MLB Power Rankings: Week 25 Update

Last week in baseball featured our first glimpses of clinches.

The Phillies won their second consecutive National League East title Monday with an extra-innings win, the Brewers clinched a spot in October with a win Sunday that featured a made-up letter from Bob Uecker, and the Cubs also clinched a spot with their 88th win of the season Wednesday in Pittsburgh.

So far, these three NL teams have been the only clubs to clinch a spot in October. No team in the American League has the “x” marking their spot in the standings, mostly due to a competitive AL East, a falling Tigers team, and healthy group of middling teams with chances to mathematically rip off an unlikely trip to the dance.

But, we’re in the final run, and this is already our penultimate power rankings of the season. There will be heartbreak. And there will be magic. Just hope your team is in the latter.

1. Phillies

The city of Philadelphia partied Monday with a 6-5, division-clinching win over the Dodgers in L.A.

It marks the second straight season the Phillies have won the NL East, and another successful season under manager Rob Thompson. The team is dangerous; the offense made a statement with 15 runs over two wins in Los Angeles. This team also isn’t done yet, as they pursue the Brewers for the best record in baseball, along with home-field advantage throughout the entire playoffs.

Also, for a Mets spin on the Phillies, the fanbase should be rooting for the Phillies to secure the best record in baseball. The club went to Arizona for three games starting Friday night, where they took the first game 8-2. Let’s all root for a sweep.

2. Brewers

Milwaukee was one of three teams last week to clinch a playoff spot in October, which was another mark for a season dedicated to Uecker.

It even saw an emotional clubhouse and manager in Pat Murphy read a letter from Uecker, which was more a symbolic gesture. Still, the season has been spectacular, and like our last blurb for the Phillies, the Mets fan base should be rooting for a strong finish for Milwaukee.

The Brewers, who own the best record in baseball at 94-59 and run differential at +190, finish the season with the Padres and Reds. Both series could help the Mets secure a playoff spot, or even the second wild card with a poor finish by San Diego.

But, this is about the Brewers and how dominant they’ve been. Powered by a resurgent year of Christian Yelich and strong rotation of Freddy Peralta, Brandon Woodruff, and Quinn Priester, this club could easily go the distance. Even the loss of Trevor Rogers has been mitigated with the stellar pitching of Abner Uribe and his 1.77 ERA.

3. Dodgers

The Dodgers’ 2025 has been marred by lackluster performances and injury. But down the stretch in September, they’ve righted the ship.

Sure, they lost a series at home to the Phillies, basically ending a realistic chance at the top record in baseball, but they’ve won the games they’ve needed to win. Last week, the Dodgers went to San Francisco and won a series, then Friday night they followed it with a 2-1 win over the Giants at home.

They’ve managed to push the Giants away from a slim chance at the NL West, and also get healthy heading toward October. Yoshinobu Yamamoto sparkled Friday, striking out seven over 5 1/3 scoreless innings, and Blake Snell absolutely dominated the Phillies with 12 punchouts over seven scoreless innings. Factor in Mookie Betts slashing .335/.394/.548 with eight homers since August 5 coming into Friday’s game, and the Dodgers could remind everyone of their dominance over a three-week stretch in October.

4. Cubs

It should have been a celebratory week for the Cubs. They clinched a spot in the playoffs for the first time since the 2020 COVID season, and have a legitimate offense that could outscore the field.

Yet, Kyle Tucker — who’s been a major factor in that offense — plateaued in his recovery from a calf injury. The Cubs don’t know when Tucker will be back, and hope he’ll be a factor in the playoffs.

The news is a massive blow to the Cubs, who through June looked to be one of the highest scoring offenses in baseball history. But injuries to Tucker and others have slowed down the Cubs. It’s the number one reason they’re not in contention with the Brewers for the NL Central.

But, even if they don’t get Tucker back, look out for this Chicago offense. Pete Crow-Armstrong homered last week against the Pirates, and if he can get going, he’ll be a spark plug around other guys like Seiya Suzuki, Michael Busch, and Ian Happ.

5. Blue Jays

Buckle up Blue Jays fans. You’re in for a ride.

Last week was no means a terrible week for the Jays. They took a series from the Astros, swept the Orioles, then split a four-game series on the road against Tampa. Yet, they hold only a three-game lead over the Yankees with a tough schedule ahead.

They started their three-game set on the road in Kansas City with a 20-1 whopping, then after host the Red Sox, who are on the verge of being the third wild card team in the AL, and host the Rays for the final series, a team that they’re 3-7 against this season.

