MLB Power Rankings: Padres & Blue Jays Move Into Top-12, Mets Have Life

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With less than two weeks remaining in the regular season, there isn't much time left for teams to make a meaningful move up or down the division standings. While the standings can still change, the window for gaining or losing significant ground is rapidly closing. Every remaining game becomes more important as teams fight for division titles, Wild Card berths, and better postseason positioning.

Third-order wins offer another way to evaluate where each team stands at this stage of the season. Based on Clay Davenport's adjusted standings, the metric goes beyond a team's actual record by considering run differential, strength of schedule, and ballpark effects. The result provides additional context for determining whether a team's record reflects its underlying performance.

These Power Rankings focus more on sustainable performance than the results of the most recent games. The arrows show which teams are trending upward, heading in the wrong direction, or holding relatively steady as the season winds down. With October getting closer and very little time remaining to change the standings, these final games will go a long way toward determining which teams enter the postseason in a strong position and which teams run out of time.

1. Brewers — 94.0-54.9 (.631)

Biggest Weekly Storyline: On Friday, the Brewers clinched a playoff spot and became the first team in MLB history to record multiple shutout wins of 20-plus runs in a season.

2. Dodgers — 91.0-56.9 (.615)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Designated hitter Shohei Ohtani officially hits the IL for the first time of Dodgers career due to biceps inflammation.

3. Yankees — 85.9-62.1 (.580)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Outfielder Aaron Judge returned to New York’s lineup after a months-long rib injury. He played just six innings and struck out two times in his first game back.

4. Cubs — 86.3-62.6 (.580)

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has the Cubs' first 10 fWAR season since Rogers Hornsby in 1929. PCA is the frontrunner for the NL MVP.

5. Rays — 85.6-62.3 (.579)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Third baseman Junior Caminero launched the Rays into postseason with a 2-run homer for a walk-off win over Houston. Tampa Bay has the best record in the AL and became the first team in MLB to clinch a playoff spot this season.

6. Red Sox — 87.1-67.3 (.564)

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Boston placed Eli White on the injured list Friday with a right foot ligament injury. The move comes only five days after the Red Sox placed starting center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela on the IL with a right quadriceps strain.

7. Pirates — 81.8-67.2 (.549) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Jared Jones took a no-hitter into the seventh inning on Friday. He pitched seven shutout innings, allowed only one hit, issued two walks, and struck out eight batters on 20 swings and misses.

8. Marlins — 81.2-67.7 (.545) ⬇️

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Utilityman Javier Sanoja’s 1.5 fWAR is tied for 14th most with Fernando Tatis Jr. and Wilyer Abreu among Major Leaguers with at least 130 plate appearances since August 1.

9. Braves — 80.0-69.0 (.537)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Catcher Drake Baldwin capped a remarkable comeback for the Braves in a critical series versus the Phillies. His 11th-inning double scored the runner from first and put Atlanta in the driver’s seat for the NL East crown.

10. Tigers — 78.1-69.9 (.528) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Justin Verlander threw to batters off the mound at Comerica Park on Saturday. He’s attempting to make one more start for Detroit before retiring.

11. Padres — 76.0-72.0 (.514) ⬆️

Biggest Weekly Storyline: In the midst of a playoff push, the Padres won their sixth straight game on Saturday. San Diego holds the NL’s final Wild Card spot by 1.5 games over Arizona.

12. Blue Jays — 75.4-73.6 (.506) ⬆️

Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Blue Jays called up 30-year-old Rudy Martin Jr. after 12 years in the minor leagues. He was a 25th-round pick in 2014.

13. Phillies — 73.9-75.1 (.496) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Jesus Luzardo was scratched from his latest start due to stiffness in his left shoulder. The left-hander has a 1.85 ERA in his last 10 starts, including a complete-game shutout of the Braves last week.

14. Nationals — 74.3-75.7 (.495) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Washington ended a seven-game losing streak on Friday. As part of the streak, the Nationals set the MLB record for blown saves in a season.

15. White Sox — 73.3-74.7 (.495) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Chicago lost four straight games and nine of their last 12 games with a loss on Friday. The White Sox saw their lead in the AL Central drop to a half game over Cleveland.

16. Diamondbacks — 73.1-75.9 (.491)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Outfielder Corbin Carroll became the first player in MLB history with two seasons of 20+ HR, 20+ SB, and 15+ 3B.

17. Mets — 72.4-75.6 (.489) ⬆️

Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Mets and Yankees paid tribute to the 25th anniversary of September 11 on Friday. Pregame ceremonies honored first responders and the first pitch was thrown by a couple whose fathers died on United Flight 175.

18. Guardians — 72.4-76.6 (.486)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Cleveland picked up two games on the White Sox over the last 10 games to make things interesting in the AL Central. The Guardians sit 1.5 games out of first entering play on Sunday.

19. Giants — 70.4-76.8 (.478) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: First baseman Rafael Devers hit his 35th home run this week, giving him the most by a Giants player since Barry Bonds in 2004.

20. Cardinals — 70.6-78.4 (.474)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: On Saturday, Cardinals legends Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina were inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame.

21. Rangers — 70.4-78.6 (.472) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Jacob deGrom is the only MLB pitcher in the modern era to toss a scoreless start with 12+ strikeouts and no walks and leave with a 3+ run lead but have his team lose the game.

22. Orioles — 70.3-78.8 (.471) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: After allowing five earned runs over three innings on Saturday, the Orioles placed starter Kyle Bradish on the 15-day injured list with lower abdominal discomfort. It likely ends his 2026 season.

23. Twins — 68.7-79.4 (.464)

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Minnesota called up another one of the organization’s top prospects on Saturday. Outfielder Emmanuel Rodriguez started in center field and hit a homer in his first at-bat.

24. Mariners — 68.9-80.1 (.462)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Logan Gilbert pitched seven innings, allowing three runs on three hits and a pair of walks and striking out a season-high 11 on Thursday.

25. Astros — 68.0-81.1 (.456)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Astros' triple-crown contender Yordan Alvarez has been dealing with a sore right ankle. He leads the AL with a .310 batting average and is second with 38 home runs and 96 RBI.

26. Angels — 67.4-80.6 (.455)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: On Friday, the Angels social media team made a disrespectful post about 9/11 before deleting it. Mike Trout hit a home run, and they captioned the post “Capital Crushed.”

27. Royals — 66.5-82.5 (.446)

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Seth Lugo struck out seven in five strong innings to lead the Royals to a 3-2 win over the Red Sox on Friday night.

28. Reds — 60.5-87.6 (.409)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Elly De La Cruz homered for the fifth consecutive game on Wednesday night, setting a new career high. It’s the second-longest home run streak in Reds history.

29. Rockies — 56.8-91.3 (.384) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Rockies rookie right-handed pitcher Mason Adams struck out five and held the Tigers to one run in five innings. He missed last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

30. Athletics — 55.1-94.0 (.370) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: On Friday, the A’s played spoiler against a Mariners club looking to stay in the playoff race. Donovan Walton hit a walk-off two-run homer in a 6-5 victory in 10 innings.

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