We’re all the way down to the ultimate days of the 2024 common season — and there are nonetheless fairly a number of groups which have one thing to play for.
Which golf equipment will get to maintain taking part in into October, and which can watch their playoff aspirations come to an finish?
There are nonetheless two wild-card spots accessible in every the American League and Nationwide League, with loads of intrigue surrounding them. The Mets and Braves — two of three squads vying for these spots within the NL — will probably face off in a doubleheader Monday with a postseason berth on the road after the last two video games of their midweek sequence have been postponed by climate. In the meantime, the Padres and Dodgers are taking part in a last recreation with the division title nonetheless up for grabs, although L.A. can safe it with a win. And the Tigers?! What a late-season surge into competition — however can they maintain on to their wild-card spot within the AL?
Our skilled panel has mixed to rank each group primarily based on a mix of what we have seen thus far and what we already knew going into the 162-game marathon that could be a full baseball season. We additionally requested ESPN MLB specialists David Schoenfield, Bradford Doolittle, Jesse Rogers, Alden Gonzalez and Jorge Castillo to weigh in with an remark for all 30 groups.
Week 25 | Second-half preview | Preseason rankings
Document: 94-65
Earlier rating: 1
The Phillies celebrated their first NL East title since 2011 with a 6-2 win over the Cubs at dwelling Monday as Aaron Nola gained his thirteenth recreation and Kyle Schwarber slugged his thirty seventh dwelling run. “OK, nonetheless bought some work to do,” supervisor Rob Thomson stated within the clubhouse because the beer and champagne kicked off. “However we need to get that bye. That is essential.” The Phillies are nonetheless battling the Dodgers for the highest seed within the NL and maintain the tiebreaker by advantage of a 5-1 season sequence win, so all they should do is end with the identical document to safe the 1-seed. — Schoenfield
Document: 94-64
Earlier rating: 2
The Dodgers ought to quickly clinch the division and a first-round bye. And although skipping the wild-card spherical has led to swift elimination within the ensuing division sequence the previous two years, there is a sense across the group that the Dodgers particularly want the day without work this yr. Their starting-pitching scenario is that dicey.
With Tyler Glasnow and Gavin Stone out, Clayton Kershaw nonetheless on the mend — he is at present “in a holding sample,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated Tuesday — and Bobby Miller within the minor leagues, it appears like their October rotation shall be Jack Flaherty, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Walker Buehler and 27-year-old rookie Landon Knack. All 4 carry various levels of concern. The Dodgers will most likely want some contemporary relievers. — Gonzalez
Document: 92-66
Earlier rating: 3
Aaron Decide‘s 2024 season shall be remembered as one of many biggest offensive performances in historical past. The AL MVP front-runner leads the majors in dwelling runs, RBIs, walks, intentional walks, on-base proportion, slugging proportion, OPS, OPS+, wRC+, fWAR and bWAR. Now we have not seen this stage of manufacturing since Barry Bonds in 2004. However these numbers get wiped away subsequent week.
