Ranking MLB's 10 Best Teams of the Last 3 Seasons
As we prepare to sink our teeth into what figures to be one of the most wide-open Octobers in Major League Baseball postseason history, we've ranked the 10 best MLB teams over the course of the past three seasons.
Ranking was based on a combination of overall winning percentage, teamwide FanGraphs WAR, teamwide Baseball-Reference WAR, postseason appearances (including projected for 2025) and postseason success in 2023-24.
Sustained success is the name of the game here. Both the Guardians and the Mets were first runners-up for their respective pennants last year, but neither one was actually all that close to cracking this top 10 thanks to losing seasons in 2023 and what is currently a great big question mark as to whether they'll be playing this October. Even the 2023 World Series-winning Rangers only barely made the cut.
All records and statistics current through the start of play on Sunday, Sept. 14.
Honorable Mentions
1 of 11
Tampa Bay Rays (252-220, made postseason in 2023)
Had this been a five-year ranking instead of three years, Tampa Bay surely cracks the top 10. As is, the Rays had a sensational 99-win season in 2023, followed by what might end up being back-to-back losing campaigns. And that 2023 run turned unsensational in a hurry with just one run scored in the postseason.
Chicago Cubs (250-222, will make playoffs this year)
After back-to-back 83-79 seasons, the Cubs have broken through to become a legitimate contender again this year. They need that offense to wake back up, though. After averaging 5.8 runs per game through the first 60, they've been the lowest scoring of the likely playoff teams at 4.2 R/G since June 3.
Detroit Tigers (248-225, ALDS in 2024, postseason-bound in 2025)
Detroit certainly takes the cake for most improved since the outset of the 2023 campaign, surging to the 2024 postseason before becoming the team to beat in the first half of this season. Could the Fightin' Tarik Skubals make a deep run this October?
Toronto Blue Jays (249-223, made postseason in 2023, will make it this year)
Barring a collapse in these final two weeks, the Blue Jays are going to win the AL East for just the second time in the past three decades. They also should surpass 93 wins in a season for the first time since '93. But last year's last-place mess of a season cost them a spot in the top 10.
Arizona Diamondbacks (247-226, made World Series in 2023)
Aside from the Dodgers, the D-Backs have scored the most runs since the beginning of 2023. Unfortunately, all that offense hasn't been enough, missing the postseason in 2024 and likely missing this year, too. They've invested heavily in pitching over the past two years, but injuries and underachieving on the mound kept them from making the cut.
10. Seattle Mariners
2 of 11
Record: 88-74 in 2023, 85-77 in 2024, 81-68 in 2025, 254-219 overall (.537 win%)
Postseason: Narrowly missed in both 2023 and 2024; battling for what would be first AL West title since 2001
Pitching: 48.7 fWAR, 39.5 bWAR
Hitting: 70.5 fWAR, 76.9 bWAR
MVP: Cal Raleigh
.231/.326/.489, 117 HR, 288 RBI, 20 SB
Temporarily ignore 2025 and it would have been a really close call between Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez for MVP of the M's over the past two seasons. But even with J-Rod putting together an excellent campaign, it has become impossible to not pick the Big Dumper here, now that the 2024 Platinum Glove recipient is vying for 2025 AL MVP and on the verge of what would be just the 22nd season of at least 55 home runs in MLB history.
Cy Young: Logan Gilbert
26-25, 513.2 IP, 3.49 ERA, 3.47 FIP, 0.99 WHIP, 10.0 K/9
Cases could be made for both George Kirby and Luis Castillo in this spot. Of the trio, though, Gilbert has the lowest ERA, lowest WHIP and highest strikeout rate—though minimal run support has left him with a barely .500 record to show for it. That Gilbert only managed a 9-12 record while leading the majors in both innings pitched and WHIP in 2024 was an outrageous waste of a sensational season. At any rate, when Justin Verlander led the majors in both categories in 2019, he won 21 games.
Overall Synopsis
The kings of doing just enough to barely miss the playoffs are right back in their painfully familiar home. Seattle missed the postseason by a one-game margin in each of 2023 and 2024—this after coming up two games short in 2021—and has been locked in a tight race for both the AL West title and the final wild card spot for more than a month. Whether they make it back to October or not, the Mariners are likely going to end up as one of just five teams to win at least 85 games in each of these three seasons in question, and the other four make up the quartet atop this ranking.
