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MLB Power Rankings as Astros Sweep Dodgers to No. 1, Blue Jays Soar, Yankees Plummet
Do you remember back before this 2025 Major League Baseball season began, when six National League teams topped our preseason power rankings and it seemed inevitable that the NLCS was going to be more entertaining than the World Series?
Well, with everyone now roughly 90 games through their schedule, it's the American League's Houston Astros and Detroit Tigers occupying the top two spots in our latest power rankings, while the red-hot Toronto Blue Jays have surged comfortably into the top 10.
The NL is still well-represented at the top, of course, the senior circuit responsible for five of the eight teams that have reached the 50-win plateau. But the AL has cobbled together some serious contenders as we inch ever nearer to the All-Star break—and, two weeks later, the trade deadline.
Nos. 30-28: Rockies, White Sox and Guardians
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30. Colorado Rockies (21-69)
Previous Rank: 30
Last Week: 1-2 vs. HOU, 1-2 vs. CHW
Next Week: 3 @ BOS, 3 @ CIN
Since reeling off four consecutive road wins over Atlanta and Washington in mid-June, the Rockies have resumed their terrible ways, going 4-12 in their last 16 games. Picking fourth in next week's draft will provide a brief glimmer of hope for a brighter future, but it would be brighter if they were allowed to draft the top 10 pitchers in this year's class in one fell swoop.
29. Chicago White Sox (30-60)
Previous Rank: 29
Last Week: 0-3 @ LAD, 2-1 @ COL
Next Week: 3 vs. TOR, 4 vs. CLE
Don't look now, but the White Sox have won three of their last five series, including putting a nice cushion between themselves and the dead-last Rockies with those head-to-head victories in Denver this past weekend. And with an ERA down to 1.60 after going eight innings without allowing an earned run on Friday, Adrian Houser is rapidly becoming a must-have trade chip as a two-month rental.
28. Cleveland Guardians (40-48)
Previous Rank: 20
Last Week: 0-3 @ CHC, 0-3 vs. DET
Next Week: 3 @ HOU, 4 @ CHW
Maybe a bit harsh to send the Guards plummeting eight spots, straight past the likes of the A's and Nationals. But play like you're dead and we'll treat you like you're dead. Dating back to June 5, Cleveland has the worst record in baseball at 7-21 and has scored 26 fewer runs than the next-most hapless offense. It's been blanked five times during its 10-game losing skid.
Nos. 27-25: Athletics, Nationals and Braves
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27. Athletics (37-55)
Previous Rank: 28
Last Week: 2-1 @ TBR, 1-2 vs. SFG
Next Week: 3 vs. ATL, 3 vs. TOR
In the great battle of temporary minor league homes, the A's stole a series in Tampa Bay, winning the first game in the ninth and the second game in the 10th before almost mounting a furious ninth-inning comeback for what would have been a stunning sweep. They are now 37-26 when allowing fewer than eight runs...but 0-29 in those too-frequent reminders that this is the worst pitching staff outside of Colorado.
26. Washington Nationals (37-53)
Previous Rank: 27
Last Week: 2-1 vs. DET, 0-3 vs. BOS
Next Week: 3 @ STL, 3 @ MIL
Is it a bad sign when the manager and GM get fired a week before the draft? A fitting reminder of where this franchise is at in its continual rebuilding process, betting the over in every Nationals game has been quite the profitable strategy as of late, with at least nine total runs scored in 13 of their last 15 games. With James Wood and CJ Abrams leading the offense, they really should have more than 37 wins by now. But then you look at the pitching beyond MacKenzie Gore, and it's hard to believe they aren't closer to the Rockies in the MLB basement.
25. Atlanta Braves (39-50)
Previous Rank: 22
Last Week: 1-2 vs. LAA, 0-3 vs. BAL
Next Week: 3 @ ATH, 3 @ STL
Six straight against the roughly .500 Angels and nowhere-near-.500 Orioles was the golden opportunity for the Braves to finally get right. Had they swept both series, they would have improved to 44-45, just a few games back in the NL wild card picture. Instead, they lost both series, and it's now almost inevitable they will hit the trade deadline with a losing record and minimal hope of salvaging the season. Spencer Strider losing to former teammate Charlie Morton on July 4 felt like something of a symbolic final nail in the coffin.
