With just 11 days remaining in the 2025 Major League Baseball regular season, the latest MLB Power Rankings reflect a landscape of both certainty and high-stakes competition. Three teams have officially punched their tickets to the postseason, leaving nine spots still available. The Milwaukee Brewers became the first club to clinch a playoff berth for the second consecutive year. They were soon joined by the Philadelphia Phillies, who secured their spot and a second straight National League East title, and the Chicago Cubs. While some clubs like the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers are on the verge of locking up their positions, many other teams are embroiled in tight races that promise an exciting conclusion to the 162-game marathon. Recent weeks have seen dramatic shifts, with the Seattle Mariners surging into first place on a major winning streak, while the New York Mets endured a losing spell that nearly erased them from the playoff picture. These rankings are determined by an expert panel considering both recent performance and season-long trends. [Source]
Top Tier Teams Secure Postseason Berths
The Milwaukee Brewers (93-59) stand at the top of the rankings after becoming the first team to clinch a postseason slot this season. Their work, however, is far from over. The Brewers are in a tight race with the Phillies for the National League’s top seed, a critical advantage that would secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Given how dominant both teams have been in their home ballparks, this battle could be a deciding factor in a potential NLCS matchup. Milwaukee also has its sights set on franchise history, needing a few more wins to break the team record of 96 victories, a mark set in 2011 and tied in 2018. Holding off the persistent Cubs to win the NL Central title is another key objective on their remaining to-do list.
The Philadelphia Phillies (91-62) clinched their second consecutive NL East championship in dramatic fashion with a 10-inning victory at Dodger Stadium. The win was powered by Kyle Schwarber, who hit his 53rd home run of the season, and a pivotal moment in the 10th inning when Harrison Bader stole third base to set up the go-ahead sacrifice fly. The team’s postgame celebration was notably spirited, with Bryce Harper celebrating with apple juice as his teammates enjoyed other beverages. The Phillies demonstrated their October readiness again the following night, when backup catcher Rafael Marchan delivered a two-out, three-run home run in the ninth inning for another comeback win, a rally set up by an intentional walk to Bryson Stott.
American League East and National League West Races
In the American League, the Toronto Blue Jays (89-63) have established a commanding position. According to FanGraphs, their probability of winning the AL East is an overwhelming 95.6%. This strong standing allows manager John Schneider to begin strategic planning for the postseason, specifically how to best arrange his starting rotation. Kevin Gausman is viewed as the logical Game 1 starter, but the Blue Jays boast an enviable amount of depth behind him. Schneider’s options include established veterans like Shane Bieber, Chris Bassitt, and Max Scherzer, as well as Eric Lauer and rookie Trey Yesavage, who impressed with a dominant performance in his MLB debut. This wealth of pitching talent makes Toronto a formidable opponent heading into October.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Dodgers (85-67) face a more uncertain path as they work to secure another NL West title. While much attention is often on Shohei Ohtani’s regular-season performance and potential playoff role, the team’s immediate focus is on the divisional race, which carries significant consequences for playoff seeding. Barring unforeseen collapses by other contenders, the winner of the NL West will likely earn the 3-seed, while the runner-up will be the 5-seed. This outcome dictates whether the Dodgers will host a struggling Mets team in the first round or travel to Wrigley Field for a challenging series against a hot Cubs team. The stakes for the final stretch of the season are therefore immense.
- The Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies, and Chicago Cubs have clinched spots in the 2025 MLB playoffs.
- Cal Raleigh hit his 56th home run, tying Ken Griffey Jr.’s single-season record for the Seattle Mariners.
- The Seattle Mariners went on a 10-game winning streak to vault themselves back into first place in their division.
- The Toronto Blue Jays’ chances of winning the American League East are estimated at 95.6% by FanGraphs.
- The New York Mets snapped an eight-game losing streak with a walk-off home run from Pete Alonso.
Key Player Performances and Roster Questions
The Chicago Cubs (88-64) officially secured their playoff berth with a recent win over Pittsburgh. While their pursuit of the NL Central title continues, they are in a strong position to claim the top wild-card spot. The team’s offense has shown signs of improvement lately, but a key contributor from the first half, Pete Crow-Armstrong, has yet to fully regain his form. After a difficult August in which he posted a .446 OPS, his second-half OPS sits at a more respectable but still underwhelming .625. For the Cubs to make a deep postseason run, they will need Crow-Armstrong to reignite the offensive spark he provided earlier in the season.
In Seattle, Cal Raleigh (83-69) is having a season for the ages. He recently hit his 55th and 56th home runs in a single game, a feat that moved him past Mickey Mantle for the most homers in a season by a switch-hitter. His 56th blast also tied Ken Griffey Jr.’s franchise record. With a strong finish, Raleigh could potentially challenge Aaron Judge’s AL record of 62 home runs. The same game featured a historic performance from Dominic Canzone, who went 5-for-5 with three home runs, becoming just the 45th player since 1901 to achieve such a stat line.
“Roman Anthony is pretty good,” he replied, noting the difference the lefty-hitting rookie made.
The Boston Red Sox (83-69) have felt the impact of Roman Anthony’s absence. As noted by New York manager Aaron Boone, the rookie made a significant difference. In the 35 games before his oblique injury, Anthony hit .326, and the team went 22-13. Since he has been out of the lineup, the Red Sox have gone 5-7 while averaging fewer than 4.0 runs per game, highlighting his importance to their offense.
Background
The 2025 Major League Baseball season is entering its final phase, with teams having navigated the majority of the 162-game schedule. These MLB Power Rankings are compiled by a panel of ESPN experts, including Buster Olney, Bradford Doolittle, and David Schoenfield, who provide observations on all 30 teams. The rankings are formulated based on a combination of season-long performance, what was known about the teams before the season, and their recent play. As the schedule winds down, teams that have already clinched, like the Brewers and Phillies, are now focused on securing top seeds and setting franchise records, while others are fighting for their playoff lives in tightly contested divisional and wild-card races. The context of the entire season informs the current standing of each club as they prepare for the pressures of October.
What’s next
The final 11 days of the regular season will be filled with critical matchups. Many playoff races are expected to go down to the very last day. For the Houston Astros (84-69), a crucial week of AL West action continues with a battle for first place against the surging Mariners, a series made more challenging by a significant ankle injury to Yordan Alvarez. The Texas Rangers (79-74) face what may be a must-win homestand against the Marlins and Twins to keep their postseason hopes alive. Similarly, the Cleveland Guardians (80-71) have a challenging schedule as they try to catch Boston for the final AL wild-card spot, with a four-game series in Minnesota followed by six home games against the Tigers and Rangers. For teams like the Blue Jays, the final days are about preparing for the playoffs, with Manager John Schneider needing to finalize his postseason rotation. The outcome of the NL West race will determine whether the Dodgers begin their postseason at home or on the road, adding another layer of intrigue to the final stretch.
