As we approach the mid-season mark, teams seem to be solidifying their positions. This week, however, there were significant movements, including the Dodgers, who fell to number 4, their lowest ranking of the season. The Tigers, on the other hand, remain at the top after winning the series 2-1 against the Cubs, followed by several National League teams, with the Yankees interrupting in the number 3 position. As in previous weeks, four American League teams are in the top 10. Are they the same four? Not entirely. While the Mariners dropped seven places, reaching 15th, the Rays returned to the top 10 for the first time since Week 1. Outside the top 10, teams like the Blue Jays and Astros showed improvements, while the Braves reached their lowest ranking of the season, at 21st. Our panel of experts has ranked each team based on a combination of what has been seen so far and what was known at the beginning of this long 162-game season. Below is a detailed analysis of each team:
1. Detroit Tigers
Record: 44-25Previous ranking: 1
Zach McKinstry has been crucial to Detroit’s improved offense, batting .275/.362/.436 and leading the team’s position players with 1.6 WAR (and tied for the American League lead with seven triples). He has started games at five different positions (3B, RF, LF, SS, 2B) and has performed well in high-pressure situations (around .400). McKinstry began 2025 with a career OPS+ of 77, including only 74 last season, when he batted .215/.277/.337, so we’ll see if he can keep it up, but manager A.J. Hinch has been starting him almost every game lately, even against lefties.
David Schoenfield
2. New York Mets
Record: 44-24Previous ranking: 3
The Mets continue to play well and have extended their lead in the division over the Phillies, who are in decline. New York leads the majors in effectiveness and the consistency of their starting pitching has been remarkable: only twice all season has a Mets starter allowed more than four runs (Blade Tidwell allowed six in a replacement start in a doubleheader and Griffin Canning allowed five on May 28 against the White Sox). Clay Holmes looks like one of the bargains of the offseason and now has a 7-3 record with a 2.95 ERA. He is fighting to be considered for the All-Star as a starter after having achieved it twice as a reliever with the Yankees.
David Schoenfield
3. New York Yankees
Record: 41-25Previous ranking: 4
Giancarlo Stanton, who began a rehabilitation assignment on Tuesday with Double-A Somerset, did not rule out the possibility of debuting this season this weekend against the Red Sox. Stanton has been on the injured list with serious injuries to the tendons in both elbows, and the Yankees still have the highest OPS and wRC+ in the majors. As the roster stands, his return will create a logjam at the DH position with Stanton, Ben Rice, Jasson Dominguez, and Aaron Judge, when manager Aaron Boone wants to take him off the field, as options for the position.4. Los Angeles Dodgers
Record: 41-28Previous ranking: 2
Matt Sauer, a 26-year-old player, threw a personal record of 111 pitches and allowed nine runs on Tuesday. Enrique Hernandez, a utility player, then recorded the last seven outs. The following afternoon, it was Ben Casparius who lasted as long as possible in another bullpen game. The Dodgers’ pitching situation is quite critical these days, but there is hope on the horizon. Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are out of the mound and progressing. Shohei Ohtani, meanwhile, threw a 44-pitch simulated game earlier this week and should return sometime next month. Until then, the Dodgers must survive.
Alden Gonzalez
5. Chicago Cubs
Record: 41-27Previous ranking: 6
We’ve reached the point in the calendar where sample sizes mean something, and that means Pete Crow-Armstrong is a legitimate National League MVP candidate. PCA leads the National League in fWAR (3.6) for a Cubs team that has the second-best record in the National League. The 23-year-old center fielder is one of the best defenders in the sport at any position and a fast runner on the bases with 21 steals. His chase rate is among the highest in the majors, but he’s still producing at an elite level with a batting line of .271/.305/.545. Maybe the offense will regress, but since it’s been over two months, it could be real.
Jorge Castillo
6. Philadelphia Phillies
Record: 39-29Previous ranking: 5
Are the Phillies good? They are 7-0 against the Rockies and barely above .500 against everyone else. They have only the 14th-best run differential in the majors and only five series wins against teams that currently have a winning record (the Dodgers, the Cubs twice, the Rays, and the Guardians). Jesus Luzardo has suddenly lost it, allowing a remarkable 20 runs in consecutive starts (the Phillies believe he was tipping his pitches). Aaron Nola is still out with a stress reaction in a rib and won’t pitch for at least two weeks. Bryce Harper just landed on the injured list. The bullpen continues to struggle.