Solely the burden of expectations these statistics created will stay, and up to date Octobers haven’t been form to Decide. He’s 10-for-70 (.143) with 5 dwelling runs, six walks and 25 strikeouts over his previous three postseasons. In 2022, the final time the Yankees reached the playoffs, he went 5-for-36 with 15 strikeouts in 9 video games after setting the AL document for dwelling runs in a season. That included a 1-for-16 efficiency — and rounds of boos at Yankee Stadium — within the ALCS in opposition to the Astros. The strain shall be on Decide to ship in October and carry the Yankees to their first World Sequence since 2009. — Castillo
Document: 91-67
Earlier rating: 5
There is a feeling across the Padres that this season — coming off the loss of life of their beloved, free-spending proprietor Peter Seidler in November — has some serendipity to it. It was confirmed as soon as once more Tuesday night time, after they clinched a playoff spot by ending a recreation, preserving a two-run lead and leaving Shohei Ohtani within the on-deck circle, with a triple play. It was simply the third game-ending triple play of the wild-card period and the primary ever to clinch a playoff spot. With it, the Padres improved to a serious league-best 41-17 for the reason that All-Star break. Their lineup is buzzing, their rotation is dominating, and their bullpen is shortening video games. Mentioned Padres basic supervisor A.J. Preller: “We really feel like we’re as harmful as anyone.” — Gonzalez
Document: 90-68
Earlier rating: 4
The Brewers took a second to have fun one other division title — whereas shedding three of 4 to Arizona final weekend — however then bought again to the work of making ready for the postseason. They may luck out contemplating the Mets and Braves must play a doubleheader Monday upfront of the wild-card spherical starting Tuesday. There is a good probability Milwaukee will play the group that emerges victorious from that, giving it an enormous pitching benefit. The Brewers aren’t prone to earn a bye this weekend, however two groups battling out for the suitable to play them in Spherical 1 is the following smartest thing. — Rogers
Document: 92-67
Earlier rating: 6
The Guardians clinched their second AL Central title in three years and twelfth general on Saturday — after which clinched a first-round bye with Tuesday’s win over the Reds. They did it with out ace Shane Bieber, who went down after two begins. They did it with out key relievers Trevor Stephan and James Karinchak, who each missed your entire season. They did it with out future Corridor of Fame supervisor Terry Francona, as Stephen Vogt stepped into these large sneakers.
As a substitute, they did it with Jose Ramirez, who’s closing in on a 40-40 season and one other excessive end within the MVP voting (let’s name him a future Corridor of Famer, too). They did it with Josh Naylor becoming a member of Ramirez within the 100-RBI membership, Steven Kwan‘s All-Star first half, nearer Emmanuel Clase and the bullpen’s dominant season, and a number of well timed hitting. On to October. — Schoenfield
Document: 86-73
Earlier rating: 8
The Astros’ turnaround from a gradual begin was accomplished Tuesday when a win over Seattle clinched their fourth straight AL West title and eighth straight playoff berth. The win additionally locked the Astros into the AL’s 3-seed, and as they wait to see who they will face within the wild-card spherical, they’ll shift again into fear mode due to the problematic knee of star slugger Yordan Alvarez. Alvarez has already appeared in a career-high 147 video games, however a sprained knee now appears prone to minimize his common season brief. His final look was Sept. 22, and the timeline for his return is unclear, although the probabilities embody being accessible on the outset of the postseason. Nonetheless, if Alvarez is not fairly prepared by subsequent week, Houston’s slumberous begin may need come again to chew it, as a result of it certain might use the additional day without work. — Doolittle
Document: 88-71
Earlier rating: 7
The D-backs are an ideal instance of how shortly issues can nonetheless change within the standings. On Saturday night time, they gained for the thirty eighth time in 58 video games throughout the second half, giving them a three-game cushion within the wild-card race. They proceeded to lose three in a row, trimming their benefit to solely half a recreation earlier than capturing a much-needed victory on Wednesday. Now their season will come all the way down to a weekend dwelling sequence in opposition to the division-rival Padres, homeowners of the perfect second-half document in baseball. After an 11-0 loss to the lowly Giants on Tuesday, D-backs supervisor Torey Lovullo reportedly held a group assembly and tried to mild a fireplace underneath his gamers. “We have got to play higher baseball,” he advised the media thereafter. “We have got to play extra targeted baseball.” — Gonzalez
Document: 88-70
Earlier rating: 9
