Browsing: Power

And just like that … 18 teams are gone from the Power Rankings. Thatâ€s right, itâ€s playoff season, which means there are only 12 teams remaining. One of these 12 teams, in a month, is going to be able to call itself champions. Which one? Our voters looked at the final 12 and ranked them in order of their likelihood to win a World Series and how itâ€s all lining up for them heading into the postseason.

These rankings, as always, are compiled from MLB.com contributors whose names you can find at the bottom of this (and every) piece, but the words are mine. If you dislike the rankings, yell at all of us. But if you dislike the words, feel free to yell at me.

In these rankings, in honor of the possibility of them winning that World Series, weâ€ll take a look at what it would mean for each team, franchise and fanbase, were they to take home the Commissionerâ€s Trophy.

1. Phillies (previously: 2)
Kyle Schwarber — you may vaguely remember a cold night in Cleveland nine Octobers ago — and Trea Turner have won World Series before, so the idea that the Phillies are a bunch of veterans trying to win that long-elusive World Series is a little overstated. But Bryce Harperâ€s career is going to feel incomplete without a ring. And this may be as good a chance as heâ€ll ever have.

2. Dodgers (previously: 3)
No one has won two World Series in a row this century, and it would be fitting if the Dodgers — undeniably the team of the century so far — were the first team to do it. Also, a title would be quite the way for Clayton Kershaw to say goodbye, wouldnâ€t it?

3. Mariners (previously: 6)
The Mariners remain the only team in baseball to never to reach a World Series, an absurd fact considering how many great players and teams they’ve have had in their history. So just making one would be the best moment in franchise history. But winning one? There might end up being statues of every player on this team in downtown Seattle.

4. Brewers (previously: 1)
It has been so long since the Brewers made their lone World Series that the team they played has been their division rival for two decades now. For Milwaukee to win the World Series with the franchiseâ€s best regular-season record, the year we lost Bob Uecker, would feel like the universe smiling on the famously loyal Brewers fans.

5. Yankees (previously: 7)
You may have noticed that the Yankees havenâ€t won a World Series in 16 years, which is like 160 for any other franchise. More to the point: Aaron Judge is an all-time Yankee already, but at some point, heâ€s going to have to win a World Series in pinstripes, isnâ€t he?

6. Blue Jays (previously: 4)
The Jays have already justified this whole new era of players with how this season has gone, but winning the first title in 30 years would erase the bad memories of the José Bautista teams never quite getting where they wanted to go.

7. Cubs (previously: 5)
The notion of the Cubs winning the World Series was a central MLB storyline for more than 100 years, so weâ€re not going to let that little 2016 title make us think it wouldnâ€t be a huge, huge deal if the Cubs won the World Series again. Maybe they could do it at Wrigley Field this time.

8. Padres (previously: 11)
The Padres are the only big four professional team left in San Diego, and the city has gotten behind them in a way thatâ€s nearly unprecedented in sports right now. Theyâ€ve of course also never won a World Series, which means their legend, were they to do so this year, would veer toward the infinite.

9. Red Sox (previously: 8)
Can you imagine if the year they trade Rafael Devers and lose two of their best young players to injury is the year the Red Sox win another World Series?

10. Tigers (previously: 10)
The fall off from the first half should not distract from the fact that this has been a breakthrough season for the Tigers, a team that was regularly losing 100-plus games not long ago. Detroit loves its Tigers, and they are long, long overdue for a champion.

11. Guardians (previously: 9)
If you were to write a script for how the Guardians finally win that World Series, and you couldnâ€t already use the Major League script, wouldnâ€t you go with “trade away key players at the deadline of a season that seems long lost … and then go on a crazy run leading into a postseason like no other?†Also: José Ramírez becomes such a Cleveland legend that they might project his image on buildings downtown for the next 50 years.

12. Reds (previously: 14)
Terry Francona has won three pennants and two World Series, and heâ€ll of course be forever known as the skipper who broke the Curse of the Bambino. But winning a World Series again? With the Reds? Forget the Hall of Fame … can he be knighted somehow?

Voters: Nathalie Alonso, Jason Catania, Daniel Feldman, Will Leitch, Travis Miller, Brian Murphy, Arturo Pardavila, Andrew Simon, David Venn, Zac Vierra.

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The Ottawa Senators improved their preseason record to 2–1 on Sunday afternoon with a 2–0 victory over a New Jersey Devils split-squad at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City.

With the game still scoreless, the breakthrough finally came on a Sens power play with 4:26 left in regulation. Tim Stützle carried the puck to the high slot before losing it on a poke check, but the puck behaved like a perfect drop pass, right onto the stick of rookie Stephen Halliday.

Halliday one-timed a high snap shot over the left shoulder of Devils goaltender Georgi Romanov. For Stutzle, it was a spot of good luck in a game where he missed on a penalty shot and also rang one off the iron from in close.

For the second straight game, Ottawa faced an opponent icing what amounted to a “B†lineup. Most of the Devils’ opening night lineup remained in Newark, where they fell 3–2 in a shootout to the Washington Capitals. Still, the Senators made the most of the opportunity, taking control late and closing out a tidy win.

Free-agent signing Olle Lycksell, the former Philadelphia Flyer, added insurance less than three minutes later. After a careless New Jersey drop pass at the blue line, Lycksell poked the puck away from defenseman Calen Addison, then skated in alone and slid the puck into an empty net to secure the win.

Why Wasn’t Sunday’s Senators-Devils Game On English Radio Or TV?
As the Ottawa Senators defeated the New Jersey Devils 2-0 on Sunday afternoon in preseason action, a lot of English-speaking Senator fans had to dust off their French comprehension skills. It had nothing to do with the game being in Quebec City, though.

Goaltender Linus Ullmark was rarely tested but sharp when needed, turning aside all 14 shots he faced for his first shutout of the preseason. It was a welcome bounce-back after he allowed three goals in Ottawaâ€s exhibition opener.

On special teams, the Senators went 1-for-3 with the man advantage and were perfect on three penalty kills. Romanov was the busier of the two goaltenders, stopping 30 shots to keep the Devils in it until the late stages. That included a penalty shot where he didn’t buy any of Stutzle’s fancy stickhandling, turning him away effortlessly.

Both Halliday and Lycksell strengthened their cases for roster spots in Ottawa, particularly with current injuries to Drake Batherson and Lars Eller. Their availability for opening night remains possible but uncertain, leaving even more room for competition on the forward lines.

The Senators will continue their Quebec City showcase on Tuesday night, when they host the Montreal Canadiens at the Videotron Centre. The game might serve as a measuring stick as to whether winning over fans in Quebec City is truly possible, or if Montreal, despite the heated rivalry from long ago, has already taken the territory over.

