MLB Power Rankings: Red Sox Pass Cubs To Reach Top 5, Brewers Remain Number 1

Even in the middle of August, there are still plenty of unanswered questions surrounding the AL and NL Wild Card races. The standings remain tightly packed, and one hot week of baseball could dramatically change the postseason picture for several clubs. With the regular season entering its final stretch, every series presents another opportunity for a contender to gain ground, separate itself from the pack, or fall out of the race entirely.

Third-order wins remain a useful tool for providing additional context when evaluating each team. Based on Clay Davenport's adjusted standings, the metric looks beyond a club's actual record by considering run differential, strength of schedule, and ballpark effects. It provides another perspective on how teams have performed and whether their records accurately represent their overall level of play.

These Power Rankings place a greater emphasis on sustainable performance than short-term results. The arrows indicate which teams are gaining momentum, moving in the wrong direction, or maintaining their position as the regular season moves toward its most important stretch. With fewer games left on the schedule, every win becomes more valuable, and teams will soon find out whether they have enough to reach the postseason and make an impact once October arrives.

1. Brewers — 77.8-47.1 (.623)

Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Brewers took three of four over the weekend from the Dodgers. Jacob Misiorowski had his Cy Young moment, pitching six innings and allowing one run with six strikeouts and a walk.

2. Dodgers — 77.1-47.8 (.617)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Blake Snell made a victorious return to the Dodgers with 10 Ks in six innings after three months on the IL. He had missed time with loose bodies in his pitching elbow. 

3. Rays — 71.2-51.8 (.579) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Rays won nine straight road games, and are the second team in MLB history with a West Coast trip of that kind. Tampa Bay joined the 1977 Boston Red Sox team that accomplished the same feat.

4. Yankees — 71.7-52.2 (.579) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Outfielder Aaron Judge played catch for the first time as he rehabs from a broken rib. His return date is still unclear as he hasn’t played since May 31. 

5. Red Sox — 68.9-51.2 (.574) ⬆️

Biggest Weekly Storyline: MLB announced that the Red Sox and Royals will play in next year’s Field of Dreams Game. The game is scheduled for Thursday, August 12, 2027.

6. Cubs — 69.6-55.4 (.557)

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Clay Holmes looked at home in his second Wrigley Field start. He retired the first 16 batters he faced and finished with one hit allowed over 6 2/3 innings. 

7. Tigers — 68.3-55.6 (.551) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: On Friday, the Tigers shut out the Guardians without throwing a strikeout. It was the first time a team had done that in 12 years. 

8. Pirates — 69.1-56.8 (.549)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Something isn’t right with starter Paul Skenes. In his latest start, Skenes' four-seam fastball velocity dipped to a career single-game low of 95.7 mph. 

9. Braves — 67.3-56.7 (.543)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Chris Sale is one seven pitchers since 1920 to post a 2.20 ERA or better through the first 22 starts of their age 37 or older season. The others are Spud Chandler (1946), Dutch Leonard (1948), Kevin Brown (2003), Roger Clemens (2005), Max Scherzer (2022) and Justin Verlander (2022).

10. Marlins — 63.4-55.1 (.535)

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Sandy Alcantara's career-best scoreless run ended at 25 2/3 innings in a 1-0 Marlins loss on Friday.

11. White Sox — 62.8-60.2 (.511) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: White Sox pitcher Davis Martin was ejected after airmailing back-to-back pitches and hitting Sal Stewart in a loss to the Reds. Cincinnati rallied after the benches-clearing hit-by-pitch.

12. Diamondbacks — 63.0-62.0 (.504) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Infielder Ketel Marte is day-to-day after leaving a win over the Braves with left knee soreness. The team said the knee has been bothering Marte since earlier this month.

13. Blue Jays — 60.1-60.0 (.500) ⬆️

Biggest Weekly Storyline: First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was placed on the seven-day concussion injured list. He exited Friday's game after colliding with Yankees shortstop George Lombard Jr. while sliding into third base.

14. Padres — 61.6-63.4 (.493) ⬆️

Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Padres have stormed back into playoff contention. On Friday, San Diego overcame a three-run deficit to win their sixth straight. 

15. Phillies — 61.3-63.7 (.490) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Kyle Schwarber hit two home runs to help lift the Phillies over the Twins in MLB’s annual Field of Dreams Game.

16. Mariners — 61.1-63.9 (.489) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: On Thursday, starter Logan Gilbert pitched six strong innings as the Mariners stopped a 6-game skid. He held the Yankees to four hits in his fifth scoreless start this season.

17. Nationals — 60.0-63.2 (.487) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Nationals announced on Friday that they are going to phase C.J. Abrams out as their starting shortstop, as he will become the team's starting second baseman instead.

18. Orioles — 60.3-63.7 (.486)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: On Friday, the Orioles dropped Gunnar Henderson in the lineup because of poor performance. He responded with a four-hit effort in a win over Tampa. 

19. Mets — 60.3-64.7 (.482)

Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Mets placed closer Devin Williams on the injured list with shoulder strain. Since joining New York, he has a 4.66 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP with 16 saves in 19 opportunities.

20. Astros — 57.2-61.7 (.481) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Houston's Christian Walker smacked a walk-off three-run homer with two outs in the 10th inning to cap a wild Astros comeback.  

21. Guardians — 60.1-64.9 (.481) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: In 18 games since coming back from a hamate bone procedure, infielder Jose Ramirez was hitting just .197 with a .530 OPS. Perhaps a more troubling sign is he hadn't recorded an extra-base hit over that time.

22. Cardinals — 59.5-64.5 (.480)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Cardinals prospect Joshua Baez homered in his first three big-league at-bats. He’s the first player ever to hit three homers in his debut. 

23. Twins — 56.9-61.8 (.479) ⬆️

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Outfielder Byron Buxton returned to the Twins lineup for Thursday night’s Field of Dreams Game. He last played on July 28 due to a right hip impingement. 

24. Giants — 58.9-65.1 (.475) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Infielder Matt Chapman is out for the year after undergoing surgery to repair a hernia and core muscle tear on Tuesday.

25. Rangers — 57.5-67.6 (.460) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Jacob deGrom left his most recent start with right triceps fatigue and will undergo an MRI. He has been dealing with a left hip and glute injury since the All-Star break. 

26. Angels — 55.6-69.4 (.445)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Los Angeles fired pitching coach Mike Maddux and two others on his staff (Darryl Scott, Dom Chiti). The Angels organization is a mess. 

27. Reds — 52.4-70.6 (.426)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Hunter Greene underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery and will be out for 2027. He also had reconstructive surgery on his right elbow in 2018 while in the minors. 

28. Royals — 52.6-72.5 (.420)

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Catcher Salvador Perez continues to deal with a bothersome elbow. He left a game earlier this week after being hit by a pitch, and it’s the same elbow that cost him two games in July. 

29. Rockies — 47.5-76.7 (.382)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Kyle Freeman pitched eight innings of one-run ball on Friday. He struck out two and walked one. 

30. Athletics — 45.9-78.2 (.370)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Jeff McNeil stayed red hot and nearly hit for the cycle. On Friday, he finished 4-for-5 with three RBI, including the go-ahead home run, as the Athletics snapped a three-game slide.

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