Dangerous harm luck has been a theme for Baltimore this season, however the tide has turned in current days. Zach Eflin (shoulder), Ramon Urias (ankle), Heston Kjerstad (concussion), Jacob Webb (elbow), Ryan Mountcastle (wrist), Danny Coulombe (elbow) and Jordan Westburg (hand) have all been reinstated from the injured record over the previous two weeks. Their returns make the Orioles as complete as they have been for the reason that starting of the summer season. Simply not as complete as that they had hoped. Grayson Rodríguez was anticipated to hitch the reinforcements — and bolster a shorthanded beginning rotation — earlier than the top of the common season, however that does not seem possible as a result of the right-hander nonetheless has not confronted hitters since occurring the IL with a proper lat pressure on Aug. 7. His absence would depart Baltimore with out a clear Sport 3 starter behind Corbin Burnes and Eflin. — Castillo
Document: 87-70
Earlier rating: 10
The Mets took three out of 4 in opposition to Philadelphia over the weekend to set themselves up for the massive last highway journey to Atlanta and Milwaukee, though that started with a 5-1 loss to the Braves on Tuesday, dropping New York’s lead over the Braves to at least one recreation. Due to rainouts, the Mets must wait to complete that sequence till Monday, the day after the common season technically ends. In the meantime, Francisco Lindor has had only one at-bat since Sept. 13 as he battles a again harm, regardless of his hoping to get into the remainder of the Atlanta sequence. Luisangel Acuna has managed to fill in properly, hitting .375/.394/.781 with three dwelling runs and 6 RBIs in his first 10 MLB video games. Nonetheless, getting Lindor again for the postseason — assuming the Mets maintain on to get there — stays paramount to their possibilities. — Schoenfield
Document: 86-71
Earlier rating: 12
Trying up on the Mets and Diamondbacks within the wild-card race, Tuesday’s recreation in opposition to the Mets appeared like a must-win recreation, and the Braves delivered a 5-1 victory as Michael Harris II homered and doubled for his fifth straight multihit recreation and Spencer Schwellenbach tossed seven nice innings for his eighth win (not dangerous for a pitcher who started the season in Excessive-A). With each Wednesday’s and Thursday’s video games rained out, the Mets are scheduled to return to Atlanta for a doubleheader on Monday with and a attainable playoff spot on the road. (Although, there’s a probability the doubleheader wouldn’t be wanted if the playoff race is settled by Sunday.) — Schoenfield
Document: 84-74
Earlier rating: 13
The potential completion to Tarik Skubal‘s eventual Cy Younger season was a definitive one: seven scoreless innings in opposition to the Rays on Tuesday, culminating in a strikeout to safe his 18th win, drop his ERA to 2.39 and hold the surging Tigers on the suitable facet of the wild-card standings with a 3rd straight victory. Detroit has gained 13 of its final 16 video games and can end its common season with three video games in opposition to a White Sox group that’s on the verge of setting the document for losses in a season. If the Tigers want Skubal to pitch within the regular-season finale Sunday, he’ll be prepared. If not, he’ll take the ball for Sport 1 of the wild-card spherical. “This is the reason you play the sport,” Skubal advised reporters, “to play in moments like this.” — Gonzalez
Document: 84-74
Earlier rating: 11
The Royals have a number of treasured remaining days within the 2024 season to outline their narrative as both of a shocking rise or one in all an much more beautiful plummet. The important thing to the comfortable model of this story might be clutch hitting. For practically your entire marketing campaign, Kansas Metropolis’s elite numbers with runners in scoring place have helped clarify its push into competition. Since first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino went down Aug. 29, this fickle power has betrayed the Royals. At the moment, they led the majors with a .294 common with runners in scoring place. Since then, they’re final at beneath .200. — Doolittle
Document: 82-76
Earlier rating: 14
On Sept. 1, regardless of shedding 9 of 12 video games, the Twins have been sitting comfortably in a wild-card spot with a 4½-game cushion. That’s now not the case. They’re two video games out of a playoff spot with 4 video games remaining after dropping 14 of 23 video games in September. The offense has disappeared, scoring fewer than 5 runs in eight straight video games earlier than Wednesday’s 8-3 win over the Marlins, which additionally stopped a three-game skid. The bullpen has been vulnerable to implosions. The beginning rotation has been mediocre. All season, the Twins overcame accidents to necessary gamers — specifically Carlos Correa, Royce Lewis and Byron Buxton — to carry regular within the playoff image. They want wins and nice luck within the subsequent 4 days to keep away from being erased from it. — Castillo
Document: 82-77
Earlier rating: 15
Higher late than by no means? Or already too late? The Mariners can nonetheless make the playoffs, however a number of issues should break their means. Julio Rodriguez, for one, appears intent to make miracles occur. After floundering for months, the younger star has lastly morphed again into the participant many noticed because the potential face of baseball over the following decade. J-Rod’s major failing had been a puzzling lack of energy, resulting in an honest however empty batting common.
