Cody Christie

Major League Baseball is preparing for a lockout. That does not mean the 2027 season will be lost. It does not even guarantee that a lockout will last more than a few weeks. What it does mean is that MLB has moved beyond simply preparing for labor negotiations and is now laying out detailed instructions for what clubs should do if those negotiations fail. According to The Athletic's Evan Drellich, MLB sent a 34-page memo to owners and high-ranking team executives on October 1 detailing how clubs should operate during a potential lockout. MLB negotiator Dan Halem wrote that the league remains committed to exhausting every realistic option to reach an agreement with the Players Association, but he also made clear that clubs need to be prepared for the possibility of a work stoppage. The current collective bargaining agreement expires at 11:59 p.m. Eastern on December 1. There appears to be little expectation that a new agreement will be completed before then, which means another offseason labor battle is becoming increasingly likely. And if a lockout does happen, MLB has already planned for what comes next. The December 1 Deadline Is More Than a Deadline There is nothing requiring MLB to shut down operations when the CBA expires. The league could allow offseason activity to continue while negotiations drag on. MLB has a strong reason not to do that. A lockout gives the league control over the timing of the work stoppage and prevents the MLBPA from using a regular-season strike as leverage. That was the strategy used during the previous CBA negotiations, when MLB locked out players in December 2021. The same basic scenario could play out again this winter. Once the lockout begins, virtually all business between clubs and players on the 40-man roster will stop. Teams will not be able to make trades or sign major league players, and normal communication between players and club personnel will be severely restricted. For an offseason that normally revolves around free agency, trades and roster construction, that would bring much of the sport to a standstill. MLB Is Preparing for a Complete Separation Some of the most revealing details from the memo concern what team employees can and cannot do with players during a lockout. The basic principle is separation. Club officials are instructed to avoid players "to the greatest extent possible" because conversations that seem harmless can easily cross into prohibited business discussions. If a team employee happens to encounter a player in public, MLB advises that the employee should simply be cordial. Even social events come with restrictions. Team personnel can attend a player's wedding during a lockout, but they cannot discuss baseball business while there. Holiday cards and gifts are another example. Teams can send them before the lockout begins, but doing so after December 1 would violate the league's guidelines. The league is also telling clubs that offseason workout plans can be distributed before the lockout, but not afterward. These details might seem trivial on the surface, but they demonstrate how aggressively MLB expects to enforce the separation between players and teams. This would not simply be a pause in transactions. It would fundamentally alter how organizations operate. The Rule 5 Draft Could Become an Early Casualty One of the most important unresolved questions involves the major league portion of the Rule 5 draft. The draft is scheduled for December, meaning it would occur after the CBA expires if a lockout begins. MLB canceled the major league Rule 5 draft during the 2021-22 lockout, and the league's latest guidance indicates that the status of this year's draft would have to be addressed during bargaining. The MLBPA has already proposed moving the Rule 5 draft into late November during the final year of a CBA so that it would not be caught in another labor dispute. The union has a strong reason to push for that change. The Rule 5 draft creates opportunities for players on the fringes of organizations, particularly those who are not protected on 40-man rosters. From MLB's perspective, though, the timing creates another potential bargaining chip. That means even a baseball-specific event that has nothing to do with the larger economic issues between the league and union could become part of the negotiations. The minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft is different. Minor league players operate under a separate CBA, and those transactions will not be affected by the major league lockout. MLB's Digital World Will Change, Too The effects of a lockout would not be limited to transactions and communication. MLB plans to once again remove player images and videos from its official websites, mirroring the approach used during the 2021-22 lockout. Player photos would disappear from profile pages, videos would be removed, and player names and pictures would be taken out of article headlines. For fans checking team websites during the offseason, that could create a very different experience. Interestingly, player merchandise would remain available because those products are covered by separate licensing arrangements, including agreements involving the players' union. The league also will not prevent players from participating in other professional leagues during the lockout. Players could continue playing winter ball or potentially participate in leagues overseas, including Japan. MLB is also preparing for disputes over player health and workers' compensation claims. Teams have been instructed to document interactions between players and medical staff near the end of the season so there is a record of whether disabling injuries existed before the lockout began. What a Lockout Would Mean for Every Team The biggest immediate impact would be on roster construction. Every organization enters the offseason with a list of needs. Some clubs need starting pitching. Others need bullpen help, a new catcher, more offense or better defensive depth. Teams normally address those needs through trades and free-agent signings throughout November, December and January. A lockout could freeze all of that. Players on 40-man rosters would be off-limits for normal baseball business. Teams would not be able to negotiate new major league contracts, complete trades or work through the usual offseason roster moves. That could create an unusually compressed market once a new agreement is eventually reached. Imagine dozens of teams entering the same period with months of unfinished business. Free agents who expected to sign in December could still be available. Clubs that expected to complete trades at the Winter Meetings could still have significant holes. Front