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Welcome to the stretch run of the 2025 MLB season! As we enter September, groups are making their remaining pushes for the postseason, and a few of baseball’s high golf equipment are already on their solution to clinching a playoff berth — probably as quickly as this weekend, in Milwaukee’s case.
The truth is, the Brewers are an instance of how far a group can go if it kicks into excessive gear. They’ve far and away one of the best report within the majors for the reason that All-Star break, cementing their place atop the standings for a possible No. 1 seed and first-round bye. Boston is one other case, because the Pink Sox have ridden a 19-12 report since Aug. 1 to vault themselves squarely again into the wild-card race, competing with the rival Yankees for seeding.
Division titles and wild-card berths are nonetheless up for grabs, so do not count on contenders to decelerate any time quickly — not in a season that appears so extensive open as soon as groups get to October.
Our skilled panel has ranked each group primarily based on a mix of what we have seen to date and what we already knew going into the 162-game marathon that may be a full baseball season. We additionally requested ESPN MLB specialists Buster Olney, Jorge Castillo and Bradford Doolittle to weigh in with an statement for all 30 groups.
Week 22 | Second-half preview | Preseason rankings
File: 86-54
Earlier rating: 1
The result of a postseason that might very effectively function the Brewers as the highest general group in all probability will settle the query of whether or not that is Milwaukee’s finest group ever. Barring a last-month collapse, that seems prone to be true — for the common season, at the least.
The Brewers have twice received 96 video games in a season (2011 and 2018), although the latter season featured a tiebreaker win in Sport No. 163. So the successful proportion report (.593) is held by that 2011 squad, effectively off the tempo of the present Brew Crew, which boasts a .614 successful proportion. The Brewers are additionally on the right track to complete with their finest run differential. Although they’ve had different nice common seasons, none of them have paid off in a championship. — Doolittle
File: 80-59
Earlier rating: 4
Nick Castellanos has an 89 OPS+, which means he has been a below-average hitter this season and one of many worst defensive gamers within the majors, in keeping with the superior metrics. He has minus-12 defensive runs saved, which is tied for the fifth worst amongst all massive leaguers this season. In the meantime, the Phillies have three outfielders taking part in effectively proper now, in Brandon Marsh (.478 in his previous seven video games), Max Kepler (.288/.333/.519 in his previous 14 video games) and Harrison Bader (.447 in his previous 11 video games). As supervisor Rob Thomson focuses on successful late-season video games, a tricky dialog with Castellanos is perhaps forthcoming. — Olney
File: 78-61
Earlier rating: 2
You’d assume a $400 million payroll would purchase you extra pitching certainty than what the Dodgers have, however right here we’re. L.A. will end the season with solely two pitchers accumulating greater than 100 innings — Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Clayton Kershaw — and can go into the postseason with a whole lot of employees questions. As soon as the Dodgers attain the postseason, supervisor Dave Roberts (and the entrance workplace) should determine who within the rotation begins, and who would possibly higher serve the group popping out of the bullpen. — Olney
File: 80-60
Earlier rating: 6
Kyle Tucker’s second-half swoon seems to have swooned, simply in time for the free-agent-to-be to gasoline one final Cubs push for the NL Central title. Tucker carried out like an MVP for the primary half of the season, placing up a .931 OPS with 17 homers and 20 steals. Then, because the glitz started to put on off on the Cubs’ breakout season, Tucker’s OPS fell all the best way to .815 by Aug. 21 because of a .549 mark over 39 video games. Whether or not it was a hunch, accidents or each, Tucker was struggling. No extra. Since Aug. 22, he has hit .400/.489/.800 over 11 video games, throughout which the Cubs have gone 7-4. He is again. — Doolittle
File: 81-60
Earlier rating: 3
With a month to go within the season, 24-year-old Riley Greene has already surpassed the 30-homer and 100-RBI marks, placing him in rarified air in Tigers historical past. Solely three different younger Tigers sluggers have hit these marks at age 24 or youthful: Jason Thompson (age 22, 1977), Rudy York (twice, ages 23 and 24, 1937 and 1938) and Hank Greenberg (age 24, 1935). It will take a giant final month, but when Greene can handle eight extra homers, he’d develop into the youngest Tiger to hit 40. Cecil Fielder (51 homers in 1990) and Greenberg (40 in 1937) have been each 26 once they did it. — Doolittle
File: 81-59
Earlier rating: 5
The Blue Jays’ rotation is full, however that does not imply there is not room for high prospect Trey Yesavage on the employees. The appropriate-hander tossed three scoreless innings for Triple-A Buffalo in his skilled aid debut Tuesday — a sign that Toronto is contemplating utilizing him as a reliever down the stretch and maybe into October. Yesavage was drafted within the first spherical out of East Carolina only a 12 months in the past and started this season in Single-A. He might finish the 12 months by turning into a difference-maker on the highest stage. — Castillo
File: 77-62
Earlier rating: 9
Supervisor Aaron Boone retains repeating it is a matter of when, not if, Aaron Decide will return to proper subject this season. However the “when” stays a query — as is how typically Decide will play there and the way his elbow damage will have an effect on his throwing potential. Having Decide return to proper subject is a threat the Yankees would favor to not take. At finest, groups will problem his willingness to unleash max-effort throws. At worst, he aggravates the damage and faces a protracted absence into 2026.
