New MLB Power Rankings as Red Sox and Orioles Heat Up AL East Race, While Marlins Slide Begins

Joel ReuterJul 20, 2026

With the All-Star break in the rearview and baseball back in full swing, it's make-or-break time for teams walking the line between buying and selling this summer.

This year's trade deadline is on Monday, Aug. 3, which means teams have two weeks to make the case to their respective front offices that they are playoff contenders and should be buyers at the deadline.

There are 12 teams within four games of the .500 mark right now, including the red-hot Boston Red Sox, who are riding a 13-game winning streak, and that's the group with the most on the line over the next 14 days.

For now, let's reset the MLB landscape on the other side of the Midsummer Classic and buckle up for a crucial two-week stretch that will have a direct impact on this year's trade deadline.

In case you missed it, B/R's MLB Power Rankings from last week and every fresh power rankings throughout the season can be found at the new MLB Power Rankings hub.

Nos. 30-28

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Hunter Goodman

30. Athletics (42-57)

Previous Rank: No. 30
Last Week: 1-2 vs. WAS

The Athletics were 38-38 on June 19 and sitting second in the AL West, but they have been the worst team in baseball since that point. With a 4-19 record and minus-69 run differential in their last 23 games, they have gone from the thick of wild-card contention to clear sellers at the deadline. Underperforming veterans Jeff McNeil and Jeffrey Springs could find a new home soon.

29. Los Angeles Angels (39-61)

Previous Rank: No. 27
Last Week: 1-2 vs. DET

Will the Angels trade one or both of Reid Detmers and Jose Soriano? Both pitchers are controllable through the 2028 season and would take a significant prospect haul to pry loose. Trading both might finally kick-start a long overdue rebuild for a team staring down an 11th consecutive losing season.

28. Colorado Rockies (40-61)

Previous Rank: No. 26
Last Week: 1-2 vs. CIN

With a 23-26 record at Coors Field, the Rockies remain a tough draw at home and a doormat on the road, where they are 17-34 on the year. All-Star catcher Hunter Goodman has an .886 OPS and 30 home runs already, and it will be interesting to see if the front office is willing to entertain offers at the deadline.

Nos. 27-25

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Michael Wacha

27. Kansas City Royals (40-60)

Previous Rank: No. 29
Last Week: 2-1 vs. SD

If reports are true that the Royals intend to hold onto veteran starters Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo, it is shaping up to be a quiet deadline for Kansas City, despite a lost season. The continued development of Jac Caglianone, Carter Jensen, Noah Cameron and other long-term pieces will be the focal point of the second half.

26. San Francisco Giants (42-57)

Previous Rank: No. 25
Last Week: 1-2 @ SEA

The Giants have two of the best rental chips on the market in second baseman Luis Arraez and left-hander Robbie Ray, so even if they are unable to unload one of their long-term contracts, they will still be active players at the deadline. Rookie Bryce Eldridge hit his 10th home run in his 57th game of the season on Sunday, and he could be one of the breakout stars of the second half.

25. New York Mets (42-58)

Previous Rank: No. 28
Last Week: 2-1 @ PHI

The Mets are "open for business" at the deadline, and they have a wide variety of trade chips. Rental relievers A.J. Minter and Brooks Raley are locks to be dealt, while Luke Weaver and Huascar Brazobán will also generate interest. Despite a disappointing season, Freddy Peralta could also find a new home ahead of free agency, while Clay Holmes is working his way back from a fractured fibula and could also be in play. As one of the few no-doubt sellers, their phones will be busy.

Nos. 24-22

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Yordan Alvarez

24. Toronto Blue Jays (46-53)

Previous Rank: No. 22
Last Week: 1-2 vs. CWS

With a 7-14 record in their last 21 games, the Blue Jays are down to a 14.4 percent chance of making the playoffs, according to FanGraphs. It will be tough to swallow selling a year removed from Game 7 of the World Series, but Kevin Gausman would be one of the top rental arms on the market if they decide to cash in their chips.

23. Cincinnati Reds (45-53)

Previous Rank: No. 24
Last Week: 2-1 @ COL

The Reds have an NL-worst 25-42 record since the beginning of May, and despite sitting just six games back in the wild-card standings, they have no business being anything but sellers at the deadline. Brady Singer, Eugenio Suárez, Tyler Stephenson, Nathaniel Lowe, Pierce Johnson, Brock Burke and Caleb Ferguson are among the rental candidates they will look to unload.

22. Houston Astros (47-54)

Previous Rank: No. 19
Last Week: 0-3 vs. BAL

The difference between four games below .500 and seven games below .500 at this point in the season is significant, and the upcoming week against the Marlins and White Sox could be the final push toward throwing in the towel if things don't go well. Who's ready to see if Yordan Alvarez can win an MVP award playing for an also-ran?