David Schoenfield
7. San Francisco Giants
Record: 40-28Previous ranking: 9
The Giants exploded with four runs in the ninth inning against the Rockies on Tuesday night, giving them not only their sixth straight win, but also their sixth straight one-run victory, one shy of the Major League record, set by the 1927 Cubs. The Giants lead the majors with 17 one-run victories this season. And while at least part of that is probably casual, there’s also a very tangible reason for their success in those situations: their bullpen remains excellent. The Giants’ relievers boast the lowest ERA (2.34) and WHIP (1.09) in the majors this season.
Alden Gonzalez
8. San Diego Padres
Record: 38-29Previous ranking: 7
Yu Darvish and Michael King remain on the injured list, and it seemed that Manny Machado was carrying the offense on his own in recent weeks. However, the Padres have found a way to win games. Before their matchup against the Dodgers this week, they had won 10 of 16 games. Six of those victories were decided by a single run. During that stretch, the Padres’ relievers recorded an ERA of 1.58, the third-lowest in the Major Leagues.
Alden Gonzalez
9. Houston Astros
Record: 37-30Previous ranking: 10
The Astros’ offense continues to struggle without Yordan Alvarez, who has been limited to 29 games due to a fracture in his right hand. But the pitching staff continues to keep this team afloat. This month alone, the Astros have received dominant starts from Hunter Brown, Framber Valdez, and Lance McCullers Jr., as they won six of nine games and placed themselves in first place in the American League West Division. Ronel Blanco’s Tommy John surgery and Spencer Arrighetti’s thumb fracture have forced Brandon Walter into the rotation, and he has responded with a 1.64 ERA in two starts.
Alden Gonzalez
10. Tampa Bay Rays
Record: 36-32Previous ranking: 15
The Rays recently sent rookie Chandler Simpson, one of the fastest players in baseball, after stealing 19 bases in just 35 games, but they aren’t slowing down on the bases. Utility player Jose Caballero leads the majors with 25 steals in 29 attempts, while Jake Mangum, another rookie, is 10 for 10. The Rays, as a team, are the best in the majors with 96 stolen bases, 10 more than the Brewers, who are in second place. That alone has helped them stay within striking distance of the Yankees, who are in first place in the American League East Division.
Jorge Castillo
11. Minnesota Twins
Record: 36-31Previous ranking: 12
Minnesota’s pitching has led the way while the offense has been league average, but what’s interesting is where the Twins are getting that offense from: a lot of acquisitions of what’s called “free talent.” Harrison Bader and Ty France signed in February as bargain free agents. Bader is second after Byron Buxton in WAR among position players, while France is second in RBIs. Kody Clemens signed in late April after the Phillies released him, and he has an OPS+ of 123. The Twins signed Willi Castro before the 2023 season after the Tigers let him go, and he has consistently posted solid numbers. With Carlos Correa and Royce Lewis still struggling, those four have been key in the first half.
David Schoenfield
12. St. Louis Cardinals
Record: 33-26Previous ranking: 11
For almost a year, Ivan Herrera has quietly been one of the best hitters in the majors when healthy. Since June 1st of last year, the catcher/designated hitter’s 166 wRC+ is the fifth-best in the majors among hitters with at least 250 plate appearances. Only Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, and Ketel Marte have recorded better marks. The problem is that Herrera has played in only 66 games during that period compared to Judge, for example, who has played in more than 150. This season, Herrera missed more than a month with a knee injury, but when he’s on the field he produces. In 35 games, he’s batting .317 with seven home runs and an OPS of .941.
Jorge Castillo
13. Toronto Blue Jays
Record: 38-30Previous ranking: 18
The Blue Jays’ best hitter this season hasn’t been their $500 million first baseman (Vladimir Guerrero Jr.) nor their big free agent acquisition (Anthony Santander) nor their two-time All-Star shortstop (Bo Bichette). It’s been George Springer, a 35-year-old outfielder whose best years seemed to have been behind him after a disappointing 2024 season. Springer is enjoying a comeback campaign with a batting line of .259/.366/.488 and 10 home runs in 64 games. His .854 OPS leads the Blue Jays among qualified hitters and is the tenth-best among qualified outfielders in all of the majors. It’s been a vintage performance for the four-time All-Star.