offices could suddenly have only weeks to accomplish what they normally do across an entire offseason. That could make the eventual transaction period extremely active. There are also competitive implications. Teams with more unfinished roster work could be at a disadvantage depending on how long the lockout lasts and how quickly transactions resume. Clubs with fewer holes may be better positioned simply because they have less work left to complete. And then there is the financial impact. Teams continue preparing for the 2027 season as though it will proceed as scheduled. MLB has instructed ticket-sales personnel to communicate that the league remains optimistic about playing a full season, while also preparing to offer credits or refunds if games are ultimately canceled. Right now, MLB is preparing for a lockout without publicly conceding that the 2027 season is in danger. The Calendar Will Determine How Serious This Gets A December lockout would be disruptive, but it would not necessarily threaten the regular season. The longer it continues, however, the more serious the situation becomes. If the two sides remain apart through January, the offseason becomes increasingly difficult to manage. A prolonged dispute into February could affect spring training preparations. By March, the conversation would shift toward Opening Day and whether there is enough time to prepare players and teams for a full season. Eventually, the threat of missed games becomes the leverage. That is where both MLB and the MLBPA have the most to lose. The league risks losing ticket revenue, television inventory, sponsorship opportunities and fan momentum. Players risk losing games and salary while also facing uncertainty about when they will return to work. That pressure ultimately should push both sides toward an agreement. The problem is that baseball has already shown how difficult these negotiations can become. Baseball Fans Have Seen This Before The last lockout lasted for months and eventually pushed back the start of spring training while threatening the beginning of the regular season. That history makes the current preparation impossible to ignore. MLB's message remains that it intends to reach a deal and expects the 2027 season to proceed. The memo even provides approved language for club employees telling fans that teams are operating as though the season will happen as planned. That is the message MLB has to send. But the existence of a detailed 34-page lockout manual tells its own story. The league is preparing for the possibility that the December 1 deadline passes without an agreement. The Rule 5 draft could become part of the negotiations. Transactions could stop. Player communication with clubs could largely disappear. Team and league websites could again look dramatically different. And every organization could find its offseason plans frozen. For now, baseball is still planning for 2027. But MLB is also planning for a world in which baseball cannot operate normally. That is why the next several weeks could be some of the most important of the entire offseason. What stands out from the memo that was sent to MLB organizations? Leave a comment and start the discussion. Image courtesy of © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images View full article

Playoff baseball is different. The regular season gives us 162 games to figure out which teams are good, which teams are bad, and which teams are somewhere in between. Then October arrives and throws most of that information out the window. A great regular-season team can get bounced in a few games. A team that limped into the postseason can suddenly catch fire. One bad pitch, one unexpected injury, or one hot hitter can completely change the direction of a series. That makes these playoff power rankings particularly difficult. There are teams with obvious strengths and glaring weaknesses. There are teams built for October and teams hoping their regular-season success carries over. There are also a few teams that nobody expected to be here. Clayton Davenport's Adjusted Standings Before getting into the rankings, it is worth looking at Clayton Davenport's adjusted standings. Davenport's system attempts to strip away some of the randomness of a team's actual record by looking at performance through a different lens. It provides another way to evaluate how teams have performed throughout the season and can help identify clubs whose records might not tell the entire story. That is particularly useful heading into October. The standings don't determine what happens next. They simply provide another data point when trying to separate a dozen teams that all believe they have a legitimate chance to win the World Series. And that uncertainty is what makes the next month so much fun. 1. Los Angeles Dodgers– 95.1-59.4 (.616) Why They Can Win the World Series: Los Angeles has won back-to-back titles and three championships since 2020. They are the team to beat come October, with depth at nearly every position and multiple future Hall of Fame players. There isn't another roster in baseball that combines star power and depth quite like the Dodgers. Why They Can't Win the World Series: Shohei Ohtani is dealing with right biceps discomfort and left knee soreness. The Dodgers have enough talent to survive injuries, but Ohtani is different. If their two-way superstar isn't healthy, can Los Angeles really complete the three-peat? 2. Milwaukee Brewers– 101.1-59.7 (.629) Why They Can Win the World Series: Milwaukee won the most games during the regular season. Jacob Misiorowski has pitched at a level where it feels reasonable to call him the best pitcher on the planet. Add in an elite defense, and the Brewers have the formula to frustrate opponents throughout October. Why They Can't Win the World Series: Milwaukee's small-ball offensive style hasn't been as successful in October. Against elite starting pitchers and shutdown bullpens, eventually somebody has to hit the ball over the fence. Can the Brewers buck that trend? 3. Chicago Cubs– 93.6-67.3 (.582) Why They Can Win the World Series: Pete Crow-Armstrong is the frontrunner for the NL MVP after capping off MLB's seventh 40-40 season. That kind of production gives Chicago a legitimate offensive centerpiece entering October. Why They Can't Win the World Series: The Cubs will be playing on the road throughout October, and they've shown flaws up and down their pitching staff. Eventually, those weaknesses can become magnified when every game carries significantly more weight. 