Nos. 24-22: Pirates, Royals and Orioles
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24. Pittsburgh Pirates (38-53)
Previous Rank: 25
Last Week: 3-0 vs. STL, 0-3 @ SEA
Next Week: 3 @ KCR, 3 @ MIN
Following a three-game sweep of the Mets by a cumulative score of 30-4, the Pirates shut out the Cardinals three straight times in what was a six-game homestand for the ages. But that woebegone Pittsburgh offense resurfaced in Seattle for back-to-back-to-back scoreless losses. We're all curious to find out what, aside from Paul Skenes and Andrew McCutchen, will be left on this roster a little over three weeks from now.
23. Kansas City Royals (43-48)
Previous Rank: 26
Last Week: 2-2 @ SEA, 2-1 @ ARI
Next Week: 3 vs. PIT, 3 vs. NYM
The Royals entered the week as losers of seven of their last eight, as well as 15 of their last 21. A West Coast road trip that included a 10:10 pm ET start on Thursday in Seattle and a game in Arizona less than 24 hours later threatened to bury their season once and for all. But they stopped the bleeding, at least a little, even winning both halves of that brutal back-to-back sequence. They still have the lowest-scoring offense in the majors, though, and the Seth Lugo trade talk is getting louder by the day.
22. Baltimore Orioles (40-49)
Previous Rank: 23
Last Week: 1-2 @ TEX, 3-0 @ ATL
Next Week: 3 vs. NYM, 3 vs. MIA
It remains wholly unclear whether Baltimore will embrace a trade-deadline fire sale, as a pair of extra-innings wins this week helped keep the O's almost, sort of, kind of on the fringe of the AL wild-card picture. They're now 24-15 since their disastrous 16-34 start, and they finally got Tyler O'Neill back on Friday after nearly two months on the shelf. This six-game homestand heading into the All-Star break looms all sorts of large.
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Nos. 21-19: Twins, Marlins and Angels
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21. Minnesota Twins (43-47)
Previous Rank: 24
Last Week: 1-2 @ MIA, 2-1 vs. TBR
Next Week: 3 vs. CHC, 3 vs. PIT
Second-best in the AL Central; bottom 10 in the majors. Such is life for a Twins team that had lost 19 of 26 prior to back-to-back walk-off wins over the Rays this weekend. Could that be the spark that brings them back to life? Capitalizing on book-ending the All-Star break with series wins against Pittsburgh and Colorado will be crucial.
20. Miami Marlins (40-48)
Previous Rank: 21
Last Week: 2-1 vs. MIN, 1-2 vs. MIL
Next Week: 4 @ CIN, 3 @ BAL
The Marlins have become quite the nuisance to playoff hopefuls, winning consecutive series against Atlanta, San Francisco, Arizona and Minnesota before taking one of three from Milwaukee. The Fish have had the best record in the National League dating back to June 20 (11-4). They would need to remain about that hot for another three weeks in order to justify not selling at the deadline, but what an unexpected tear from a squad that was swept at home by the Rockies in early June.
19. Los Angeles Angels (43-46)
Previous Rank: 16
Last Week: 2-1 @ ATL, 0-3 @ TOR
Next Week: 4 vs. TEX, 3 vs. ARI
After starting the season 5-0 in games that went to extra innings, those situations have become anything but heavenly for the Halos. They ended the previous week with an 11th-inning loss to the Nationals, and proceeded to lose consecutive 4-3 extra-innings affairs in Toronto this past weekend. They just keep hanging around .500, though, despite a minus-49 run differential that suggests they should be 11 games below .500. We'll see if they can maintain that "2023 Miami Marlins" magic for a few more months.
Nos. 18-16: Diamondbacks, Rangers and Red Sox
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18. Arizona Diamondbacks (44-46)
Previous Rank: 17
Last Week: 2-2 vs. SFG, 1-2 vs. KCR
Next Week: 4 @ SDP, 3 @ LAA
Rather than one of the many well-compensated starting pitchers on this roster, could it be Ryne Nelson who saves Arizona's season? A bulk reliever/spot starter until Corbin Burnes went down for the count, Nelson has a 1.53 ERA over his last five appearances, all of which have been wins for the Diamondbacks. He gave them a pair of quality starts this week, including carrying a perfect game into the sixth inning against the Royals.