The Yankees would favor Decide stay as their designated hitter, however the group is finest optimized with each Decide and Giancarlo Stanton within the lineup. And Stanton, at this level in his profession, cannot play outfield daily. It is a difficult state of affairs the Yankees should navigate. — Castillo
File: 78-63
Earlier rating: 8
The Pink Sox know their high three starters: Garrett Crochet, Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito make for a formidable trio. However after that, the rotation stays unclear. Dustin Might, their fourth starter, has been inconsistent. Within the fifth spot, Walker Buehler was launched and Richard Fitts landed on the injured checklist, opening the door for prospect Payton Tolle. The left-hander, top-of-the-line pitchers within the minors this season, was spectacular in his debut. Perhaps he is Boston’s No. 4 starter. The Pink Sox will not want one in a wild-card or division sequence, however they’re going to want one if they’ll make a deep October run. — Castillo
File: 76-64
Earlier rating: 7
It is arduous to overstate the affect of Jason Adam’s damage on the Padres; he has been top-of-the-line relievers in baseball for the previous 4 seasons. In that point, Adam is tied for seventh amongst all bullpen arms in appearances (262), third in WHIP (0.94), third in opponents’ common (.173) and 14th in fWAR. One of the best a part of the Padres’ roster — their theoretical separator — is their bullpen, and now they’ve misplaced arguably one of the best amongst that group. — Olney
File: 75-65
Earlier rating: 12
When Juan Soto went via a efficiency dip early within the season, supervisor Carlos Mendoza dismissed the concept that there was any growing drawback. Reasonably, he talked about how gifted Soto is and the way it was inevitable that he would hit. Mendoza turned out to be very proper about that: Soto is on tempo to complete the season with greater than 40 homers and to succeed in base greater than 250 occasions. He has been absurdly scorching of late.
“Elite hitter, getting outcomes now,” Mendoza wrote in a textual content Tuesday. “Not lacking pitches and utilizing the entire subject.” — Olney
File: 77-63
Earlier rating: 10
Latest controversy apart, Framber Valdez will likely be one of many Astros’ high two starters alongside Hunter Brown of their playoff rotation. From there, Houston faces uncertainty. Lance McCullers Jr. — and his almost 7.00 ERA — was not too long ago moved to the bullpen. Cristian Javier and Luis Garcia each not too long ago returned from Tommy John surgical procedure. Spencer Arrighetti has a 5.35 ERA however has improved in his previous two outings. Journeyman Jason Alexander boasts a 3.19 ERA in 9 begins since becoming a member of the battered rotation. The Astros want two of these 4 to solidify themselves. — Castillo
File: 73-67
Earlier rating: 11
The Mariners are 6-16 on the street for the reason that All-Star break, a dismal report that might price them a postseason berth. To keep away from a collapse, they should care for enterprise at T-Cell Park down the stretch, with 13 of their remaining 19 video games at house. That house slate consists of sequence in opposition to three non-playoff foes (Cardinals, Angels and Rockies) and one to complete the common season in opposition to a postseason entrant (Dodgers) that may not have something on the road by that remaining weekend. — Castillo
File: 72-69
Earlier rating: 15
Someway, someway, the Rangers are again within the AL wild-card race. They’ve rebounded because of the offense, which has been comatose for a lot of the season, coming alive in opposition to inferior opponents. Now comes a season-defining stretch in opposition to stiffer competitors — consecutive sequence in opposition to the Astros, Brewers, Mets and Astros once more — with key absences mounting.
