MLB Power Rankings as Astros Push for No. 1 Spot While Giants and Red Sox Plummet
As the month of June winds to a close, the Major League Baseball landscape is starting to show a clearer line between contenders and non-contenders, though more than a few clubs still reside in the middle ground.
In the American League, 10 of 15 teams are still within five games of a playoff spot, despite the fact that only six of them have a winning record.
The National League also has 10 teams within a five-game span of a playoff berth, though nine from that group boast a winning record, and even non-contenders like the Miami Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates made some noise last week.
The coming weeks will ultimately determine who buys, who sells and who stands pat at this year's summer trade deadline.
All of that to say, these weekly MLB power rankings remain an extremely fluid process. If a team is winning, it will climb. If a team is losing, it will fall.
Nos. 30-28
1 of 12
30. Colorado Rockies (19-65)
Previous Rank: 30
Last Week: 0-3 vs. LAD, 1-2 @ MIL
After struggling to a 6.85 ERA over his first 10 starts, rookie Chase Dollander has strung together three solid outings in a row with a 4.08 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 17.2 innings. That might not sound like much, but in a lost season like the one the Rockies are plodding through this year, finding long-term building blocks is important.
29. Chicago White Sox (28-56)
Previous Rank: 29
Last Week: 1-2 vs. ARI, 2-1 vs. SF
In eight appearances since making his MLB debut on June 10, right-hander Grant Taylor has a 2.70 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and a 10-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 10 innings, tallying two saves and three holds in 10 appearances. He joins a growing list of potential keepers for the White Sox, alongside Miguel Vargas, Chase Meidroth, Shane Smith and the young catching tandem of Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero.
28. Athletics (34-52)
Previous Rank: 24
Last Week: 1-2 @ DET, 1-2 @ NYY
The Athletics are 4-8 over their last 12 games, and while they have some exciting young individual pieces, there are still a lot of gaps to fill before this is a viable contender. Left-hander Jacob Lopez tossed seven shutout innings against the Tigers on Wednesday for his third straight quality start, and he now has a 3.56 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 43 innings on the year.
Nos. 27-25
2 of 12
27. Washington Nationals (35-49)
Previous Rank: 28
Last Week: 1-2 @ SD, 2-1 @ LAA
The Nationals are 5-5 in their last 10 games since snapping an 11-game losing streak, and while they will likely sell off a few veteran pieces at the trade deadline, their young core gives them a lot of spoiler potential in the second half. Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Bell are both swinging it well of late, and that could be enough for them to generate interest in a thin market for bats.
26. Kansas City Royals (39-45)
Previous Rank: 19
Last Week: 0-3 vs. TB, 1-2 vs. LAD
With a 5-12 record over their last 17 games and three straight series losses, it might be time to start looking at the Royals through the lens of potential sellers. Starter Seth Lugo (15 GS, 2.74 ERA, 88.2 IP) is in the final guaranteed season of a three-year, $45 million contract that also includes a $15 million player option for 2026, but that will almost certainly be declined, making him the equivalent of a deadline rental.
25. Pittsburgh Pirates (35-50)
Previous Rank: 27
Last Week: 1-2 @ MIL, 3-0 vs. NYM
The Pirates played their best baseball of the season this past weekend against the Mets, outscoring the NL East contenders by a lopsided 30-4 margin over a three-game sweep. Bryan Reynolds (10-for-27, 5 2B, 2 HR), Ke'Bryan Hayes (9-for-20, 3 2B), Nick Gonzales (8-for-20, 2 2B, HR) and Tommy Pham (7-for-16, 2 HR) all had standout weeks at the plate for an offense that has been among the worst in baseball for much of the year.
Nos. 24-22
3 of 12
24. Minnesota Twins (40-44)
Previous Rank: 26
Last Week: 2-2 vs. SEA, 1-2 @ DET
The stark difference between May (18-8, +26 RD) and June (9-18, -45 RD) has made the Twins one of baseball's most confounding teams. They were good enough to rip off a 13-game winning streak earlier this year, but currently sit 3.5 games back with five teams to overtake for the final AL wild-card spot, so it might be tough to justify buying at the deadline.
