MLB Power Rankings: 1 storyline for each team down the stretch

Welcome to the ninth edition of the MLB Power Rankings for the 2025 season. The last edition ran Aug. 25, and the final one for the regular season will be published Sept. 22. Here, we look at one storyline to watch for each team over the final month.

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1. Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers lead MLB with a plus-176 run differential, a feat the franchise has done just twice before. One of those campaigns (1982) resulted in the Brew Crew's only World Series appearance, a loss to the Cardinals. The 2025 Brewers look capable of recreating history, but can they finally end the organization's championship curse?

2. Philadelphia Phillies

Kyle Schwarber could give Shohei Ohtani stiff competition in the NL MVP race. The Phillies slugger was already having a tremendous walk year before becoming the 21st player in MLB history to record a four-homer game. With 60 homers in sight and a division title in reach, the 32-year-old may very well dethrone Ohtani down the stretch.

3. Chicago Cubs

Cade Horton's stellar freshman season has the Cubs primed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2020. A strong contender for NL Rookie of the Year, the 24-year-old right-hander has surrendered just four earned runs with 24 strikeouts over his last five starts, lowering his ERA to 2.78 on the year.

4. Detroit Tigers

Kyle Finnegan has yet to allow a run since joining the Tigers at the deadline, so his adductor injury was a major blow to a team with World Series aspirations. Until he's back, the rest of the bullpen needs to up their game to help Detroit secure the AL's No. 1 seed.

5. Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays will be in a dogfight down the stretch for their first AL East crown since 2015. The offense is firing on all cylinders thanks to arguably the best year of George Springer's career in his age-35 season. However, the bullpen has been Toronto's Achilles' heel, amassing the highest walks per nine innings in baseball (5.16) and the seventh-worst ERA (4.72) since the beginning of August.

6. New York Yankees

The Yankees are right on the heels of the Blue Jays for the division lead after taking two out of three in New York during a weekend series between the clubs. Aaron Judge returned to the outfield, but his ability to throw appears compromised due to his previous elbow injury. The 33-year-old is also in a tight race with Cal Raleigh for AL MVP.

7. Los Angeles Dodgers

Losing to the Orioles on Saturday after Yoshinobu Yamamoto was one out away from a no-hitter is just how things have gone lately for the Dodgers. They've now dropped three consecutive series, two of them against sub-.500 teams. With the Padres breathing down their necks in the NL West and the Giants scorching hot, L.A. better figure things out quickly.

8. Boston Red Sox

Roman Anthony's injury couldn't have come at a worse time for the Red Sox, who have won just once since placing the outfielder on the IL with an oblique strain. Anthony was Boston's best hitter at the time of his injury, and now he's set to miss the remainder of the regular season. He should be available in the playoffs if the Red Sox can get there without him.

9. San Diego Padres

The Padres have a golden opportunity to win their first division title since 2006. However, San Diego hasn't been able to capitalize on the Dodgers' struggles, dropping eight of its last 10 games before winning two straight against the lowly Rockies. Ramón Laureano continues to be a revelation, recording four homers, 10 RBIs, and a .921 OPS over the last two weeks.

10. Houston Astros

The Framber Valdez and Taylor Trammell situations aren't the only things that have gone wrong for the Astros lately. Houston hasn't posted a winning month since June, Jose Altuve is in a massive September funk, and Carlos Correa has a .584 OPS over his past 14 games. On the bright side, Yordan Alvarez is finally healthy, producing two four-hit games this month already.

11. Seattle Mariners

The Mariners ended their recent funk by dominating the Braves over the weekend for their first series win in nearly two weeks. The crucial victories come as the Rangers, Royals, Rays, and Guardians close in on them for the final AL wild-card spot. Cal Raleigh is also one homer away from tying Mickey Mantle for the most in a single season by a switch-hitter (54).

12. New York Mets

Nolan McLean became the first pitcher since 2014 to win the first four outings of his career and has helped steady a shaky Mets rotation. McLean and fellow rookies Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat are poised to play key roles down the stretch as New York clings to a playoff spot.

13. Texas Rangers

The Rangers have clawed their way back into the playoff race despite being without Corey Seager, who underwent an appendectomy on Aug. 28. Seager is pushing to return to the field quickly - and Texas needs him - but there are no guarantees after this kind of procedure. Ultimately, the Rangers' fate could hinge on Seager's status.

14. San Francisco Giants

The Giants looked finished after going 9-23 following the All-Star break, but apparently nobody told them they were out of playoff contention. Since then, San Francisco has gone 11-3 to reenter the race for the NL's final wild-card spot. The Giants still have a combined 12 games remaining against the D-Backs, Cardinals, and Rockies.

