The race for baseball’s finest file continues to be extremely shut — with six groups separated by simply two video games and no crew on tempo for greater than 96 wins. The final time that occurred in a full season was 2007.
As MLB’s finest golf equipment — the Dodgers, Yankees, Orioles, Guardians, Phillies and Brewers — battle for the highest spot, quite a few squads are already wanting in direction of 2025 whereas the remainder of the league is battling for the remaining playoff spots.
With a lot change from week to week, it is unattainable to know the way these races will play out, but it surely makes for thrilling baseball!
Our professional panel has mixed to rank each crew primarily based on a mix of what we have seen to this point and what we already knew going into the 162-game marathon that may be a full baseball season. We additionally requested ESPN MLB consultants David Schoenfield, Bradford Doolittle, Jesse Rogers, Alden Gonzalez and Jorge Castillo to weigh in with an remark for all 30 groups.
Week 20 | Second-half preview | Preseason rankings
Document: 76-52
Earlier rating: 1
Mookie Betts made a stunning return to proper subject upon being activated off the injured record, partly as a result of the Dodgers are a greater defensive crew with Miguel Rojas or Tommy Edman at shortstop and partly as a result of second base was not an choice. Gavin Lux’s offensive transformation prompted that. Lux is slashing .356/.421/.663 for the reason that All-Star break. His OPS has jumped 148 factors since then, from .562 to .710. And now, with Edman and Max Muncy getting activated earlier this week, the Dodgers’ lineup has some critical size to it once more. They’ve adopted a sub-.500 July by profitable 13 of their first 19 video games this month, holding off the hard-charging Padres and D-backs within the Nationwide League West. — Gonzalez
Document: 74-53
Earlier rating: 2
Clay Holmes did not permit an earned run over his first 20 appearances this season. He was, for seven weeks, the very best nearer in baseball. Three months later, he may not be a more in-depth in any respect for for much longer. Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone, beforehand staunch in his dedication to Holmes as his nearer, opened the door for different choices this week after the All-Star recorded his main league-leading tenth blown save in Sunday’s loss to the Tigers on the Little League Basic. After a scoreless inning Tuesday, he has a 4.65 ERA in 32 appearances since these first 20 outings. His 2.86 FIP throughout the stretch suggests luck hasn’t been on his facet, however, as a floor ball pitcher, he is extra prone to misfortune than most closers. — Castillo
Document: 74-52
Earlier rating: 4
Ought to the Phillies be involved about their bullpen? Jose Alvarado continues to wrestle, strolling 4 batters in Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to the Braves, and has a 6.87 ERA and .884 OPS allowed since late June. All-Star Jeff Hoffman has been scored on in nearly half of his August appearances. Orion Kerkering has allowed a .317 common and .894 OPS over his previous 17 appearances. Carlos Estevez is presumably the brand new nearer, however he is allowed runs in 4 of his seven August appearances and blown considered one of three save alternatives. It is most likely only a blip and this might nonetheless be pretty much as good as any bullpen within the sport, but it surely hasn’t pitched at that degree recently. — Schoenfield
Document: 74-54
Earlier rating: 3
Zach Eflin‘s quick begin with the Orioles skidded to a halt Tuesday when, in one other blow to Baltimore’s rotation, he was positioned on the 15-day IL with shoulder soreness. The Orioles acquired him from the Rays and Trevor Rogers from the Marlins on the commerce deadline to fortify a beginning rotation already depleted by accidents. Eflin then went 4-0 with a 2.13 ERA in 4 outings earlier than changing into the fifth Orioles starter on the IL, becoming a member of John Means, Kyle Bradish, Tyler Wells and Grayson Rodriguez. Supervisor Brandon Hydge mentioned the crew expects Eflin again in September, however any setback at this level within the calendar is alarming. — Castillo
Document: 73-53
Earlier rating: 7
Neglect about simply the NL Central. The Brewers have a first-round bye on their minds as they proceed to impress regardless of the lack of Christian Yelich and a rotation void of stars exterior of Freddy Peralta. The pitching employees had a heck of a run final week, giving up simply 12 runs over the course of a five-game profitable streak — in opposition to the Dodgers and Guardians, no much less. The Brewers’ weekend sweep of first-place Cleveland was particularly spectacular as their pitching gave up simply 4 runs in three video games. Colin Rea‘s seven shutout innings in Sunday’s 2-0 win was a factor of magnificence. He gave up simply two hits with out issuing a stroll, serving to to drag the Brewers inside a fraction of the highest spot within the NL. It has been the Jackson Chourio present in Milwaukee. He has a .900 OPS since Yelich went down. — Rogers