23. Baltimore Orioles (36-47)
Previous Rank: 23
Last Week: 1-2 vs. TEX, 2-1 vs. TB
The Orioles front office is still "fighting and playing for 2025" despite their disappointing start to the year, though it still feels like it will take a serious hot streak to keep from shopping expiring contracts like Ryan O'Hearn, Zach Eflin, Tomoyuki Sugano and Cedric Mullins. With 13 of their next 19 games on the road where they are 17-25 on the year, the next few weeks could determine which side of the contention line they fall on.
22. Atlanta Braves (38-45)
Previous Rank: 21
Last Week: 2-2 @ NYM, 1-2 vs. PHI
The Braves lost seven in a row to start June, but they have gone 11-8 in their last 19 games to remain within striking distance of the wild-card race. A lot has gone wrong for Atlanta this season, but the emergence of Spencer Schwellenbach is a major positive as he sports a 3.09 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and a 108-to-18 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 110.2 innings.
Nos. 21-19
4 of 12
21. Miami Marlins (37-45)
Previous Rank: 25
Last Week: 3-0 @ SF, 3-0 @ ARI
The Marlins have baseball's longest active winning streak at seven in a row after sweeping the Giants and Diamondbacks on the road last week, and they are now 14-12 with a plus-three run differential in June. How many more wins before they start to consider hanging onto Sandy Alcántara, Edward Cabrera and the rest of their potential trade chips?
20. Cleveland Guardians (40-42)
Previous Rank: 17
Last Week: 1-2 vs. TOR, 0-3 vs. STL
The Guardians have been shut out three times in their last four games, and they rank dead-last in the majors in batting average (.206), OPS (.606) and runs per game (2.88) during June. They simply don't have a source of consistent offensive production outside of José Ramírez and Steven Kwan.
19. Boston Red Sox (41-44)
Previous Rank: 11
Last Week: 0-3 @ LAA, 1-2 vs. TOR
The Red Sox are 4-8 and averaging 3.83 runs per game since Rafael Devers played his final game for the team on June 15, and on Saturday, they used a lineup with Abraham Toro hitting third and Carlos Narváez hitting fourth. If the slide continues, Jarren Duran, Aroldis Chapman, Lucas Giolito and Walker Buehler could all find their way to other teams at the deadline.
Nos. 18-16
5 of 12
18. Texas Rangers (41-43)
Previous Rank: 20
Last Week: 2-1 @ BAL, 1-2 vs. SEA
If you had said going into the season that a healthy Jacob deGrom would have a 2.08 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 94 strikeouts in 95.1 innings, more than a few people would have assumed the Rangers would be perched atop the AL West standings. Instead, they are hovering around the .500 mark and stand as one of the most compelling buyer vs. seller decisions of the summer.
17. Arizona Diamondbacks (41-42)
Previous Rank: 18
Last Week: 2-1 @ CWS, 0-3 vs. MIA
The D-backs had a golden opportunity to pad their win total with consecutive series against the Rockies, White Sox and Marlins, but they went just 4-5 during that nine-game stretch. Merrill Kelly, Zac Gallen, Eugenio Suarez and Josh Naylor give the club four trade chips that could completely reshape a farm system that checked in No. 16 in our latest rankings.
16. Los Angeles Angels (41-42)
Previous Rank: 22
Last Week: 3-0 vs. BOS, 1-2 vs. WAS
The Angels are hanging around on the periphery of contention thanks to a 15-11 record in June, and offseason addition Yusei Kikuchi has been one of the most impactful signings of the winter. The 34-year-old has not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his last 11 starts, posting a 2.07 ERA with 71 strikeouts in 65.1 innings during that stretch.
Nos. 15-13
6 of 12
15. San Francisco Giants (45-39)
Previous Rank: 10
Last Week: 0-3 vs. MIA, 1-2 @ CWS
With a 4-10 record in their last 14 games, the Giants have hit a serious rough patch, and a 1-5 showing against the Marlins and White Sox last week was not a good look for a club with playoff aspirations. The offense ranks near the bottom of the league in batting average (.224, 28th) and OPS (.681, 25th) in June, and even after the Rafael Devers trade, they should still be hunting for bats at the deadline.
14. San Diego Padres (45-38)
Previous Rank: 14
Last Week: 2-1 vs. WAS, 1-2 @ CIN
The Padres were tied for first in the NL West standings on May 10 following a 21-0 blowout victory against the Rockies at Coors Field. Since then, they are 20-24 with a minus-37 run differential, and it might be time to start asking if this is a good team battling through a bad stretch or a flawed one that played over its head early on.
