MLB Power Rankings: Brewers & Marlins Hold In Top 5, Red Sox Pass Cubs & Into Top 10

The All-Star break offers every organization a chance to take an honest look in the mirror. Contenders can identify the pieces they need for a postseason push, fringe clubs must decide whether they have enough to justify buying, and rebuilding teams begin preparing for the future. With the MLB Trade Deadline just a few weeks away, this brief pause gives front offices one last opportunity to evaluate where they truly stand before making franchise-altering decisions.

That is why third-order wins remain one of the best tools for evaluating team performance. Based on Clay Davenport's adjusted standings, the metric looks beyond a team's record by incorporating run differential, strength of schedule, and ballpark effects. It provides a clearer picture of which clubs are playing the best baseball and which may be benefiting from favorable sequencing or circumstances.

These rankings are designed to highlight sustainable performance rather than short-term momentum. The arrows below show which teams are climbing, falling, or holding steady as clubs head into the All-Star break and prepare for the season's defining stretch leading up to the trade deadline.

1. Dodgers — 62.3–33.6 (.650)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Shohei Ohtani hit his 300th career home run earlier this week. It’s just another milestone as he continues adding to his GOAT status.

2. Brewers — 60.3–34.6 (.635)

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Brandon Woodruff returned to IL with right shoulder inflammation. This is his second IL stint of the season, which has limited him to nine starts.

3. Yankees — 56.8–38.1 (.599)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Yankees announcer Michael Kay spread a false rumor this week that shortstop Anthony Volpe refused to play second base while rehabbing in the minors. He had to backtrack from that statement after talking to Volpe. 

4. Rays — 54.0–38.9 (.581)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Shane McClanahan held the Yankees scoreless in his longest start since 2023. In 6 1/3 innings, he struck out five, didn’t issue a walk for the second straight start, and pitched into the seventh inning for the first time since June 2023.

5. Marlins — 55.7–40.3 (.580)

Biggest Weekly Storyline: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Marlins plan to keep Sandy Alcantara and be buyers at the trade deadline. Alcantara had the potential to be one of the biggest starters moved prior to the deadline.

6. Pirates — 54.0–42.0 (.563)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: On Tuesday, Ryan O’Hearn smashed three home runs and set a Pirates record with 10 RBI in the game.

7. Braves — 51.2–42.8 (.545)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Joey Bart smacked a decisive homer against his former club, the Pirates. Pittsburgh’s Jared Jones had a perfect game into the seventh before the Braves came back to win for only the eighth time in their last 25 games.

8. Tigers — 51.0–43.9 (.537) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander announced that he will retire following the 2026 season. He will be an honorary member of the AL All-Star team in Philadelphia.

9. Red Sox — 49.7–43.2 (.535) ⬆️ 

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Boston completed a three-game sweep of the White Sox, and then the team’s plane got stuck in Chicago due to multiple issues. The Red Sox had won eight straight games heading into Sunday's first-half finale.

10. Cubs — 50.0–45.0 (.526) ⬇️ 

Biggest Weekly Storyline: On Wednesday, Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a pair of homers to reach the 20-20 club. He’s only the third player in Cubs history with 20 homers and 20 steals in back-to-back seasons.

11. Mariners — 48.6–47.4 (.506) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: On Thursday, Seattle lost to Miami, closing out a three-game sweep after the Mariners had arrived in Miami as winners of five of their past six games. In the final two losses of the series, the Mariners were outscored 10-4 and went 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

12. Nationals — 48.1–47.9 (.501) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: CJ Abrams and Luis Garcia Jr. both reached the 20 home run mark earlier this week. Garcia reached 20 homers for the first time in his career, while Abrams tied a career-high. 

13. Cardinals — 47.1–46.9 (.501) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Cardinals and rookie infielder JJ Wetherholt are reportedly in agreement on an eight-year, $112.5 million contract. The deal will buy out multiple years of free agency, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.

14. Rangers — 47.5–47.5 (.500) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: In his first game back from the IL, Wyatt Langford won the game with a walk-off single as the Rangers beat the Angels after Texas blew a 5-run lead.

15. White Sox — 46.9–47.1 (.499) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Chicago activated rookie slugger Munetaka Murakami from the 10-day injured list as he had been sidelined since he strained his right hamstring on May 29. He will also participate in Monday’s Home Run Derby. 

16. Blue Jays — 46.0–49.0 (.484)

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Dylan Cease came three outs away from ending a 36-year drought in Toronto. In the ninth inning, Heliot Ramos lined a single back up the middle, ending Cease’s bid.

17. Guardians — 46.4–49.6 (.483)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Gavin Williams throws seven strong innings while striking out 11 to help Cleveland avoid being swept by Minnesota. 

18. Orioles — 46.2–49.8 (.481) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Trevor Rogers has turned his season around after posting an ERA near 7.00 through his first 10 starts. Since June 1, his 1.73 ERA in 41 2/3 innings ranks as the top mark in the American League.

19. Giants — 45.5–49.6 (.478)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Logan Webb deleted his X account after bitter exchanges with a reporter and fans on the social media platform. It's been a rough season for the Giants, who have been plagued by bleak losses and a Pride Night controversy.

20. Twins — 45.9–50.1 (.478) ⬆️ 

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Outfielder Byron Buxton went on the IL for the first time this season with a hip injury that has bothered him for multiple weeks. He will miss the All-Star Game after being voted in as a starter.

21. Diamondbacks — 44.7–50.3 (.470) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Former first-round pick Pavin Smith was designated for assignment after hitting .141 with a .428 OPS. Arizona took him seventh overall in 2017. 

22. Phillies — 44.0–52.0 (.458) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber will both compete in Monday night’s Home Run Derby in Philadelphia. Schwarber reached the finals of the Home Run Derby in 2018 at Nationals Park, losing to Harper.

23. Angels — 43.3–52.7 (.451) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Outfielder Mike Trout returned from the IL and homered in his first game. It was also the 15th anniversary of his MLB debut. 

24. Padres — 42.6–52.4 (.448) ⬆️ 

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Michael King gave a blunt response to reporters about his first half (3.41 ERA, 4.03 FIP, 11.1 K-BB%). "Pretty good," he said, "is not good enough."

25. Astros — 43.3–53.8 (.446) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: First baseman Christian Walker is enjoying a resurgent season with the Astros, posting a .791 OPS and 20 home runs heading into the weekend. 

26. Mets — 42.2–53.9 (.439)

Biggest Weekly Storyline: On Thursday, Sean Manaea had his longest start in 21 months for the Mets. He allowed six hits, three runs (two earned), and struck out six while completing seven innings for the first time since the 2024 NLDS.

27. Royals — 40.6–55.4 (.423) ⬆️

Biggest Weekly Storyline: On Tuesday night, Tyler Tolbert tied the MLB record with hits in 12 consecutive plate appearances during Kansas City's wild 16-12 comeback win.

28. Reds — 39.5–54.5 (.420) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: On Wednesday, the Reds hit four homers in one inning, including three consecutive long balls. It tied the club record for most homers in one frame. 

29. Rockies — 38.3–58.7 (.395) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Since June 1, the Rockies have led MLB with a .278/.354/.494 slash line while also pacing the league with 206 runs and 198 RBIs, boosting their scoring from 5.57 to 6.06 runs per game.

30. Athletics — 37.3–57.8 (.392) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Rookie infielder Joshua Kuroda-Grauer is the first player in 18 years with 15 hits and 2 or fewer strikeouts his first 8 games.

Congrats to the Rockies for moving out of the cellar. What storylines stood out this week? Do you agree with the rankings above? Leave a comment and start the discussion.

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