Document: 73-53
Earlier rating: 5
It has been a sequence of streaks of late: that seven-game dropping skid adopted by a five-game profitable streak adopted by a three-game sweep to the Brewers over the weekend, by which the Guardians scored simply 4 runs within the three video games. They responded with a giant 12-inning win over the Yankees on Tuesday, exploding for six runs within the twelfth after Emmanuel Clase and Tim Herrin saved the sport going. With Clase decreasing his ERA to 0.61, speak about him as a Cy Younger candidate has emerged, however he stays an extended shot. Eric Gagne was the final reliever to win, again in 2003. Plus, you’ve Tarik Skubal, who may win the pitching Triple Crown (wins, ERA, strikeouts). — Schoenfield
Document: 72-56
Earlier rating: 8
Maybe no one embodies the spirit of this yr’s Padres higher than Jurickson Profar, who was signed off the proverbial scrap heap for a mere $1 million, made his first All-Star crew and is presently having the season of his life, slashing .290/.387/.474 with 20 residence runs and 76 RBIs in 126 video games. In Tuesday’s eighth inning, with the Padres trailing by two, he squared to bunt, pulled again, then delivered the three-run homer that put his crew forward for good. It was the Padres’ thirty second come-from-behind victory and their twenty second win in a span of 27 video games. Unlikely contributions have made this a extra full Padres crew than final yr’s group — and Profar is the face of that. — Gonzalez
Document: 72-56
Earlier rating: 6
The D-backs are presently with out three key hitters in Gabriel Moreno, Christian Walker and Ketel Marte, and but they boast a significant league-best .853 OPS for the reason that All-Star break. One of many greatest causes is Jake McCarthy, the 27-year-old outfielder who’s slashing .356/.400/.604 throughout that very same stretch. In a yr when Corbin Carroll has struggled, Alek Thomas has been restricted to 37 video games and a wave of accidents have popped up of late, McCarthy — a sufferer of the proverbial sophomore stoop in 2023 — has been one of many Diamondbacks’ most vital contributors. He is a giant purpose why they’ve received 23 of their previous 31 video games and look primed for a return to the postseason. — Gonzalez
Document: 68-58
Earlier rating: 10
The Astros’ current blistering tempo has been led by the same old suspects, however the hottest of all of them has been catcher Yainer Diaz. Diaz beat the Purple Sox along with his first game-ending homer on Monday, the second of three straight video games by which he went deep. Because the All-Star break, Diaz has hit .358/.388/.617 with eight homers and 22 RBIs over 30 video games. That is fairly a leap from a participant whose pre-break OPS was .717 and greater than justifies supervisor Joe Espada’s use of him, which has been to deploy Diaz at DH or, now and again, first base on days he is not behind the plate. — Doolittle
Document: 71-56
Earlier rating: 11
The resilient Royals are recent off considered one of their most explosive weeks of the season. The spree featured a five-game profitable streak throughout which they outscored the Twins, Reds and Angels by a mixed 37-7. Main the offensive cost of late has been first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, who drove in 28 runs over a 19-game span starting July 30 behind an OPS of .957. Pasquantino ranks third within the majors in RBIs (95) regardless of modest figures of 18 homers and a .773 OPS. His common with runners in scoring place (.377) explains this and ranks second in baseball amongst certified gamers. Of curiosity: The highest participant on this measure is celebrity Bobby Witt Jr. (.400) and third, simply behind Pasquantino, is franchise stalwart Salvador Perez (.364). — Doolittle
Document: 71-56
Earlier rating: 9
The Twins remaining within the AL Central title hunt is a testomony to their expertise as a result of their harm luck this season is astonishing. As soon as once more, Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa are on the IL. And as soon as once more, Minnesota is staying afloat in possession of a wild-card berth. Buxton was one of many hottest hitters in baseball within the two months earlier than touchdown on the IL for the second time this season on Aug. 15 with proper hip irritation. The dynamic outfielder slashed .329/.391/.707 with 12 residence runs in 41 video games earlier than the harm. The excellent news for the Twins is he might return as quickly as Friday. The unhealthy information is Correa, one of many crew’s two All-Stars, nonetheless would not have a timetable for his return after the shortstop went on the IL for the second time this season on July 20 with plantar fasciitis. — Castillo