Already with out Nathan Eovaldi and Marcus Semien for the remainder of the season, Corey Seager, the group’s finest hitter, is out indefinitely after present process an appendectomy. The Rangers performed themselves into playoff competition. The following two weeks will determine whether or not they have an actual shot. — Castillo
File: 70-69
Earlier rating: 14
The character of baseball signifies that unhealthy groups beat nice groups occasionally. In a pattern of 1 recreation, there actually isn’t any such factor as an upset in MLB. The Royals aren’t a fantastic group, however they seem to be a good one — simply adequate to hold in wild-card competition because the season’s remaining month begins. If Kansas Metropolis finally misses out on a return to the bracket by a recreation or two, there are already quite a lot of latest losses that its followers can stew over, blown leads in losses to non-contenders such because the Angels and Nationals and contenders such because the Tigers. Within the AL, solely the Orioles, Angels and White Sox have misplaced extra video games they as soon as led than the Royals’ 33. — Doolittle
File: 70-70
Earlier rating: 13
What a budding playoff push for Cincinnati has fizzled over the previous couple of weeks. After reaching a season-high seven video games over .500 on Aug. 19, the Reds have been one recreation again of the flagging Mets within the wild-card chase. Cincinnati has since dropped 10 of 13, dropping 5 video games again of New York and falling right into a cluster of .500-ish groups with San Francisco, Arizona and St. Louis. It has been an ill-timed, all-around hunch. Throughout that stretch, Cincinnati ranked close to the underside of the majors in runs per recreation and runs allowed per recreation. — Doolittle
File: 70-69
Earlier rating: 16
Simply when the Rays appeared headed for a second straight season with out October baseball, they mounted a successful streak lengthy sufficient to crash the wild-card image once more. Reaching the playoffs stays unlikely — it is calculated at just a little greater than 7% — however wilder issues have occurred.
Regardless, getting Carson Williams acclimated and going over the ultimate month might pay dividends for this season and past. The shortstop debuted final month as one of many sport’s high prospects. He is off to a gradual begin, however the Rays’ determination to waive Ha-Seong Kim ensures he’ll obtain common taking part in time in September. With third baseman Junior Caminero exploding for a 40-home run season, the longer term is vibrant for the left facet of the Rays’ infield. –– Castillo
File: 71-69
Earlier rating: 20
This season — and the way it has performed out — is one which Rafael Devers might by no means have imagined. However on the very least, he is aware of the place he’ll be subsequent 12 months, and he is ending this season with a burst of offense — over his previous 28 video games, Devers has 11 homers and a .296/.402/.630 slashline. He’ll have a complete offseason to arrange for what’s prone to be an inevitable shift to first base, given the presence of Matt Chapman at third base for the Giants. — Olney
File: 69-69
Earlier rating: 17
The Guardians will not be getting star nearer Emmanuel Clase again any time quickly after MLB introduced its sports-betting investigation into Clase and starter Luis Ortiz will maintain the pair on nondisciplinary depart for an indefinite interval. Clase, coming off a third-place AL Cy Younger end in 2024, hasn’t pitched for Cleveland since July 26. Since then, the Guardians’ bullpen has ranked sixth within the majors with a 3.48 ERA and is 9-for-14 in save conditions**. It could possibly be worse. — Doolittle
File: 70-71
Earlier rating: 18
Compared to how the state of affairs between Devers and Boston’s entrance workplace performed out earlier than his commerce to the Giants, Ketel Marte has been rather more pliable in his harm management with the Diamondbacks — apologizing to teammates for the best way he dealt with his absence proper after the All-Star break. Opposite to hypothesis, some rival officers say they consider Arizona will maintain Marte this winter, quite than deal him. — Olney
File: 70-71
Earlier rating: 19
St. Louis speedster Victor Scott II is at 2.4 bWAR, placing him in a cluster of Redbirds hitters with an opportunity to guide the group. His candidacy relies on the whole lot however hitting, a considerably vital class through which his efficiency has been value minus-11 runs by Baseball Reference’s formulation. Scott’s profession OPS+ of 66 would render him unplayable as an everyday if not for his top-of-the-charts fielding and baserunning metrics. He has proven progress together with his stroll charge, however coming into his age-25 season in 2026, it’s going to be crucial to point out greater than that on the plate. — Doolittle
File: 65-75
Earlier rating: 21
All through the early months of the season, entrance workplaces across the majors weren’t precisely positive what Sandy Alcantara is perhaps in August and September, the ultimate months of his first full season after Tommy John surgical procedure. Properly, Alcantara is ending 2025 robust, with solely 14 hits and 5 walks given up over 27 innings in his previous 4 begins, which is able to undoubtedly gasoline curiosity from different groups in a doable commerce this coming offseason. Alcantara is underneath contract for $17.3 million for subsequent season. — Olney
File: 66-73
Earlier rating: 23