More Sens Headlines From The Hockey News Ottawa:
Former Senator Josh Norris Embraces New Opportunity To Prove Himself
Ottawa Senators Cut 17 Players Before Heading To Quebec City
Will This Be Shane Pinto’s Breakout Year With The Senators?
Drake Batherson Joins Ottawa Senators List Of Preseason Injury Concerns
Pinto Plays Hero In Senators Preseason Overtime Win Over Leafs
After Two Broken Clavicles, Kaliyev Targets Capital Comeback

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Sep 25, 2025, 07:00 AM ET

We’re down to the final days of the 2025 regular season and in for some exciting baseball, as there are still quite a number of teams that have something to play for — including a few who are fighting tooth and nail for their postseason lives.

The Tigers, Guardians, Mets, Reds and Diamondbacks fall into that category — and all moved significantly in our final power rankings of the season. After holding a 12½-game lead over Cleveland as recently as Aug. 25, Detroit is now a game behind the Guardians, who sit atop the AL Central after beating the Tigers Tuesday and Wednesday following what might be one of the greatest comebacks/collapses of all time over the final month of the season.

There’s a similar sentiment around the Mets, who hold a slight one-game lead over Cincinnati and Arizona for the final wild-card spot as a late losing skid highlighted their second-half woes and put their playoff hopes on the line.

Which clubs will get to keep playing into October? And which will watch their playoff aspirations come to an end?

Our expert panel has ranked every team based on a combination of what we’ve seen so far and what we already knew going into the 162-game marathon that is a full baseball season. We also asked ESPN MLB experts Jesse Rogers, Alden Gonzalez and Jorge Castillo to weigh in with an observation for all 30 teams.

Week 25 | Second-half preview | Preseason rankings

Record: 96-63
Previous ranking: 1

Getting healthy on the mound is the top priority for the Brewers heading into the postseason as Jose Quintana and Brandon Woodruff are the latest pitchers to go down. With Trevor Megill, Logan Henderson and DL Hall also on the mend, it’s a good thing the Brewers have a bye and go straight to the division series. That extra time could be a difference-maker. As it stands now, it’s anyone’s guess what the roster will look like when Milwaukee hosts its first playoff game on Oct. 4, but it’s safe to say the Brewers will get at least a few of the above arms back for playoff baseball. They’ll be needed. — Rogers

Record: 93-65
Previous ranking: 2

Losing Zack Wheeler for the season was a cruel gut punch, but the Phillies’ rotation remains stout with Cristopher Sanchez, Ranger Suarez and Jesus Luzardo leading the charge. On the position player side, Alec Bohm returned from the injured list Sunday and Trea Turner could be activated this weekend. With Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper anchoring the lineup, and closer Jhoan Duran nailing down the ninth inning, the Phillies are a real World Series contender even without Wheeler. — Castillo

Record: 89-69
Previous ranking: 4

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Shohei Ohtani reached unchartered territory in his 14th and final regular-season start Tuesday, pitching six innings while keeping the Diamondbacks scoreless. Over his past four starts, Ohtani has given up only one run in 19â…” innings, scattering 10 hits, issuing four walks and striking out a whopping 27 batters. He is one of several Dodgers starters pitching really well heading into the playoffs. The bullpen? That’s a completely different story. After Ohtani departed Tuesday, three relievers combined to give up five runs. The Dodgers wound up losing. They’re clearly willing to stretch Ohtani a little longer, but he can’t pitch all nine innings. — Gonzalez

Record: 90-68
Previous ranking: 3

The Blue Jays were the first AL team to clinch a playoff spot, but they have the misfortune of being in the same division as the team with the second-best record in the AL. As a result, winning their first division title in a decade requires a strong finish against the Red Sox and Rays to fend off the Yankees with the Jays playing without Bo Bichette (knee) and Chris Bassitt (back). Toronto activated outfielder Anthony Santander from the IL on Tuesday for the final push, designating former AL Cy Young Award finalist Alek Manoah for assignment. The pressure is on to avoid the wild-card round. — Castillo

Record: 89-69
Previous ranking: 8

The Mariners are becoming a fashionable pick for October. They’re hot and could be starting to peak on the mound, where they’ve actually underachieved this season. Not lately though. The pitching staff was fantastic during a road sweep of the Astros as George Kirby and Bryan Woo are rounding into form — that is until Woo suffered a pectoral injury. The team says he could still pitch in October as treatment continues.

Regardless, Logan Gilbert and Luis Castillo, who has given up only one run in his last 12 innings, have also been good. Seattle has plenty of options on the mound, and that includes in the bullpen, where Andres Munoz has been stellar. The Mariners feature the AL home run king in Cal Raleigh, but it’s their pitching staff that will lead them in the postseason. — Rogers

Record: 90-68
Previous ranking: 7

The Yankees clinched their postseason spot Monday. Whether they catch Toronto for the AL East title — and subsequently earn a bye to the NLDS — or settle for a wild-card spot, one question remains: Who would start a Game 3 after Max Fried and Carlos Rodon? The candidates are Luis Gil, the reigning AL Rookie of the Year; Cam Schlittler, who has impressed as a rookie this season; and Will Warren, who has made 32 starts. Gil and Schlittler are the favorites. — Castillo

Record: 89-69
Previous ranking: 5

A perfect storm has led to the Cubs’ longest losing skid of the season — coming right after a sweep of Pittsburgh clinched a playoff berth. Their subsequent opponents, the Reds and Mets, are playing desperate baseball in an attempt to get into the postseason themselves, leading to Cincinnati sweeping a four-game series against Chicago and New York taking the first of a three-game series.

The big concern for next week is Cade Horton. He left Tuesday’s start against the Mets because of some back/rib soreness after being ill all weekend. If it’s his last time on the mound until the postseason — assuming he’s healthy — he’ll have thrown a total of 29 pitches in two weeks, not exactly the sharpest way to enter the postseason. Offensively, the Cubs came out of their slumber against New York, putting up seven runs Tuesday, as they try to build momentum toward October. — Rogers

Record: 87-72
Previous ranking: 9

MLB playoff tracker: Who can clinch next?

From current playoff matchups to league races to the postseason schedule, we’ve got you covered. Everything to know »

The Padres celebrated a return to the postseason after defeating the Brewers on Monday. They then beat the Brewers again Tuesday and suddenly began eyeing the NL West title once more. By that point, they trailed the Dodgers by only 1½ games. L.A. holds the tiebreaker and will also finish the season in Seattle. The Padres will finish at home against the Diamondbacks. For the Padres, winning the division would mean hosting the wild-card round at Petco Park, where they’re 49-29 this season (compared to just 38-43 on the road). It’s a big deal. — Gonzalez

Record: 87-71
Previous ranking: 10

Boston’s top three starting pitchers — Garrett Crochet, Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito — give the team a real chance in a three-game wild-card series against anybody, but they need to get there first. For that to happen, the offense needs to find some life without Roman Anthony. The lineup has struggled since Anthony landed on the IL on Sept. 3 because of an oblique strain, averaging 4.7 runs in 17 games without him, but has started to pick up again more recently. The Red Sox are 9-8 in that span. — Castillo

