Now more than ever, parity reigns in Major League Baseball. It’s unlikely there will be a single 100-win team this season — something that hasn’t happened in back-to-back years since 2013. The top three, and even the top 10, are tightly packed in terms of talent, with many teams poised for deep playoff runs. Here’s how they stack up in early September:
Tier 1: World Series Contenders
1. Milwaukee Brewers
A powerhouse of pitching, with four ace-level pitchers and José Quintana providing valuable innings at the back of the rotation. Their bullpen is the best in the league, and they look dominant right now. Are they the best in baseball? I think so.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers
Plagued by injuries, but their upside is undeniable. With multiple top-10 players in the league, they’re a Mookie Betts resurgence away from challenging the Brewers.
3. Philadelphia Phillies
An injury to Zack Wheeler knocked them down a peg, but their offense is electric, led by an MVP-caliber season from Kyle Schwarber and strong years from Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto and Trea Turner. They’re cruising toward an NL East title.
4. Toronto Blue Jays
One of 2025’s biggest surprises. Career years from George Springer, Bo Bichette, Alejandro Kirk and Daulton Varsho have them atop the AL (as of Sept. 4). Rookies Braydon Fisher and Tommy Nance have also impressed in the bullpen. Their true test comes in October against more seasoned contenders.
5. New York Mets
Not the team fans expected, but effective nonetheless. Their farm system exploded this year, especially in pitching — Jonah Tong and Nolan McLean look like future aces. The rest of the roster is performing as projected; they’re locked into a wild-card spot and are a dangerous three-game series opponent.
6. New York Yankees
The Yankees have endured the highs and lows of a baseball season. At times, they’ve looked like a laughing stock, and at other times as dominant as any Yankees team we’ve seen. The bullpen is shaky, and the rotation is inconsistent, but if the bats stay hot, they can still do damage.
7. Boston Red Sox
A team that has looked scary lately. Rookie pitcher Payton Tolle looks like a future ace, and with Garrett Crochet at the top, they’ve got a strong rotation paired with an above-average offense.There are no real holes with this team, and that should be concerning for other AL contenders.
8. Detroit Tigers
After a scorching start, they’ve cooled. Tarik Skubal is their only dependable starter with Reese Olson sidelined. The offense is deep but lacks a true star to carry them. A likely softer matchup come October.
Tier 2: Wild Cards
9. Chicago Cubs
Their best season since 2017. Breakouts from Cade Horton, Matt Shaw and sophomore Pete Crow-Armstrong have rounded out the roster. Kyle Tucker needs to bounce back from a brutal slump since June for them to reach the next level.
10. San Diego Padres
Deadline pickup Ramón Laureano has been a revelation, giving them one of the NL’s most potent lineups.
11. Houston Astros
A team that is staring into the sunset of a dynasty. Many overpaid veterans on expensive contracts are underperforming, with injuries and drama in the rotation. And yet... they're leading the division close to the end of the season. A strong bullpen and great seasons from Isaac Paredes and Jeremy Peña keep them atop the division. Looks like they might have one last run in them.
12. Texas Rangers
Would’ve been contenders, but season-ending injuries to Nathan Eovaldi and Corey Seager leave them clinging to a wild-card spot.
13. Tampa Bay Rays
A recent resurgence might not be enough after a middling season. Trade acquisition Griffin Jax has underwhelmed.
14. Seattle Mariners
The Mariners are in danger of missing the playoffs yet again due to massive implosions by George Kirby and Bryce Miller, former dependable starters who have been batting practice since July.
15. San Francisco Giants
As middle-of-the-road as they come, the Giants just weren’t contenders this year. Good performances aside, they desperately need young talent to start showing up from the farm system after spending 500 million between Devers and Adames.
Tier 3: Maybe Next Year
16. Atlanta Braves
After a nightmare start, they’re showing signs of life. Ronald Acuña Jr. is back, Michael Harris has resurged, and Spencer Strider needs an offseason reset post-Tommy John.
17. Kansas City Royals
Ran it back with last year’s core, but nine-WAR seasons from Bobby Witt Jr. aren’t guaranteed. Mike Yastrzemski has been excellent, but they’ll need a miracle to sneak in.
18. Cincinnati Reds
Hunter Greene’s Cy Young-caliber season was wasted by a shaky bullpen and a soft lineup.
19. Baltimore Orioles
Crippling injuries to their closer and ace, plus regression from their young core, tanked their year. A big rotation signing could change that — but history says they won’t spend.
20. Oakland Athletics (Homeless)
Good bats, terrible arms. Maybe Las Vegas will fix them.
21. Miami Marlins
Their July miracle ended with Kyle Stowers’ injury. Edward Cabrera and Eury Pérez anchor a promising rotation, and the rookie hitting core is taking shape.
22. Cleveland Guardians
Above the bottom tier, but still a disappointment. No rotation breakthroughs, a wasted star season from José Ramírez, and one of the league’s worst lineups (minus him).
Tier 4: Maybe in 2030
23. St Louis Cardinals
24. Arizona Diamondbacks
25. Los Angeles Angels
26. Pittsburgh Pirates
27. Washington Nationals
This tier represents the bleakest outlook in the league. You could call this the “Long Suffering Fan” section of the power rankings. Not much on the horizon in the next few years either. Nationals and Diamondbacks have the best outlook out of the bunch, but both are currently in rebuilds.
28. Chicago White Sox
Not quite last place! Lenyn Sosa, Kyle Teel and Braden Montgomery provide a tentative core. Step one: reach .500 in the AL Central.
29. Minnesota Twins
Embarrassing. Needs new ownership, fast.
30. Colorado Rockies
See above.