9. Texas Rangers
3 of 11
Record: 90-72 in 2023, 78-84 in 2024, 79-70 in 2025, 247-226 overall (.522 win%)
Postseason: World Series champs in 2023, missed in 2024, making a desperate push for October 2025
Pitching: 42.6 fWAR, 25.4 bWAR
Hitting: 69.1 fWAR, 87.1 bWAR
MVP: Corey Seager
.294/.372/.544, 84 HR, 220 RBI, 6 SB
While Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani have jostled for the title of best hitter over the past three seasons, Seager has been quite the "If he could just stay healthy" superstar. Even while playing in just 344 of Texas' 473 games, he is top 10 among all hitters in fWAR, boasting a .916 OPS and a "per 162 games" average of 40 home runs and 104 RBI. And during the Rangers' magical 2023 postseason, Seager had a 1.106 OPS and was named World Series MVP.
Cy Young: Nathan Eovaldi
35-16, 444.2 IP, 3.14 ERA, 3.55 FIP, 1.04 WHIP, 8.6 K/9
Eovaldi had already been solid over the past two seasons, including being named an All-Star in 2023 before going 5-0 that postseason with a 2.95 ERA. But he kicked it up a few notches this year with a preposterous 1.73 ERA and 0.85 WHIP in 130 innings pitched. For nearly identical marks (1.75 and 0.83, respectively) in 175.1 IP in 2022, Justin Verlander was the unanimous AL Cy Young winner. It's a shame Eovaldi was only able to make 22 starts before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.
Overall Synopsis
The Rangers have run the gamut over the past few years. 2023 was a breakout success story after six consecutive losing seasons, followed immediately by a 2024 campaign that was a colossal letdown. They had arguably the best offense two years ago; arguably the best pitching staff this year. But take it all together and they've been marginally better than average, that 2023 ring helping to make up for the fact that they rank 14th in winning percentage, 13th in fWAR and 13th in bWAR.
.png?w=256)
8. Baltimore Orioles
4 of 11
Record: 101-61 in 2023, 91-71 in 2024, 69-79 in 2025, 261-211 overall (.553 win%)
Postseason: Swept out of ALDS in 2023, Swept out of wild-card round in 2024, will miss in 2025
Pitching: 45.8 fWAR, 36.7 bWAR
Hitting: 64.6 fWAR, 72.3 bWAR
MVP: Gunnar Henderson
.269/.346/.489, 81 HR, 236 RBI, 54 SB
Hard to imagine there will be any arguments against this pick. Henderson won AL Rookie of the Year in 2023, finished top 10 for AL MVP in each of the past two seasons and would be in the running for another top 10 finish this year if Baltimore hadn't been the league's biggest underachiever. He's one of seven players with at least 80 home runs and 50 stolen bases since the beginning of 2023, and he just turned 24 a couple months ago.
Cy Young: Kyle Bradish
14-8, 225.0 IP, 2.80 ERA, 3.11 FIP, 1.04 WHIP, 9.7 K/9
Tommy John surgery kept Bradish out for most of 2024 and most of 2025, but he has been excellent when available, working on a third consecutive season with a sub-3.00 ERA. In fact, among the 150 pitchers with at least 220 innings pitched in this window, Bradish has the sixth-lowest ERA, nestled between Gerrit Cole and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. He placed fourth in the AL Cy Young vote in 2023, giving the Orioles 18 quality starts.
Overall Synopsis
Even though this season has been a mess, the Orioles have the fourth-best winning percentage since the beginning of 2023. No one won 100 games last year and it's not looking likely that anyone will get there this year, but that 101-win campaign in 2023 was one of the best in franchise history. It's a shame they have thus far squandered this window, though, last winning a postseason game in 2014 and failing to finalize long-term extensions with any of the stars of this run.
7. San Diego Padres
5 of 11
Record: 82-80 in 2023, 93-69 in 2024, 81-68 in 2025, 256-217 overall (.541 win%)
Postseason: Missed in 2023, lost in 2024 NLDS, very likely headed for a 2025 wild card spot
Pitching: 53.9 fWAR, 63.5 bWAR
Hitting: 70.0 fWAR, 63.0 bWAR
MVP: Fernando Tatis Jr.
