MLB Power Rankings: Week Fifteen Update

It’s been a week of streaks across Major League Baseball.

The Brewers and Yanks both hold five-game win streaks entering Saturday morning, making up ground in both of their respective divisions. The Red Sox have won eight games in a row behind their strong core, emphasized by Ceddanne Rafaela‘s monster-clearing home run Friday.

Teams have also racked up losses. The Dodgers and Pirates — yes, both of those teams are in the same sentence — have lost seven games in a row, with the Dodgers giving up serious ground in the National League West to the Giants and Padres.

The Astros have also lost four games in a row, but have built up a safe cushion over the Mariners to survive the streak. They hold a six-game lead over the M’s, and climbed highly in this week’s list.

I also have to address some of the decisions made to this list. Yes, the Blue Jays are not a top-10 team. Not even 11th or 12th. Why, though? They’re first in the AL East and hold a 55-39 record.

Well, they’re simply not as good as the Rays, Red Sox, and Yankees. They have a +21 run differential and expected record of 49-45. It’s both lower expected numbers than the Rangers. Plus, their offense is being led by the 35-year-old George Springer. Does he have enough in the tank for the second half? And can the rotation that features Chris Bassitt, Kevin Gausman, and Max Scherzer produce to clinch a wild card spot by the end of September? I’m not sure. And anyways, that’s in the future, I’m talking about right now. And right now, they’re not a top-10 team.

Other teams I felt could have been top-10 are the Giants and Padres. Both had impressive wins Friday to make up ground behind the Dodgers, but barely fell short behind my No. 9 and 10 teams. Those four could really be mixed and matched.

1. Tigers

Friday’s 12-3 loss to the Mariners wasn’t indicative of the Tigers’ week. They handled business by sweeping the Guardians to further bury Cleveland, then took a series against June’s hottest team in the Rays.

Detroit continues to be baseball’s best team in 2025. They win with their entire roster, and it’s time we give a new player praise on their roster: Colt Keith. The 23-year-old has slashed .313/.376/.531 over his last 30 games, including two homers in his last seven games. Plus, Casey Mize was recently added to the All-Star game, giving the Tigers a major league-leading six players on the American League roster.

2. Astros

The Astros may be on a four-game losing streak, but they’ve consistently been one of the majors’ best teams over the last month. We had them seventh before their sweep of the Dodgers, hence why I had them so low. Yes, I read the comment,s everyone.

Sure, they were swept by the Guardians, but they’ve opened up a commanding six-game lead in the AL West behind two aces and a strong offense. Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez carry ERAs below three, and Isaac Paredes has finally found his power stroke with 19 homers on the season.

This team is scary. And they’ve gone 55-39 without Yordan Alvarez for essentially the entire season. If this team adds one more formidable starter and bat, they could be bound for another pennant.

3. Cubs

The Cubs lost a series to the Twins last week, but took the more important one prior against the Cardinals.

Chicago keeps rolling, holding the best run differential (+113) and runs scored (503) in the National League. Pete Crow-Armstrong has reached the 25-homer plateau before the All-Star break, and could be the first Chicago Cub and only seventh player in MLB history to complete a 40-40 season. Starting pitching, however, is still a concern. Matthew Boyd has a 2.52 ERA, but he can’t be the Game 1 starter heading into a playoff series.

4. Dodgers

Seven losses in a row for the mighty Dodgers? Yep, you read that correctly.

The Dodgers are in the midst of a rude awakening. They’ve lost seven in a row to the Astros, Brewers, and Giants, all playoff-bound, pennant-capable teams. The last series before that for L.A. were the Nationals, Rockies, White Sox, and Royals.

The starting pitching has been the concern. Dustin May allowed seven earned runs Friday. Yoshinobu Yamamoto allowed three earned runs in just 2/3’s of an inning Monday. Tyler Glasnow, however, was reinstated off the IL and struck out five across five scoreless innings. So that’s something.

The offense hasn’t been pretty either. Mookie Betts is slashing .215/.260/.339 with just three homers over his last 30 games. Freddie Freeman‘s slashline is also a measly .186/.256/.246 over his last month.

