August is nearly in our rearview mirrors after a wild trade deadline made some of the contenders stronger … and some sellers stronger for the future.
The playoff picture is still fuzzy, with some divisions mostly sewn up and others still up in the air. And the Wild Card? Well, it’s wild and will continue to be through the coming weeks.
So as we get ready for the final month of the season — yes, September is closing in fast, which means summer is nearly over! — it’s a good time to take a snapshot of the league with some power rankings of all 30 teams.
Let’s dive in, from 30 to 1, with the worst teams to the best:
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30
Oakland A's
Record: 35-90 (37 games back in AL West)
What an awful season all around for the franchise and its fans.
29
Kansas City Royals
Record: 40-87 (26 games back in AL Central)
Bobby Witt Jr. continues to be AWESOME. Nice to have a franchise cornerstone like him.
28
Colorado Rockies
Record: 48-76 (28.5 games back in NL West)
Welp.
27
Chicago White Sox
Record: 49-76 (16 games back in AL Central)
At least Luis Robert Jr. continues to hit dingers.
26
Pittsburgh Pirates
Record: 56-69 (12 games back in NL Central)
There are pieces of a puzzle to like — Jack Suwinski, Bryan Reynolds, Henry Davis and David Bedar. But will they all come together at the same time and help this team contend someday?
25
Washington Nationals
Record: 57-68 (23.5 games back in NL East)
Another team with a bright future … but it’s going to be a little while.
24
Detroit Tigers
Record: 57-68 (8 games back in AL Central)
We’re getting closer to saying goodbye to Miguel Cabrera.
23
St. Louis Cardinals
Record: 55-71 (13.5 games back in NL Central)
I get the feeling that the Cardinals have the pieces in place to be right back in the thick of things next year.
22
New York Mets
Record: 59-67 (22 games back in NL East)
At least they rebuilt their farm system! That’s a good thing.
21
New York Yankees
Record: 60-64 (17 games back in AL East)
Too low, you say? Nope. They’ve been BAD as of late.
20
Los Angeles Angels
Record: 61-64 (11 games back in AL West)
The trades at the deadline didn’t help. Shohei Ohtani is about to be a free agent. What a nightmare!
19
Cleveland Guardians
Record: 59-66 (6 games back in AL Central)
They’ve shown some, ahem, fight in them but may come up short.
18
San Diego Padres
Record: 60-66 (17.5 games back in NL West)
A weird question: How does a team with a positive run differential continue to be THIS mediocre?
17
Arizona Diamondbacks
Record: 65-61 (12.5 games back in NL West)
They’ve gotten somewhat better after falling to Earth, so there’s that.
16
Miami Marlins
Record: 64-62 (17 games back in NL East)
They’ve been intriguing since the trade deadline … does that mean they can snag a Wild Card spot?
15
Cincinnati Reds
Record: 64-61 (4 games back in NL Central)
They’ve had their ups and downs … but they might get some pitching help with Hunter Greene coming back.
14
Minnesota Twins
Record: 65-60 (lead AL Central by 6 games)
They’re leading the AL Central, sure. But you just wish they’d be better than they are!
13
Boston Red Sox
Record: 66-59 (11.5 games back in AL East)
We’ve now reached the “pretty decent teams who could make a run out of the Wild Card … if they qualify for it.”
12
Chicago Cubs
Record: 65-59 (2.5 games back in NL Central)
This team is so much fun. It would be a great thing to see them make it to October.
11
Milwaukee Brewers
Record: 68-57 (leads NL Central by 2.5 games)
They’ve got the rotation, especially with Brandon Woodruff back, they’ve got the lineup … you just wish they’d be even better than they are.
10
San Francisco Giants
Record: 65-60 (12 games back in NL West)
Another pretty good team that’s all over the place.
9
Seattle Mariners
Record: 70-55 (2 games back in AL West)
They’re right in the thick of it in the Wild Card and have come on strong as of late. I’m intrigued!
8
Philadelphia Phillies
Record: 68-57 (12.5 games back in NL East)
ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED? Sorry, Phillies fans, I don’t mean to make fun here, but this team is a roller-coaster ride. And yet: They could be a team to worry about in the postseason if you face them.
7
Toronto Blue Jays
Record: 69-56 (8.5 games back in AL East)
The rotation is all kinds of scary in a short series. I mean that in a good way!
6
Tampa Bay Rays
Record: 75-51 (3 games back in AL East)
It’s a testament to how good they were in the first half that their second half struggles haven’t cost them TOO much. But there’s A LOT to worry about here.
5
Houston Astros
Record: 71-55 (1.5 games back in AL West)
They’re starting to look like the Astros we’ve seen in previous years. Look out.
4
Baltimore Orioles
Record: 77-47 (leads AL East by 3 games)
There are sure to be bumps along the way with a young team, but they’re still a contender.
3
Texas Rangers
Record: 72-53 (leads AL West by 1.5 games)
The trade deadline acquisitions have been huge for this team.
2
Los Angeles Dodgers
Record: 76-47 (leads NL West by 12 games)
Getting white-hot at the right time!
1
Atlanta Braves
Record: 80-44 (leads NL East by 12.5 games)
I don’t think they’re looking in the rearview mirror at the Dodgers yet. You’re still looking at baseball’s best team right now.
