MLB Power Rankings: Tigers firing on all cylinders as Giants plummet

Welcome to the eighth edition of the MLB Power Rankings for the 2025 season. The last edition ran Aug. 11, and the next one will be published Sept. 8.

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1. Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers have played below-.500 ball since their 14-game win streak ended Aug. 17, including losing three of five games to the Cubs. However, they're still the best team in the majors by a wide margin. A third straight division crown seems like a foregone conclusion.

2. Detroit Tigers

The Tigers are hot, and so is Riley Greene. The All-Star outfielder is slugging .617 since Aug. 10 and recently reached 30 homers for the first time in his career. Greene has already set a career high in RBIs, and he needs just two more doubles to set a new personal best in that category.

3. Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies' World Series aspirations took a big hit with news that Zack Wheeler will miss the rest of the season due to a shoulder injury. The 35-year-old ace needs thoracic outlet decompression surgery - a procedure that is historically difficult for pitchers to come back from. Philadelphia will count on Cristopher Sánchez, Ranger Suárez, and Jesús Luzardo even more down the stretch and in the playoffs.

4. Chicago Cubs

Kyle Tucker's bat finally came alive with three homers and seven RBIs during a weekend sweep of the Angels. The Cubs could be a major threat to the Brewers down the stretch if the 28-year-old looks like the player he was in the first few months of the season before he decided to play with a hairline fracture in his hand. Chicago is now only five games back of the division lead.

5. Los Angeles Dodgers

The defending champions are having an uneven August. After sweeping the rival Padres at home, L.A. split its series against the lowly Rockies in Denver. Teoscar Hernández's defensive struggles in right field have prompted calls for manager Dave Roberts to move Mookie Betts back to the outfield. Still, the Dodgers are tied for first with San Diego in the NL West following this weekend's tense series. They are still to be feared.

6. Toronto Blue Jays

Shane Bieber fever is hitting Toronto. The 2020 AL Cy Young winner dazzled in his Blue Jays debut - his first MLB start since recovering from Tommy John surgery. If Bieber regains his ace form, the ceiling for an already deep rotation will rise significantly. The team's hopes of winning its first AL East title since 2015 also depend on how quickly Vladimir Guerrero Jr. can return to 100% from a hamstring injury.

7. San Diego Padres

The Padres have won five of their last six and claimed a weekend series win against the Dodgers in front of a raucous home crowd at Petco Park. The acquisitions of Ramón Laureano and Ryan O'Hearn have paid huge dividends, and Fernando Tatis Jr. has found a keen eye at the plate. He's posting a .390 on-base percentage thanks to 19 walks in August.

8. Boston Red Sox

There aren't many things in this world that make Red Sox fans smile more than knowing their team is 8-2 versus the Yankees this season. Boston's dominance over its bitter division rival has led the club to the AL's top wild-card spot with September approaching. Roman Anthony continues to look like a superstar in the making, amassing a .280/.403/.500 slash line with three homers and a team-leading 11 walks over the last two weeks.

9. New York Yankees

The Yankees' struggles against winning teams continued over the weekend, as they lost three of four to Boston at home. They're only a half game up on Seattle for the second AL wild-card spot with the Royals also on their tail. It's still unclear when, or if, Aaron Judge will be able to play right field again. New York should make the playoffs comfortably, but it needs to get out of its own head first.

10. Houston Astros

August has been an up-and-down month for the Astros, who remain in first place in the AL West largely because the Mariners have struggled. Opponents have outscored Houston by 29 runs in August, and a shoulder injury will sideline All-Star closer Josh Hader until at least the postseason.

11. Seattle Mariners

The Mariners have lost seven of their last 10 after initially catching fire following a transformative trade deadline. However, Seattle's stars got back on track Sunday. Cal Raleigh set the MLB single-season record for home runs by a catcher as his ninth multi-homer contest of the year gave him 49 long balls. Logan Gilbert also bounced back from his recent struggles with a career-high 13 strikeouts.

12. New York Mets

Carlos Mendoza's club is flirting with disaster amid a 7-14 August slump that's dropped it into the final NL wild-card spot. The Mets' lead on Cincinnati is down to 1.5 games. Marquee deadline acquisition Ryan Helsley owns a 9.82 ERA since arriving in Queens. This week's massive series against the Phillies might go a long way toward deciding the Mets' fate.

13. Cincinnati Reds

The Reds are within striking distance of a wild-card spot thanks to the struggling Mets and some terrific play from trade-deadline acquisitions Miguel Andujar and Ke'Bryan Hayes, who both have an OPS over .814 since arriving in Cincinnati. Noelvi Marte has also been spectacular, leading the Reds in hits this month.