4. Tampa Bay Rays– 93.4-67.5 (.580) Why They Can Win the World Series: Tampa Bay has been the AL's best team for most of the season and survived the gauntlet that is the AL East. Junior Caminero is only 22 years old, and October could be his coming-out party. Why They Can't Win the World Series: Outside of Caminero, there isn't a lot to write home about offensively. The Rays have found ways to win all season, but their bullpen could also show some cracks once the postseason pressure arrives. 5. New York Yankees– 93.3-67.6 (.580) Why They Can Win the World Series: Cam Schlittler has pitched at a level where some are wondering if he belongs in the AL MVP conversation. The American League is wide open, but somebody has to win the pennant. The Yankees have enough star power and pitching to take advantage of an open field. Why They Can't Win the World Series: Aaron Judge has battled injuries throughout the season, and there are questions about whether he will be able to play in the playoffs. Can the Yankees continue winning without the biggest bat in their lineup? 6. Boston Red Sox– 88.6-72.3 (.551) Why They Can Win the World Series: The Red Sox are the first team in MLB history to finish above .500 and reach the postseason after losing as many as 46 of their first 78 games. They climbed from 14 games under .500 to 14 games above .500 in just 62 days. That's one heck of a turnaround. Why They Can't Win the World Series: Sonny Gray has been the team's ace this season, but the 36-year-old has had inconsistent performances in his last two postseasons with the Yankees and Twins. Boston will need more than one dependable starter if it wants to survive multiple rounds. 7. Atlanta Braves– 85.1-75.8 (.529) Why They Can Win the World Series: Chris Sale has been a revelation during his age-37 season and has put himself into the Cy Young conversation. A healthy and effective Sale gives Atlanta a legitimate ace capable of dominating a playoff series. Why They Can't Win the World Series: The Braves have hovered around .500 in September, so they aren't exactly bursting into October. They've also been streaky all season. April featured a winning percentage above .700, while June saw Atlanta post a .391 winning percentage. Which version shows up in October? 8. San Diego Padres– 83.0-78.0 (.516) Why They Can Win the World Series: San Diego has been on a heater in the second half, posting a winning percentage north of .600. It also helps to have Mason Miller at the back end of arguably the NL's best bullpen. If the Padres can get games to Miller with a lead, things can get uncomfortable for opposing lineups. Why They Can't Win the World Series: The veteran bats might be reaching the over-the-hill point. Xander Bogaerts and Manny Machado have both hovered around a 100 wRC+ in the second half. Do the Padres have enough offense to get the game to their bullpen with a lead? 9. Cleveland Guardians– 80.3-80.7 (.499) Why They Can Win the World Series: Cleveland always seems to find a way to win. The Guardians have been one of the AL's hottest teams in September, posting a .652 winning percentage to take over the AL Central. Their reward is a first-round bye and one series standing between them and the ALCS. Why They Can't Win the World Series: Jose Ramirez hasn't been playing at an MVP level this season after dealing with injuries. The bullpen has also shown some flaws. Can Cleveland ride its September hot streak deep into October? 10. Philadelphia Phillies– 79.3-81.7 (.493) Why They Can Win the World Series: The Phillies have the stars in Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber. Christopher Sanchez has also pitched at an otherworldly level as part of arguably the NL's best rotation. It also doesn't hurt to have Jhoan Duran closing down games. Why They Can't Win the World Series: Father Time is undefeated, and this core might be past its prime. J.T. Realmuto and Trea Turner have struggled this season. The Phillies have been building toward this moment for years. Can they finally bring one championship to Philadelphia before this group is done? 11. Chicago White Sox– 80.5-80.5 (.500) Why They Can Win the World Series: They have the Pope on their side, so maybe there is some divine intervention coming to Chicago. Munetaka Murakami, Colson Montgomery, and Miguel Vargas all hit 30-plus homers to lead the South Siders. There is enough young offensive talent to make things interesting. Why They Can't Win the World Series: The White Sox are a little ahead of their expected winning window, as few people thought they would be in contention this season. They also fell out of the AL Central lead during the final weeks. Maybe they can find some October luck from above. 12. Houston Astros– 75.1-86.0 (.466) Why They Can Win the World Series: Records start over in October, and Astros fans have to be thankful for that. Anything can happen once the postseason begins. All it takes is one hot series from Yordan Alvarez, the AL MVP frontrunner. Why They Can't Win the World Series: The AL West was essentially a pillow fight until the end, with neither the Rangers nor Astros able to take firm control of the division. The Astros are near the end of their reign as an AL powerhouse and enter October as one of the more vulnerable playoff teams in recent memory. October Doesn't Care About the Regular Season That's the beauty of playoff baseball. The Dodgers can win 100-plus games and still lose a series. The Brewers can lead baseball in wins and suddenly discover that a few singles don't score as easily against an elite October bullpen. A young player can become a postseason legend overnight. There are legitimate questions surrounding every team on this list. That's what makes ranking them so difficult. And that's also what makes October so much fun. The regular season tells us what these teams have done. The playoffs will tell us what they do when everything is on the line. For the next month, nobody really knows. How would you rank the playoff teams? Leave a comment and start the discussion. Image courtesy of Matt Marton-Imagn Images View full article