Record: 86-72
Previous ranking: 14

The Guardians’ surge feels like a movie. On Sept. 4, they were 11 games out in the AL Central. Since then, they’ve won 17 of 19 games, the last two against the division-rival Tigers, defeating Tarik Skubal to tie them on Tuesday and cruising behind Tanner Bibee to victory on Wednesday to jump into first place for the first time since April 22. Longtime Cleveland ace Shane Bieber now pitches in Toronto while lights-out closer Emmanuel Clase is on paid leave amid a gambling probe, and yet the Guardians’ pitching staffholds a major league-best 1.58 ERA since Sept. 5. The Mariners are the only other team that even holds an ERA under 3.00. — Gonzalez

Record: 85-73
Previous ranking: 6

You probably know the numbers by now, but we might as well hash them: The Tigers held a 14-game lead in the AL Central on July 8, an 11½-game lead on Aug. 23 and a 9½-game lead on Sept. 10. At the end of last week, they still led the Guardians by a very comfortable 6½ games. Then, on Tuesday night, the Tigers fell to a surging Cleveland team despite having Tarik Skubal on the mound and found themselves not leading the division for the first time since April. It was their seventh loss in a row. Their eighth followed roughly 24 hours later. An unbelievable collapse, to say the least. — Gonzalez

Record: 84-74
Previous ranking: 11

The last week has not been kind to the Astros, especially at the plate, where they ranked near the bottom of the majors in OPS. It included three games at home against Seattle — all losses — in which they scored seven total runs. Add just a single tally in their series opener loss against the A’s on Tuesday and you can see why Houston is in danger of losing the division or even a postseason berth. The loss — again — of Yordan Alvarez obviously hurts. And perhaps the return of Isaac Paredes will give the Astros a boost, though it hasn’t yet. They need a hot finish from players such as Carlos Correa and Jeremy Pena to extend their playoff streak to nine years. — Rogers

Record: 80-78
Previous ranking: 17

Final grades for all 30 MLB teams

Whether your team is headed to October or packing its bags for the offseason, how did 2025 measure up to expectations? David Schoenfield »

A four-game sweep of the Cubs over the weekend vaulted the Reds into the playoff picture, but they need to finish the job to make their first postseason appearance since 2020 and first in a full season since 2013. They also hold the tiebreaker with the Mets, so all Cincinnati has to do is match New York in the standings. It has become clear that the starting staff is the driving force behind anything good that happens in Cincinnati. Hunter Greene has been fantastic, as has Andrew Abbott. But despite their surge, the Reds remain just an average team at the plate, ranking in the bottom third in key offensive categories over the past couple of weeks. Some timely home runs have helped their cause. — Rogers

Record: 81-77
Previous ranking: 13

The Mets had the best record in baseball on June 13. Since then, they’ve had one of the worst — bad enough to enter the final week of the season on the edge of a historic collapse. Their fate could ultimately come down to the three rookie right-handers in their starting rotation. The Mets didn’t expect to need Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat this season, but injuries and ineffectiveness forced the hand of president of baseball operations David Stearns. Now, the Mets are counting on them this week to help secure a spot in October. — Castillo

Record: 80-78
Previous ranking: 15

The wild, nausea-inducing roller-coaster ride that is this 2025 Diamondbacks season continues. Since the start of August alone, the team has navigated three losing streaks of three or more games but also eight winningstreaks of three or more games. Arizona sealed its latest one Tuesday night, when it overcame a four-run deficit against the division-rival Dodgers and remained just one game back of the Mets for the final wild-card spot. That the D-backs are even at this point, in a year when they traded two of their best hitters and one of their best starters at the trade deadline, is wild. — Gonzalez

Record: 80-78
Previous ranking: 12

A late win streak was followed by a later losing skid, eliminating the 2023 champs from the postseason for a second consecutive season. On the docket for Rangers brass is the future of manager Bruce Bochy and how to get more out of their inconsistent offense. That has now been a two-year question, though recent injuries to Marcus Semien and Corey Seager didn’t help. Neither was having a fantastic year anyway. As they age, the team needs new leaders at the plate. Wyatt Langford has looked the part at times. At 23 years old, he shouldbe the next Rangers star. After an offensive evaluation is completed, president of baseball operations Chris Young’s winter goal will undoubtedly be to improve their run scoring. — Rogers

Record: 78-81
Previous ranking: 16

The Giants blew a five-run lead against St. Louis on Tuesday and were mathematically eliminated from postseason contention by the end of it. It was only 11 days prior that they stood a half-game behind the Mets for the final NL wild-card spot. San Francisco then lost nine of 11 games to miss out on the playoffs for a fourth straight year — despite being 19-12 by the end of April and acquiring Rafael Devers in the middle of June. “This year is probably the most frustrating,” Giants ace Logan Webb told reporters. “No offense to the teams we’ve had before, but this is the most talented team I’ve been on.” — Gonzalez

Record: 79-79
Previous ranking: 18

Real or Not? Examining World Series hopes

From a lack of power to pitching injuries: Can your favorite contender actually win the World Series?
David Schoenfield »

The Royals won their third consecutive game on Sept. 6 and found themselves only one game back of the final wild-card spot. They needed a hot stretch to give themselves a chance over the final couple of weeks. Instead, they lost six of their next seven, falling seven games back and setting themselves up for what occurred Tuesday: being mathematically eliminated from postseason contention, moments before a series opener against the Angels. The Royals still have a chance at a second consecutive winning record, but they entered 2025 with far bigger expectations than that following their 2024 postseason run. — Gonzalez

Record: 77-81
Previous ranking: 19

The Rays’ sale to a group led by Jacksonville real estate developer Patrick Zalupski reached another checkpoint Monday when MLB’s owners unanimously approved the transaction. Atop the new ownership group’s to-do list will be securing an agreement for a new ballpark. That will be the question hovering over the Rays this offseason — assuming the sale will be finalized — before they move back into Tropicana Field for 2026. — Castillo

Record: 78-81
Previous ranking: 20

Longtime executive John Mozeliak is set to say goodbye after this weekend, handing the keys over to new Cardinals decision-maker Chaim Bloom. His first order of business could be deciding the fate of manager Oliver Marmol, who deserves some credit for holding the team together during a stated transition year. Next, Bloom needs to rebuild the pitching staff beyond Sonny Gray, who is signed for one more season. Youngsters Matthew Liberatore and Michael McGreevy have received valuable growth time this year while the team will say goodbye to soon-to-be free agent Miles Mikolas. The bullpen also needs some work. Bloom has plenty on his plate in his first offseason in charge. — Rogers

Record: 75-84
Previous ranking: 23

The 2025 season was a nightmare littered with injuries and underperformance for the Braves, a club that entered the year with World Series expectations. While most major players on the roster are under team control through 2026, one prominent figure is considering moving on: manager Brian Snitker. The 69-year-old skipper, whose contract expires after this season, has said he is considering retiring. If he does, Snitker’s 10-season run would conclude with seven postseason appearances and a World Series title in 2021. — Castillo