17. Texas Rangers (44-46)
Previous Rank: 18
Last Week: 2-1 vs. BAL, 1-2 @ SDP
Next Week: 4 @ LAA, 3 @ HOU
Speaking of unexpected sources of quality starts, Patrick Corbin delivered two of his own this past week, continuing to play a key, $1.1 million role at the back of what is arguably the best rotation in baseball. Rangers bats are finally showing sustained signs of life, too, scoring at least six runs in seven of their last 11 games. Could still be a big second-half surge coming from a team only a few games back in the wild-card picture.
16. Boston Red Sox (46-45)
Previous Rank: 19
Last Week: 2-1 vs. CIN, 3-0 @ WAS
Next Week: 3 vs. COL, 4 vs. TBR
The Red Sox seem to go from thriving to dying and back again on a weekly basis, but this was one of the promising stretches with Trevor Story headlining a battalion of bats that refused to be silenced. The veteran shortstop entered Sunday on a seven-game hitting streak with a 1.390 OPS, and promptly welcomed Shinnosuke Ogasawara to the majors with a 429-foot tank job in the first inning. Take care of business against the Rockies and that four-game set against the Rays ought to determine which AL East team enters the All-Star break in playoff position.
Nos. 15-13: Reds, Padres and Yankees
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15. Cincinnati Reds (46-44)
Previous Rank: 11
Last Week: 1-2 @ BOS, 1-2 @ PHI
Next Week: 4 vs. MIA, 3 vs. COL
Bit of a tough week on the road for the Reds, but no time like the present to make their move, just a couple games back in the wild-card hunt with seven straight at home against Miami and Colorado on tap. At the very least, they need to make more of this opportunity than they did in losing their home series against both the Nationals and the White Sox in the first half of May. Because it's this week that figures to determine whether they'll be buying bats or selling arms later this month.
14. San Diego Padres (48-41)
Previous Rank: 14
Last Week: 1-2 @ PHI, 2-1 vs. TEX
Next Week: 4 vs. ARI, 3 vs. PHI
Entering play on Sunday, San Diego had been held to six runs or fewer in 18 consecutive games—a stretch in which Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill each hit .200 or worse. But the Padres managed to more or less tread water with an 8-10 record, still right there in the playoff race for when that indispensable trio of bats wakes back up.
13. New York Yankees (49-41)
Previous Rank: 9
Last Week: 0-4 @ TOR, 1-2 @ NYM
Next Week: 3 vs. SEA, 3 vs. CHC
Between a six-game losing streak, an already thin rotation losing Clarke Schmidt to Tommy John surgery and Aaron Judge getting hit in the head by a baseball thrown by his own teammate, the Yankees' tailspin has reached a "Maybe taking a flyer on Jeimer Candelario will help us?" level of desperation. Since starting 42-25, they've suffered more losses (16) than any other team and may no longer have the luxury of waiting until the trade deadline to start addressing their shortcomings.
Nos. 12-10: Giants, Cardinals and Rays
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12. San Francisco Giants (49-42)
Previous Rank: 15
Last Week: 2-2 @ ARI, 2-1 @ ATH
Next Week: 3 vs. PHI, 3 vs. LAD
Logan Webb tossed his eighth consecutive (and MLB-leading 15th overall) quality start in Saturday's win over the Athletics, this coming two days after Robbie Ray's complete game victory over the Diamondbacks. When either of those aces with a sub-2.70 ERA is on the mound, you've got to like the Giants' chances of getting the win. Whether they'll remain in the playoff hunt hinges on the rest of the rotation, though, as well as Rafael Devers (.707 OPS with the Giants) starting to hit like he did with Boston (.905 OPS).
11. St. Louis Cardinals (48-43)
Previous Rank: 8
Last Week: 0-3 @ PIT, 1-2 @ CHC
Next Week: 3 vs. WSN, 3 vs. ATL
Prior to a series at Wrigley Field that was bursting with home runs, the Cardinals had played an eight-game stretch in which seven of the games were shutouts. Unfortunately, it was their bats putting up the goose egg in five of those seven contests, including all three games in Pittsburgh to open this past week. With only one of their next six series coming against a team with a winning record, they should still be in the playoff picture at the trade deadline. However, that showing against the Pirates was a sobering reminder that anything can happen.