With the final week of the regular season here, there is still plenty left to be decided across Major League Baseball. Division races remain unsettled, Wild Card spots are still up for grabs, and teams are jockeying for postseason positioning. Every game carries added weight now, with just a handful of opportunities remaining for teams to change their place in the standings before October arrives. 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 just around the corner 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. Dodgers — 96.7-58.1 (.625) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Dodgers clinched their fifth straight NL West crown, but questions are swirling about whether Shohei Ohtani will be healthy enough for October. He is dealing with injuries to his right biceps and left knee. 2. Brewers — 96.6-58.3 (.624) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Milwaukee clinched their fourth straight NL Central on Tuesday with their ace on the mound. Jacob Misiorowski added to his Cy Young resume with seven strikeouts in five shutout innings. 3. Yankees — 89.9-64.0 (.584) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Outfielder Aaron Judge returned to the IL with a calf strain and isn’t eligible to return until the final game of the regular season. 4. Cubs — 90.0-64.9 (.581) Biggest Weekly Storyline: On Wednesday, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Alex Bregman each hit a home run, each hit a triple, and each had three extra-base hits in the 8-4 rout at Wrigley Field. That made them the first pair of MLB teammates to do that in the same game in nearly 70 years. 5. Rays — 89.3-64.6 (.580) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Richie Palacios collected a walk-off single to give the Rays a 2-1 victory on Saturday. Tampa Bay, which has three walk-off wins on its current homestand, opened a five-game lead over the second-place New York Yankees in the AL East. 6. Pirates — 85.7-69.2 (.553) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin had four hits as the Pirates rallied past the Royals to reach .500. Pittsburgh is trying to have a winning record for the first time since 2018. 7. Red Sox — 85.8-70.0 (.551) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Brayan Bello struck out 11 batters over eight innings pitched and allowed five hits and one earned run in his start against the Rays. 8. Tigers — 83.3-71.7 (.537) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Rookie Hao-Yu Lee hit his 10th home run of the year, establishing a single-season Major League record for a Taiwanese player. 9. Marlins — 83.2-71.7 (.537) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Marlins used their ace Sandy Alcantara for his first career save. Even more remarkably, it came two days after he had a 101-pitch start. 10. Braves — 83.2-71.8 (.537) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Braves clinched a playoff berth on Friday. Michael Harris II, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson each hit a two-run homer in the game. 11. Padres — 80.0-75.0 (.516) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Rookie catcher Ethan Salas hit his first career walk-off as the Padres vaulted past the Phillies in the wild-card race. It was San Diego’s fourth straight win. 12. Blue Jays — 77.7-77.3 (.501) Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Blue Jays plan to start Trey Yesavage on Monday as he returns from knee surgery. Toronto sits three games out of the final AL Wild Card spot. 13. Nationals — 77.1-77.9 (.497) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Nationals signed pitcher Cade Cavalli to a 4-year contract extension for a reported $47 million with a team option for 2031. 14. Diamondbacks — 77.0-78.0 (.497) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Pavin Smith hit a walk-off two-run home run with one out in the bottom of the ninth on Saturday. It was the sixth walk-off homer of the season for Arizona, which leads the major leagues and is a franchise record. 15. Phillies — 76.9-78.1 (.496) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Phillies place All-Star Jesús Luzardo on the 15-day IL but are not ruling out a potential postseason start. Luzardo has been dealing with inflammation in his throwing shoulder. 16. White Sox — 76.6-78.4 (.494) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: All-Star Miguel Vargas hit his 33rd homer, walked twice, and made a big play in the field in Saturday’s victory. It was a much needed win as Chicago fell behind Cleveland in the AL Central. 17. Guardians — 76.5-78.5 (.494) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Third baseman José Ramírez homered and reached 1,000 career RBI on Friday as the Guardians moved into first alone in the AL Central. 18. Mets — 75.3-79.7 (.486) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Outfielder Carson Benge recorded three hits, including a solo home run, breaking Pete Alonso's Mets rookie record for hits in a season (156) in the process Saturday. 19. Rangers — 74.6-80.5 (.481) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Cal Quantrill departed Saturday’s game with right lat tightness. The Rangers’ bullpen covered 7 2/3 innings to push Texas into first in the AL West. 20. Orioles — 73.9-81.2 (.476) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: First baseman Pete Alonso hit his 300th career home run at Citi Field in New York against his former team. He became the third player in MLB history to hit that milestone against a team where he played 1000+ games. 21. Giants — 73.4-81.7 (.473) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: First baseman Rafael Devers and starter Logan Webb were both placed in the IL this week. Devers had a left-side core muscle injury that required surgery, while Webb is dealing with a blister. 22. Cardinals — 71.9-83.2 (.464) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Cardinals were officially eliminated from the playoffs earlier this week. It is the fourth straight season that St. Louis has missed the playoffs. 23. Mariners — 71.4-83.6 (.461) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Catcher Cal Raleigh crushed the longest homer of his career (a Statcast-projected 459 feet) over the weekend. Still, the Mariners continued to drop back in the AL West and Wild Card standings. 24. Twins — 70.9-84.1 (.457) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Outfielder Walker Jenkins became the tenth Twin to have three consecutive multi-hit games in his age-21 season, the first since Joe Mauer in 2004. 25. Astros — 70.5-84.6 (.455) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Astros manager Joe Espada confirmed to reporters Tuesday that infielder Carlos Correa will not return this season. Correa has been sidelined since the beginning of May due to an ankle injury. 26. Angels — 70.3-84.7 (.454) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Reid Detmers reached 200 strikeouts for the first time in his career Saturday, becoming just the 12th pitcher in franchise history to reach the mark in a season. 27. Royals — 67.9-87.2 (.438) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Catcher Carter Jensen has now hit more home runs in a season than any rookie in Royals history. His 25 home runs broke a tie with Bob Hamelin, who hit 24 homers in the strike-shortened 1994 season 28. Reds — 63.2-91.9 (.407) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Chase Burns was placed on the IL on Sunday with a groin injury. His 238 strikeouts through his first 36 career starts rank third in Reds franchise history since 1900. 29. Rockies — 59.3-95.8 (.382) Biggest Weekly Storyline: A bronze statue honoring Todd Helton was unveiled in front of Coors Field on Saturday before the Rockies game against the Mariners. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2024. 30. Athletics — 56.9-98.2 (.367) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Donovan Walton hit a two-run homer and tied career highs with three hits and four RBIs on Saturday night. It was the fifth three-hit performance in his breakout season. What storylines stood out this week? Do you agree with the rankings above? Leave a comment and start the discussion. Image courtesy of Denis Poroy-Imagn Images TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY View full article