This is not to say the Blue Jays will blow the division by any means. They’re five on the rankings for a reason. George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continue to drive in runs for the club, and Daulton Varsho has provided lineup depth ever since returning from injury. Losing Bo Bichette for the remainder of September is a brutal blow, but he’s eyeing the postseason, which the Jays are bound for.

6. Mariners

A 12-5 September? A 9-1 stretch in their last 10 games? What year is it? 1995?

All jokes aside, the Mariners have been the hottest team in baseball in the month of September. Which they needed after ending August and starting September with a 1-5 stretch.

Cal Raleigh also made history — again — last week by passing Mickey Mantle for the most homers in a season by a switch-hitter. The M’s catcher has also sparked the offense over this hot stretch, slashing .286/.429/.607 with five homers over his last 15 games.

It feels like we’ve all said “just get in” for this Mariners pitching staff and they could go on a run to the World Series. And this year, they might get their first AL West title since 2001.

They started their final series against the Astros with a bang, taking a 4-0 win on the road in Houston to take sole possession of first place. And if they can win the series, they’ll get a buffer against the Rockies for three, and then end the year with the Dodgers, who might play it safe heading into October.

7. Yankees

The schedule Gods have blessed the New York Yankees to end the season.

After taking a series in Boston from the Red Sox, then winning two of three from the Twins, the Yankees will end the season with nine games against the Orioles and White Sox.

As of now, they’re only three games behind the Blue Jays, and realistically could jump them for the division in the final series of the season. It’s also an opportunity for Aaron Judge to really put up some numbers and double down on his .327/.452/.673 slashline. Not that he needs to.

And while we’re on Judge, may I use this time to push the Judge MVP narrative? I have no horse in this race. I’m a blogger. And not a Yankees fan. But the man leads the majors in almost every offensive category. Just click on his name and you’ll see a lot of bolded numbers.

8. Padres

Last week wasn’t necessarily a bad week for the Friars.

They took a four-game set from the Rockies, then went into Citi Field and lost a three-game series to a Mets team that desperately needs to win. But, it wasn’t where they wanted to finish, and still trail the Dodgers by four games.

However, the cookie crumbled nicely for the Padres, who will get to face off against the White Sox this week. It’s an opportunity to beat up on one of the worst teams in baseball, and hope that the Giants beat up on the Dodgers. Then after that, the Padres will face a Brewers club — who by then will probably have clinched the NL Central — and a Diamondbacks team chasing them in the wild card race.

I’m not saying the Padres will make up four games with seven games left to play. But it’s not impossible.

9. Astros

Houston has navigated the injury bug all season long.

Firstly, they’re tied for first place in the division despite losing Yordan Alvarez for the majority of the year and Isaac Paredes for half of it. They’ve also had to rely on a rotation made up of Ryan Gusto, Colton Gordon, and Jason Alexander (no, not the one you’re thinking of).

Yet, here they are, smack in the middle of a race for the division title. One I might add that they haven’t lost since 2016. (Yes, the A’s won in 2020, but are we counting that?)

It was announced Paredes will come off the IL for Friday’s game, giving the Astros more oomph in their lineup for a final series against the Mariners. Houston dropped Friday’s game 4-0, but could easily bounce back for a series win. Whoever wins this series will likely take the division, as both teams came into Friday’s match-up with a 5-5 head-to-head record.

10. Tigers

The second-half Tigers have been brutal.

They’re 26-31 since the All-Star break, really powered by an 11-14 July and now a 5-11 September. As a result, they’re stuck at 85 wins, and a hot stretch by the Guardians and sweep at their hands last week has dwindled their lead in the AL Central to only two and a half games. 

To make matters worse, the Tigers face the Guardians in Cleveland for three games next week before heading to Boston to end the series. Detroit was in the driver’s seat for most the season, but it looks as if they’re starting to head off the trail. They’ll get to face a down-and-out Braves team, but Atlanta has talent, which they proved with a 10-1 win Friday over Detroit to extend their winning streak to six games.

Rest of the Field

11. Red Sox
12. Guardians
13. Mets
14. Diamondbacks
15. Reds
16. Rangers
17. Giants
18. Royals
19. Rays
20. Cardinals
21. Athletics
22. Marlins
23. Braves
24. Orioles
25. Twins
26. Pirates
27. Nationals
28. Angels
29. White Sox
30. Rockies

 

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