5. Brewers

The Brew Crew is sneakily dominating the majors right now. They swept the Dodgers last week, and are currently riding a five-game win streak heading into the All-Star break.

They’re one game behind the Cubs for the division, and hold the second-best run differential (+73) in the NL. Freddy Peralta and the rotation have been a primary reason for success, plus the addition of Jacob Misiorowski‘s 2.81 ERA in five starts has provided the Brewers with another ace. I hear that David Stearns guy is good at building teams.

But seriously, the Brewers are being overlooked by lots. And with the trade deadline a couple weeks away, the front office in Milwaukee has the opportunity to make a World Series-caliber move. They’re legitimately one big bat away from being an outlier in October.

6. Mets

Where were you when the Mets saved their season against the Yankees?

Last week, the Amazins got out of the gutter with a series win over their cross-town rivals. It included a dramatic comeback featuring a Jeff McNeil home run late, and a 12-6 beatdown by an offense that was among the worst in the league during their 2025 June swoon.

The very next series against the Orioles wasn’t ideal, but the Mets deserve some nuance. They had a gutsy 7-6 comeback win in Game 1, a close loss in Game 2, then a Game 3 loss that was started by Brandon Waddell and Justin Hagenman. Add in the comeback win Friday against the Royals, plus the addition of Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea later this week, and the Mets should climb back to the top of this list.

7. Yankees 

Speaking of seasons being saved, the Yankees have rode the high of beating the Mets Sunday to the extreme.

They swept the Mariners at home, punctuated by a comeback in the ninth in Game 3 to complete the cleaning. That momentum carried into the Cubs series Friday, where Cody Bellinger clubbed three homers against his former team. Maybe he would have had four if the right field wall were a little taller. Cam Schlittler also had a nice debut in the M’s series, striking out seven across 5 1/3 innings.

The Yankees have now won five in a row after dropping six in a row prior, pulling within two games of first place behind the Blue Jays.

8. Phillies

Philadelphia at eight might be shocking to sum. They have elite pitching and are in first in the NL East.

The true reason is the offense. It’s as hot and cold as Heat Miser and Snow Miser. Ya know, from the 1974 Christmas movie “The Year Without Santa Claus.” Anways.

The lineup features Bryce Harper (124 OPS+), Kyle Schwarber (158 OPS+), and Trea Turner (115 OPS+) as the only above league average hitters, along with Nick Castellanos, who has a barely above average OPS+ (108).

Their last series against the Giants is a prime example of how things have gone for Philadelphia. They lost the first two games, but then blew out the Giants 13-0. It also doesn’t help that the Phillies don’t have a closer. Jordan Romano is reaching DFA territory.

9. Red Sox

The past couple weeks, I’ve felt bad about leaving the Red Sox off the list. But now, their talent is undeniable.

They’ve won eight games in a row behind a gutsy young core. Roman Anthony is slashing .382/.452/.527 over his last 15 games, Wilyer Abreu has slashed .280/.345/.620, and Ceddanne Rafaela has slashed .317/.360/.625 with seven homers over his last 30 games. Including his titanic walk-off shot Friday.

This team is loaded with talent. And with a rotation of Garrett Crochet, Brayan Bello, and the revitalized Lucas Giolito, this team could advance to the ALCS.

10. Rays

It hasn’t been a fun stretch for the Rays in July. They’re 3-7 in their last 10 games and have fallen to five and half games behind the Blue Jays for first place.

Two of those losses in devastating fashion to the Red Sox Thursday and Friday. The first came when recently acquired Bryan Baker (remember him?) blew an eighth-inning lead and the game, then the second came when Pete Fairbanks allowed a walk-off homer in the ninth Friday.

Still, the team is loaded with talent and will always have pitching. Junior Caminero and Yandy Díaz continue to produce at the plate, plus Shane McClanahan had a successful full-intensity bullpen.

Rest of the Field

11. Giants
12. Padres
13. Blue Jays
14. Mariners
15. Cardinals
16. Rangers
17. Reds
18. D-backs
19. Royals
20. Twins
21. Marlins
22. Braves
23. Orioles
24. Guardians
25. Angels
26. Pirates
27. Nationals
28. Athletics
29. White Sox
30. Rockies

 

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