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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 July 21, 2025.
MLB Power Rankings: Where Does Every Team Stand After the All Star Break?
All 30 teams are back in action after the All-Star break. Things are really going to start heating up with the trade deadline just 10 days away. The push for the playoffs is right around the corner and the current form some teams are in will certainly impact whether they’re buyers or sellers at the deadline. With that in mind, let’s take a look at how every teams ranks. Oh, did I mention we have a new number one as well? Read on to see who it is.
30. Colorado Rockies
Talk of being the worst team in modern baseball history has died down a bit, and a series win over the Minnesota Twins certainly helps to kill that noise, but it doesn’t help the fact that there’s no path to competitiveness for the Rockies this season. They’ll look towards the trade deadline in hopes of trading their assets. Ryan McMahon tops the list on the offensive side while Jimmy Herget has emerged as a potential bullpen piece for contenders. The Rockies have been stingy at the deadline in the past so Rockies fans will be anxious to see if this disastrous season leads to any changes in the front office’s mentality.
29. Pittsburgh Pirates
The expected stats say that the Pirates’ offense should get cooking eventually as quite a few of their top guys have a bit of positive regression heading their way. But getting swept by the Chicago White Sox at home doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in those stats for Pirates fans. One of those players expecting positive regression, Bryan Reynolds, is likely to be a key trade piece for Pittsburgh. His .292 wOBA isn’t pretty but his .353 xwOBA should attract plenty of contenders looking to buy low on the 30-year-old. What the Pirates can get back for him will determine whether they trade Reynolds, who’s under contract through at least 2030.
28. Chicago White Sox
Oh how sweep it is. The weekend sweep of the Pirates marked Chicago’s first sweep of the season. The offense broke out, scoring 10 runs in back-to-back games before scoring seven on Sunday. It’s not going to change the trajectory of their season, but it’s a nice little “Welcome back!” for White Sox fans that are sticking it out this year. Luis Robert Jr. is doing all he can to boost his trade value, getting a hit in each game and having multi-hit games on Friday and Saturday. The success will be short-lived for Chicago but they’ll simply hope their assets can return some value at the trade deadline.
27. Washington Nationals
Washington is still in the midst of yet another rebuilding season and are obvious sellers. One of their players unexpectedly started popping up in trade rumors on Sunday in MacKenzie Gore. The 26-year-old southpaw is one of the league’s best strikeout artists and is in the midst of a career-best season despite what his 4-8 record may indicate. New Nationals GM Mike DeBartolo recently said he’d prefer to keep the team’s young core together but would always listen to offers. Teams are showing interest in Gore, and the Nats aren’t very likely to move him, but it’s a surprising bit of news that may have some Washington fans a little uneasy.
26. Athletics
If there’s one thing A’s fans can feel good about it’s that their young guys are absolute studs. Jacob Wilson and Nick Kurtz are leading that charge, not just in the A’s lineup but in the AL Rookie of the Year conversation. They’ll both be in the conversation come season’s end. A’s fans can also expect closer Mason Miller to be with the club a little longer as they shut down trade speculation around the 24-year-old this weekend. With their core staying in tact, A’s fans will feel confident that the future will be better for them. But they still are obvious sellers and other pieces they may move are a bit underwhelming.
25. Miami Marlins
It’s Kyle Stowers’ world and we’re all just living in it. If your only experience watching him was at the All-Star game, you’re missing out. The lefty welcomed back Marlins fans with a two homer game on Friday, including a walkoff blast. Mind you he headed into the All-Star game with a three homer game against Baltimore. The 24-year-old is on fire. At 7.5 GB of the final NL wild card spot they’re unlikely they’ll make a run, but Marlins fans are simply having way too much fun following the Stowers 2025 breakout.
24. Atlanta Braves
This just isn’t the Braves’ year. Maybe nothing better encapsulates that than realizing they have a positive run differential, yet they’re 10.5 GB of the final NL Wild Card spot. The run differential says they should be about .500 or so, but the product on the field just doesn’t match. Atlanta’s been holding onto hope that they’ll be able to make a playoff run but that won’t be the case this season unless something beyond magical happens. The Braves need to aim towards 2026 and beyond and that will likely start with shipping out Marcell Ozuna before the deadline.