Nos. 21-19

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Mason Miller

21. San Diego Padres (49-50)

Previous Rank: No. 20
Last Week: 1-2 @ KC

The Padres have gone from No. 2 to No. 8 in the NL wild-card standings while stumbling to a 6-13 record in their last 19 games, and the vultures are starting to circle with the prospect of All-Star closer Mason Miller hitting the trade block. Their next seven games are on the road against the Braves and Marlins, and that could decide their season.

20. Detroit Tigers (46-53)

Previous Rank: No. 21
Last Week: 2-1 @ LAA

The Tigers have won four of their last five series, and their strong play of late could push the Tarik Skubal decision to the final hour on deadline day. If they do wind up selling, Casey Mize and Jack Flaherty will also generate interest as rental starters, though trading all three might put too much pressure on their young arms to shoulder the load in the rotation.

19. Minnesota Twins (49-51)

Previous Rank: No. 16
Last Week: 1-2 @ CHC

After the Twins opted against rebuilding during the offseason following last summer's fire sale, their strong play over the past month and the wide-open nature of the AL Central might be enough for them to buy at the deadline. They also have potential in-house reinforcements on the way in top prospects Walker Jenkins, Kaelen Culpepper and others.

Nos. 18-16

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Julio Rodríguez

18. Texas Rangers (50-49)

Previous Rank: No. 14
Last Week: 1-2 @ ATL

The Rangers enter play on Monday with a half-game lead in the AL West, though a minus-31 run differential and 13-16 record against the rest of the division makes that a precarious perch. Corey Seager hit soft toss in the cage and took ground balls on Sunday as he starts to work his way back from lower back inflammation.

17. Seattle Mariners (50-50)

Previous Rank: No. 18
Last Week: 2-1 vs. SF

After going 1-5 over their final six games of the first half, the Mariners came out of the All-Star break with a series win, and a big four-game series with the Rangers in Arlington awaits this weekend. Julio Rodríguez returned to action on Saturday after being sidelined since July 2 with a concussion, and he could transform the lineup with a hot streak.

16. Washington Nationals (50-50)

Previous Rank: No. 17
Last Week: 2-1 @ ATH

A 23-4 victory, followed immediately by a 15-1 loss, made for a dramatic start to the second half for a Nationals team trying to cling to contention into August for the first time in years. With a 5.17 ERA and 27 blown saves in 55 chances, there is a case to be made that this group is a couple good relievers away from a serious playoff push.

Nos. 15-13

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Washington Nationals v Baltimore Orioles

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Kyle Bradish

15. Baltimore Orioles (49-51)

Previous Rank: No. 23
Last Week: 3-0 @ HOU

With a 10-3 record in July and a seven-game winning streak heading into Monday's matchup with the Red Sox, the Orioles are playing their best baseball of the season. The pitching staff has stepped up big this month with a 2.75 ERA that ranks third in the majors, so it's fitting that ace Kyle Bradish just inked a five-year, $90 million extension on Saturday.

14. Arizona Diamondbacks (51-48)

Previous Rank: No. 15
Last Week: 2-1 vs. STL

The D-backs are 7-3 in their last 10 games, including a three-game sweep of the Dodgers and a series win over the Cardinals. That's notable considering they are just 19-34 against teams with a winning record, and shows they belong in the upper half of teams despite that less-than-stellar mark.

13. Miami Marlins (52-48)

Previous Rank: No. 6
Last Week: 0-3 @ MIL

One of the hottest teams in baseball earlier this month, the Marlins suffered three-game sweeps on both sides of the All-Star break and fell from No. 2 to No. 4 in the wild-card in just six short games. A healthy Griffin Conine could be an X-factor in the second half, and he is 10-for-38 with four home runs in July.

Nos. 12-10

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Pittsburgh Pirates v Washington Nationals

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Nick Gonzales

12. Cleveland Guardians (52-48)

Previous Rank: No. 12
Last Week: 1-2 vs. PIT

With a 58.9 percent chance to reach the postseason, according to FanGraphs, the Guardians have the best odds in a wide-open AL Central. Steven Kwan went 7-for-10 in three games against the Pirates, raising his season batting average from .225 to .240 in the process, and he moved back into the leadoff spot on Sunday.

11. St. Louis Cardinals (51-47)

Previous Rank: No. 10
Last Week: 1-2 @ ARI

The Cardinals blew a 7-0 lead in Sunday's loss to the D-backs, but they have an opportunity to regroup with a three-game series against the Angels up next on the schedule. The new-look starting rotation was perhaps the biggest question mark heading into the season, and with a 4.10 ERA that ranks 10th in the majors, it's a big reason they have exceeded expectations.