.264/.342/.455, 68 HR, 192 RBI, 69 SB
Though Tatis is nowhere near the slugger that he used to be before the PEDs suspension—he had a .596 SLG in his first three seasons—he's still a plus hitter, an elite right fielder and the face of this franchise. If he hits three more home runs down the stretch, it would be the third 25 HR / 25 SB campaign of his still-young career.
Cy Young: Blake Snell
14-9, 180.0 IP, 2.25 ERA, 3.44 FIP, 1.19 WHIP, 11.7 K/9
Not an obvious pick here, as basically this entire pitching staff has turned over in the past three years. So, why not just go with the actual Cy Young winner? Though he issued more walks (99) than anyone, Snell was virtually unhittable in 2023, repeatedly wriggling out of jams for an MLB-best ERA and the third-most strikeouts (234) in the majors. He tossed 20 quality starts and had a total of 29 outings of at least five innings with three or fewer earned runs allowed.
Overall Synopsis
Going 82-80 with a +104 run differential in 2023 was an all-timer of an "unlucky" season, made all the more painful by the departures of Snell, Juan Soto, Josh Hader, Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha that offseason. However, they came back almost better than ever in 2024, coming ever so close to knocking the Dodgers out of the NLDS. And now they are battling once again to climb out from behind the shadow of that NL West rival.
6. New York Yankees
6 of 11
Record: 82-80 in 2023, 94-68 in 2024, 83-65 in 2025, 259-213 overall (.549 win%)
Postseason: Missed in 2023, lost in 2024 World Series, very likely headed for a 2025 wild card spot
Pitching: 42.5 fWAR, 50.8 bWAR
Hitting: 78.1 fWAR, 66.7 bWAR
MVP: Aaron Judge
.309/.441/.669, 142 HR, 320 RBI, 24 SB
I mean, who else, right? With a 24.6 fWAR since the beginning of 2023, not only has Judge been the most valuable player in all of baseball, but he has been worth darn near three times as much WAR as the next-closest Yankee. If there was such a thing as a "three-year Triple Crown," Judge would almost have one, second only to Luis Arraez in batting average (.318), second only to Shohei Ohtani in home runs (147) and second only to Kyle Schwarber in RBI (334)—this despite missing 56 games in 2023.
Cy Young: Gerrit Cole
23-9, 304.0 IP, 2.87 ERA, 3.33 FIP, 1.03 WHIP, 9.5 K/9
Though he missed the first half of the 2024 season as well as the entire 2025 campaign, this wasn't even a close call. That's probably an indictment on the general state of this pitching staff in recent years, but Cole's Cy Young season in 2023 certainly was special, leading the AL in innings pitched (209), ERA (2.63) and WHIP (0.98).
Overall Synopsis
Even with Cole's dynamite run through 2023, it wasn't enough to make up for an offense where everyone other than Judge combined for a .676 OPS. But temporarily bringing in Juan Soto gave the Yankees a dynamic duo good enough to get them back to a World Series for the first time since 2009. Given A) the way they are mashing home runs at a team-wide level this year and B) the wide-open state of this year's American League, a second consecutive pennant could be in the offing.
5. Atlanta Braves
7 of 11
Record: 104-58 in 2023, 89-73 in 2024, 65-83 in 2025, 258-214 overall (.547 win%)
Postseason: Lost in 2023 NLDS, lost in 2024 wild card round, fighting for 2026 draft lottery position
Pitching: 48.7 fWAR, 48.0 bWAR
Hitting: 74.8 fWAR, 79.9 bWAR
MVP: Ronald Acuña Jr.
.307/.400/.529, 61 HR, 154 RBI, 95 SB
You could certainly make the case for Matt Olson here, as he marches onward toward one of the 10 longest games played streaks in MLB history, doing so with 108 home runs and an .875 OPS since the beginning of 2023. But while Olson has been perpetually available, it's Acuña who has been magical when healthy, making history in 2023 with that 41 HR / 73 SB NL MVP campaign.