10. Tampa Bay Rays (49-41)
Previous Rank: 6
Last Week: 1-2 vs. ATH, 1-2 @ MIN
Next Week: 3 @ DET, 4 @ BOS
'Twas a brutal "close but no cigar" week for the Rays, losing back-to-back games to the A's in which they were tied heading into the ninth, almost blowing a four-run lead in the ninth inning of the series finale and then losing two more games to the Twins in which they were tied heading into the ninth. All of a sudden, what was the hottest team in baseball from May 20 through June 26 (winning 25 of 34 games) has lost consecutive series to the O's, A's and Twins. No rest for the weary, either, with seven tough road games standing between the Rays and the All-Star break.
Nos. 9-7: Mariners, Brewers and Mets
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9. Seattle Mariners (48-42)
Previous Rank: 13
Last Week: 2-2 vs. KCR, 3-0 vs. PIT
Next Week: 3 @ NYY, 3 @ DET
Through June 12, Seattle had a sub-.500 record and a teamwide 4.06 ERA. Since then, though, only the Phillies have had a lower ERA than the M's mark of 2.91, getting back to their 2024 ways of racking up quality starts. Bryan Woo, Luis Castillo and George Kirby were masterful in shutting out the Pirates this weekend. We'll see if that pitching can remain on point to carry them through the upcoming Yankees-Tigers-Astros-Brewers gauntlet.
8. Milwaukee Brewers (50-40)
Previous Rank: 7
Last Week: 1-2 @ NYM, 2-1 @ MIA
Next Week: 3 vs. LAD, 3 vs. WSN
Pitching for the first time since late in the 2023 campaign, Brandon Woodruff's return to the Brewers on Sunday went about as well as they could have realistically hoped for, allowing just two hits while whiffing eight in six innings for a win over the Marlins. With him back in the fold, the Brew Crew now have a rather formidable six-man rotation, with a none-too-shabby bullpen to boot. Two of their next three series will come against the Dodgers, so we'll have a better sense in two weeks just how legitimate this contender is.
7. New York Mets (52-39)
Previous Rank: 10
Last Week: 2-1 vs. MIL, 2-1 vs. NYY
Next Week: 3 @ BAL, 3 @ KCR
Taking two out of three from Milwaukee before also winning Round 2 of the Subway Series was enough for the Mets to gain back the ground they lost last week. They're still 1.5 games behind the Phillies in the NL East, but for as problematic as things were getting there for a bit as they lost 14 out of 17 games, the four-game winning streak arguably reestablished the Mets as the best team not currently leading its division.
Nos. 6-4: Blue Jays, Phillies and Cubs
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6. Toronto Blue Jays (52-38)
Previous Rank: 12
Last Week: 4-0 vs. NYY, 3-0 vs. LAA
Next Week: 3 @ CHW, 3 @ ATH
What a difference eight days can make, eh? After last Saturday's 15-1 shellacking at the hands of the Red Sox, Toronto was three games back in the AL East with a minus-6 run differential, loosely maintaining grip on a projected playoff spot. Eight wins later, the run differential (plus-12) remains highly suspect, but hard to argue with a three-game lead in what is again looking like the best division in baseball. And for it, they largely can thank George Springer going 12-for-22 with five home runs in his first five games in July.
5. Philadelphia Phillies (53-37)
Previous Rank: 4
Last Week: 2-1 vs. SDP, 2-1 vs. CIN
Next Week: 3 @ SFG, 3 @ SDP
Rest assured, we will gush about Zack Wheeler in the Stars of the Week section, as his two-start dominance this week allowed the Phillies to maintain their lead over the Mets in the NL East. Beyond that ace, at least the offense showed up a bit this time around. They were held to two runs or fewer in five of six games the previous week. Compared to that, scoring at least three (but never more than six) in each game was a major surge.
4. Chicago Cubs (54-36)
Previous Rank: 5
Last Week: 3-0 vs. CLE, 2-1 vs. STL
Next Week: 3 @ MIN, 3 @ NYY
After losing seven of their final 11 games of June, opening July against the "can't buy a win lately" Guardians was just what the doctor ordered for the Cubs. They swept that one before lighting up the Cardinals for a franchise-record eight home runs in the first game of that big NL Central showdown. The Cubs (+115) and Tigers (+106) are presently the only teams with a (positive) run differential in the triple digits.