Jorge Castillo
14. Milwaukee Brewers
Record: 36-33Previous ranking: 13
While the Brewers’ carousel of pitchers seemingly never stops, Freddy Peralta is still in Milwaukee producing quality seasons, and this could be the best. The veteran right-hander, who held the Padres to one hit in six scoreless innings on Sunday, has an ERA of 2.69 in 14 starts. Peralta, 29, is on track for his second All-Star appearance for a club that is once again exceeding expectations and in the fight for the postseason.
Jorge Castillo
15. Seattle Mariners
Record: 33-34Previous ranking: 8
The Mariners were eight games over .500 and 3½ games up in the American League West when they beat the Astros on May 23. Since then, they have lost 13 of 17 games and are four games behind Houston. Their offense has struggled, with Jorge Polanco in particular coming back down to earth. But the biggest culprit has been the pitching staff, more specifically the bullpen, which has recorded the worst ERA in the Major Leagues (5.98) during that 28-game stretch. To make matters worse, Bryce Miller did not respond to a cortisone injection for elbow inflammation and will be out for at least another month.
Alden Gonzalez
16. Cincinnati Reds
Record: 35-34Previous ranking: 21
Hunter Greene seemed to be on his way to his second consecutive All-Star nomination before landing on the injured list last week with a groin strain for the second time this season. While a timetable for his return is not known, Greene left the Reds to go to Los Angeles on Monday to seek a second opinion on his groin and lower back, which began to bother him in his last start against the Brewers. The 25-year-old is one of the most pitching starters in baseball and has an ERA of 2.72 in 11 starts this season. The Reds, who have been hovering around .500 for most of the season, will try to stay in the race without him.
Jorge Castillo
17. Kansas City Royals
Record: 34-34Previous ranking: 17
Noah Cameron had the first bad outing of his seven-start career in the Major Leagues on Tuesday, allowing a two-run homer to Aaron Judge in the first inning and then a three-run homer to Austin Wells in the fourth. That raised his ERA to 2.17, as the six runs he allowed doubled his total of three entering the start. In fact, the 25-year-old lefty has been a nice surprise, a seventh-round pick in 2021 out of Central Arkansas who only throws 92 mph with his fastball, but relies on a five-pitch mix. The strikeout rate is low (25 in 37⅓ IP), so we’ll see if this latest outing was a fluke or if the league is making some adjustments.
David Schoenfield
18. Cleveland Guardians
Record: 35-32Previous ranking: 14
Tuesday’s 1-0 loss to the Reds secured a third straight defeat for Cleveland after losing two of three to the Yankees and Astros. That was also the ninth straight game in which the Guardians failed to score more than four runs, as they batted just .215 with a .289 OBP in that stretch. Slade Cecconi had his best start, allowing one run in five innings, but received no run support for his second straight start. Kyle Manzardo’s slump has been a key reason for the offensive struggles, as he batted .164 with one home run and four RBIs in 19 games before his two-hit, two-RBI outing on Wednesday, which included a double.
David Schoenfield
19. Arizona Diamondbacks
Record: 34-34Previous ranking: 19
When Corbin Burnes decided to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery last Friday, the D-backs were a .500 team in a very competitive National League West. Their rotation had the sixth-highest ERA in the majors. Arizona proceeded to get swept by the Reds, then bounced back by sweeping the Mariners, setting up the Diamondbacks for some really difficult decisions before the trade deadline next month. If they decide to punt on 2025, names like Merrill Kelly, Zac Gallen, Josh Naylor, and Eugenio Suarez will be fascinating names to monitor.
Alden Gonzalez
20. Boston Red Sox
Record: 34-36Previous ranking: 22
The Red Sox finally did it. Less than a month after turning 21, Roman Anthony was called up. After knocking on the door of the Major Leagues for weeks, the number 1 baseball prospect drove from Worcester to Boston on Monday to make his anticipated debut at Fenway Park against the Rays. He batted fifth and played in right field despite primarily playing in left and center field in the minors this season. Anthony didn’t get a hit in his debut before recording his first career hit, a two-run double, on Tuesday. Fans eagerly awaited his arrival, and the pressure is on to deliver for a team with postseason aspirations.
Jorge Castillo
21. Atlanta Braves
Record: 29-38Previous ranking: 16
The Braves had a disastrous seven-game losing streak, reflecting their 0-7 season start, which set them back in the National League Wild Card race. They have a series of games against the Mets and Phillies that will undoubtedly determine their decisions at the trade deadline. Among those losses was arguably the worst defeat of 2025 for any team: the Braves squandered a 10-4 home lead against Arizona in the ninth inning when Scott Blewett and Raisel Iglesias allowed seven runs. Consecutive ninth-inning losses to the Giants followed, including Pierce Johnson blowing a lead in the ninth inning with Matt Chapman’s home run.