Record: 77-81
Previous ranking: 24

The Marlins entered Game No. 158 on Wednesday still mathematically in postseason contention. The chances are remote, but staying alive this late is a win for an organization attempting to produce a consistent contender for the first time in franchise history. Never have the Marlins, despite two World Series titles in their 33-year history, reached the playoffs in consecutive seasons. They’re slowly stacking the building blocks. And, considering they moved Sandy Alcantara’s start back to face the Mets this weekend, Miami is thirsting to play spoiler. — Castillo

Record: 75-83
Previous ranking: 21

Handing out 2025 MLB season awards

From best slugger to best game to … badonkadonk of the year?! It’s time for The Passans, our alternative regular-season accolades. Jeff Passan »

All in all, it’s going to be a successful year for the A’s, who blew past their preseason over/under win total for the season this week. They boast the likely Rookie of the Year in Nick Kurtz and saw positive seasons from several offensive players not named Brent Rooker or Lawrence Butler, with the latter having a quiet season at the plate. Left fielder Tyler Soderstrom and catcher Shea Langeliers count as those success stories.

On the other hand, the pitching staff will finish in the bottom five of the majors in ERA — the hitter-friendly park in Sacramento didn’t help. Perhaps with a year under their belt there, the front office will have a better understanding of what kinds of arms might be successful until the team moves to Las Vegas. That should be their sole focus this winter. — Rogers

Record: 74-84
Previous ranking: 22

Adley Rutschman’s 2025 season is atop the list of the disappointments in a lost season for the Orioles. The two-time All-Star catcher continued his regression from last year and landed on the IL for two long stints because of oblique strains on each side. Baltimore activated him Monday for the season’s final six games. It could be his final week in an Orioles uniform; with Samuel Basallo’s emergence — and contract extension — people around baseball wonder if Baltimore will look to trade Rutschman this offseason. — Castillo

Record: 69-89
Previous ranking: 27

Bubba Chandler is getting his feet wet during garbage time for the Pirates, and that could pay dividends for them next season. Add the return of Jared Jones early next year and Pittsburgh once again looks formidable on the mound. But what will general manager Ben Cherington do to help his offense? It’s a yearly question for the Pirates, as they are set to finish last in run scoring after ranking 24th the previous season. They’re going in the wrong direction. Their third baseman are last in OPS and their catchers aren’t much better. Improvements across the board are needed. — Rogers

Record: 71-87
Previous ranking: 26

The Angels again need to find some productive pitchers this offseason, as they rank near the bottom of the majors in ERA this season. It seems to be a yearly thing, as they ranked 26th in that category in 2024 and 23rd in 2023. Their starting staff has mostly been the culprit, but change is in the air as Kyle Hendricks is almost assuredly retiring while Tyler Anderson is set to become a free agent. One bright spot has been closer Kenley Jansen, who is 28-of-29 in save opportunities. But if a 37-year-old closer on a team out of contention isyour lone bright spot, you probably have bigger problems. That’s the case for the Angels heading into the winter. — Rogers

Record: 68-90
Previous ranking: 25

It was only two years ago that the Twins ended a prolonged postseason winless drought and advanced past the wild-card round in a thrilling 2023 season. Now, it seems like two decades ago. The 2025 season was a miserable one for the Twins’ faithful, punctuated by a trade-deadline selloff that felt worse only a couple weeks later when the Pohlad family announced it would maintain ownership of the franchise, angering a fan base that clamored for a replacement who would spend more money. Byron Buxton had a really nice year and Joe Ryan was not traded. Outside of that, there isn’t much to cling to in Minneapolis these days. — Gonzalez

Record: 58-100
Previous ranking: 28

The bar for progress was obviously low after the White Sox set the modern-day record for losses last year, but the franchise nonetheless took some steps forward this season. They played a more competitive brand of baseball, particularly after the All-Star break. Prospects such as Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero, Colson Montgomery and Chase Meidroth showed encouraging signs. Journeymen pitchers such as Shane Smith, Mike Vasil and Jordan Leasure found success. They still have a long way to go, but the White Sox are in a better position than they were at this time last year. That’s … something, at least. — Gonzalez

Record: 65-94
Previous ranking: 29

2025: What went wrong — and right

The biggest success — and biggest failure — for all 30 MLB teams this season. Bradford Doolittle »

Pressing questions, from the top down, face the Nationals this offseason after they took a substantial step back in 2025. One was answered this week when the organization decided to hire Red Sox assistant general manager Paul Tobino to run its baseball operations department as Mike Rizzo’s replacement.

Next up: naming a manager. Looming in the backdrop is a more critical matter: Will ownership decide to sell again? If not, will it invest the necessary resources — not just in free agency but in other departments — to build another winner? And then there’s also the question about the future of their local television deal. The Nationals have some young talent — James Wood, MacKenzie Gore and CJ Abrams have all been All-Stars — but this will effectively be a soft reset in Washington. — Castillo

Record: 43-115
Previous ranking: 30

Only six teams have ever finished a season with a run differential below minus-400, and all of them played before the 21st century. The Rockies are currently on pace to join them. They’ve won only four of 21 games in September and currently sport a run differential of minus-412. The modern-day record is minus-345, set by the 1932 Boston Red Sox. And though the Rockies won’t lose as many games as last year’s White Sox, they’ll probably be outscored by 100-plus more runs than Chicago was. How this gets fixed is anybody’s guess. — Gonzalez

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It’s Monday, and another round of NWSL action is in the books, which means it’s time for ESPN’s Power Rankings.

Who’s climbing the table? Who’s in free fall? Our writers studied the action from across Matchday 21 to come up with this week’s order of all 14 teams in the league. Let’s dive in.

Previous ranking:1
Next match:Friday Sept. 26 vs. Chicago Stars, 8 p.m. ET

This is Kansas City’s season, and we’re just living in it. After beating Seattle 2-0 on Saturday, the Current are the fastest-ever team to collect the NWSL Shield based on the number of games left to play. Fittingly, Temwa Chawinga celebrated her birthday by scoring her 13th goal of the season in the win, bringing her level with Esther González at the top of the scoring charts once again. Vlatko Andonovski’s side now have 17 wins, two draws and two losses from 21 games played, and show no signs of slowing down ahead of the postseason.

Previous ranking:2
Next match:Sunday Sept. 28 vs. Houston Dash, 1 p.m. ET

Playing on a rare Thursday night without midfielder Hal Hershfelt (who was serving a red card suspension), the Spirit traded goals with Angel City and walked away with a 2-2 draw in California. Trinity Rodman broke through first, following up her own blocked penalty for her third goal in three games. Croix Bethune followed in the second half to clinch a point after the Spirit had fallen behind, as both players hit a hot stride of form ahead of the postseason after working back from injuries earlier in the year. The Spirit are now undefeated in nine-straight NWSL games, though six of those games have been draws.

