm) of this team is its inconsistency. The Cardinals won back-to-back series against the Dodgers and Cubs, which is no easy feat. But then they follow it up with a baffling series loss to the Rockies. That type of unpredictability may frustrate fans, but it guarantees their NL rivals won’t get the breathing room they want.

17. San Francisco Giants (⬆️2)

There’s little hope left for the Giants’ postseason push, but they still have a chance to snap years of mediocrity and finish above .500. Lately, though, the Giants have struggled. They dropped a series to the Nationals before getting swept by the Padres. Despite having the 7th ranked pitching staff by ERA, San Francisco ranks 27th in batting average. With upcoming matchups against the Dodgers, Cubs, Brewers and Padres, San Francisco’s postseason odds are plummeting quickly. 

18. Arizona Diamondbacks (⬆️4)

Yes, the Diamondbacks sold, and it was the right call. When they made that decision, they effectively waved goodbye to the postseason. But I absolutely love what they’re doing right now. Instead of trying to fix the glaring issues at the mound (which would be to no avail anyway), they’re giving their young hitters plenty of experience at the plate – and it’s working. Arizona set a new franchise record with nine consecutive hits in a 13-6 win over the Rockies. Despite losing key bats, the D-Backs rank 4th in the league for runs scored this month.

19. Kansas City Royals (⬇️2)

Now seems like a good time to question whether buying at the deadline was really the best move. Honestly, I liked it. It takes guts for a fringe contender to make a push, and I thought maybe they knew something we didn’t. But the results just haven’t followed. They’re not out of the playoff hunt yet, but a tough closing stretch against the Tigers, Phillies, Mariners and Blue Jays won’t make things easier. At this point, dialing in on younger players and gearing up for next season might be the smarter play.

20. Tampa Bay Rays (⬇️3)

The Rays are another team that’s not really out of it, but their prospects are fading fast, especially in the midst of a brutal West Coast road stretch. They were swept by the Mariners and are now battling through a tight series with the A’s. While their postseason hopes may be dim, they can find a bright spot in Junior Caminero, who hit four homers in just three games last week.

21. Los Angeles Angels (🟰)

Realistically, the Angels don’t have great postseason chances. Their soft buy at the deadline didn’t move the needle, and they’re still hovering below .500. Instead, they should pivot toward the same goal as the Giants: Finish the season at or above .500. For the Angels, this would be monumental, marking their first such season in a decade. A series win over the Dodgers has put that goal within reach, and upcoming matchups against the Rockies, Twins, Royals and A’s provide plenty of opportunity.

22. Minnesota Twins (⬆️4)

Like the Diamondbacks, the Twins unloaded much of their roster – and like the Diamondbacks, they’ve been swinging it well since. Minnesota took back-to-back series from the Tigers and Royals last week, scoring 32 runs in the process. This may not be their year, but the future looks bright. Rookie Luke Keaschall is hitting .455 with 10 RBIs and two homers since returning from injury. Plus, their younger players are getting some swings in and getting the opportunity to get comfortable behind the plate ahead of next season.

23. Miami Marlins (⬇️7)

Miami’s season has been a grind, with flashes of promise overshadowed by inconsistency. Just last week, they climbed seven spots in the power rankings to No. 16. This week, they’re back to No. 23 after losing five of their last six. Miami is another team that should reset its goal toward reaching .500 on the season – or establishing some consistency. 

24. Atlanta Braves (🟰)

The Braves are finally gaining momentum, winning four of their last five in one of the season’s only bright spots. But that surge comes with a twist: Atlanta doesn’t want to win too much if they hope to secure a top pick in the December lottery. With the Rockies, Nationals and Angels ineligible for the lottery due to prior participation, Atlanta has the chance to come away with a strong pick. But with upcoming matchups against the Phillies, Cubs, Mariners, Tigers and Astros, I’m not too worried about the Braves exceeding their “win limit.”

25. Athletics (🟰)

Like many teams right now, the A’s are deep in the rebuild. Unlike the Diamondbacks or Royals, Oakland doesn’t need as much development for its young hitters. In fact, despite their sub-.500 record, the Athletics rank sixth in the league in batting average. The focus now is solidifying roles for the young pitching staff. Who will be the set-up man? Who will close? The remainder of the season gives the A’s time to experiment with the rotation and figure out where each pitcher fits best.

26. Baltimore Orioles (⬇️3)

It’s time for the Orioles to set themselves up for next season. They were poised to be much better than they are this season, but postseason hopes faded quickly in Baltimore. Despite a disappointing season, the Orioles still have plenty of talented hitters. Plus, they just acquired some young arms via deadline deals. But they’ll need more on the mound to turn potential into results and move past the preseason hype they fell short of this year.

27. Chicago White Sox (⬆️2)

Another struggling team that’s prioritizing plate appearances for young players – and we love to see it! I will never understand the teams that try to salvage a season that’s long gone and run their veteran players into the ground, especially when they could be getting a head start on experimenting with their younger players and determining their roles. This doesn’t mean the rebuild is over, but securing key pieces now is a huge step in the right direction. 

28. Pittsburgh Pirates (⬇️1)

The Pirates are, well…being the Pirates. They’ve lost five straight, and nobody is surprised. But let’s shift gears toward next season. Even beyond the great Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh has plenty of arms. No one is disputing that, but offense remains a glaring need. Currently 26th in batting average, the team could benefit from giving younger hitters more opportunities. Who knows? Maybe they could uncover some real talent for next season.

29. Washington Nationals (⬇️1)

The future is very uncertain for the Nationals – on all fronts. The remainder of the season is critical for both interim GM Mike DeBartolo and interim manager Miguel Cairo, as the front office evaluates the team’s direction and leadership. The Nationals also need to figure out what they’re going to do as far as their roster next season. Do they start test driving their prospects now or stick with what they have and hope for better production? Whatever happens, we could be looking at a completely different team and organization come 2026. 

30. Colorado Rockies (🟰)

The Rockies have actually been doing okay lately. Well, okay by 2025 Rockies standards (which isn’t saying much). Their goal for the remainder of the season should be to surpass the 2024 White Sox by winning 42 games. With the way the Rockies are playing right now, that looks doable. The only downside is they have to face the Dodgers, Padres, Astros and Cubs along the way.