Cy Young: Chris Sale
23-8, 284.2 IP, 2.43 ERA, 2.28 FIP, 1.05 WHIP, 11.6 K/9
Over his final five injury-riddled years with the Red Sox, Sale made just 56 starts with a 4.16 ERA; a shell of the ace who was an All-Star and Cy Young vote recipient in each season from 2012-18. But getting traded to Atlanta reignited "Vintage Sale," winning the NL Cy Young in 2024 and pitching almost as well this season, albeit missing 10 weeks on the IL. The Braves won 22 of his 29 starts last season and went 67-68 in all other games (including postseason).
Overall Synopsis
Just like Baltimore at No. 8 on the list, this one rings mighty hollow as Atlanta tries to win enough down the stretch to avoid posting a sub-.440 winning percentage for what would be only the third time since 1990. But that 104-win season in 2023 was the most impressive run by any team in the past three years, even if it did end with an embarrassing exit in the NLDS. And though the streak is coming to an end, they were one of six teams to make the playoffs in each of the past two years, doing so in seven straight seasons.
4. Houston Astros
8 of 11
Record: 90-72 in 2023, 88-73 in 2024, 81-68 in 2025, 259-213 overall (.549 win%)
Postseason: Lost in 2023 ALCS, lost in 2024 wild card round, likely returning to wild card round in 2025
Pitching: 48.6 fWAR, 52.8 bWAR
Hitting: 71.2 fWAR, 76.0 bWAR
MVP: Yordan Alvarez
.297/.393/.552, 72 HR, 210 RBI, 7 SB
No shortage of viable candidates for this spot, including current Cub Kyle Tucker and current Red Sock (that's the singular of Red Sox, yeah?) Alex Bregman. But despite a brutal start to 2025 and just 308 games played since the beginning of 2023, hard to pick against Alvarez for his team-leading marks in home runs, RBI and slugging percentage. It's still tough to believe that his 13 hits and 1.309 OPS in the 2023 ALCS wasn't enough to get Houston past the Rangers.
Cy Young: Framber Valdez
39-27, 550.2 IP, 3.27 ERA, 3.32 FIP, 1.14 WHIP, 8.8 K/9
Valdez's lasting legacy as an Astro has taken a bit of a complicated turn in recent weeks as he approaches free agency for the first time in his career, but he's still ahead of Hunter Brown as the relatively clear choice here. Save for Logan Webb in San Francisco, Valdez has logged more innings than any other pitcher since the beginning of 2023. He's also the only pitcher averaging more than one complete game per season with a total of five, including that no-hitter in August 2023.
Overall Synopsis
The Astros have been much more of a "barely makes the playoffs" team than the juggernaut that they were from 2017-22, but they are still likely headed for a ninth consecutive October, where they are always a threat. And with Carlos Correa back in the mix alongside Alvarez, Valdez and Jose Altuve, they might be able to get into a "just like old times" groove in the postseason.
3. Milwaukee Brewers
9 of 11
Record: 92-70 in 2023, 93-69 in 2024, 91-58 in 2025, 276-197 overall (.584 win%)
Postseason: Lost in wild card round in both 2023 and 2024, clinched playoff berth and ought to avoid wild card round this year
Pitching: 45.3 fWAR, 55.4 bWAR
Hitting: 73.4 fWAR, 69.3 bWAR
MVP: William Contreras
.278/.363/.444, 57 HR, 244 RBI, 21 SB
Contreras was a Silver Slugger and a recipient of NL MVP votes in each of the past two seasons. He ranked second in the majors in hits by a primary catcher in each of 2023 and 2024, and he is well on his way to No. 1 in that department in what might be his third consecutive year with at least 150 hits. It flies a bit under the radar compared to Cal Raleigh's slugging in Seattle, but Contreras has been Milwaukee's heart and soul since relocating from Atlanta in Dec. 2022.
Cy Young: Freddy Peralta
39-25, 503.0 IP, 3.42 ERA, 3.88 FIP, 1.14 WHIP, 10.7 K/9
Long overshadowed by Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff, Peralta has really embraced the ace role this season, posting a 2.69 ERA as he closes in on a third consecutive year with at least 200 strikeouts. He previously has never received votes for NL Cy Young, but he's surely headed for no worse than a third-place finish this year.
