Now that the All-Star Game is over, and we begin the second “half” of the season — teams actually have only 64-67 games remaining at this point — it is perhaps worthwhile to take one last look back at the first “half” for each team. Thus, in today’s Power Rankings, we’ll look at one thing that went right for every team before the All-Star break.
Whether you’re No. 1 or No. 30, something went right. Here is a closer look at those highlights, or in some cases, silver linings.
These rankings, as always, are compiled from MLB.com contributors whose names you can find at the bottom of this (and every) piece, but the words are mine. If you dislike the rankings, yell at all of us. But if you dislike the words, feel free to yell at me.
1. Tigers (previously: 1)
How long has it been since it has been this much fun to be a Tigers fan? Since 2006? 1984? 1968? Almost everything the Tigers have been hoping would happen has come to fruition, and then some. Spencer Torkelson is mashing. Zack McKinstry and offseason pickup Gleyber Torres emerged as All-Stars, as did the rebounding Javier Báez. Riley Greene is playing like an MVP, and Tarik Skubal is pitching like an MVP. The fans have reaped the rewards. Why stop now?
2. Cubs (previously: 4)
You may have harbored high hopes coming into the year for Pete Crow-Armstrong and Michael Busch. You probably didn’t see them as two of the best hitters in baseball. The Cubs are mashing the ball like no other team; if it weren’t for Shohei Ohtani, would this team have four MVP candidates?
3. Dodgers (previously: 2)
In a year in which plenty has not gone according to plan, Shohei Ohtani just keeps being the most amazing player any of us have ever seen … even before you account for all the pitching. The best thing about the Dodgers is that so little has gone the way they expected this season, and they’re still maybe the best team in baseball — and primed to have most of their team all back together just in time for October.
4. Astros (previously: 3)
Well, the Astros have been missing their best player, Yordan Alvarez, for almost three months, they lost Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman in the offseason, and Jose Altuve is having his worst season in more than a decade. And … they’re still comfortably in first place. Who wants to face this rotation in the postseason?
5. Mets (previously: 7)
Remember when people were worried about Juan Soto? No? Trust me, they were. Since June 1, he has been as good as he has ever been, and he has kept this team afloat through a few fallow parts of the season. He’s what you paid for — and more.
6. Blue Jays (previously: 6)
This is the latest the Blue Jays have been in first place since September 2016, so it’s safe to say that it’s been an excellent season in Toronto thus far. And all this in a year when many thought they might be selling at the Trade Deadline, even after they managed to ink Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to that long-awaited contract extension. It sure is nice to have a healthy George Springer back, too, isn’t it?
7. Brewers (previously: 8)
Somehow, the Brewers just find a way to win, every year, and I’m not sure it’s ever been quite as impressive as what they’ve done this year. The Brewers are, simply, solid at everything: They’ve got a lineup full of above-average hitters, a rotation that does its job every day (and is even better now that Brandon Woodruff is back) and a deep and versatile bullpen. The Brewers just do everything right.
8. Phillies (previously: 5)
The lineup hasn’t been as deep as we’ve gotten used to from the Phillies, but a splendid starting rotation more than makes up for it. This group has arguably three starters — Ranger Suárez, Zack Wheeler and Cristopher Sánchez — who were worthy of consideration not just for playing in the All-Star Game, but starting it.
9. Yankees (previously: 10)
The Yankees’ rotation remains in tatters, but the bats have made up for it, and it hasn’t just been Aaron Judge. One of the biggest reasons for the Yankees’ success has been the steps forward taken by Ben Rice and Jasson Domínguez, who have made the lineup deeper than it has been during most of Judge’s career.
10. Padres (previously: 11)
They haven’t quite reached the heights they were at heading into the postseason last year — when you wondered if they were the favorites over the Dodgers — but they’re still in the thick of the playoff chase. That’s thanks in large part to big seasons from the superstars you’d expect: Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr., who is looking like an MVP candidate once again.
11. Red Sox (previously: 16)
The Red Sox have been excited about their young hitters for many moons at this point, but they couldn’t have asked for a better time for them to break through than in the immediate weeks after trading Rafael Devers. Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran, Marcelo Mayer and Roman Anthony, all hitting like crazy, all in their 20s, all at the perfect moment.
12. Giants (previously: 14)
Even if he hasn’t quite hit like the superstar the Giants believe they finally have, Rafael Devers is a superstar, one the Giants have been trying to build around for years. Everything — in the short term, anyway — looks different and brighter with Devers around. This team looks as well-rounded as it has in quite a while.
13. Rays (previously: 9)
We’re used to seeing the Rays being led by their pitching, but they’ve been a total gas to watch on offense this year, with Junior Caminero (still just 22), Brandon Lowe and, especially, Jonathan Aranda, who, seemingly overnight, has turned into a star.
14. Mariners (previously: 12)
Well, they have the most exciting home run hitter this side of Aaron Judge. He’s their switch-hitting catcher, their Big Dumper, Cal Raleigh. The 2025 T-Mobile Home Run Derby champion has instantly become one of the most recognizable baseball players on the planet, and for good reason. This guy could end up a 60-homer hitter!
15. Cardinals (previously: 13)
The Cardinals have started to fade of late — potentially clarifying any sort of Trade Deadline plans they have — but until their rotation began its current erosion, they were one of the more pleasant surprises of the season so far. Neither Nolan Gorman nor Jordan Walker has been the breakthrough player the Cardinals were hoping for, but Iván Herrera and Alec Burleson look like they may well be.