Previous ranking:3
Next match:Friday Sept. 26 vs. Portland Thorns, 8 p.m. ET

After scoring her first goal of the season two weeks ago, Rose Lavelle got back on the scoresheet in Gotham’s 1-1 draw in California Sunday evening. That’s two goals in 11 games played for the United States midfielder who was sidelined with injury earlier in the year. After three straight games on the road (including the Concacaf W Champions Cup midweek) Gotham heads home to face Portland next, as they prepare to finish off their season against a string of playoff contenders.

play

1:16

Bay FC vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC – Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from Bay FC vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC, 09/22/2025

Previous ranking:4
Next match:Friday Sept. 26 vs. Orlando Pride, 10.30 p.m. ET

They outproduced the hosts, especially early in the game, but failed to get more than a point in Portland as Mackenzie Arnold’s six saves limited their attack. After suffering three defeats in four games, a 1-1 draw against Portland in Oregon isn’t the worst result for San Diego. But they haven’t won a game since Aug. 16, and every point counts as only five points separate them from teams outside the playoff positions. The Wave play the also-struggling (even more so) Orlando Pride next weekend, who’ve gone nine games since their last victory.

Previous ranking:7
Next match:Friday Sept. 26 vs. Gotham FC, 8 p.m. ET

Reyna Reyes scored her third goal of the year in the 86th minute to steal a point at home against San Diego. They struggled to get shots off early, with Olivia Moultrie’s 33rd minute free kick their first clocked shot, though they did get three on target by the end of the game. At the other end, Matildas keeper Arnold made six saves and was key to keeping San Diego to one goal before Reyes’ late equalizer. After Saturday’s 1-1 draw, the fourth-place Thorns finished the weekend still even on points and resting just above San Diego in the table.

Previous ranking:8
Next match:Sunday Sept. 28 vs. Washington Spirit, 1 p.m. ET

Yazmeen Ryan’s team-leading fourth goal of the season came in the 28th minute against Chicago and was enough to seal a 1-0 victory in Texas. One week after losing to the Utah Royals, they’re back in the win column and sitting just below the playoff positions, but they’ve got a tough test next weekend against the Washington Spirit.

Previous ranking:5
Next match:Friday Sept. 26 vs. San Diego Wave, 10.30 p.m. ET

Orlando Pride have stretched their winless rut to a calamitous nine straight games after losing 1-0 to the North Carolina Courage on Friday. The defeat arrived in the 89th minute, as the Courage pounced on a rebound in front of goal. The Pride are still in the playoff positions but are desperate for a win as they sink down to seventh place after holding second earlier in the season.

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Orlando Pride vs. North Carolina Courage – Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from Orlando Pride vs. North Carolina Courage, 09/20/2025

Previous ranking: 6
Next match:Saturday Sept. 27 vs. Angel City FC, 7.30 p.m. ET

With five games to go, Louisville’s form has hit a lull. After losing to Seattle in their rescheduled match from last weekend, they lost 3-2 to Utah this weekend, marking their third loss in three games amid a four-game winless run. With time dwindling, they seem remarkably on track for a fifth-straight ninth-place finish, potentially carrying forward a curse of finishing each season just short of the playoffs. Their postseason hopes are far from over, but they’ve got pivotal tests before them, with Angel City waiting first next weekend.

Previous ranking:10
Next match:Sunday Sept. 28 vs. Seattle Reign, 8 p.m. ET

North Carolina has had hard times this season. They recently went on a six-game winless run, sacked their coach, and lost Jaedyn Shaw to Gotham. But they beat the reigning champs 1-0 on Friday with a goal from 20-year-old Japanese midfielder Shinomi Koyama (her first for the team) to mark two wins in two games, finishing the weekend just inside the playoff positions.

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Previous ranking:9
Next match:Sunday Sept. 28 vs. NC Courage, 8 p.m. ET

Earlier in the week, Seattle beat Racing Louisville 1-0 in their rescheduled match thanks to a 90th minute goal from Jess Fishlock. But they fell 2-0 to Kansas City on the weekend (despite a six-save performance from Claudia Dickey). Losing to Kansas City is understandable — the Shield winners have only lost twice this season and clinched the Shield in record-time with Saturday’s victory against the Reign. Seattle are still in a respectable sixth place as they prepare for eighth-place North Carolina next weekend.

Previous ranking:11
Next match:Saturday Sept. 27 vs. Racing Louisville, 7.30 p.m. ET

After falling behind early thanks to Rodman’s rebound goal, Angel City fought back to briefly lead 2-1, before settling for a 2-2 draw in California. Gisele Thompson set up Evelyn Shores for the first, marking her team-leading fifth assist of the season. Thompson’s six goal contributions are second only to her sister, who recently signed for Chelsea, and team top-scorer Riley Tiernan. ACFC goalkeeper Angelina Anderson was also immense in the draw, making eight saves to stymie the Spirit advance. They finished the weekend in 11th place and will need to battle to break into the playoffs (there’s a four-point gap between them and eighth-place North Carolina), but postseason possibility remains intact.

Previous ranking:12
Next match:Saturday Sept. 27 vs. Bay FC, 10 p.m. ET

After spending most of the season at the bottom of the table, Utah beat Racing Louisville 3-2 to finish the weekend ahead of the Chicago Stars in 13th place. Their momentum is more impressive than their ranking: with the victory, the Royals are six games undefeated with three wins and three draws, including three victories from their last four games.

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Utah Royals vs. Racing Louisville FC – Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from Utah Royals vs. Racing Louisville FC, 09/20/2025

Previous ranking:13
Next match: Saturday Sept. 27 vs. Utah Royals, 10 p.m. ET

They still haven’t won a game since June 7 (four draws, six defeats in that run). But Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Gotham was a respectable result, as Racheal Kundananji’s fourth goal of the season and second in as many games brought them back from behind in California.

Previous ranking:14
Next match: Friday Sept. 26 vs. KC Current, 8 p.m. ET

Alyssa Naeher can be trusted to unfurl memorable penalty heroics, and she did just that against Houston as she denied Dash forward Ryan from the spot as part of a five-save performance in Texas. Unfortunately, Naeher’s steady hands weren’t enough to collect any points in a 1-0 defeat to the Dash.

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This is, if you can believe it, the final Power Rankings of the regular season with all 30 teams listed. One week from now, we will be down to 12 teams, just a day away from the start of the Wild Card Series. For 18 of these teams, we wonâ€t see them again in the Power Rankings, after this week, until the offseason. Thus, to make sure everybody gets their due, weâ€re going to to look at the best player on each team, the one who, when we look back at this season, will be the player who stands out. Hereâ€s to every teamâ€s MVP. And then we say goodbye to 18 teams … and to the other 12, well, weâ€ll see you next week.

These rankings, as always, are compiled from MLB.com contributors whose names you can find at the bottom of this (and every) piece, but the words are mine. If you dislike the rankings, yell at all of us. But if you dislike the words, feel free to yell at me.