23. Baltimore Orioles
Injuries have plagued Baltimore’s season after two really good years. It’s certainly been a disappointing watch for O’s fans as their rotation has greatly struggled without Kyle Bradish and Grayson Rodriguez. At 8.5 GB of the final wild card spot it’s unlikely they’ll make a run. This likely means the departures of Ryan O’Hearn and Ramon Laureano at the deadline. Both have been productive for the Orioles this season but they’ll need to get value out of them to propel themselves forward in 2026 and beyond.
22. Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians are another team that’s underachieved this season. Part of that is due to injuries (Shane Bieber) and roster departures (Josh Naylor, Andres Gimenez) but they just haven’t quite been the same. The starting rotation has been OK while the bullpen has been good. The offense has been very lackluster, though, and it’s holding them back. At 4.5 GB of the final AL wild card spot, they’re not out of it. But things need to turn around quickly. If not then they’re certain to be sellers at the deadline. They’ve told teams they’re not interested in dealing star closer Emanuel Clase, which should please Cleveland fans. But as far as this year’s team goes they need to find more offense if they want to make the playoffs.
21. Kansas City Royals
Another team that’s been a bit underwhelming this year, Kansas City has major offensive issues. They’re hitting for a team wRC+ of just 83 while the pitching staff holds the second best ERA in all of the majors. They’re 5.5 GB of the final wild card spot, which isn’t insurmountable, but it certainly is a very tough ask to overcome that. Seth Lugo’s name has been popping up in trade rumors as of late. More names on the Royals’ roster may be popping up soon, especially if they keep struggling with teams like the Miami Marlins.
20. Minnesota Twins
Joe Ryan helped salvage the weekend for the Twins as he led them to their only win over the Colorado Rockies. With Minnesota struggling as of late Ryan has seen his name pop up in trade rumors. Minnesota says they prefer to keep him but will listen to offers for the 29-year-old. With a 2.63 ERA, Ryan is likely to command a lot of attention from teams looking to add starting pitching at the deadline. The Twins are five games back of the wild card and aren’t exactly out of it, so it will take a real serious offer for someone to pry Ryan away from them.
19. Los Angeles Angels
At four games back of the final wild card spot, the Angels are surprising people. The offense has been a top ten offense in July, but the pitching staff is throwing to a 5.32 ERA in the month. That’s not going to help them close that four game gap. It’s rumored that the Angels may be aggressive buyers at the deadline. Whether that rumor is true or not will be told over the next 10 days when they face a tough stretch of games against the Mets, Rangers and Mariners. If they come out on top enough then look for them to buy and make the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
18. Texas Rangers
The Rangers are like a slightly better version of the Royals. On one hand, the pitching has been dominant. On the other, the hitting has severely lacked. Texas finds themselves on both sides of trade rumors right now, being linked to selling Adolis Garcia while also wanting to upgrade their bullpen arms. That seems a bit backwards if the Rangers are looking to close the three game gap they face in the wild card, but expected stats do believe their offense is due for some positive regression. Garcia’s a big factor in that positive regression, though, so Texas will face some major questions over the next 10 days on which direction they want to go.
17. Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona has a much clearer perception of where it’s at. They’ve recognized that their season has been mired by injuries to the pitching staff, making it that much harder for their productive offense to keep up and win games. They also hold one of the best trade chips before the deadline in Eugenio Suarez. His .929 OPS and 35 homers are going to gain a ton of interest from those looking for a productive bat at third base. Arizona has a lot of reasons to look towards 2026 and beyond at the deadline.
16. St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals’ season has gone from over-achieving compared to preseason expectations to now being in a relatively quiet spot. They sit 3.5 GB of the final NL wild card spot but can’t be feeling all that well about it after getting swept by the DBacks. Meanwhile the Cardinals have apparently been shopping third baseman Nolan Arenado to gauge trade interest as of late. The reports are that there just isn’t a market for the 34-year-old right now thanks to his contract. The Cardinals will have to head into the deadline with big questions on hand. They need to decide whether to be buyers and upgrade their outfield, or become sellers with a big trade piece in Ryan Helsley.