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. Image courtesy of Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images View full article

With fewer than 20 games remaining in the regular season, there is very little time left for teams to make significant moves in the playoff picture. Every game carries added weight, whether a club is trying to climb into a division lead, secure a Wild Card spot, or improve its postseason position. The standings can still shift, but the opportunities to gain or lose meaningful ground are quickly disappearing as the regular season approaches its conclusion. 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 team's actual record by accounting for run differential, strength of schedule, and ballpark effects. It provides another perspective on how a team has performed and whether its record accurately represents the quality of the club. These Power Rankings place a greater emphasis on sustainable performance rather than simply reacting to a team's most recent results. The arrows indicate which teams are gaining momentum, moving in the wrong direction, or remaining relatively steady as the season winds down. With October approaching and the margin for error becoming increasingly small, the final weeks will help determine which teams are positioned to make an impact in the postseason and which will be left outside the playoff picture. 1. Brewers — 89.5-54.4 (.622) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Shortstop Cooper Pratt became the first Brewers rookie with an RBI in six consecutive games since Ryan Braun in 2007. 2. Dodgers — 87.4-55.5 (.612) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Designated hitter Shohei Ohtani struck out four times on Wednesday and then sat out multiple games. He has been dealing with lingering pain in his right biceps and left knee that has prevented him from pitching. 3. Yankees — 83.3-59.6 (.583) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Outfielder Aaron Judge took on-field batting practice on Friday for the first time since May 31. He’s been recovering from a stress fracture in his right rib. 4. Cubs — 82.9-61.0 (.576) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and starter Kevin Gausman teamed up for a dominant night at Wrigley. PCA hit his 39th homer, a two-run shot, while Gausman allowed one run on five hits over seven innings. 5. Rays — 81.1-61.8 (.568) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Rays put starting pitcher Shane McClanahan on the IL due to left forearm tightness. He also missed two weeks in July with back tightness. 6. Red Sox — 80.1-63.8 (.557) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Catcher Mickey Gasper hit a homer on Friday that helped Boston win 1-0. His 1.541 OPS is the highest OPS by a Red Sox hitter over any 16-game span since 2010. 7. Marlins — 79.4-64.6 (.551) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Kyle Stowers left Thursday’s game with a hamstring injury that he has been dealing with in recent weeks as Miami hangs on the edge of Wild Card contention. In 10 games prior, he went 10-for-33 with two homers. 8. Pirates — 78.8-65.1 (.548) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Pirates rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin is returned to the lineup on Friday after missing time with a left ring finger injury. He went 0-for-3 and scored the team’s only run in a 1-0 victory. 9. Braves — 77.3-66.3 (.538) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. became the fastest player in MLB history to reach 200 homers and 200 steals. He did it in 25 fewer games than Alfonso Soriano. 10. Nationals — 72.9-65.6 (.526) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Outfielder James Wood returned from a left oblique strain. He went 1-for-4, as his single into right field broke up Atlanta’s no-hit bid with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning. 11. Tigers — 75.2-67.8 (.526) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Catcher Dillon Dingler is hitting .107/.176/.131 with zero home runs and four RBI over 22 games since August 7. His -14 wRC+ is the worst mark among all qualified MLB hitters during that span. 12. Phillies — 72.5-70.5 (.507) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Outfielder Bryce Harper is on pace to become only the third player in Phillies history to post a .900 OPS at 33 years of age or older. 13. White Sox — 72.0-71.0 (.503) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Colson Montgomery and Miguel Vargas both joined the 30-home run club on Friday. Both players are helping push a surprising Chicago team to the top of the AL Central. 14. Padres — 71.6-71.4 (.501) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Padres called up top prospect Ethan Salas earlier in the week. He became the youngest catcher to debut since Ivan Rodriguez in 1991. 15. Blue Jays — 72.1-71.9 (.501) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Max Scherzer moved into ninth place on the all-time strikeout list by passing Gaylord Perry. 16. Diamondbacks — 67.9-70.1 (.492) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Outfielder Corbin Carroll leads MLB with 16 triples this season, 8 more than the next closest MLB players. That would be the largest gap in triples between an MLB leader and second place since 1957, when Willie Mays had nine more than second place. 17. Giants — 68.7-72.4 (.487) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: First baseman Rafael Devers' 67 extra-base hits are the most by a Giants player in the team's first 142 games since Barry Bonds (67) in 2004. 18. Guardians — 70.1-73.9 (.487) Biggest Weekly Storyline: On Friday, the Guardians swept a doubleheader versus the Tigers on consecutive walkoffs. Brayan Rocchio scored the winning run in both games and hit a game-tying grand slam earlier in the day. 19. Mets — 68.4-74.6 (.478) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Catcher Francisco Alvarez tied Gary Carter for second all-time in multi-homer games by a catcher before turning 25. Johnny Bench did it eight times. 