15. Kansas City Royals

The Royals have been playing good baseball since the All-Star break, but Seth Lugo's and Bobby Witt Jr.'s ailing backs are a concern with under a month left in the campaign. Kansas City will need both healthy down the stretch to help it get through tough series against the Guardians, Phillies, Mariners, and Blue Jays.

16. Cincinnati Reds

The Reds took two out of three against the Mets over the weekend but had a great chance to sweep the series. As a result, Cincinnati is again within striking distance of New York for the NL's final wild-card spot. Hunter Greene's return provided a massive boost for the rotation, as he's allowed just two earned runs with 19 strikeouts across two September starts.

17. Tampa Bay Rays

Junior Caminero is trying to will the Rays to October. The third baseman has hit 18 of his 41 home runs in the second half, tied for the most in the AL since the All-Star break. The 22-year-old is just five long balls away from tying Carlos Pena's single-season franchise record for homers.

18. St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals continue to hover around .500, making it hard to tell whether they're ready to fully embrace a rebuild. These next few weeks may determine the franchise's offseason direction. St. Louis owns the majors' toughest remaining schedule and could improve its odds of landing the No. 1 pick with a late slump.

19. Arizona Diamondbacks

Although the D-Backs sold at the trade deadline, they haven't let that affect their play on the field. The club hasn't lost a series since Aug. 18 and is 4.5 games back of a wild-card spot. Andrew Saalfrank has been impressive finishing games and could be Arizona's answer in the ninth inning for years to come.

20. Cleveland Guardians

José Ramírez is three homers away from becoming only the third player in MLB history with three or more 30-30 seasons, joining Bobby Bonds and Barry Bonds. Ramírez also moved into second on Cleveland's all-time RBI list this weekend after passing Jim Thome.

21. Baltimore Orioles

Trevor Rogers has allowed two earned runs or fewer in all but one of his outings. The left-hander is not who teams with postseason aspirations want to see down the stretch, having shut down a playoff contender in each of his last seven starts.

22. Athletics

Another losing season appears on the horizon for the Athletics, who haven't had a winning record since 2021. At least they've been a fun watch thanks to the long ball. Fueled by 20-homer campaigns from Shea Langeliers, Nick Kurtz, Brent Rooker, and Tyler Soderstrom, the A's rank fifth in the majors in round-trippers and are on pace to hit 200 home runs for the first time since 2019.

23. Atlanta Braves

This season has been rough for the Braves, but they have a chance to finish on a positive note. Atlanta faces a slew of contenders over the final three weeks and can play spoiler for multiple clubs. With Chris Sale back and Matt Olson continuing his solid play, look for the Braves to be a tough opponent down the stretch.

24. Pittsburgh Pirates

The NL Cy Young is Paul Skenes' to lose. The 23-year-old is the favorite to become just the third Pirates pitcher ever to win the award and first since Doug Drabek in 1990. Skenes could also become only the fourth starter in that league to take home the honor with a sub-2.00 ERA in a full campaign since 1998.

25. Miami Marlins

September might mark Marlins fans' final chance to cheer for Sandy Alcantara. The former NL Cy Young winner has looked more like himself over the last month, posting a 3.32 ERA with 37 strikeouts across his previous six starts. The right-hander will likely be highly sought after on the trade market this winter.

26. Los Angeles Angels

Mike Trout is two homers away from becoming the 20th major leaguer ever to hit his first 400 home runs with one franchise. However, are we witnessing the beginning of the end for one of the best players in MLB history? The three-time AL MVP is going through the worst campaign of his 15-season career following years of injuries.

27. Chicago White Sox

Winning hasn't been synonymous with the White Sox the past three seasons, but the South Siders have played pretty good ball lately and could wind up with more wins than losses in the second half. They've won seven of their last eight and are playing .500 baseball since the All-Star break.

28. Minnesota Twins

After accepting their fate at the trade deadline, eyes in Minnesota now turn toward what should be a winter of change. At the top of the list should be the fate of Rocco Baldelli, who could be managing his final games for the Twins. Minnesota's play over the next few weeks may determine whether the club brings Baldelli back for the final year of his contract.

29. Washington Nationals

James Wood needs three more dingers to become the first Nationals player with a 30-homer campaign since Washington won the 2019 World Series. The 22-year-old has a great chance to reach the mark with 17 of the club's final 20 games against sub-.500 opponents.

30. Colorado Rockies

Will the Rockies finish with a minus-400 run differential? Barring an insane surge, they've already ensured they'll shatter the 1932 Red Sox mark (minus-345) for worst run differential of the modern era. But can Colorado sink to a low not seen in 126 years by ending the season with a differential below minus-400? It seems like an impossible task, but this team faces contenders in 10 of its final 19 contests. Dubious history awaits them.