14. Kansas City Royals

The Royals have taken advantage of a soft August schedule, winning nine of 13 against the Twins, Nationals, White Sox, and Rangers over the last two weeks. That run has pushed them to within three games of the final AL playoff spot. Kansas City has a few more soft series ahead, which should offer plenty of opportunities to close the gap even more. Don't sleep on the Royals just yet.

15. Texas Rangers

The Rangers' postseason chances took a hit after they dropped five of seven series in August. Having Marcus Semien (foot), Evan Carter (wrist), Jake Burger (wrist), and Jon Gray (thoracic outlet syndrome) hit the IL around the same time is also a tough blow.

16. St. Louis Cardinals

Nolan Gorman is starting to look more like the player he was during his 2023 breakout season, with the 25-year-old recording three homers, 10 RBIs, and an .817 OPS over his last 19 games. Matt Svanson is also having a very good under-the-radar rookie campaign. He's allowed just one earned run since late July to lower his ERA to 2.29 with a 0.85 WHIP.

17. Cleveland Guardians

The Guardians were closing in on the AL's final wild-card spot before going 1-8 in their last nine contests, including a current five-game losing skid. Cleveland's bats scored just 18 runs during the stretch and were blanked in back-to-back games by the Rangers on the weekend. Steven Kwan is 11-for-52 during that time, while Kyle Manzardo is hitting .175 with a .277 on-base percentage and 13 strikeouts.

18. Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays were cautious buyers at the deadline, but it hasn't quite worked out. A 9-11 August skid has all but doomed their postseason hopes. On the bright side, top prospect Carson Williams impressed during his big-league debut over the weekend.

19. Atlanta Braves

The Braves are out of it, but they're attempting to play spoiler. Atlanta has taken series from the Mets and Guardians in August and closes out the month with a four-game set with the Phillies. Chris Sale is expected back Saturday, which would only increase the Braves' chances of hurting playoff contenders.

20. Arizona Diamondbacks

Corbin Carroll is a triples machine. The All-Star outfielder leads the league with 16, and he still has plenty of time to produce just the fifth 20-triple season of the wild-card era. In an otherwise forgettable year for the D-Backs, that's a milestone the franchise can embrace.

21. Baltimore Orioles

The future remains bright in Baltimore despite an underwhelming campaign. Samuel Basallo is another core piece of the Orioles' future and recently received an eight-year extension after appearing in just four major-league games. Basallo, Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, and Co. could easily be the best team in the AL next season if everyone plays up to expectations.

22. San Francisco Giants

The Giants lost eight of their last 12 games to drop to a shocking 22-37 since acquiring Rafael Devers. The 28-year-old star is slashing .192/.263/.385 with three solo homers over the previous two weeks. San Francisco's offense has gone ice cold, averaging just over three runs per contest since our last edition of the rankings.

23. Miami Marlins

Rookie Jakob Marsee continues to impress with his bat. The 24-year-old has gone deep three times with a team-leading 17 RBIs and an 1.001 OPS over his last 12 contests. The Marlins could get a big haul for Sandy Alcantara during the offseason if he stays hot. The 2022 NL Cy Young winner has surrendered just two earned runs with 16 strikeouts over his last two starts.

25. Athletics

Highlighted by their recent 12-9 August run, the Athletics are enjoying a solid second half for the second straight season. This young club now has a chance to play spoiler, with games against several contenders on the docket over the next few weeks.

26. Los Angeles Angels

The Angels are tracking to have five players hit 20-plus homers this season after Jo Adell and Zach Neto recorded a combined eight long balls over the last two weeks. Los Angeles will likely miss the playoffs for an 11th straight year, but at least the team is fun to watch.

26. Minnesota Twins

The Twins have just three victories since the last edition of our power rankings. But at least Royce Lewis kind of looks like himself again. The third baseman is slugging .565 with two homers and six RBIs over the last week.

27. Pittsburgh Pirates

There was much rejoicing in the Steel City when the Pirates finally promoted top pitching prospect Bubba Chandler to the majors. Chandler dazzled in his debut, recording two strikeouts on 100-mph pitches en route to a four-inning save. If the Bucs could give Chandler and Paul Skenes some proper support, they'd be all set.

28. Washington Nationals

You've got to look at the bright spots during a season like this one from the Nationals. Cade Cavalli has posted a 2.82 ERA in four starts and earned his first major-league win on Aug. 16 after missing nearly three years of action due to injuries.

29. Chicago White Sox

Kyle Teel will play a significant role in the White Sox returning to relevance. The 23-year-old has been heating up, going deep twice with nine RBIs and a 1.019 OPS over his last 11 games. However, he still needs to develop behind the plate - his blocking, pop time, and ability to control the run game remain below average.

30. Colorado Rockies

The Rockies' run differential sits at minus-349. That's tied for the worst single-season run differential in the modern era (since 1901), set by the 1932 Red Sox. Can Colorado become the first team in 135 years to finish with a minus-400 run differential? It's hardly out of the question at this point.