David Schoenfield
22. Texas Rangers
Record: 32-36Previous ranking: 20
The Rangers’ offense, which had spent most of the year in a coma, exploded with 16 runs against the Twins on Tuesday night, during which Evan Carter had three hits, including a home run, and a walk. The Rangers have been waiting for Carter to live up to the promise he showed during the final stretch of the 2023 season. He struggled while dealing with a back injury last year, then struggled again before injuring his quadriceps this year. However, since returning from the injured list, Carter is 9 for 21 with four extra-base hits. If he can keep it up, the Rangers could make a run in the division.
Alden Gonzalez
23. Washington Nationals
Record: 30-37Previous ranking: 23
Where could the Nationals be if they had a better bullpen? Tuesday’s loss was indicative of the season, as they squandered a 4-2 lead to the Mets, allowing two runs in the eighth and then suffering a walk-off loss in the ninth inning. Only the A’s have a worse bullpen ERA, and the Nationals rank in the bottom third of the majors in bullpen win probability. The Nats got close to .500: they were 28-30 as recently as May 31, but Tuesday’s loss dropped them back to six games under .500, as the offense has slumped back into a deep slump after exploding for 38 runs in four games in late May.
David Schoenfield24. Los Angeles Angels
Record: 33-34Previous ranking: 24
Jo Adell has always shown a propensity to run hot and cold, and at this point, he’s in a real hot streak. The enigmatic young Angels outfielder is batting .325/.413/.875 with seven home runs since May 30, raising his season OPS by 136 points. His team is 8-4 during that stretch, which shouldn’t be surprising, as the Angels’ offense looks very different when Adell provides consistent production from the bottom third of the lineup. The hope is that he can continue this stretch a little longer to help Los Angeles get back above .500.
Alden Gonzalez25. Baltimore Orioles
Record: 27-39Previous ranking: 25
Heston Kjerstad, the No. 2 pick in the 2020 draft, was given his first extended look in the majors to start this season, and he struggled mightily before being sent to Triple-A on Tuesday. The outfielder hit .192 with an OPS of .566 in 54 games. His wRC+ of 59 was the 13th worst in the majors among players with at least 160 plate appearances this season, and his fWAR of minus-1.1 was the third lowest. The Orioles hope a season in Norfolk will get him back on track.
Jorge Castillo26. Pittsburgh Pirates
Record: 28-41Previous ranking: 26
Paul Skenes has allowed seven runs (six earned) in 48⅓ innings in his last seven starts, maintaining an impeccable 1.12 ERA. He hasn’t given up more than two runs in any of the six outings. The Pirates’ record in those games? 3-4. Skenes was credited with only one of those wins and has a 4-6 record on the season despite a 1.88 ERA in over 91 innings, leading the majors. The Pirates have improved under interim manager Don Kelly: they have a 15-15 record after going 12-26 with Derek Shelton at the helm, but the offense has left wins on the table with their 23-year-old right-hander on the mound.
Jorge Castillo27. Miami Marlins
Record: 25-41Previous ranking: 27
It was great to see Eury Perez back in the majors, making his first start since September 2023 after he broke his right elbow in spring training in 2024. He allowed four runs in three innings against the Pirates, with five strikeouts and two walks, and struggled to control his pitches while throwing 70 pitches. His four-seam fastball averaged 98.5 mph, 1 mph more than he averaged as a rookie. Still, it was a reminder of how good he was in 2023. Unfortunately for Miami, just as Pérez returns, Max Meyer (hip impingement) and Ryan Weathers (shoulder and lat strain) landed on the injured list.
David Schoenfield28. Oakland Athletics
Record: 26-44Previous ranking: 28
Jacob Wilson, the brightest spot in a season that is suddenly crumbling, has missed the last two games with a left hamstring strain, but is expected to return to the lineup on Friday. Since the beginning of May, his batting average is precisely .400, the best among qualified hitters. So far this year, the 23-year-old shortstop is batting .366, with Aaron Judge (.394) as the only player standing in the way of a batting title. Wilson’s walk and strikeout rates are comically low, but this isn’t a reincarnation of Luis Arraez; Wilson is also slugging .520, the thirteenth-highest mark in the majors.29