Nicely, in a 25-game span over the previous month, he is hitting .366/.407/625 with eight homers and has lifted his OPS from .660 to .736. Whereas it won’t be sufficient to get his group into the postseason, on the very least, this end may have Mariners followers feeling a lot better about their franchise participant heading into the winter. — Doolittle
Document: 81-78
Earlier rating: 16
The Cubs are testing the waters with some call-ups within the last days of the common season. They want an account of what precisely they’ve heading into the offseason. This winter could possibly be the suitable time for a mammoth commerce from their prospect group to be able to purchase a real star: Suppose Vladimir Guerrero Jr., if he is accessible, or a pitcher of the identical caliber. In any other case, the Cubs may be caught in the course of the pack. They are a good group, however their place participant group shall be a yr older — a number of turned 30 this season — so the group must make some daring selections. Chicago hasn’t made the postseason in a full yr since 2018 — that needs to be the driving drive between now and subsequent April. — Rogers
Document: 80-79
Earlier rating: 17
If all goes as deliberate, the Purple Sox may have 4 premier prospects make their main league debuts subsequent season. Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, Kristian Campbell and Kyle Teel, all considered top-25 prospects, completed 2024 in Triple-A, although Mayer did not play after his promotion. It is an proprietor’s dream: 4 proficient, younger and inexpensive contributors underneath membership management for the following six years (a minimum of). As of now, they’d be part of a place participant group headlined by All-Star Sport MVP Jarren Duran, three-time All-Star Rafael Devers, 2024 AL Rookie of the Yr candidate Wilyer Abreu and slugger Triston Casas.
The issue? Not one of the 4 prospects are pitchers. Boston should tackle its pitching workers — each the rotation and bullpen — this winter if it desires to compete within the loaded AL East after three straight seasons with out a playoff look. That might imply buying and selling from the place gamers already within the large leagues or those coming by the pipeline. — Castillo
Document: 81-77
Earlier rating: 18
What is going on to occur to Paul Goldschmidt? A spring extension by no means materialized, and now he is ending off arguably the worst yr of his profession. At 36 years outdated, it isn’t stunning that he may be slowing down, however he most likely nonetheless has an excellent yr or two left in him. He is not that far faraway from being a dominant hitter, successful NL MVP as just lately as 2022. The excellent news is Goldy can nonetheless hit a fastball — he simply did not barrel up off-speed stuff this season like he has up to now. A reset with a brand new group may be so as. — Rogers
Document: 79-80
Earlier rating: 21
Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi outlined the group’s offseason blueprint to beat reporters just lately, expressing a need to amass a shortstop; carry again frontline starter Blake Snell, who appears sure to choose out; and never block the trail of 19-year-old high prospect Bryce Eldridge at first base. Zaidi additionally acknowledged, after a fifth playoff absence in his six years atop baseball operations, that he won’t be the one making these selections. “It is my job to guage all the things in my purview, and it is their job to guage all the things in my purview plus me,” Zaidi, referencing the Giants’ possession group, advised native reporters. “And so I believe that course of is going on, and I perceive it.” — Gonzalez
Document: 78-80
Earlier rating: 19
The Rays, although mathematically alive within the wild-card race, will miss the postseason after 5 consecutive appearances. There’s an opportunity they will end underneath .500 for the primary time since 2016. Nevertheless, their monitor document — and projected 2025 roster — suggests it will be a one-year blip. The inspiration for this yr’s falloff was the spate of accidents to their beginning pitchers. Shane McClanahan, an All-Star the previous two seasons, did not pitch in any respect after present process Tommy John surgical procedure final yr. Jeffrey Springs, Shane Baz, Drew Rasmussen, Ryan Pepiot and Taj Bradley all missed chunks of time. Zack Littell, who had by no means made greater than 14 begins in a season, leads the group with 28.