Document: 67-59
Earlier rating: 14
Triston Casas returned to Boston’s lineup Friday after lacking almost 4 months with a rib harm — and he did not waste any time making an influence. The primary baseman is 8-for-23 with 4 walks in six video games. He delivered a two-run residence run in Tuesday’s 6-5 win over the Astros that included a four-hit effort from All-Star Jarren Duran. Dom Smith, who turned expendable with Casas’s reinstatement, was a serviceable fill-in at first base, however Casas is a possible sport changer. A wholesome Casas offers the Purple Sox one other elite energy supply alongside Rafael Devers. It is the form of jolt that would make the distinction down the stretch as they attempt to chase down the Royals for the ultimate AL wild-card spot. — Castillo
Document: 67-59
Earlier rating: 13
Austin Riley suffered a fractured hand after getting hit by a pitch on Sunday, an harm that would sideline him the remainder of the common season. The offense has been hitting effectively in August, with its highest OPS of any month of 2024, though that features three video games of 11, 11 and 13 runs (the Braves have additionally been shut out 3 times in August, so the inconsistency stays). Gio Urshela, simply launched by the Tigers, was signed to fill in for Riley. He was hitting .243/.286/.333 for the Tigers, so he is not going to assist a lot. The pitching must carry Atlanta to the postseason. — Schoenfield
Document: 66-61
Earlier rating: 15
Again when Francisco Lindor hit .197 in April, it was onerous to check him becoming a member of the MVP dialogue, however he is moved comfortably right into a top-five place within the NL with 5.4 WAR, trailing solely Shohei Ohtani, Ketel Marte (who’s on the IL) and Matt Chapman in bWAR. With a giant stretch run, Lindor might problem his profession excessive WAR of seven.2, set with Cleveland in 2018, and surpass his career-best fifth-place end in MVP voting (in 2017). Lindor is already eighth amongst shortstops in profession WAR by his age-30 season. Six of the seven forward of him are Corridor of Famers (and Alex Rodriguez is the eighth). — Schoenfield
Document: 64-64
Earlier rating: 12
One other skid has the Mariners staring on the actuality {that a} sub-.500 file has develop into a extra doubtless end result for his or her 2024 season than a postseason look. As has been the case all season, the wrongdoer continues to be an offense that wallowed in ineptitude all yr and has probably not improved a lot regardless of Seattle’s work on the commerce deadline. Say what you’ll about batting common, however this cannot be good: Seattle’s crew mark dipped to .216, which, if the season ended at this time, can be tied for the fifth worst of the fashionable period. The bottom of the low was .211 by the 1910 White Sox. — Doolittle
Document: 65-64
Earlier rating: 16
Earlier than Wednesday’s ninth-inning blowup in opposition to the lowly White Sox, solely two groups held a greater bullpen ERA than the Giants this month — the Rays and Astros. And although a few of the periphery stats usually are not fairly as favorable, it is nonetheless spectacular for a unit that’s with out its most gifted arm in Camilo Doval. Doval, an All-Star nearer who led the NL with 39 saves final season, was optioned to the minor leagues on Aug. 9 along with his ERA at 4.70. He’s anticipated to rejoin the crew on its upcoming street journey, although his function continues to be to be decided. If he can recapture his dominance, maybe he may also help the Giants stay in rivalry down the stretch. — Gonzalez
Document: 64-62
Earlier rating: 20
Christopher Morel, who was a part of the haul from the Cubs for Isaac Paredes, was the flashier deadline acquisition, however Dylan Carlson has been a revelation to date in Tampa Bay. It’s extremely early — simply 15 video games — however the switch-hitting outfielder is slashing .267/.353/.489 with three residence runs in 51 plate appearances. That is after he batted .198 with a .515 OPS and 0 (0!) residence runs in 138 plate appearances for St. Louis this season. Carlson, as soon as a consensus top-30 prospect throughout baseball, is underneath contract by 2026. The Rays bought him for reliever Shawn Armstrong, a free agent this winter. It might show to be only a good first month — or one other shrewd long-term transfer for a corporation that has thrived off them. — Castillo
Document: 62-64
Earlier rating: 17
Playoff hopes are starting to fade in St. Louis, because the Cardinals went 12-18 over a 30-game stretch ending on Tuesday. (Whereas they did lose that night time, as effectively, Wednesday’s walk-off extra-innings win was a wanted jolt of vitality). Over that time-frame, their offense was backside third in a number of classes, together with residence runs and stolen bases. The truth is, St. Louis swiped simply six bases in 26 video games. The results of all of it was simply 93 runs scored, fifth least in MLB over that month. It helped drop the Cardinals underneath .500 and much off the wild-card race. Add the third hardest remaining schedule of any crew down the stretch and a second consecutive yr lacking the playoffs may simply be within the playing cards for this storied franchise. — Rogers