20. Cardinals — 68.6-75.5 (.476) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Cardinals manager Oli Marmol was ejected for arguing after umpire Doug Eddings told rookie pitcher Hancel Rincon to fix his hat in the middle of his big-league debut. 21. Orioles — 68.3-75.7 (.474) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Outfielder Colton Cowser saved the day with a leaping, walk-off home-run robbery to push the Orioles to .500 for the first time since April. 22. Rangers — 67.5-76.5 (.469) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Cal Quantrill tossed seven scoreless innings to lead the Rangers to a 6-0 shutout win over the Rays. 23. Twins — 66.1-77.0 (.462) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Outfielder Byron Buxton confirmed that he will need offseason hip surgery, but is hoping to still return to the Twins this season. 24. Mariners — 65.7-78.3 (.456) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Mariners prospect Lazaro Montes drilled a deep home run in his MLB debut on Tuesday. He is the first Mariner with multiple hits in his MLB debut since Ichiro Suzuki's in 2001. 25. Astros — 64.9-79.2 (.450) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Closer Josh Hader recorded his 250th save, becoming only the sixth lefty to accomplish the feat. Over the last 100 years, Hader's .155 career opponent batting average is the lowest among pitchers who have appeared in at least 500 games. 26. Angels — 64.3-78.8 (.449) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Angels owner Art Moreno agreed to sell the franchise for an MLB-record $4 billion to Stan Kroenke, who owns the Rams, Arsenal, Nuggets, Avalanche, and Rapids. 27. Royals — 64.2-79.9 (.446) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Jac Caglianone was named AL Player of the Month for August, while Noah Cameron was named the AL Pitcher of the Month. It’s the fourth time in Royals history they have had players win both honors in the same month. 28. Reds — 60.3-82.8 (.421) Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Reds will be limiting Chase Burns’ innings for the remainder of the season despite the team chasing a playoff spot. He has thrown 145 1/3 innings after throwing 109 1/3 in 2025. 29. Rockies — 55.5-87.6 (.388) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Catcher Hunter Goodman already has 36 homers and has a chance to become the sixth catcher in NL history to reach the 40 mark. Javy Lopez was the last NL catcher with 40+ homers in 2003. 30. Athletics — 54.3-89.5 (.378) Biggest Weekly Storyline: On Friday, Max Muncy, Alika Williams, Jeff McNeil and Zack Gelof all hit home runs in the third inning. It was the first time the A’s have homered four times in one inning since 2002. What storylines stood out this week? Do you agree with the rankings above? Leave a comment and start the discussion. Image courtesy of Brad Mills-Imagn Images View full article

With the calendar flipping to September this week, the value of every game on the MLB schedule is increasing. The playoff races are entering their most important stretch, and teams have little time left to make up ground or separate themselves from the pack. Division races, Wild Card battles, and the fight to secure favorable postseason positioning will all come into sharper focus as the regular season enters its final month. Third-order wins remain a useful tool for adding context when evaluating each team. 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 a team's performance and determine whether its record accurately reflects the quality of the club. These Power Rankings focus more on sustainable performance than recent results alone. The arrows show which teams are building momentum, trending in the wrong direction, or holding steady as the season moves toward its most critical stretch. With October getting closer, the margin for error is shrinking, and the final weeks will reveal which teams are built to contend in the postseason and which will fall short of the playoff picture. 1. Brewers — 86.6-47.8 (.644) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Brewers rookie Cooper Pratt was benched in the middle of an inning for lack of hustle and a missed bunt attempt earlier in the week. Pratt took full responsibility and said, “It won’t happen again.” 2. Dodgers — 84.7-52.0 (.620) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Tarik Skubal returned to Detroit for the first time since being traded. He allowed one run across six innings for one of his best starts since the deadline. 3. Yankees — 73.4-54.5 (.574) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Cam Schlittler recorded his 200th strikeout as part of a 1-0 shutout of the Red Sox. He became the fourth-youngest Yankee to reach that total in a season. 4. Rays — 77.4-57.6 (.573) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Rays became the first AL team to record 80 wins on Friday. However, their +53 run differential ranks fourth in the league behind New York, Boston, and Detroit. 5. Cubs — 77.9-58.1 (.573) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong smacked a career-high three homers at Wrigley on Saturday. Cubs fans were booing when he came up for his final at-bat and a position player was on the mound. 6. Red Sox — 77.3-58.6 (.569) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Catcher Mickey Gasper had a 2.208 OPS over the seven games from August 18-25. Only Ted Williams had a higher OPS over a seven-game span in Red Sox history. 7. Marlins — 73.7-57.8 (.560) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Utility man Javier Sanoja joins Elly De La Cruz and Pete Crow-Armstrong as the only three players at the age of 23 or younger to record three hits and three stolen bases in a single game. 8. Pirates — 75.1-61.9 (.548) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Pirates rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin is beginning a rehab assignment at Double-A on Sunday. The 20-year-old is currently on the 60-day injured list with a left ring finger sagittal band injury. 9. Braves — 67.3-56.7 (.543) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Braves swept the Dodgers thanks to a complete game shutout from Chris Sale. He struck out 11, including Shohei Ohtani on a 100.1 mph fastball, his fastest pitch since 2018. 10. Tigers — 73.0-61.9 (.541) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander is getting closer to a potential final appearance with the Tigers. He is throwing off a mound, and Detroit hopes he can make one more appearance before retiring. 