15. Cincinnati Reds
In the midst of underperforming teams comes another team that’s just riding by on positive vibes. The Reds weren’t expected to compete but they’re sitting just 2.5 GB of the final NL wild card spot. With that, they are likely to be buyers at the deadline. The pitching has actually been surprisingly good by park-adjusted statistics. It’s the offense that’s the true area of opportunity. Expect the Reds to be in the market for bats at the deadline.
14. Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa was once one of the hottest teams in the league. But over the past couple weeks they’ve cooled off a bit. Not enough to keep them out of contention, though. They’re 1.5 GB of the final wild card spot and in good position to make a run. But it’s still a question within the front office as to whether they will be buyers or sellers at the deadline. Most of that will be determined based off how they play headed into the deadline. A series win over Baltimore helps send them in the buyers direction. They’re unlikely to deal Yandy Diaz regardless of which direction they choose. A big week and a half is on deck for the Rays.
13. San Francisco Giants
At one point it seemed like the Giants were going to be a real threat in the National League. But a recent slide is casting doubts in San Francisco. After getting swept by Toronto they’ve now lost six games in a row. It’s got them 2.5 GB of the final NL wild card spot and puts them in a position to now question whether they should be buyers or sellers at the deadline. With that small of a gap you would think they would be buyers but the recent slide may make them sellers if they can’t correct the course in the next 10 days.
12. San Diego Padres
The Padres have not been shy in recent years about making waves through acquisitions so it won’t be surprising if they decide to be active at the trade deadline. They hold a 2.5 game lead in the final wild card spot and, while that’s not a ton of breathing room, it helps put them squarely in a buyers position. They need some major help at catcher, a position where they are severely lacking in offensive production. If the Braves make Sean Murphy available to other teams, expect the Padres to be very interested.
11. Seattle Mariners
A lot’s going right in Seattle these days. Cal Raleigh got the spotlight in the Home Run Derby and they’ve now won eight of their last 12 games. That’s gotten them tied with Boston for the last wild card spot and a 1.5 game cushion above Tampa Bay. As with San Diego, that’s not a lot of breathing room but makes them buyers. Offensively they’ve been decent, but additional bench help wouldn’t hurt. On the pitching side they could use a starter or two as they’ve had a couple down years outside the reliable options of Luis Castillo and Bryan Woo. Logan Gilbert will get back to his normal self, but more help is going to be good for Seattle.
10. Boston Red Sox
The first weekend out of the All-Star break didn’t quite go Boston’s way but they did salvage a win on Sunday thanks to yet another great performance from Garrett Crochet. The southpaw is going to make a real run at the AL Cy Young award and Red Sox fans would love to see him do that in the midst of a playoff push. Boston’s been a bit all over the place since dealing Rafael Devers in terms of what they want to do at the deadline. But the more competitive they play the more likely it is they become buyers. Starting pitching help could be front of mind. They’ve been linked to Joe Ryan of the Minnesota Twins. Minnesota wants to hold onto to Ryan but, for the right price, he may be playing in Fenway come August.
9. New York Mets
There’s been a bit of worry in Queens over the last few weeks. The Mets simply have not been playing up to expectations. That continued this weekend as they lost two of three at home to the Reds. They’ve still got a four game cushion with their wild card spot, which happens to also be the Reds, so there’s some breathing room. But they need to make moves if they want to get beyond the NLCS this season. Starting pitching help should be on their minds along with acquiring another productive bat or two.
8. Milwaukee Brewers
Don’t look now but the Brewers are tied with the Cubs for the NL Central lead. They’re on a 10-game winning streak, including two sweeps of the Dodgers. That’s not a typo. Six straight wins over the preseason World Series favorites. The biggest question has to be just how real the Brewers actually are. Based off the full season picture, negative regression appears likely for some of their better pitchers (Freddy Peralta, Jose Quintana) and hitters (Jackson Chourio, Sal Frelick) among others. I’d prefer to see a little more before fully buying into Milwaukee but they’re playing very well right now. Expect the Brewers to be buying at the deadline to keep this streak rolling.