13. Seattle Mariners (43-40)
Previous Rank: 13
Last Week: 2-2 @ MIN, 2-1 @ TEX
The Mariners have not recorded consecutive series wins since the middle of May, yet they are still one of only six AL teams with a winning record. Catcher Cal Raleigh only added one home run to his season total last week, but he did reach base 15 times in seven games, including five intentional walks.
Nos. 12-10
7 of 12
12. Toronto Blue Jays (45-38)
Previous Rank: 16
Last Week: 2-1 @ CLE, 2-1 @ BOS
The Blue Jays have had some high highs and some low lows this season, including a 12-2 stretch of games that ended in mid-June and was immediately followed by a 3-9 span leading into last week. They are again on the upswing following a pair of series wins on the road, and they will look to use that momentum when they welcome the Yankees to town this week.
11. Cincinnati Reds (44-40)
Previous Rank: 15
Last Week: 2-1 vs. NYY, 2-1 vs. SD
The Reds released Jeimer Candelario last week midway through the second season of his three-year, $45 million deal, and for a team that has pinched pennies more than a few times in recent years, their willingness to swallow that loss speaks to a belief that they have a real shot at contention and can't afford to try to let him figure things out at the plate. Spencer Steer (12-for-23, 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI) is swinging a hot bat right now, and getting him going would be huge after he led the team in RBI in 2023 and 2024.
10. New York Mets (48-37)
Previous Rank: 7
Last Week: 2-2 vs. ATL, 0-3 @ PIT
Just three short weeks ago, the Mets were No. 1 in these rankings, but now there is a case to be made that they are ranked too high here at No. 10. With a 3-13 record in their last 16 games, the momentum meter is at zero right now. Losing Kodai Senga, Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning all since June 12 has left the starting rotation in shambles.
Nos. 9-7
8 of 12
9. New York Yankees (48-35)
Previous Rank: 8
Last Week: 1-2 @ CIN, 2-1 vs. ATH
After going 17-9 with a plus-42 run differential in May, the Yankees have looked far more like a fringe contender than a top-tier team this month, posting a 13-13 record while watching their AL East lead shrink from 5.5 games to just 1.5 games over the Rays. Newcomer Max Fried (10-2, 1.92 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 104 K, 108.0 IP) is on a short list to start the All-Star Game for the American League.
8. St. Louis Cardinals (47-38)
Previous Rank: 12
Last Week: 2-2 vs. CHC, 3-0 @ CLE
The Cardinals vaulted into contention with a 19-8 record in May, then stumbled to a 3-9 record over their first 12 games in June. But they have righted the ship and again look like one of the hottest teams in baseball. They shut out the Guardians twice in three games over the weekend behind strong starts from Sonny Gray (9.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 11 K) and Matthew Liberatore (6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 5 K).
7. Milwaukee Brewers (47-37)
Previous Rank: 9
Last Week: 2-1 vs. PIT, 2-1 vs. COL
The Brewers were only three games over .500 and struggling to put crooked numbers on the scoreboard on June 9, but they are 12-5 and averaging 6.12 runs per game since then. Rookie right-hander Jacob Misiorowski has burst onto the scene to go 3-0 with a 1.13 ERA and 0.63 WHIP while allowing just three hits and piling up 19 strikeouts in 16 innings.
Nos. 6-4
9 of 12
6. Tampa Bay Rays (47-37)
Previous Rank: 6
Last Week: 3-0 @ KC, 1-2 @ BAL
Often carried by their pitching staff, the Rays rank among the MLB leaders in batting average (.281, 1st), OPS (.795, 2nd) and runs per game (5.65, 1st) during a month of June when they have logged a 17-9 record. Their willingness to be both buyers and sellers at the trade deadline makes them one of the more compelling teams to watch this summer.
5. Chicago Cubs (49-35)
Previous Rank: 5
Last Week: 2-2 @ STL, 1-2 @ HOU
All things considered, a 3-4 showing on the road against the Cardinals and Astros was a respectable week for the Cubs, but they are now just 13-13 in June after their high-powered offense was shut out by Houston on Sunday. After missing 45 games, Shota Imanaga returned to the mound on Thursday and tossed five scoreless innings of one-hit ball, and he will give the rotation a massive boost.
