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RotoBaller's Kevin Larson drops his latest MLB Power Rankings. Analysis, insight, and rankings for all 30 MLB teams from worst to first as of September 22, 2025.
MLB Power Rankings: Where Does Every Team Stand?
Welcome to absolute insanity. With just a week left in the season, every division in the American League is within reach. That includes the AL Central where the Tigers have watched a 14-game lead in the division evaporate in the blink of an eye thanks to the Guardians. The Mariners have overtaken the Astros in the AL West but there’s still work to do. And should Milwaukee be worried as they head into the playoffs? It’s all reaching a boiling point as we head into the final week of the season. Now let’s see where everyone ranks.
30. Colorado Rockies
If nothing else for the Rockies, they can rest on the fact that they finally surpassed the 2024 White Sox and won’t post the worst record in modern baseball history. They also have potentially found a franchise catcher in Hunter Goodman, who is the only catcher in Rockies history to hit for 30 home runs in a season. But there are still plenty of holes to fill, especially in the rotation. Colorado will need to get creative in the offseason to snap out of the funk they’ve been in over the past few seasons.
29. Chicago White Sox
The White Sox found some decent offensive firepower in their young guys during the second half. Colson Montgomery is a shining example of that with his 18 homers in 65 games. That would be a 40+ homer season over a normal regular season. Shane Smith and Davis Martin have had decent years on the mound, helping provide a bit of hope from the pitching side of things. But Chicago still has a bit of holes they’ll need to fill before being able to return to competitiveness. The good news for them is the AL Central always seems to be a bit open, so their window may open sooner than anticipated if they can make a jump this offseason.
28. Washington Nationals
Washington has some good pieces in its lineup along with a potential Cy Young candidate in MacKenzie Gore. But unfortunately for them it just never seems to fully come together. This season has certainly shown that they need a few more good pieces in their rotation to give their offense more chances since it often becomes anemic. Their offense can be powerful at times, but their left-handed dominant lineup makes them very vulnerable when facing southpaws on the mound. This offseason they’ll need to find some good right-handed bats to round out that lineup a bit more.
27. Pittsburgh Pirates
When you have Paul Skenes it’s fun to watch baseball at least once every five days. The likely NL Cy Young award winner will make his final regular season start on Wednesday in a pivotal game against the Reds. Well, pivotal for Cincinnati at least. But that won’t take away from the moment for Skenes, who’s pitched to one of the best ERAs for a starting pitcher in Pirates’ history. As for the other issues Pittsburgh will want to fix after this season? Well, that list may be a bit long. But for now Pirates fans can at least revel in the fact they’ll have their first Cy Young winner since Doug Drabek in 1990.
26. Minnesota Twins
Minnesota’s season has been more than forgettable thanks to a plethora of injuries that forced them to sell at the deadline. They at least can be happy with the development of Luke Keaschall, whose 129 OPS+ should give lots of hope for next season. Also, they beat the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday, something no team has done in what feels like months. They’ll have to face some roster questions this offseason, specifically in what to do with Joe Ryan. Their ace was a hot commodity at the trade deadline and could net them quite the haul if he’s made available in the offseason. Should he depart then that may cause a domino effect on the rest of the roster.
25. Los Angeles Angels
Mike Trout hit his 400th home run over the weekend, a milestone for one of the best players we’ve seen over the past 15 years. It’s unfortunate that he still hasn’t played a game in October since 2014. That’s part of being an Angel, though. Their lineup has started to taper off to finish the season, clearly in a bit of a coasting mode right now. Maybe some of that was facing the Mariners and Brewers, maybe it’s a loss of focus. We’ll find out as they spend the last weekend of the season in Houston with a chance to play spoiler to the Astros’ season.
24. Atlanta Braves
Matt Olson has been lighting the world on fire these past couple weeks, hitting five home runs in his last nine games. That’s helped Atlanta win eight straight games, including a sweep over the Tigers that’s making the AL Central race very intriguing. Injuries derailed their season from the jump and Atlanta never really had a shot. But they chose not to sell at the deadline and will go into the offseason with a roster that still has all the tools to compete when it’s healthy. But the Braves’ front office can’t rest thinking it’s that easy and will likely find ways to be active and improve the rotation. 2025 wasn’t pretty, but expect Atlanta to finish strong and come out swinging in 2026.
