Just a half game separates the top five records in the MLB, and teams like the Diamondbacks and Padres are suddenly surging their way into the conversation.
1. Baltimore Orioles (70-49) | Last week: 1
Baltimore had a 3-3 week on the road, so they remain the top team in the power rankings with everyone impacted by the dog days of summer. After a two-game stint versus the Nationals to begin this week, the schedule gets tougher with matchups against the Red Sox, Mets, Astros, and Dodgers.
2. Philadelphia Phillies (69-49) | Last week: 2
The Phillies went 6-14 in the brutal stretch that was mentioned a few weeks ago, and they can be moved out of the top five altogether based on how they’ve looked. Still, there probably isn’t a better squad when everything is clicking, and streakiness has been common for Philadelphia in recent years.
3. New York Yankees (70-49) | Last week: 4 (+1)
New York didn’t have a great week with a dropped series to the Angels at home, but they remain tied atop the AL East and move up with Cleveland struggling. Jazz Chisolm Jr. has continued his strong play with an OPS of 1.049 since joining the Yankees.
4. Cleveland Guardians (69-49) | Last week: 3 (-1)
The Guardians were swept by a white-hot Arizona team and then dropped the first two games versus Minnesota to extend their losing streak to seven, but they fortunately bounced back to win the final two games of the four-game clash in the AL Central. We’ll see if that can carry them forward to get back on track.
5. Los Angeles Dodgers (69-49) | Last week: 5
There was thought to moving the Dodgers up, but they dropped two of three games to the struggling Phillies—who seem to have their number. Plus, the Diamondbacks and Padres are each now just 3.0 games behind in the NL West.
6. Milwaukee Brewers (67-50) | Last week: 7 (+1)
Milwaukee destroyed a floundering Braves team with wins by scores of 10-0, 8-5, and 16-7, so they are playing really good baseball at the perfect time as the Dodgers and Guardians come to town. The Brewers could be in the top five by next week if they stay hot.
7. Arizona Diamondbacks (66-53) | Last week: 12 (+5)
A 6-1 week that included a sweep of the Guardians and taking three of four versus the Phillies—in a series that prevented Philly from exercising some demons from October of 2023—vaults Arizona into the top ten. The play style and general aggressiveness will again make the defending NL champions a very dangerous opponent in the fall.
8. San Diego Padres (66-53) | Last week: 10 (+2)
The Padres continue to climb by rising ten spots in the power rankings over the past three weeks, and they nearly erased a 5-0 deficit yesterday that would have made them 6-0 on the week. Next up is a home series versus a Pittsburgh team trying to hang on as a fringe wild card contender followed by a visit to Colorado.
9. Minnesota Twins (65-52) | Last week: 6 (-3)
Minnesota and Kansas City falling is more about the NL teams rising than concern about the AL Central hopefuls, but the Twins have to feel like they let an opportunity to really put the pressure on Cleveland slip away by splitting after taking the first two games of their four-game series. Now, a huge matchup to begin the week begins tonight as the Royals head to Minnesota.
10. Kansas City Royals (65-53) | Last week: 8 (-2)
Kansas City went to 2-3 last week, but the offense did their part with at least five runs in every game. So far this year, the Twins have gotten the better of the Royals with a 5-2 record, so KC will try to turn it around on the road—where they are currently 27-28 on the season.
11. Houston Astros (62-55) | Last week: 14 (+3)
12. Seattle Mariners (63-56) | Last week: 13 (+1)
13. Atlanta Braves (61-56) | Last week: 9 (-4)
14. Boston Red Sox (61-55) | Last week: 11 (-3)
15. New York Mets (61-57) | Last week: 15
16. St. Louis Cardinals (60-58) | Last week: 16
17. San Francisco Giants (61-59) | Last week: 19 (+2)
18. Chicago Cubs (59-60) | Last week: 20 (+2)
19. Tampa Bay Rays (59-58) | Last week: 17 (-2)
20. Cincinnati Reds (57-61) | Last week: 22 (+2)
21. Pittsburgh Pirates (56-61) | Last week: 18 (-3)
22. Texas Rangers (55-63) | Last week: 21 (-1)
23. Detroit Tigers (56-63) | Last week: 23
24. Toronto Blue Jays (54-64) | Last week: 25 (+1)
25. Washington Nationals (54-65) | Last week: 24 (-1)
26. Los Angeles Angels (52-66) | Last week: 26
27. Oakland Athletics (50-69) | Last week: 27
28. Colorado Rockies (44-75) | Last week: 29 (+1)
29. Miami Marlins (44-75) | Last week: 28 (-1)
30. Chicago White Sox (28-91) | Last week: 30