11. White Sox — 68.0-63.5 (.517) Biggest Weekly Storyline: The White Sox have opened contract extension talks with Munetaka Murakami, who has hit 29 home runs during his first season in Chicago. A two-year, $34 million contract for Murakami was one of the steals of the offseason. 12. Phillies — 68.3-64.9 (.513) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Infielder Edmundo Sosa hits a pinch-hit go-ahead grand slam in the 9th inning to lead the Phillies to a 5-3 victory over the Angels on Friday. 13. Padres — 64.7-65.3 (.498) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Joe Musgrove is returning from October 2024 Tommy John surgery and made what could be his final rehab start. In five innings, he allowed a run on five hits with three strikeouts at Triple-A. 14. Nationals — 68.6-69.4 (.497) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Jackson Kent threw seven innings of one-run ball to pick up his first major league win. Washington snapped an eight-game losing streak against the Marlins. 15. Blue Jays — 67.4-69.6 (.492) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Dylan Cease became the first pitcher since Randy Johnson in 2001 to record 19 consecutive games with at least seven strikeouts. 16. Mets — 65.0-67.4 (.491) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Mets activated star Juan Soto from the IL after a month-long stint. He had been sidelined since July 24, dealing with a calf injury. 17. Orioles — 66.0-70.0 (.485) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Orioles and Trey Mancini announced he will sign a one-day contract with Baltimore and retire as an Oriole on Saturday, September 19. 18. Guardians — 65.8-70.2 (.484) Biggest Weekly Storyline: MLB reportedly suspended a Dominican prospect, who had $2.8 million agreement with Guardians, due to an age-fraud plot. Cleveland thought he was 13-14 years old and could sign in 2029, but he was actually 16. 19. Diamondbacks — 63.8-68.9 (.481) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starters Corbin Burnes and Zac Gallen made rehab starts over the weekend at Triple-A. Both starters are desperately needed for an Arizona rotation in flux. 20. Giants — 59.4-65.1 (.477)⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Shortstop Willy Adames could miss the remainder of the 2026 season after he suffered an elbow injury. He’s expected to miss 3-4 weeks after receiving a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection. 21. Cardinals — 64.3-71.2 (.475) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Rookie Blaze Jordan was placed on the 10-day IL with a badly sprained left ankle on Friday. Just one day before, he hit his first homer at Busch Stadium and made a game-saving catch. 22. Mariners — 63.1-73.0 (.464) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Catcher Cal Raleigh busted out of his season-long slump earlier this week. On Monday, he posted his first career 3-homer game. 23. Twins — 62.1-73.9 (.457) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Top prospect Walker Jenkins made his MLB debut on Friday. He went 1-for-3 with a single and a walk, but the Twins lost to Chicago 7-4. 24. Angels — 59.2-70.8 (.455) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Outfielder Wade Meckler robbed a go-ahead home run with an unreal catch in the ninth inning that could be the catch of the year. The Angels still lost the game on a grand slam by the Phillies (see above). 25. Royals — 61.7-75.4 (.450) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Kansas City saw their nine-game win streak come to an end on Wednesday night. It was the club’s first loss since August 15 and arguably their best two-week stretch of the season. 26. Astros — 58.4-71.7 (.449) Biggest Weekly Storyline: With their club in first place, the Astros fired general manager Dana Brown. Houston is a mess and seems to be nearing the end of their competitive window. 27. Rangers — 57.0-73.1 (.438) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Jack Leiter will be shut down for the next few days after experiencing biceps soreness during his one-inning rehab appearance at Triple-A. Texas is trying to use him as a reliever down the stretch. 28. Reds — 55.8-80.3 (.410) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Eugenio Suárez and TJ Friedl, both of whom were made available to all 29 clubs for the cost of their remaining contract values, both cleared waivers. 29. Rockies — 52.0-84.1 (.382) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Tanner Gordon tossed a career-best seven innings while striking out five. He held the Nationals to one run while pitching the Rockies to their seventh victory in their last 12 road games. 30. Athletics — 50.3-85.8 (.370) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Catcher Shea Langeliers was expected to miss the remainder of the season, but he’s progressing well enough from a medical meniscectomy that he could appear in some late September games. What storylines stood out this week? Do you agree with the rankings above? Leave a comment and start the discussion. Image courtesy of Sam Navarro-Imagn Images View full article

Image courtesy of Jon Endow-Imagn Images With the final week of August here, the MLB playoff picture is beginning to take shape. The final month of the regular season will feature several critical divisional matchups, with teams battling head-to-head for postseason positioning. With playoff spots on the line, it's time to separate the contenders from the pretenders as every game carries added weight. 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 the postseason approaching, every win becomes more valuable, and the remaining weeks will determine which teams are ready to make a run in October and which will be watching from home. 1. Brewers — 82.1-47.8 (.632) Biggest Weekly Storyline: NL Cy Young frontrunner Jacob Misiorowski lowered his MLB-best ERA in a duel versus Chris Sale as the Brewers outlasted the Braves 2-1. He allowed no earned runs on four hits with six strikeouts to bring his ERA down to 1.68. 2. Dodgers — 80.4-49.5 (.619) Biggest Weekly Storyline: In the midst of the Dodgers’ four-game winning streak, center fielder Andy Pages broke his hand after being plunked by a 100 mph pitch. He’s expected to miss 4-5 weeks. 3. Yankees — 74.4-54.5 (.577) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Outfielder Giancarlo Stanton strained his left calf while running the bases as he is recovering from a strained right calf. His return to the Yankees this season is in doubt. 