23. Baltimore Orioles
Another team whose season has been ravaged by injuries, Baltimore never really was able to get things going without its top pitchers in Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells. They’ll look to get things back on track next season and return to competitiveness. Copying what they’re doing in September would be a goal as they’re now 12-7 this month. That’s mostly thanks to a 3.60 ERA from their staff this month. They’ll have to improve on hitting, but with their top arms back in the rotation they should look to finish this season strong and aim to be much better in 2026.
22. Athletics
A’s fans would probably have much more reason to be excited if not for all the drama surrounding their relocation. That’s of course because of the emergence of their young stars in Nick Kurtz and Jacob Wilson. Kurtz will likely win the AL Rookie of the Year award, cementing a stellar rookie campaign. But the A’s have a lot that needs to be figured out on the mound before they can really start to be taken as a serious threat. They’ll likely have to acquire a few good arms for their starting rotation as no one they currently have looks to be all that dominant. But if they can get there they’ll be a fun team to follow in 2026. They’ll finish the season looking to play spoiler to start the week as they host the Astros starting on Tuesday.
21. St. Louis Cardinals
At four games back of the Mets for the final wild card spot, and three teams between them and New York, it’s very unlikely that St. Louis will be able to snag the last wild card. It feels like the Cardinals will be having a lot of tough decisions they’ll need to make this offseason in regards to how they want to move forward as a franchise. The biggest question will be surrounding the future of Nolan Arenado and if they’ll be able to trade him. With his name constantly popping up this past offseason, and through the trade deadline, the 34-year-old may be playing his last games as a Cardinal this week. Those will all come on the road as they head out to San Francisco and then to Chicago to finish the season at Wrigley.
20. Tampa Bay Rays
After being eliminated from playoff contention, Tampa’s really got one chance to play spoiler next week as they finish their season visiting the Blue Jays. That series will be important if the AL East hasn’t been decided by then. But in the meantime, Tampa will finish 2025 with a sub-.500 record for the second year in a row and the first time since 2017. The good news is that they’ve found themselves a good talent in Junior Caminero, who will have a shot to finish with 45+ homers. The franchise record is 46 by Carlos Pena in 2007. Rays fans will be rooting for Caminero to break the record as the season comes to an end.
19. Miami Marlins
At 4 GB of the wild card there’s virtually no shot that Miami will steal the last spot, but they’re playing like no one can tell them no. They’ve won 10 of their last 11 games after sweeping the Rangers this weekend. If they stay hot to finish the season then they could play a major role in the NL playoff picture. That’s because they host the New York Mets the last weekend of the season. With the Mets’ inability to keep ground between them and the rest of the NL, there’s a chance that Miami makes somebody’s season next weekend. And if absolutely everything goes right and then some, it could even be them.
18. San Francisco Giants
A Sunday win over the Dodgers helped salvage a bad four game series for San Fran, but it may be too little too late. They’re sitting three games back of the Mets, giving them a shot to still steal that last wild card spot. But they have to be kicking themselves for this recent slump they’re in. If not for this 3-8 slide they’re on they’d likely be leading the wild card chase. But they can’t dwell on that. They need to essentially win out. There may be a decent shot at that as they host the Cardinals and Rockies to finish the regular season.
17. Kansas City Royals
A late season slide cost the Royals a real shot at taking the last wild card spot in the American League. Now they sit 6 games back of the final wild card spot, all but eliminated from playoff contention. An 8-11 September is to blame, mostly because the offense has been rather weak outside of a couple outbursts. One of those happened Friday in a 20-1 win over Toronto. But it’s too little too late. Kansas City must re-evaluate their roster some heading into next season, though a 2026 with a healthy Cole Ragans and Kris Bubic could look vastly different.
16. Texas Rangers
The Rangers’ injuries seem to have finally caught up to them and it couldn’t have come at a worse time for Texas. They entered this week with just a two game deficit to Houston. But they couldn’t muster up a single win this week and got swept by both the Astros and Marlins. They’re not eliminated from playoff contention, but they need literally everything to go their way in order to make it. They should be given credit for how far they were able push with all their injuries before the wheels came falling off. But at the end of the day it still means the same thing. The Rangers will be spending October on the couch, hoping for health and new ways to get back to the World Series.
15. Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona enters the final week as the team with the best chance to steal a wild card spot that isn’t already in the playoff picture. That’s because at one game back you’re in a sprint to the finish with New York and Cincinnati. But it won’t come easy for the DBacks as their remaining schedule may be the toughest finish in the league. The Dodgers come to town before Arizona heads out to San Diego for the weekend. It’s a tough draw, but after selling at the deadline Arizona fans couldn’t have expected they’d still be in this position. It’s a sprint to the finish and the DBacks are hoping they’ll outpace the rest.
14. Cincinnati Reds
There were two “sweeps of the season” that happened this weekend and the Reds are the architects of one of them. Their four game sweep over the Cubs this weekend has potentially defined their season. They now are tied with the Mets for the final NL wild card spot and have a rather favorable remaining schedule. They host the Pirates for three games before heading to Milwaukee over the weekend. That series against the Brewers would normally sound formidable but, given they already have the NL Central wrapped up, they may take it easy. The Reds have a very realistic shot at making the playoffs for the first time in a 162 game regular season since 2013.
13. New York Mets
It’s officially panic time in Queens. The Reds have tied the Mets for the final NL wild card spot and the DBacks are just one game back. New York’s inability to create distance between them and their competition has caught up to them and it comes down to a six game sprint to finish the season. They’ll start with a three game set at Wrigley Field before flying out to Miami to finish the season. They may catch a break against the Cubs, given Chicago has their playoff spot clinched and likely won’t fall below San Diego, but it’s the series in Miami that may prove toughest. The Marlins have been one of the hottest teams in baseball and won’t let the Mets get anything easy. No one in Queens wanted it to come down to this but it’s going to be chaos to finish the season.
12. Cleveland Guardians
It’s the hottest team in baseball with one of the craziest division comebacks in MLB history. In early July they were 15.5 games back of the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central. As of today they are just one game back. If they complete the comeback then it would be the largest comeback in a division race in MLB history. They also enter this week tied with the Astros for the final AL wild card spot, marking a stunning turnaround after a chaotic July. But the focus won’t be on the wild card race to start the week. It will be all about the division as Cleveland hosts Detroit in a three game series to start the week that very likely will determine the winner of the AL Central.
11. Houston Astros
A big week for Houston started off on a great note, sweeping the Rangers heading into a weekend series against the Mariners that looked to determine the fate of the AL West. Just as quickly as the Astros gained hope, the Mariners wiped it all way with ease as they swept Houston at Daikin Park. The Astros now trail Seattle by three games and likely won’t win the AL West. Instead, they need to focus on fending off the Guardians in the wild card race. They’ll have to do so on the road as they head to Sacramento and Anaheim to finish the regular season.
10. San Diego Padres
The Padres are sitting in a pretty decent spot after winning a weekend series over the White Sox. They have a five game cushion over the final wild card spot and shouldn’t drop below. But they also are unlikely to improve on where they’re at as they likely can’t pass the Cubs. They should enter the playoffs as the five seed in the NL. That will make the final week of the season a whole lot less stressful for Padres fans as they host the Brewers and the DBacks. Their goal is simply stay healthy and look to get ready for, more than likely, an opening series against the Chicago Cubs.
9. Boston Red Sox
The chaos in the American League wild card race looks on the outside like it’s mostly reduced to the Astros, Guardians and Tigers. But Boston’s on the precipice of that cluster, having just a one game cushion over Houston and Cleveland. That’s barely enough breathing room considering their opponents this week as they head to Toronto before hosting Detroit to finish the season. There should be enough chaos with Cleveland and Houston to keep Boston safe, but if they slip up for just a moment they’ll find themselves in an incredibly stressful finish to the season.
8. Detroit Tigers
About that 15.5 game lead Detroit had that Cleveland may erase. As recently as September 3rd it was a 10 game lead Detroit had. But a 4-11 slide has dropped it to just a one game lead heading into the last week of the season. They’ll start the week heading to Progressive Field in a series that very much could determine the winner of the AL Central. Their ace, and the likely AL Cy Young award winner, Tarik Skubal will be on the mound to start the series on Tuesday. He needs to set the pace for Detroit to save their division title that, at one point, looked to be an absolute certainty. If he and the rest of the Tigers slip up, though, they’ll have much bigger troubles than just the division. They’ll be in a fight for a wild card spot, which they desperately want to avoid.