10. Pittsburgh Pirates (52-48)

Previous Rank: No. 11
Last Week: 2-1 @ CLE

The Pirates are 9-5 so far in July after facing the Phillies, Nationals, Braves, Brewers and Guardians, rebounding nicely from an inconsistent June. They rank fifth in the NL with a plus-54 run differential, and the Paul Skenes-Braxton Ashcraft-Mitch Keller trio has a chance to be dangerous in October. Meanwhile, Nick Gonzales (386 PA, .311/.370/.407) is having the best breakout season no one is talking about.

Nos. 9-7

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Colson Montgomery

9. Chicago White Sox (52-46)

Previous Rank: No. 9
Last Week: 2-1 @ TOR

At 31-17, the White Sox have one of the best home records in baseball, so picking up a series win on the road against a Blue Jays team fighting to stay in the contender hunt was a nice way to start the second half. Over his first 162 career games, Colson Montgomery logged a 119 wRC+ with 44 home runs and 108 RBI, and he has quickly developed into a franchise cornerstone.

8. New York Yankees (55-44)

Previous Rank: No. 7
Last Week: 1-2 vs. LAD

The Yankees managed to avoid a three-game sweep by splitting Sunday's double-header with the Dodgers, though it took a comeback victory in a bullpen game by the Dodgers in the nightcap. Only four teams have scored fewer runs than the Yankees in the month of July, and injured superstar Aaron Judge has still not been cleared for baseball activities.

7. Tampa Bay Rays (56-42)

Previous Rank: No. 4
Last Week: 0-4 @ BOS

Is this the beginning of the end for the Rays? They have lost five straight after getting swept in a four-game series at Fenway Park, and their lead in the AL East has now shrunk to 1.5 games. The offense has relied heavily on the production of Yandy Díaz, Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero, and that trio went 7-for-45 against the Red Sox.

Nos. 6-4

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Zack Wheeler

6. Philadelphia Phillies (55-45)

Previous Rank: No. 3
Last Week: 1-2 vs. NYM

The Phillies have Cristopher Sánchez and Zack Wheeler lined up to start the first two games of their upcoming series with the Dodgers, as they will look to make a statement against the defending champs. A back-end starting pitcher and a right-handed hitting outfielder are obvious items on the trade deadline shopping list to shore up an otherwise strong roster.

5. Boston Red Sox (50-48)

Previous Rank: No. 13
Last Week: 4-0 vs. TB

Yes, they are in third place in the AL East, but power rankings are not standings and the Red Sox are the hottest team in baseball right now with a 13-game winning streak. Wilyer Abreu went 5-for-14 with four home runs in the four-game sweep of the Rays, and they are now a season-high two games above .500 following Sunday's victory.

4. Atlanta Braves (57-41)

Previous Rank: No. 8
Last Week: 2-1 vs. TEX

The Braves are 17-21 since the beginning of June, but they built such a significant cushion during their 40-20 start to the year that they've been able to coast through the middle part of the season. That said, the trade deadline will be important, as they might need to find a viable No. 2 starter and a starting shortstop to have a chance at unseating the Dodgers in the National League.

Nos. 3-1

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Milwaukee Brewers v St. Louis Cardinals - Game One

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Jacob Misiorowski

3. Chicago Cubs (56-43)

Previous Rank: No. 5
Last Week: 2-1 vs. MIN

The Cubs have not lost more than two consecutive games since June 10, going 22-9 in their last 31 contests since snapping what was a three-game losing streak. It's a testament to their offensive firepower and elite defense that they have played so well during that stretch despite a glaring need for more starting pitching, and that figures to be the top priority at the trade deadline.

2. Milwaukee Brewers (62-37)

Previous Rank: No. 2
Last Week: 3-0 vs. MIA

With their next 12 games against the Mets, Rockies, Giants and Angels, there is a good chance the Brewers will roll into the trade deadline with a commanding lead in the NL Central standings even if the Cubs keep playing well. The rotation ranks second in the majors (3.38 ERA), while the bullpen has been lights out with Trevor Megill and Abner Uribe slamming the door.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (63-37)

Previous Rank: No. 1
Last Week: 2-1 @ NYY

Everyone is still chasing the Dodgers, but the gap has narrowed between then and the rest of the NL hopefuls, and that could impact how aggressive they are in pursuing a starter at the deadline. With Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell still sidelined and Shohei Ohtani taking a break from pitching to rest his sore left knee, the need for another playoff-caliber starter is clear, and they have the farm system firepower to be the front-runners to acquire anyone.