1. Brewers (previously: 1)
Freddy Peralta. The fun of the Brewers this season is that no one player stands too far among all the others. Youâ€ve got so many options to choose from here; it could be anyone as their MVP. Iâ€ll go with the guy who has given them 30-plus starts with a 2.65 ERA.

2. Phillies (previously: 2)
Kyle Schwarber. The Phillies, and the rest of us, have gotten the best possible Kyle Schwarber this year. And donâ€t forget: He hasnâ€t missed a game all season either. Trea Turner has been better than people realize, and Bryce Harper is Bryce Harper, but this has been Kyleâ€s year.

3. Dodgers (previously: 4)
Shohei Ohtani. He leads in just about every offensive category, and now heâ€s pitching again – and getting himself worked into perfect shape for the postseason. (Unlike last year.) What more could we possibly want?

4. Blue Jays (previously: 3)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The Blue Jays†2025 WAR leader is, surprisingly, George Springer, but Vlad Jr. is always the center of everything here. The seeds for this season were planted with that contract extension: It has been nothing but happiness ever since.

5. Cubs (previously: 5)
Kyle Tucker. There was a stretch in the first half of the season that you wondered if the Cubs would have three MVP candidates. Big fall-offs from Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki, along with Tuckerâ€s injury, eliminated that notion, but Tucker still sure feels like heâ€s going to make himself a lot of money this offseason.

6. Mariners (previously: 8)
Cal Raleigh. Aaron Judge may – may – end up winning the MVP, and Shohei Ohtani may end up with more WAR, but when we look back at this season, I bet the one player who comes to mind first is Cal Raleigh.

7. Yankees (previously: 7)
Aaron Judge. Heâ€s a homer away from his fourth 50-homer season, the fourth player to do that, but this season he has actually had a higher batting average, and soon a higher run total, than any other season of his career.

8. Red Sox (previously: 11)
Garrett Crochet. The Red Sox have gotten everything they could have possibly hoped for from Crochet. Not only has he been fantastic, leading the Majors in strikeouts, he has always been durable: He also leads MLB in innings pitched and the AL in batters faced.

9. Guardians (previously: 15)
José Ramírez. Itâ€s another 30-30 season for J-Ram – I am glad this nickname has finally stuck – and itâ€s sure starting to look like the Hall of Fame is in his future. One of these years, theyâ€re going to get hot in the postseason and heâ€ll have a chance to be a full-on legend. Maybe itâ€s this year.

10. Tigers (previously: 6)
Tarik Skubal. Heâ€s not going to win the pitching Triple Crown like he did last year, but his ERA+ is actually about 12 points better: This has probably been the best season of his career.

11. Padres (previously: 10)
Fernando Tatis Jr.. Manny Machado is, as always, the team leader, but Tatis returning to his pre-suspension MVP self is the best possible thing that could happen to the Padres moving forward.

12. Astros (previously: 9)
Hunter Brown. Iâ€ll hear the case for Jeremy Peña here, but Brown has become the pitcher the Astros have long believed he could be. On a team that always seems to have pitching somewhere, heâ€s the best one.

13. Mets (previously: 13)
Juan Soto. The Mets have had a wildly fluctuating season, to say the least. But there hasnâ€t been anything fluctuating about Soto: Heâ€s just doing what Juan Soto does, over and over, like he always has.

14. Reds (previously: 16)
Elly De La Cruz. Andrew Abbott hit a little bit of a skid come late August, dropping him out of this spot, but still: It feels like De La Cruz still is just starting to scratch the surface of what heâ€s capable of.

15. Diamondbacks (previously: 17)
Geraldo Perdomo. Corbin Carroll is fourth in baseball in extra-base hits, but Perdomo has been a revelation. An above average defensive shortstop with a .390 OBP. Those do not grow on trees.

16. Rangers (previously: 12)
Nathan Eovaldi. That his season ended early shouldnâ€t distract from how magical it was. He ended up with a 1.73 ERA! Heâ€s 35 years old!

17. Royals (previously: 18)
Bobby Witt Jr. Witt hasnâ€t quite gotten the attention for his 2025 season that he did for his 2024 season – likely because he didnâ€t just sign a contract extension and because the Royals havenâ€t quite been as good – but he has been, easily, the third-best player in the AL this year. The defense keeps getting better and better, too.

18. Giants (previously: 14)
Logan Webb. This has been just another year for Webb: Itâ€s his fourth straight year of 192 or more innings pitched and an ERA under 3.50. Webb has to be the most underrated pitcher in the sport.

19. Rays (previously: 19)
Junior Caminero. Heâ€s only two homers behind Carlos Peña for the franchise all-time single-season mark (46), and he just turned 22 years old in July.

20. Marlins (previously: 23)
Kyle Stowers. Connor Norby might have been the headliner of the Trevor Rogers trade, but Stowers, before injuries wiped out the last month of their season, has been the Marlins†breakout star. This team is finishing strong in 2025 and will have Stowers back in full effect for 2026.

21. Cardinals (previously: 20)
Masyn Winn. In a year where the Cardinals had troubles getting their young players to step up and establish themselves as big league regulars, Winn was a notable exception. The bat still has a bit to go, but Winn may well be the best fielder in baseball – only a late-season injury dropped him out of the top spot on the Outs Above Average Leaderboard. Heâ€ll be a part of everything the Cardinals are doing for a long time.

22. Aâ€s (previously: 22)
Nick Kurtz. If Kurtz had been up on Opening Day and hitting the way he has hit all season, forget Rookie of the Year: You could have made a serious case for him to be AL MVP. Now you just have to save it for 2026.

23. Braves (previously: 25)
Matt Olson. Drake Baldwin may win NL Rookie of the Year, and Ronald Acuña Jr. is the superstar, but in a rough year, the happiest story might have been Olson getting back to his MVP-level self after a difficult 2024. He might not hit 54 homers again, but he leads the NL in doubles and put up the second highest OBP of his career.

24. Orioles (previously: 21)
Trevor Rogers. Speaking of Trevor Rogers, raise your hand if you saw the Orioles left-hander being the team leader in WAR after his nightmare stint in Baltimore last year and an injury that kept him out until late May. Since then, he has maybe been one of the best five pitchers in baseball. The Orioles could use that again next year.

25. Angels (previously: 24)
Zach Neto. This is probably the second consecutive season Neto has been the best player on the Angels, which says a little about Mike Trout and a lot about the young talent the Angels have compiled on this roster. Both Nolan Schanuel and Jo Adell are right there with Neto … and above Trout.

26. Pirates (previously: 27)
Paul Skenes. This is, uh, not a difficult call. Perhaps just as encouraging as his likely Cy Young-winning season is his willingness to call out the organization, saying he doesnâ€t want this to be a “wasted season.†Skenes may, already, be the Pirates†leader. Will everyone follow?

27. Twins (previously: 26)
Byron Buxton. Obviously things got pretty dark for the Twins after the Trade Deadline, but one unquestioned positive was a (mostly) full season from Buxton, who made his second All-Star team and will end up playing 125 games or so, the second-most he has ever played in his career. This is now two straight years he has played more than 100 games and had an OPS over .859, the only two times he has done that in his career.