7. Seattle Mariners
Along with the Reds, the other “Sweep of the season” belongs to the Mariners after they absolutely handled the Astros over the weekend. After years of being the little brother, Seattle proved once and for all that someone other than Houston can win the AL West. The Mariners now head into the final week of the season with a three game lead in the division. They’ll host the Rockies to start the week and the Dodgers will visit to finish the weekend in a nice tune-up for the playoffs. Seattle’s power, which is finally coming to fruition, should prove to be a force in the playoffs.
6. New York Yankees
Quietly in the background, the Yankees sit comfortably with a four game cushion in the wild card race. Additionally, they’re just two games back of the Blue Jays in the AL East, making the final week of the season a bit more meaningful. And it’s a bit like playing with house money for them since they don’t really have a risk of falling in the standings so why not go for the division? With their remaining schedule that may be within reach as they host the White Sox and Orioles to finish the season. Surprisingly under the radar, the Yankees could stand a real chance to represent the American League if their pitching shows up in October.
5. Chicago Cubs
Getting swept by the Reds over the weekend can’t feel great for Chicago, but they may view it as a lot less consequential than other teams may. That’s because they can’t really move in the standings and should be set to be the four seed in the National League. As we mentioned in the Padres’ slide, we’re looking at a very likely Cubs-Padres series in the NL wild card series. With that, they need to focus on staying healthy in the final week. They may have to play that series without a huge piece of their lineup in Kyle Tucker as he’s battling a calf injury that may affect his ability to play in October.
4. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers come into the final week with a three game lead in the NL West, making them very likely to winning yet another NL West crown. They will be a team no one wants to face in October, especially given their bevy of talent. But also because LA generally has an issue with playing down to the level of its competition. They know they’re built for October and they play like it in the regular season, only not in the best way. In October their focus should change. They’ll have to get ready for the Wild Card round where they’re likely to face the Mets, Reds or DBacks.
3. Toronto Blue Jays
A win on Sunday in Kansas City clinched a postseason berth for the Blue Jays. That has to help get the bad taste out of their mouths after losing four straight prior. The taste of celebratory champagne is great, but they’re not out of the woods yet. They still have to fend off the Yankees to win the AL East for the first time since 2015. They currently have a two game lead over New York and can’t exactly rest easy with their schedule. They host Boston, who’s surprisingly fighting for their playoff spot right now, and then will face Tampa Bay to end the regular season. If they finish strong then they’ll get a bye and wait to face off in the ALDS.
2. Philadelphia Phillies
After clinching the NL East this week, Philadelphia looks to get ready for October baseball without its ace Zack Wheeler. As a regular season team the Phillies are a continual threat, but in October they know better than most that it boils down to matchups. In past postseasons, Wheeler has been incredibly reliable for Philadelphia in October. How they perform in his absence will be the story to follow with the Phillies this postseason. Look for their workhorse to be Cristopher Sanchez this postseason. They’ll also need a couple other reliable options on the mound that can go deep. It’d be great if they could have Aaron Nola return to form but his 6.87 ERA since coming back from ankle and rib injuries doesn’t inspire much confidence. Philly’s offense is strong enough to help cover up some issues, but those may be tough to disguise in October.
1. Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers stay as our top team in our rankings, but there may be some worries that they’re going to have heading into the postseason. Most notably, they’re losing some pitchers to the IL. Jose Quintana was placed on the 15-day IL with a calf strain. He’s been a reliable starter for Milwaukee, though the stats say he was due for negative regression. More notably, Brandon Woodruff hit the 15-day IL with a lat strain. His pitching performance since returning from shoulder surgery has been spectacular, so if he can’t pitch in October, or is hindered by his injury, that’s going to be detrimental to Milwaukee. Freddy Peralta will be their main reliable option, but it may be piecemealed after that. As long as the offense performs at its best then they will be fine, but there may be things the Brewers will have to worry about. But until then, they’re our top seed yet again.