16. Reds (previously: 15)
Do the Reds quietly have one of the most promising young rotations in baseball? Hunter Greene (25 years old) was great until he got hurt, but don’t look past Nick Lodolo (27), Brady Singer (28) and, most impressively, All-Star Andrew Abbott (26), who has looked unhittable for the last month.
17. Rangers (previously: 17)
The Rangers should have a better record than they do, but even so, they’re very much in the thick of the playoff chase. A sign that better things may lie ahead is the success of a couple of young players they’ve been waiting on: outfielders Wyatt Langford and Evan Carter. Both of them are above-average hitters already, and neither is yet over the age of 23
18. Twins (previously: 19)
Byron Buxton has been healthy, and that’s something that should never be taken for granted. One thing that can be taken for granted: When Buxton is healthy, he’s going to be good. He is most worthy of his All-Star status, putting up some of the best offensive numbers of his career. He’s also one healthy month away from the second-most games he has played in his 11 years in the Majors.
19. Angels (previously: 21)
The wait for Jo Adell is over. The Angels and their fans have been anticipating Adell’s ascension to star status for a half-decade now, and he finally got there this year. The Angels might be used to a center fielder who can hit 30 homers, but now they’ve got one who is not named Mike Trout.
20. Diamondbacks (previously: 18)
The record isn’t what the Diamondbacks wanted it to be, something injuries have had more than a little bit to do with. On the other hand, they have to be ecstatic with the re-emergence of veteran third baseman Eugenio Suárez, who has hit homers in a way he hasn’t in years. He has helped the D-backs considerably, and he may well help them more at the Trade Deadline.
21. Royals (previously: 20)
The Royals have been needing offensive players to step up and help out Bobby Witt Jr. for a couple of years now, and while the jury is still out on Jac Caglianone, MJ Melendez and Drew Waters, among others, Maikel Garcia has taken his big step forward. He’s hitting .297, and his .354 OBP is actually higher than Witt’s.
22. Guardians (previously: 22)
Whatever else may be going on in the world, you can always, always count on José Ramírez. Along with earning his seventh All-Star nod (though he didn’t play in Tuesday’s game), J-Ram is rapidly climbing up Cleveland’s all-time leaderboards. He’s now about two years away from leading one of our oldest franchises in nearly every offensive category.
23. Orioles (previously: 24)
It might be too late to make a run this year — though you never know — but one thing the Orioles have done is learn for certain that Jackson Holliday is for real. A young player who was one of the biggest disappointments of 2024 is now established as their second baseman for years to come. He nearly made the All-Star team and has thrived since being put in the leadoff spot.
24. Braves (previously: 25)
Just about everything has gone wrong for the Braves so far this year, and their rotation seems to have been torn apart by wolves. But they have to be encouraged by Matt Olson returning to his All-Star form. After a step back in 2024, he is back to playing like one of the best first basemen in the entire sport.
25. Marlins (previously: 23)
We’ll see how it turns out for the Braves this year, but the Marlins are firmly in third place in the NL East right now, thanks to one of their best winning streaks in quite some time. A year after a 100-loss season, this is undeniable progress.
26. A’s (previously: 28)
The A’s already had two hitters you can build around, with Brent Rooker and Lawrence Butler, but they now have three lineup stalwarts aged 23 or under that are absolutely raking: Nick Kurtz, Tyler Soderstrom and, especially, All-Star Jacob Wilson, who’s still hitting .332 and is as fun to watch as anyone in the game. The pitching, obviously, needs a lot of work, but the A’s are going to score a lot of runs for many years into the future.
27. Nationals (previously: 27)
James Wood is a full-on superstar, already: He’s one of the 10 best players in baseball, and he’s only 22 years old. But the exciting thing is it’s not just him: CJ Abrams (24) has been an All-Star-level shortstop, and Dylan Crews (23), José Tena (24) and Luis García Jr. (25) have shown potential as well. Their lineup also now features 22-year-old Brady House, a first-round pick who made his debut last month.
28. Pirates (previously: 26)
Paul Skenes isn’t a future star: He’s a current one, and he doesn’t seem to be slowing down one bit. Whatever the Pirates’ other issues, he’s a stone-cold superstar, already, right now. The Pirates have a world dominator on the mound for them every fifth day.
29. White Sox (previously: 29)
The young pitching is showing some promise. Shane Smith made the All-Star team, but he’s one of four pitchers in their 20s in the White Sox rotation who have been halfway decent this year, along with Sean Burke, Davis Martin and Jonathan Cannon. Young arms are as valuable as anything in baseball, and the White Sox actually have some.
30. Rockies (previously: 30)
There is nothing the Rockies need more than young players they can build around, so it’s an unquestioned success that Hunter Goodman, the team’s lone All-Star, might just be one. The key to Goodman’s breakthrough year is that he’s finally a full-time catcher rather than a utility player; it’s the position he always wanted to play, and he is thriving now that he has the opportunity. And he is only 25.
Voters: Nathalie Alonso, Daniel Feldman, Will Leitch, Travis Miller, Brian Murphy, Arturo Pardavila, Andrew Simon, David Venn, Zac Vierra.
