MLB Power Rankings: Marlins Slip From Top 5, Cubs Continue Top-10 Climb

With the MLB Trade Deadline coming next Monday, August 3, the latest Power Rankings offer a useful snapshot of where every team stands heading into one of the most important dates on the baseball calendar. The rankings can help separate legitimate contenders from teams that may be better off selling, while also identifying the clubs that have positioned themselves to make an aggressive push for the postseason. With only days remaining before front offices have to make those decisions, every win, loss, and underlying metric matters.

That’s where third-order wins can provide valuable context. Based on Clay Davenport’s adjusted standings, the metric looks beyond a team’s actual record by factoring in run differential, strength of schedule, and ballpark effects. It offers another way to measure how teams have actually performed and whether their records accurately reflect their level of play.

These Power Rankings focus on sustainable performance rather than short-term results. The arrows indicate which teams are moving up, dropping down, or holding steady as the league approaches the trade deadline and the stretch run. For contenders, the rankings could help reinforce the case for buying. For struggling clubs, they might provide another reason to start looking toward the future.

1. Dodgers — 67.9-37.0 (.647)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Shohei Ohtani has been dealing with ongoing left knee discomfort that has forced him to only be a designated hitter. It will take him time to get back on the mound and there’s a chance it doesn’t happen this year.

2. Brewers — 65.1-38.9 (.626)

Biggest Weekly Storyline: MLB.com is reporting that the Brewers have touched base with the Padres on a potential trade for closer Mason Miller. Milwaukee has one of baseball’s best farm systems and the prospect capital to swing a deal. 

3. Yankees — 62.1-41.9 (.597)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Max Fried returned on Wednesday after missing two months due to a bone bruise in his pitching elbow. In five scoreless innings, he allowed one hit, one walk, and seven strikeouts on 57 pitches. 

4. Rays — 60.6-43.3 (.583)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Rays signed number two overall pick Grady Emerson for $9.75 million, the highest draft bonus ever for a high school player. 

5. Pirates — 59.3-45.6 (.565) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Pirates acquired reliever Ron Marinaccio from San Diego in exchange for signing bonus pool considerations. Marinaccio went 1-0 with a 4.79 ERA in 33 games this season for the Padres.

6. Marlins — 58.4-46.6 (.556) ⬇️ 

Biggest Weekly Storyline: All-Star starter Max Meyer was placed on the 15-day injured list due to a neck strain. In 20 starts this season, Meyer has a 2.68 ERA and has struck out 121 batters in 111 innings, ranking eighth in the majors.

7. Braves — 57.2-46.8 (.550)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: On Friday, Matt Olson's 10th-inning homer lifted the Braves over the Orioles in a 7-6 thriller. With the win, they improved to 6-2 since the All-Star break. 

8. Cubs — 57.0-47.0 (.548) ⬆️ 

Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Cubs are on pace to shatter the franchise record for walks by hitters (656 walks in 2016). Chicago leads MLB in walks with 448 and are on pace to finish with 712 walks.

9. Red Sox — 54.6-48.3 (.531)

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Boston’s 15-game winning streak ended on Thursday. Boston went from last place in the AL East to holding a playoff spot in three remarkable weeks.

10. Tigers — 55.1-49.9 (.525) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Tarik Skubal says he regrets not getting an offseason elbow MRI even though he felt something was off. He believes his arbitration hearing might have caused him to ignore the issue.

11. Nationals — 53.8-51.2 (.512) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Cade Cavalli threw six strong innings on Wednesday. He scattered four hits and walked two while striking out eight.

12. Mariners — 52.8-52.2 (.503) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Mariners dismissed assistant hitting coach Bobby Magallanes in an effort to shake up one of baseball’s most underperforming lineups. They rank last in batting average and second-to-last in slugging percentage and runs per game.

13. Rangers — 52.2-51.8 (.502) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: First baseman Jake Burger drove in three runs including a two run homer to help the Rangers take the first game of a pivotal series versus the Mariners. 

14. Orioles — 52.3-52.7 (.498) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Kyle Bradish shut down the Red Sox to end Boston’s 15-game winning streak. It was his first start since signing a five-year, $90 million extension last Saturday. 

15. White Sox — 50.9-52.1 (.494)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Multiple MLB Insiders are reporting that the White Sox are in search of a catcher. With Kyle Teel likely out until at least mid-September, Chicago appears to be wanting a catcher to fill the void until Teel can return.

16. Guardians — 51.7-54.4 (.487) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Gavin Williams recorded the franchise's 5th immaculate inning during an 11 strikeout outing against the Twins.

17. Giants — 50.0-54.0 (.481) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: First baseman Rafael Devers hit a clutch walk-off single in extra-innings on Friday. He had homered earlier in the game to drive in three of the team’s seven runs.  

18. Diamondbacks — 50.2-54.8 (.478) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: After a tight win on Friday, Arizona had won four straight and 10 of 12 to get closer to an NL Wild Card spot. 

19. Cardinals — 49.8-54.3 (.478) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Jordan Walker got a standing ovation in his first at-bat back in St. Louis after winning the Home Run Derby in dramatic fashion. He promptly cracked an RBI double.

20. Blue Jays — 49.9-55.1 (.475) ⬇️

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Reports say the Blue Jays are listening on starter Kevin Gausman and outfielder Daulton Varsho. Both players are on expiring contracts and are already drawing trade interest.

21. Phillies — 49.3-55.8 (.469) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Zack Wheeler might be having the best season of his career. In 100 innings, he has a career-best 2.16 ERA, a 2.19 FIP, and his 5.1 rWAR is tied with his total from 2025.

22. Padres — 49.2-55.8 (.469) ⬆️ 

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Infielder Luis Rengifo hit a pinch-hit two-run homer in the eighth inning to help the Padres take the first game of a critical series in Miami.

23. Angels — 48.0-57.1 (.457)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Angels reportedly fired pro scout Justin "Boomer" Prinstein after he was caught filming Rockies coaches while he was working in the stands. Prinstein refers to himself as "The Baseball Spy."

24. Twins — 48.4-57.7 (.456) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: All-Star Joe Ryan tied an MLB record by allowing six home runs in one start versus the Guardians. Cleveland happens to be the AL’s worst home run hitting team entering the game.

25. Astros — 48.0-58.0 (.453)
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 — 47.3-57.7 (.450)

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Outfielder Juan Soto left Friday night’s showcase with Dodgers due to soreness in his left calf. He has been dealing with calf discomfort since mid-July. 

27. Reds — 43.8-59.3 (.425) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Reds and All-Star Chase Burns agreed to a 7-year, $105 million extension just 26 starts into his big-league career. The deal comes with the largest guarantee given to a pitcher with fewer than four years of MLB service.

28. Royals — 44.5-61.5 (.420) ⬇️

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Catcher Salvador Perez tied Kansas City’s all-time home run record on Wednesday. A fan jumped into the fountains to get the ball and was quickly arrested, which is the team’s posted policy.

29. Athletics — 40.3-63.8 (.387) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: A's catcher Shea Langeliers suffered a torn meniscus and could miss the remainder of the season. This is a blow for what could have been one of the deadline’s top trade candidates.

30. Rockies — 40.5-65.6 (.382) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Hunter Goodman became the fourth catcher to have 30-plus homers in consecutive seasons, joining Todd Hundley, Mike Piazza, and Roy Campanella. 

What storylines stood out this week? Do you agree with the rankings above? Leave a comment and start the discussion.

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