Document: 62-65
Earlier rating: 19
The transfer to designate nearer Hector Neris for task earlier than his choice turns right into a participant one saves the Cubs $9 million for subsequent season. How will they spend it? It most likely will not be on the bullpen, which has righted the ship after a troublesome begin to the yr. For higher or worse, the Cubs consider in growing relievers, together with closers. That hasn’t at all times labored out for them. Both manner, they should discover a celebrity on offense. If Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is available on the market this winter, Chicago ought to pounce and be prepared to pay him the going charge for gamers who can produce a .900-plus OPS. — Rogers
Document: 62-65
Earlier rating: 18
Questions abound for the Reds as they head down the stretch of a disappointing season. Do they run all of it again once more subsequent yr, hoping for higher well being? Is supervisor David Bell on the new seat? The place do the fixes come from if not from inside? Their issues have largely come on the plate, the place they’re league common in scoring. The center of their order — exterior of Elly De La Cruz — merely hasn’t carried out as much as expectations, but it surely’s nonetheless a younger crew that would take that proverbial subsequent the 1st step yr later than anticipated. It is not remarkable. The Reds have a really promising beginning employees, anchored by Hunter Greene. He simply went on the IL as did Jeimer Candelario. It has been that form of yr in Cincinnati. — Rogers
Document: 62-65
Earlier rating: 23
Javier Baez was welcomed with a personalised nameplate atop his locker when he returned to Wrigley Area earlier this week, his first cease there since being traded in the summertime of 2021. A standing ovation greeted him later when he got here to bat. Baez’s numbers have fallen off dramatically lately, however he’s nonetheless clearly adored in Chicago. When the Cubs sequence concludes, the plan is for Baez to take a step again from his function because the Tigers’ on a regular basis shortstop. Tigers supervisor A.J. Hinch mentioned the crew needs to see what it has in its youthful gamers down the stretch — significantly Trey Sweeney, who came to visit from the Dodgers within the Jack Flaherty commerce. Complicating issues, after all, is the truth that Baez continues to be signed by 2027. — Gonzalez
Document: 59-69
Earlier rating: 21
The Rangers could get a glimpse at Jacob deGrom in a giant league uniform earlier than the tip of the season, although the dream state of affairs of the ace righty becoming a member of a late-season push just isn’t going to come back to go. Nonetheless, it is likely to be reassuring for the membership, to not point out its followers, to see the two-time Cy Younger winner in motion as everybody in Arlington begins to sit up for 2025. DeGrom is slated to make his first rehab outing on Thursday for Double-A Frisco. Paradoxically, Max Scherzer (shoulder) is reportedly scheduled to comply with deGrom with a rehab outing for Frisco on Friday. That may imply the RoughRiders may have gotten a have a look at a one-two deGrom-Scherzer rotation earlier than the Rangers, as Scherzer joined Texas final yr after deGrom had already hit the IL. — Doolittle
Document: 59-68
Earlier rating: 24
Bear in mind when Toronto tried convincing Shohei Ohtani to signal north of the border? That looks like ceaselessly in the past, however Chris Bassitt hasn’t forgotten. The veteran beginning pitcher shared on “The Chris Rose Rotation” podcast this week that he believes the entrance workplace’s incapability to “pivot” to signal one other “elite participant” in free company as soon as Ohtani selected the Dodgers is a big purpose for the Blue Jays’ struggles this season. He lamented the dearth of lineup safety for Vladimir Guerrero Jr — the Blue Jays’ solely All-Star this season — whereas pointing to contenders that includes “three or 4” stars. He later clarified that his candid feedback weren’t “a knock” on the Blue Jays. He additionally wasn’t essentially fallacious. — Castillo
Document: 59-67
Earlier rating: 22
A current 10-game dropping streak sunk any probability the Pirates had of stealing a wild-card berth, or even perhaps simply ending out of the cellar within the NL Central. Getting swept twice by the Padres within the span of eight days harm as a lot as something. The Pirates did not significantly pitch or hit effectively, alternating between giving up too many runs — after they themselves scored sufficient to win — in some video games and never scoring sufficient within the lower-scoring losses. 5 of the ten defeats had been by a single run, including heartbreak to their worst stretch of the season. Pittsburgh says it has no plans to close Paul Skenes down, however that would change the farther from the race the crew lands. — Rogers