7. Toronto Blue Jays
The vibes just don’t stop in Toronto. They won 10 in a row coming into July, which was stunted a bit by a series loss to the A’s before the break, but they came back this weekend and swept the Giants. They have a three game lead over the Yankees but can’t let up. The lineup has a bit of positive regression coming but the starting rotation has a lot of questions as they’ve had to maneuver around quite a few injuries. Pitching help will give Blue Jays fans a lot more confidence headed into October. Some additional outfield bats wouldn’t hurt either, especially as their bigger hitters (Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., George Springer) all are expecting positive regression.
6. Houston Astros
Is it time to start worrying about some things in Houston? The injuries are piling up as Isaac Paredes injured his hamstring this weekend. That adds on to what feels like a laundry list of players on the Astros who have ailments. It’s just a little more salt in the wound for a team that’s now lost seven of their last nine games. With all their injury issues Houston should be expected to be active at the deadline, especially as they look for more offensive production. On the pitching front they’ve been doing very well behind Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez. Additional starting pitching depth certainly wouldn’t hurt an already strong Astros rotation, even if it is being held together by just a string or two.
5. New York Yankees
So if the Yankees are three games behind the Blue Jays then why are they ahead of them in our rankings? It’s simply because of the full season stats. By WAR, whether bWAR or fWAR, they’re well ahead of Toronto. Additionally, the run differential between the two is pretty massive. The Yankees have a +112 run differential while Toronto’s is at +26. All that will be put to the side as the Yankees visit the Blue Jays to start the week with a huge series. Toronto swept New York in their most recent series, so revenge will be on the Yankees’ mind in a hugely important series in the AL East.
4. Philadelphia Phillies
It’s a bit close in the NL East. As much as the Mets have been faltering over the past few weeks, the Phillies only lead by a half game. They’ve struggled in their last three series against the Giants, Padres and Angels. Maybe it’s just a California thing but the Phillies need to get things back on track. It doesn’t get a ton easier for them this week with two series on deck with the Red Sox and Yankees. They’ll really need the offense to show up. Their pitching has been phenomenal but they only have four hitters with an OPS+ of 100 or better. That’s not very good for a team with World Series aspirations. Expect Philly to be on the hunt for bats at the deadline.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
So this is just a lull, right? The Dodgers have now lost 10 of their last 12 games. It doesn’t feel real for a team that had the offseason it did that employs the lineup it does. But they keep slacking and other teams keep taking advantage. Injuries have been an issue for the Dodgers all season long (this goes on for quite a few seasons if you ask LA fans) but it’s starting to approach the point where that’s not the excuse anymore. The Dodgers need to find a way to right the course. And through the trade deadline they should be looking for any type of help they can get whether hitting or pitching.
2. Detroit Tigers
Prior to Sunday night’s win against the Rangers the Tigers had quietly lost six games in a row. A Tarik Skubal start can almost always fix anything, it seems, but maybe the Tigers have some more to worry about? In July their pitching staff has a 5.20 ERA while their hitters have a 95 wRC+. These are rather underwhelming numbers for the team with the American League’s best record. There’s no worry about anything in the AL Central for Detroit, but they are in danger of losing their grasp on the best record in the American League. If they want to have home field advantage throughout the playoffs, they’ll need starting pitching help along with some more productive bats.
1. Chicago Cubs
Our new top team is the Chicago Cubs. Pete Crow-Armstrong’s season has been well documented at this point, but it’s actually been Michael Busch that’s been Chicago’s most productive hitter by wRC+ with a mark of 160. Matthew Boyd has been a surprise on the mound and has pitched to a 2.34 ERA. Shota Imanaga has returned from injury for five starts and has a 1.78 ERA in that span. Chicago is rolling. But they still need to be active at the trade deadline with Milwaukee hot on their heels. Starting pitching will be beneficial but they will certainly be in the need for a third baseman. Expect them to be in the Eugenio Suarez chase. If they miss out on Suarez then expect someone else like Ryan McMahon to gain their attention. Our new number one team already has some big questions to answer fast.