Overall Synopsis
Little ol' Milwaukee ranking this high might surprise some people, but the Brewers are going to win their third straight NL Central title, posted MLB's fifth-best record in 2023, had the fourth-best record in 2024 and have been this season's best team for nearly two months at this point. Will it finally matter in October, though? Milwaukee has gone 2-10 overall in the postseason, losing all five series dating back to 2019.
2. Philadelphia Phillies
10 of 11
Record: 90-72 in 2023, 95-67 in 2024, 89-60 in 2025, 274-199 overall (.579 win%)
Postseason: Lost in 2023 NLCS, lost in 2024 NLDS, clinched playoff berth and looking good for another first-round bye
Pitching: 68.9 fWAR, 67.4 bWAR
Hitting: 74.1 fWAR, 74.8 bWAR
MVP: Bryce Harper
.282/.377/.510, 77 HR, 231 RBI, 29 SB
Of all the MVP and Cy Young picks, this was the toughest call. Kyle Schwarber has hit 60 more home runs than any other Phillie in this window, and Trea Turner is probably tops on the team in overall value added, considering he is an elite baserunner and respectable shortstop. But when you think "Phillies star," you think Bryce Harper, as he has been the lifeblood of the franchise since his arrival during the 2018-19 offseason. And with the ninth-highest OPS (.885) among all MLB players with at least 500 appearances since the beginning of 2023, he's much more than just the emotional leader of this club.
Cy Young: Zack Wheeler
39-18, 541.2 IP, 2.97 ERA, 3.10 FIP, 0.99 WHIP, 10.5 K/9
In addition to those regular season statistics, Wheeler has made five starts across the past two postseasons, giving the Phillies five quality starts, a 1.64 ERA and an 11.7 K/9. They've somehow put together the best record in baseball in the month since his final appearance of the season, but it's going to be weird watching them chase a World Series without what has been the best pitcher in baseball during his six years with the team.
Overall Synopsis
Much like their run from 2007-11, the Phillies have been a consistent force in recent years. And though both the Dodgers and Brewers have a better overall record, Philadelphia would have just about lapped the field if this ranking had been based solely on WAR, boasting the best pitching staff by far, even though closer had been a constant struggle until six weeks ago. Perhaps this is the year they "phinish the phight" and win the third World Series in franchise history.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
11 of 11
Record: 100-62 in 2023, 98-64 in 2024, 83-65 in 2025, 281-191 overall (.595 win%)
Postseason: Lost in 2023 NLDS, won 2024 World Series, favorite to win in 2025
Pitching: 51.0 fWAR, 27.5 bWAR
Hitting: 89.6 fWAR, 101.7 bWAR
MVP: Shohei Ohtani
.297/.393/.630, 103 HR, 223 RBI, 77 SB; 36.0 IP, 3.75 ERA, 2.17 FIP, 1.19 WHIP, 12.3 K/9
Even though Ohtani didn't join forces with the likes of Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith until after the 2023 campaign, this was surprisingly not even a close call as "Sho-time" runs away with what will be his fourth MVP of the past five years. Ohtani is 27 home runs and 39 stolen bases ahead of the next-closest Dodger, even though his 44/20 season in 2023 came with the other Los Angeles team and doesn't count here. He's slugging .628 with the Dodgers, and he might be a starting pitcher in the postseason. Totally normal stuff.
Cy Young: Yoshinobu Yamamoto
18-10, 252.1 IP, 2.78 ERA, 2.84 FIP, 1.03 WHIP, 10.4 K/9
Between churning through free agents and waiting for any and every starting pitcher to come back from an IL stint at some point, would you believe that Clayton Kershaw leads the Dodgers with both 263.2 IP and 25 wins since the beginning of 2023? Yamamoto isn't far behind Kershaw in either category, though, and has been considerably more dominant than his decade-older counterpart. He sure is streaking to the finish line of this season, too, with three consecutive starts of at least seven innings and 10 strikeouts with one run allowed in each.
Overall Synopsis
The Dodgers haven't been anything close to the wrecking ball in 2025 that we expected them to be, and yet there was never any question as to whether the 2024 World Series champs belonged in this top spot. It's gotten to the point dating back to 2017 where they have invested so much money in so much talent that it's surprising when they don't win it all, much like MLB's last long-term dynasty, the 1996-2004 New York Yankees.
.png?w=480)