Document: 57-70
Earlier rating: 25
James Wooden continues to impress in his first month-plus within the majors — and he lastly pulled a fly ball, hitting a 417-foot residence run off the Phillies’ Jeff Hoffman into right-center off a fastball. The one double he pulled was a delicate line drive into right-center subject, so his incapability to this point to drag the ball within the air is definitely … attention-grabbing. Normally, he is nonetheless studying to elevate the ball (common launch angle of simply three levels), which can hopefully include expertise so he can faucet into his uncooked energy. He has above-average bat pace and glorious plate self-discipline, so the instruments are clearly there, however he’ll need to be taught to drag the ball to develop into an elite slugger. — Schoenfield
Document: 54-73
Earlier rating: 26
Oakland’s post-trade deadline rotation has featured a few better-than-average Joes recently. Rookies Joe Boyle and Joey Estes have each posted sterling outings for a membership whose run prevention has improved markedly throughout the second half of the season. Boyle tossed six shutout innings in opposition to the Rays on Monday, the very best outing of his fledgling profession. Boyle’s four-seamer averaged 98.9 mph in that contest and touched 100.7. In the meantime, Estes adopted Boyle in opposition to Tampa Bay the following night time and threw 7⅔ innings, permitting solely a solo homer to Jose Siri that proved to be the sport’s solely run. — Doolittle
Document: 54-73
Earlier rating: 27
The Angels personal a lone World Collection title throughout their 64 seasons however the franchise has not often bottomed out. The franchise file for losses is a not-so-horrible 95, set in 1968 and tied in 1980. It’s the solely lively franchise with out a 100-loss season and it actually hasn’t come that shut. That should not change in 2024 however … you by no means know. With the Angels remaining steadily chilly over the second half of the season, a late collapse might put the franchise into uncharted (and undesirable) territory. It actually must be a collapse: The Angels solely have to go 9-27 to keep away from 100 losses. Nonetheless, in addition they have to go 14-22 to keep away from a minimum of matching the membership file for defeats, which might be set with a doable 12-24 end. It has been an extended season. — Doolittle
Document: 47-80
Earlier rating: 29
It was a mere 13 months in the past that Elias Diaz was named MVP of the All-Star Sport. Final week, the Rockies positioned their catcher on outright waivers, ridding themselves of him in his lead-up to free company. Diaz was not too long ago seen as considered one of few vibrant spots for the Rockies. However he is 33 years previous and his energy numbers are manner down this season. Having slipped by waivers, Diaz is now a free agent. A crew just like the Giants, who not too long ago misplaced Patrick Bailey to an indirect harm, might make sense for him. With Diaz out, the Rockies will spend these subsequent few weeks seeing what they’ve in Drew Romo, the thirty fifth general select of highschool in 2020. — Gonzalez
Document: 46-81
Earlier rating: 28
The Marlins’ rotation is on tempo for its fourth month with an ERA over 5.00 — solely in Could (4.30) did it get underneath that mark. Not surprisingly, Miami ranks final within the majors in FanGraphs rotation WAR (after rating ninth in 2023). Not solely that however this additionally has an opportunity to be the worst Marlins rotation in franchise historical past. This yr’s group sits at 2.4 fWAR, just under the two.8 from the 1998 crew, which dealt most of its notable gamers and misplaced 108 video games a yr after profitable the World Collection. Clearly, accidents are the primary purpose for the 2024 catastrophe, however it will even be good to get some outcomes from Edward Cabrera and Max Meyer down the stretch. — Schoenfield
Document: 31-97
Earlier rating: 30
The file tempo is alive! Chicago is trending towards breaking the all-time file for losses in a 162-game season, however an upcoming 10-game homestand is likely to be the tonic it wants. Having mentioned that, the Tigers, Rangers and Mets aren’t precisely pushovers regardless of the primary two groups being underneath .500. Nobody is a pushover relating to the White Sox, who’re 3-8 underneath interim supervisor Grady Sizemore. September is a brutal month for them schedule-wise, so if they do not decide up a bunch wins in these 10 video games, the White Sox might be gazing historical past — and never the great variety. — Rogers