28. Nationals (previously: 28)
CJ Abrams. James Wood gets most of the prospect hype, but the strikeouts got so out of control by the end of the year that Abrams, who was a 20-20 shortstop in 2024 and is two homers shy of that mark this season at the age of 24, ended up passing him. The Nationals still need to turn the corner, but when they do, Abrams will be a primary reason why.

29. White Sox (previously: 29)
Kyle Teel. Teel wonâ€t end up reaching 80 games this year, but the 75 or so he has played has shot him to the top of nearly every White Sox statistical leaderboard. (He leads them in WAR, playing less than half a season.) The White Sox have some young exciting position players in Colson Montgomery, Chase Meidroth and Miguel Vargas. But Teel is the best of them.

30. Rockies (previously: 30)
Hunter Goodman. Speaking of catchers, Goodman made his first All-Star team this year, but he was even better in the second half than he was in the first, raising his OPS nearly 30 points. Heâ€s a 30-home run hitter, heâ€s a terrific defensive catcher and heâ€s only 25 years old. The Rockies, quietly, have themselves one of the most valuable commodities in baseball.

Voters: Nathalie Alonso, Jason Catania, Mark Feinsand, Will Leitch, Travis Miller, Brian Murphy, Arturo Pardavila, Andrew Simon, David Venn, Zac Vierra.

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For the first time since we started these rankings way back in March … we have actual playoff teams. Our No. 1 team, the Brewers — our No. 1 team since Aug. 4, in fact — have locked in their postseason spot, and thanks to an afternoon win by the Dodgers, the Phillies are in as well. More are coming. We are in the nit and the grit now: Weâ€re getting to the point when the only 12 that count are the playoff 12.

These rankings, as always, are compiled from MLB.com contributors whose names you can find at the bottom of this (and every) piece, but the words are mine. If you dislike the rankings, yell at all of us. But if you dislike the words, feel free to yell at me.

1. Brewers (previously: 1)
Seriously, congratulations to the Brewers for clinching their playoff spot this week. This team obviously has higher aspirations than just making the postseason, but it should be said that itâ€s something this fanbase is never going to take fully for granted. The Brewers have now made the playoffs seven of the last eight years, but before that stretch, they had made it four times in their entire history, going all the way back to their year as the Seattle Pilots in 1969.

2. Phillies (previously: 2)
Is Kyle Schwarber going to make it to Ryan Howardâ€s franchise record of 58 homers, set back in 2006? Itâ€s going to be tough: Heâ€s going to have to basically average one every other game. The good news? We know he can hit four in a game if he has to.

3. Blue Jays (previously: 3)
The Blue Jays do love their drama. They lead the Majors with 45 comeback victories this year, and they have nine walk-off wins, second-most in the Majors. Thatâ€s the sort of skill that might just come in handy come October.

4. Dodgers (previously: 7)
With his next homer, Shohei Ohtani will become the first player with consecutive 50-homer seasons since Alex Rodriguez did in 2001-02. Thatâ€s kind of surprising, right? It feels like someone else would have done that. Ohtani better hurry: Aaron Judge is three homers away from doing the same thing.

5. Cubs (previously: 4)
As the Cubs seem locked into the No. 4 seed in the National League, it would behoove them to get Pete Crow-Armstrong at least back to some semblance of who he was. His second-half OPS, .605, is a whopping 240 points below what it was in the first half.

6. Tigers (previously: 5)
The Tigers are battling for home-field advantage in the American League, but the real news this week is that Tarik Skubal looks like heâ€s going to be OK after leaving his last start with side tightness. “Itâ€s all good news. So, obviously, thatâ€s great for us, and great for him, and now weâ€ll work towards his work week,†said manager A.J. Hinch. “Weâ€ll get together with him on Monday. Heâ€ll do his normal close-throwing workout that he does, and then weâ€ll move forward.†Skubalâ€s about to become the first AL pitcher to win consecutive Cy Young Awards since Pedro Martinez in 1999-2000, and there is no real postseason path for the Tigers if heâ€s not healthy.

7. Yankees (previously: 6)
Remember when the Yankees were thought of as buttoned-up, stoic and a little distant and removed? Jazz Chisholm Jr. is trying to put an end to that. “Weâ€re the best team in the league,†Chisholm Jr. said this week. “Any team that thinks theyâ€re better than us, they should know that when we step on the field, weâ€re coming with relentlessness. Weâ€re coming to step on necks. Weâ€re not here to play around.†Love it!

8. Mariners (previously: 12)
It is very stressful to be a Mariners fan right now, and for good reason: Theyâ€ve won nine in a row, and it … hasnâ€t given them much breathing room at all. Theyâ€re still locked in a taut race with the Astros in the AL West, and both the Rangers and Guardians have been nearly as hot as the Mariners in their race to catch them down in the Wild Card race. After all those years in the playoff wilderness, Mariners fans will happily take it … but itâ€ll be a heartbreaker if they fall short.

9. Astros (previously: 10)
The Astros are hanging on by their fingernails right now, which is why any little spark is appreciated. They got a big spark from rookie Zach Cole, who made his MLB debut this weekend … and promptly homered on the first pitch of his first at-bat. “I blacked out,†Cole said. “I donâ€t remember it much.â€

10. Padres (previously: 8)
This week, I wrote about players with Hall of Fame aspirations but who are seeking their first World Series title. Bryce Harper topped that list, but all told, no one might become more of a franchise icon if his team won the World Series than Manny Machado in San Diego. He represents, in many ways, the pivot this franchise has made to what may be the best era in its history. He might just be the one they remember.

11. Red Sox (previously: 9)
Another bummer among the several of late for the Red Sox: Liam Hendriks, who certainly knows of coming back from things, wonâ€t be able to return for Boston this year after forearm soreness. “It’s been a very frustrating year from my point of view, whether it be through the hip, whether it be through the arm, whether it be through anything,†Hendriks said.

12. Rangers (previously: 14)
Credit Rangers broadcaster (and former player, of course) David Murphy for the nickname for all the young players filling in for the injured Rangers stars, the ones who might just get them in the playoffs: The Little Rascals. If this were the ‘80s, there would be an amazing Little Rascals team poster with Cody Freeman, Michael Helman, Alejandro Osuna, and Dustin Harris.

13. Mets (previously: 11)
It has been a week of primal screams from Flushing, with just about everything going wrong at once, in every possible way. If Mets fans are looking for any sort of rainbows, there are those three games against the Marlins at the end of the year, though, it should be said, the Marlins have been a lot better over the last two months than the Mets. This week may end up being the Mets†last stand: These games against the Padres and Nationals are their final six games at home. That Pete Alonso walk-off Sunday hopefully reset some matters for them.