4. Philadelphia Phillies (49-35)
Previous Rank: 2
Last Week: 0-3 @ HOU, 2-1 @ ATL
The Phillies rank second in the majors with a 3.13 ERA in June, but they have converted just 6-of-12 save opportunities this month, and the bullpen continues to be a glaring question mark for a team with real title aspirations. They might not be able to wait until deadline day to add to their relief corps, though an outfield also figures to be on their shopping list.
Nos. 3-1
10 of 12
3. Detroit Tigers (53-32)
Previous Rank: 3
Last Week: 2-1 vs. ATH, 2-1 vs. MIN
The Tigers shook things up a bit on Sunday when they activated Matt Vierling from the injured list and optioned shortstop Trey Sweeney to Triple-A. With a resurgent Javier Báez and super-utility man Zach McKinstry both also logging time at shortstop, the light-hitting Sweeney ended up as the odd man out on the infield. They are 14-5 against the rest of the AL Central this year after wrapping up a series victory over the Twins on Sunday Night Baseball.
2. Houston Astros (50-34)
Previous Rank: 4
Last Week: 3-0 vs. PHI, 2-1 vs. CHC
The Astros went 20-20 through their first 40 games and looked like they might be trending toward selling at the trade deadline, but their 30-14 record since then is the best in baseball. This might be the team that would benefit most from acquiring Sandy Alcántara, Seth Lugo or whichever starting pitcher they have atop their summer shopping list.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (53-32)
Previous Rank: 1
Last Week: 3-0 @ COL, 2-1 @ KC
The Astros had an impressive week against tougher competition, but the Dodgers did nothing to warrant dropping out of the No. 1 spot with a 5-1 record against the Rockies and Royals on the road. Since Tony Gonsolin hit the injured list, left-hander Justin Wrobleski has stepped into a bulk role and emerged as an X-factor on the staff. He allowed just three earned runs in 10 innings of work while picking up a pair of wins last week.
Complete Rankings
11 of 12
Complete Rankings
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. Houston Astros
3. Detroit Tigers
4. Philadelphia Phillies
5. Chicago Cubs
6. Tampa Bay Rays
7. Milwaukee Brewers
8. St. Louis Cardinals
9. New York Yankees
10. New York Mets
11. Cincinnati Reds
12. Toronto Blue Jays
13. Seattle Mariners
14. San Diego Padres
15. San Francisco Giants
16. Los Angeles Angels
17. Arizona Diamondbacks
18. Texas Rangers
19. Boston Red Sox
20. Cleveland Guardians
21. Miami Marlins
22. Atlanta Braves
23. Baltimore Orioles
24. Minnesota Twins
25. Pittsburgh Pirates
26. Kansas City Royals
27. Washington Nationals
28. Athletics
29. Chicago White Sox
30. Colorado Rockies
Stars of the Week
12 of 12
Hitter of the Week: Otto López, Miami Marlins
Stats: 11-for-26, 2 2B, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 8 R, SB
López quietly turned in a 2.6-WAR campaign in 2024 while serving as the Marlins' primary second baseman, and he is on his way to an even better season this year while shifting over to shortstop. The 26-year-old already has two more home runs than he hit all of last season, and he has quietly tacked 33 points onto his OPS, hitting .260/.331/.392 to go along with his standout glove work.
Pitcher of the Week: Sonny Gray, St. Louis Cardinals
Stats: 1 GS, SHO, 9.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 11 K
Gray needed just 89 pitches to record his first complete game shutout since July 28, 2015, allowing just one hit while tallying a season-high 11 strikeouts against the Guardians. The 35-year-old has been an All-Star three different times for three different teams in his career, and he might be on his way to adding a fourth in his second year in St. Louis.
Rookie of the Week: Agustín Ramírez, Miami Marlins
Stats: 11-for-25, 4 2B, 3B, HR, 6 RBI, 8 R
Ramírez enters play on Monday tied with Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz for the MLB lead among rookies with 12 home runs, and he also ranks among the top rookies in hits (59, t-fourth), doubles (15, t-third), RBI (33, t-2nd) and total bases (112, 2nd). The Marlins are playing their best baseball of the season right now, and Ramírez is right in the thick of things in the middle of their lineup.