4. Red Sox — 73.0-55.9 (.566) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Sonny Gray and Tim Wakefield are the only Sox hurlers in the last 50 years to win at least 16 of their first 24 starts with Boston. On Friday, he moved to 16-4 with a 2.79 ERA this season. 5. Rays — 72.0-56.4 (.561) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Tampa Bay Rays, the city of Tampa and Hillsborough County reached an agreement on a $2.3 billion ballpark proposal located across from Raymond James Stadium. 6. Cubs — 72.8-57.1 (.560) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Shortstop Dansby Swanson is expected to miss 4-6 weeks due to oblique strain. There is a chance that he doesn’t return for the rest of the regular season. 7. Marlins — 72.2-57.8 (.555) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Miami has struggled versus teams with above .500 records. They have posted a 23-36 record when facing winning teams. 8. Pirates — 71.8-59.1 (.549) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Paul Skenes turned in another concerning start this week. He was removed after just 81 pitches after Pirates gave him extra rest leading into the appearance. 9. Tigers — 70.6-58.3 (.548) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Keider Montero had his most recent start pushed back because he isn’t recovering well enough to throw his bullpen sessions between starts. 10. Braves — 69.9-60.1 (.538) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Grant Holmes took a no-hitter into the 7th inning on Thursday as the Braves held the White Sox to one hit in a 2-0 win. 11. White Sox — 65.5-63.5 (.508) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Catcher Jake Rogers hit a tiebreaking two-run homer off Jefry Yan with two out in the ninth inning on Friday. Earlier in the game, Miguel Vargas, Randal Grichuk and Colson Montgomery hit back-to-back-to-back homers. 12. Phillies — 65.1-64.9 (.501) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Philadelphia trailed the Cardinals 4-0 on Sunday and had a 0.5% win probability. Kyle Schwarber capped the improbable comeback with a walk-off two-run homer for the club's ninth straight win. 13. Nationals — 65.4-65.6 (.499) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Catcher Keibert Ruiz has a career-high 107 wRC+ and has worked with new catching coach Bobby Wilson to turn into a slightly above average defensive catcher. 14. Padres — 64.7-65.3 (.498) Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Padres won their eighth straight home game on Saturday. The Padres have gone 45-17 in games when they record eight or more hits. 15. Blue Jays — 65.1-65.9 (.497) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was activated this weekend after being placed on the seven-day concussion injured list. 16. Orioles — 65.1-66.9 (.493) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Pete Alonso stirred up a new technology controversy with a near home run that was ruled foul. Some are calling for MLB to fix fair-foul technology for critical plays. 17. Diamondbacks — 64.1-65.9 (.493) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Many were concerned for Ketel Marte after he didn't show up during the Diamondbacks' Monday night game despite being in the lineup. He was moved to the injured list, and this past week, he was seen liking a post on Instagram saying that he no longer wanted to play for the Diamondbacks 18. Guardians — 63.1-66.9 (.485) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Rookie Travis Bazzana tied a career high with four hits on Friday night. For the season, he has a 101 OPS+, a 1.7 rWAR, and 18 steals. 19. Cardinals — 63.1-67.9 (.482) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Cardinals had a six-run rally in the 9th that led to a comeback win. Jordan Walker had the biggest knock with a three-run homer. 20. Mets — 62.6-67.4 (.482) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Right fielder Carson Benge adjusted his stance at the end of April. He has a slugging percentage of .453 since May 1, which puts him in the top 50 among qualified hitters. 21. Mariners — 61.5-68.5 (.473) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: On Saturday, Seattle called up their top pitching prospect Kade Anderson to face the Cubs. He pitched 5 2/3 innings while allowing three runs on five hits with five strikeouts and two walks. 22. Giants — 60.6-68.4 (.470) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Infielder Rafael Devers got booed by Red Sox fans in his first game at Fenway Park since being traded to the Giants. He quieted the crowd a little by hitting a homer. 23. Twins — 60.0-70.0 (.462) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Minnesota completed a three-game sweep of the Braves on Wednesday. It moved the Twins into the AL’s final Wild Card spot. 24. Rangers — 60.0-70.1 (.461) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Jacob deGrom collected his 2,000th career strikeout. He became the second fastest pitcher in MLB history to reach the milestone by both games and innings pitched. 25. Angels — 59.2-70.8 (.455) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Shortstop Zach Neto had a career-high five hits and seven RBIs, tying Freddie Patek for the most RBIs in a game by an Angels shortstop while going a triple shy of the cycle. 26. Astros — 58.4-71.7 (.449) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Shortstop Jeremy Pena missed multiple games this week. He suffered a right-hand contusion after being hit by a 100 mph pitch. 27. Royals — 56.8-74.3 (.433) ⬆️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Despite a disappointing season, general manager J.J. Picollo told reporters that he didn't expect any "wholesale changes" to the coaching staff this winter. 28. Reds — 54.5-75.6 (.419) ⬇️ Biggest Weekly Storyline: Outfielder Dane Myers missed a routine putout in left-center field that would have ended the game. Instead, Myers dropped the final out, and the Cardinals scored the game-tying and go-ahead runs in a crazy ninth inning. 29. Rockies — 49.0-80.1 (.380) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Kyle Freeman left his most recent start after clutching his back in the fourth inning. The Rockies broadcast later announced that Freeland departed due to neck tightness. 30. Athletics — 47.3-82.8 (.364) Biggest Weekly Storyline: Shortstop Jacob Wilson is expected to miss the remainder of the season due to a left shoulder injury. Wilson dislocated his left shoulder in May and has dealt with the injury, and several others, ever since. What storylines stood out this week? Do you agree with the rankings above? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View full article

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. Image courtesy of David Dermer-Imagn Images View full article