14. Giants (previously: 15)
Any comeback like the Giants have made, getting them all the way to the cusp of a Wild Card spot, requires great play and the team above them to implode, like the Mets have been doing. But someone has to take advantage, and thatâ€s exactly what the Giants have done. If the Giants can get in the playoffs, Patrick Baileyâ€s walk-off grand slam against the Dodgers on Friday will be an indelible moment. It made him the first player in MLB history to record a walk-off inside-the-park home run and a walk-off grand slam in the same season. “Both are definitely pretty cool,†Bailey said. “Iâ€m definitely not as tired this one as the inside-the-parker.â€

15. Guardians (previously: 18)
Itâ€s a shame the Mariners and the Rangers have been winning so many games, because if either of those teams hadnâ€t been so hot, the Guardians might be in a Wild Card spot right now. Theyâ€ve won four in a row and nine of 10, after all. The key to the Guardians†recent success has been their starting pitching: In their last eight games heading into Sunday, they were 6-0 with an ERA of 1.39.

16. Reds (previously: 19)
No one is worried about Elly De La Cruz, per se, but it should be said: It has been a long time since he homered. His most recent home run was July 31, and heâ€s barely over the Mendoza Line, at .206, since that last homer.

17. Diamondbacks (previously: 16)
Corbin Carroll scored his 100th run on Saturday, and thatâ€s the third time (in three full seasons, of course) that he has scored 100 runs in a year. That makes him the third Diamondback with at least three 100-run seasons: Paul Goldschmidt and Luis Gonzalez are the others. Carroll is also likely to lead the NL in triples for the third consecutive year.

18. Royals (previously: 13)
The Royals received some real credit for adding at the Deadline when they were one game out of the Wild Card a little more than a week ago. But theyâ€ve face-planted since then — having to face the Phillies and equally hot Guardians didnâ€t help — and are now already looking toward next season. Everyone on the team is struggling with the bat, even Bobby Witt Jr., who is 8-for-36 over his past 10 games.

19. Rays (previously: 17)
The Rays have been streaky all season, and, unfortunately for them, a losing streak came right when they were making one last push at the AL Wild Card. Right after winning seven in a row … theyâ€ve now lost seven of nine. Considering how the Guardians, Mariners and Rangers have been playing, thatâ€s a skid that will stop your playoff run right in its track.

20. Cardinals (previously: 20)
One of the primary objectives of this 2025 season for the rebuilding Cardinals was to figure out which young players will definitely be parts of the next contending Cardinals team. The jury is still out on several of those young players — Jordan Walker, Nolan Gorman, Victor Scott II — but one who seems clear to be a Cardinal for years to come is shortstop Masyn Winn, who might be about to win his first Gold Glove. Heâ€ll have to let his season up to this point make the argument for him: Heâ€s having knee surgery soon and will miss the rest of the year. (Heâ€ll be back and fine for Opening Day 2026.)

21. Orioles (previously: 21)
The Orioles have a lot of questions to answer in the offseason, most urgently ones involving their rotation and bullpen, but it will also be fascinating to see where they go with Tyler Oâ€Neill. The oft-injured slugger has actually been hurt even more than usual this year, returning over the weekend for only his 45th game, the lowest number he has played in a season in his career, and that includes the Covid season. Remember: Heâ€s signed for two more years after this one.

22. Aâ€s (previously: 22)
It really canâ€t be emphasized enough how amazing Nick Kurtz has been. Since May 19, Kurtz leads all of baseball in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging. Not Aaron Judge. Not Shohei Ohtani. Not Kyle Schwarber. Nick Kurtz! I didnâ€t see any of those other guys hitting near-500-foot homers either.

23. Marlins (previously: 24)
Youâ€ve gotta love an old rookie. Twenty-eight-year-old Troy Johnston, who has played 636 Minor League games and had 2,741 plate appearances, made some history in his 33rd big league game by becoming the first Marlin whose first career multi-homer performance included a walk-off blast. “This is very cool to do it in the big leagues,†Johnston said. “Of course, [Iâ€ve] done it a couple times in the Minors, but to do it in the big leagues and to have the second home run be a walk-off is probably up there in my top five of best days I’ve had at the plate.â€

24. Angels (previously: 25)
Mike Trout homered this week to get to 399, just one away from becoming the third-ever player to hit his 400th homer in an Angels uniform. The other two? Dave Winfield and Vladimir Guerrero.

25. Braves (previously: 23)
The Braves will have their first losing season since 2017, and it is an open question whether manager Brian Snitker will be back next season. The World Series winner has openly discussed retirement; he has been in Atlanta so long he was the manager of that 2017 team as well. “Iâ€m thinking about a lot of things,†Snitker said. “I honestly donâ€t know where Iâ€m going to end up and what decision Iâ€m going to make. I still feel like thereâ€s some unfinished business.â€

26. Twins (previously: 26)
Kody Clemens was DFAâ€d by the Phillies back in April, but for all the issues the Twins have had this year, theyâ€ve got to be happy they picked him up. He has been one of the few consistent bats theyâ€ve had, and it culminated in a three-homer game on Saturday, which tied Kirby Puckettâ€s franchise record with 14 total bases. “You gotta be kidding me. What a night, kid,†his sorta-famous father posted afterwards.

27. Pirates (previously: 27)
Bubba Chandlerâ€s first start was a disaster — he gave up more runs than he got outs, which is not what youâ€re looking for — but itâ€s fair to say the second start went better. He took a perfect game into the sixth inning of a 5-1 Pirates win over the Nationals. Iâ€d call that turning it around. “Itâ€s hard to expect that — perfect through five innings — and Iâ€m sitting there thinking itâ€s going to be hard to take him out of the game,†manager Don Kelly said. “We see the competitor that he is and how he gets after it.

28. Nationals (previously: 28)
James Wood has been getting on base of late, with a .500 OBP over the past week, but heâ€s not hitting homers (just three in the past 50 games) and has a not-impossible chance to set the all-time record for strikeouts. Heâ€s at 204; the all-time record is 223 by Mark Reynolds. And weâ€ve got two weeks of games left.

29. White Sox (previously: 29)
Can the White Sox avoid losing 100 games in three consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history? They need to go at least 6-7 the rest of the way, and if that seems unreasonable, remember, theyâ€re 8-5 in September.

30. Rockies (previously: 30)
Since arriving in the Majors, rookie catcher Drew Romo has struggled with the Mackey Sasser-esque condition of being unable not to lob the ball back to the pitcher. “Me and the other catcher [in Albuquerque], Daniel Cope, were talking about the yips,†Romo said last month. “I was like, ‘Dude, right now Iâ€ve got the zips — the way Iâ€m throwing the ball back to the pitcher right now, my armâ€s getting sore.â€â€ He has been working on it, though, and when he was up and called into action this weekend, there were no issues. “Everybody in the field is looking at me. So thatâ€s why it was so frustrating, because it was hard to fix. Now itâ€s the best itâ€s been in years.â€

Voters: Nathalie Alonso, Mark Feinsand, Daniel Feldman, Will Leitch, Travis Miller, Brian Murphy, Arturo Pardavila, Andrew Simon, David Venn.

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