The Angels’ aggressive method with latest high draft picks was instantly efficient with Zach Neto and Nolan Schanuel, however Christian Moore’s introduction to the majors was rockier. The second baseman, who debuted in June a 12 months after being drafted within the first spherical of the 2024 draft, was not too long ago demoted to Triple-A with a .195 batting common and .623 OPS in 39 video games — manufacturing that wasn’t helped by Moore sitting out a month due to a sprained left thumb. Now the Angels hope Moore can get again on observe and end the 12 months robust with alternative knocking in 2026. — Castillo
File: 63-77
Earlier rating: 22
When Atlanta’s Brian Snitker met with the “Sunday Evening Baseball” announcers earlier than the sport in Philadelphia on Sunday, he stated he hadn’t made up his thoughts about whether or not he wished to handle in 2026, a call that will likely be his alone. He talked about how a lot he had missed via the numerous baseball seasons of his lifetime — for instance, he has watched solely three innings of his son’s highschool baseball profession. And Snitker desires to journey. If the 70-year-old skipper retires, he’ll proceed to work within the Braves group as a guide or particular assistant. — Olney
File: 64-77
Earlier rating: 25
Rookies this season fall into two buckets: Nick Kurtz and everybody else. The A’s first baseman is placing the ending touches on one of many biggest rookie campaigns in latest historical past. Kurtz’s 177 wRC+ is tied with Yordan Alvarez’s first-year output in 2019 for tops amongst all rookies with at the least 350 plate appearances since 2015, and his 1.037 OPS and .636 slugging proportion are second to Alvarez and his .401 on-base proportion third. Kurtz, who has 28 house runs in 96 video games, is the overwhelming favourite to develop into the Athletics’ first Rookie of the Yr since Andrew Bailey in 2009. It has taken him lower than 18 months to develop into a franchise cornerstone since being chosen No. 4 within the 2024 draft. — Castillo
File: 64-76
Earlier rating: 24
The Orioles, lengthy faraway from the postseason race and relegated to spoiler, have one other month to judge which gamers match of their plans for 2026. The long run is promising with a place participant core of Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, Jordan Westburg, Colton Cowser, Dylan Beavers and Samuel Basallo.
However what concerning the different gamers? Does Adley Rutschman, as soon as entrenched as an Orioles cornerstone, nonetheless match? How about Coby Mayo, Ryan Mountcastle and Jeremiah Jackson? Then there’s the pitching. Tyler Rogers has been top-of-the-line pitchers in baseball since June. He might high a playoff rotation. The Orioles should determine the remaining. — Castillo
File: 62-77
Earlier rating: 26
Anybody following the season via the prism of the postseason would have ceased to concentrate to the Twins as quickly as they completed offloading half of their roster on the commerce deadline. If that is you, you would possibly need to at the least tune again in when Joe Ryan is pitching. With 4.9 bWAR coming into September, Ryan is having one of many higher pitching seasons within the post-Senators a part of Twins franchise historical past. That 4.9 is already tied for thirty fourth in Minnesota historical past, however Ryan is on tempo for five.8. That might get him to twenty fourth with the Twins’ highest complete since Johan Santana (7.6) in 2006. — Doolittle
File: 63-77
Earlier rating: 27
Some scratched their heads over the Pirates’ determination to begin phenom Bubba Chandler within the bullpen after his promotion from Triple-A. The truth is, the observe of beginning a younger pitcher off as a protracted reliever is a time-honored custom in baseball — or at the least it was once, with Earl Weaver among the many advocates of such an method. Both approach, Chandler has sparkled throughout three four-inning aid outings, lastly getting touched up for 3 runs by the Dodgers on Tuesday. Nonetheless, he has a 2.25 ERA, a save and two wins in his first three MLB outings. Not unhealthy for a center reliever. — Doolittle
File: 56-83
Earlier rating: 28
The sequence of the adjustments made by Washington’s possession proceed to confuse rival executives. Not lengthy earlier than the draft and commerce deadline, the Nationals fired GM Mike Rizzo however saved scouting director Danny Haas, who spearheaded the dialog across the group’s No. 1 decide, highschool shortstop Eli Willits. Now, Haas has left the group.
“Modifications occur, I get it,” one rival official stated. “Nevertheless it’s the timing that simply appears unusual. Why not carry within the man you need earlier than you make these choices?” — Olney
File: 52-88
Earlier rating: 29
It takes a very long time to actually decide a commerce, however the first 12 months after Chicago dealt Garrett Crochet to Boston for Kyle Teel, Chase Meidroth, Wikelman Gonzalez and Braden Montgomery has been encouraging for the White Sox. Crochet (5.0 bWAR) is having a Cy Younger-level season for the BoSox. However Teel (1.7 bWAR), Meidroth (1.1) and Gonzalez (0.1, with a 2.03 ERA over 10 outings) are already within the majors. Montgomery, in his first season {of professional} ball, has reached Double-A and is hitting over .300 for Birmingham. With all of those younger gamers blossoming, it ought to solely get higher from right here for the ChiSox. — Doolittle
File: 39-101
Earlier rating: 30
Rather a lot has gone mistaken for the Rockies this season, but it surely has been a wonderful 12 months for Hunter Goodman, who leads Colorado place gamers in WAR by far, in addition to in house runs, runs, RBIs and hits.
The 25-year-old is in his first season as the first catcher for the Rockies. He has been excellent placing the primary ball in play: 44 hits in 88 at-bats, with 10 homers, two triples and 6 homers. — Olney
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