The Trade Deadline is now in the past, and the pennant races are becoming clearer. Fans are focused on the scoreboard, as the stakes are rising. It’s the ideal moment to revisit the Power Rankings, our first update since the day after the Deadline. Some teams are on fire—shout out to the NL West—while others are struggling, but one thing is certain: More teams are still contending than those that are not, and the landscape is shifting daily.
As always, these rankings are derived from the contributions of MLB.com writers, whose names are listed at the bottom of this article (and every other), but the wording is my own. If you disagree with the rankings, feel free to voice your frustrations to all of us. However, if you take issue with my phrasing, you can direct your comments solely at me.
1. Orioles (previous: 2)
Season high: 1 | Season low: 5
Despite their loss on Sunday, the Orioles find themselves in a tie with the Yankees at the top of the AL East. Over the weekend, they became the first team in baseball to achieve 70 wins, a milestone they haven’t reached since 1979. For a historical perspective, this 70-win total is already 18 more than their entire tally in 2021 and 23 more than in 2018. The Orioles have truly come a long way.
2. Phillies (previously: 1)
Season high: 1 | Season low: 8
After a grim West Coast trip, the Phillies find themselves 7-15 since the All-Star break. However, there’s little reason to panic as they remain eight games ahead in the NL East and tied for the best record in the National League. They have a favorable homestand ahead, facing the Marlins and Nationals this week, and still have room for error without significant repercussions.
3. Yankees (previously: 5)
Season high: 1 | Season low: 7
For Yankees fans, a Sunday featuring home runs from Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, along with a two-homer game from Juan Soto, is nearly a dream scenario. (It’s worth noting that this marks Stanton’s 13th season with at least 20 homers.) This wraps up a somewhat shaky 5-4 homestand for the Yankees, but they seem on the verge of hitting many more home runs, as they prepare for a three-game series against the White Sox this week.
4. Dodgers (previously: 4)
Season high: 1 | Season low: 6
River Ryan is officially part of the Dodgers team now. After a strong start, the rookie has been sidelined with tightness in his right forearm, joining fellow starters Walker Buehler, Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Emmet Sheehan on the injured list. (And, of course, we can’t forget Shohei Ohtani.) It’s quite astonishing that their innings leader is none other than the perpetually injured Tyler Glasnow.
5. Brewers (previously: 6)
Season high: 5 | Season low: 19
The Brewers are reminiscent of the enduring character from Monty Python and the Holy Grail: regardless of the injuries or setbacks they face, it’s merely a flesh wound. They continue to press on and win, despite the loss of their manager and top pitcher, along with various injuries to key players like Christian Yelich, and a rotation that is tenuous at best. Currently, they hold a solid 7 1/2-game lead in the NL Central.
and, for what it’s worth, they’re currently only 1 1/2 games behind the Phillies, who hold the best record in the NL — and all of baseball.