Nos. 3-1: Dodgers, Tigers and Astros
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3. Los Angeles Dodgers (56-35)
Previous Rank: 1
Last Week: 3-0 vs. CHW, 0-3 vs. HOU
Next Week: 3 @ MIL, 3 @ SFG
Losing Max Muncy to a knee injury moments before Clayton Kershaw's 3000th career strikeout and about an hour before winning that game in come-from-behind, walk-off fashion was quite the emotional Wednesday for the Dodgers. Perhaps too emotional, though, as after sweeping the hapless White Sox, the Dodgers couldn't bother to show up for any of the three (World Series preview?) games against the Astros. At least Shohei Ohtani gave them two excellent innings in one of those losses. We look forward to watching him gradually ramp up his stamina until he's ready for regular rotational work in October.
2. Detroit Tigers (57-34)
Previous Rank: 3
Last Week: 1-2 @ WSN, 3-0 @ CLE
Next Week: 3 vs. TBR, 3 vs. SEA
As mentioned, Zack Wheeler is our pitching star of the week, but goodness gracious did Tarik Skubal ever make it a tough call, making two starts with a combined line of 14.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 23 K. Having him start for the American League in the All-Star Game is the ultimate no-brainer, as he is starting to really run away with a second consecutive Cy Young Award.
1. Houston Astros (55-35)
Previous Rank: 2
Last Week: 2-1 @ COL, 3-0 @ LAD
Next Week: 3 vs. CLE, 3 vs. TEX
Kind of funny that in a week with three games against our No. 30 and our previous No. 1, Houston's lone loss came against the unredeemable mess. And the Astros didn't just sweep the Dodgers. They whooped them, at Dodger Stadium, by a cumulative score of 29-6. They are now 24-8 since the beginning of June, this despite a star-studded IL that runs 15 players deep and suggests they could get even better with a bit of improved injury luck.
Complete Rankings
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Complete Rankings
- Houston Astros
- Detroit Tigers
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- Chicago Cubs
- Philadelphia Phillies
- Toronto Blue Jays
- New York Mets
- Milwaukee Brewers
- Seattle Mariners
- Tampa Bay Rays
- St. Louis Cardinals
- San Francisco Giants
- New York Yankees
- San Diego Padres
- Cincinnati Reds
- Boston Red Sox
- Texas Rangers
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- Los Angeles Angels
- Miami Marlins
- Minnesota Twins
- Baltimore Orioles
- Kansas City Royals
- Pittsburgh Pirates
- Atlanta Braves
- Washington Nationals
- Athletics
- Cleveland Guardians
- Chicago White Sox
- Colorado Rockies
Stars of the Week
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Hitter of the Week: Michael Busch, Chicago Cubs
Stats: 13-for-23, 4 HR, 7 RBI
If forced to guess who leads the Cubs' relentless offense in OPS, most would probably go with Kyle Tucker, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki or even Carson Kelly after the way he started the year. But after three games this week with at least three hits, including a three-homer extravaganza against the Cardinals, it's actually Michael Busch, who just might be the biggest snub from Sunday's announcement of the All-Star Game reserves.
Busch entered Sunday night's game against St. Louis with a .356/.420/.733 triple-slash dating back to June 1. Among the 183 players with at least 100 plate appearances during that time, he ranks No. 1 in slugging, No. 4 in batting average and No. 9 in on-base percentage. Time to put some more respect on his name.
Pitcher of the Week: Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies
Stats: 2 GS, 17.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 22 K
Zack Wheeler entered this week already enjoying the best season of his career—which is really saying something, as no pitcher could hold a candle to his 24.6 fWAR from 2020-24. He had allowed eight earned runs over his previous eight starts, most of which came in one implosion in Atlanta, bringing his ERA down to 2.45.
And then he tossed eight scoreless innings against the Padres before throwing a one-hitter in Sunday's win over the Reds, lowering his ERA further to 2.17.
As masterful as Paul Skenes has been this season, Wheeler really ought to start the All-Star Game.
Rookie of the Week: Jasson Domínguez, New York Yankees
Stats: 11-for-26, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 2 SB
Coincidentally, it was when the Yankees gave Domínguez the day off on Sunday that they finally snapped their six-game losing skid. Let's just say, though, it wasn't his fault they were struggling. If anything, his four multi-hit performances helped keep most of those games close while Yankees pitching disappointed time and again.
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