Assuming these gamers are wholesome, the Rays ought to have one of many strongest rotations in baseball with out making any offseason additions. Issue of their perennially elite bullpen plus a stable place participant core, buoyed by high prospect Junior Caminero in his first full large league season, and the Rays ought to return to playoff competition in 2025. — Castillo
Document: 76-83
Earlier rating: 20
The Reds’ managerial search is starting in earnest after the group dismissed David Bell after a lackluster season. That they had excessive hopes for 2024, and certain will once more subsequent yr, however hiring the suitable candidate to carry out the perfect of their younger group is paramount. A veteran supervisor might be the suitable transfer — there are loads on the market with expertise — however the roster needs to be augmented as nicely. Cincinnati does not all the time dip an excessive amount of into free company however may need to assume larger if it desires to take the following step. A revered supervisor mixed with a big-name addition on the mound might get the Reds nearer to the place they need to be. — Rogers
Document: 75-83
Earlier rating: 22
If there may be one factor that the Rangers may like to see earlier than the season winds down, it is Justin Foscue stringing collectively a number of hits. Further-base hits could be further good. Foscue mashed his means by the minors with a .278/.388/.499 slash line, primarily as a second baseman. At 25 years outdated, an age at which high prospects have to be transitioning to the majors, Foscue started working at first base in spring coaching and performed there ceaselessly all through the season. He has principally been a chosen hitter throughout three totally different stints within the majors this yr.
And whereas he has a bat that should play anyplace, he has put up numbers that will not play, interval. Foscue began his large league profession by going 2-for-38 with a lone extra-base hit (a double). On the brilliant facet, the pattern is tiny and he needs to be advantageous in the long term. Nonetheless, it would assist solidify Texas’ plan for 2025 if he rang up a number of hits to finish the season. — Doolittle
Document: 74-85
Earlier rating: 23
Bo Bichette‘s maddening 2024 season concluded in merciless trend final week when he fractured his proper center finger taking floor balls pregame after getting back from practically a two-month absence. Will that be the top of his Blue Jays profession? That is one in all a number of questions in Toronto heading into the offseason. Rumors concerning the group’s willingness to commerce the shortstop started swirling final winter earlier than his twenty sixth birthday, as he had two years of membership management remaining. However Bichette was coming off his second All-Star season and batting .306 with 20 dwelling runs and an .814 OPS.
This time, the Blue Jays could be dealing low after Bichette slashed .225/.277/.322 with 4 dwelling runs in 81 video games. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., their different franchise cornerstone, can be one yr away from free company and ending up one other big season. Do they commerce him along with his worth as excessive because it’s ever going to be? Or do they attempt to prolong and construct round him? Toronto has some necessary selections to make. — Castillo
Document: 74-84
Earlier rating: 24
If the Pirates have been keen to take dramatic motion — chopping infielder Rowdy Tellez — to save lots of $200,000, then what does that say about their upcoming offseason? They’ve been as frugal as any group within the sport, however with Paul Skenes and Jared Jones in tow, there was a sense they’d transfer shortly to construct round their two energy arms. Maybe they nonetheless will, however they misplaced the general public relations battle this week to be able to save a couple of dollars, which is rarely an excellent look to followers. Actions converse louder than phrases, so it doesn’t matter what Pirates executives say about Tellez, or something actually, the winter would be the story of whether or not Pittsburgh will ever be critical about successful once more. — Rogers
Document: 68-90
Earlier rating: 25
Thursday is it for the Oakland Athletics. Yet one more tilt in opposition to the Rangers and the A’s then head out for a season-ending sequence at Seattle. In some unspecified time in the future after that, they will merely be referred to as the Vagabond Athletics (not an official moniker, however as a result of the group is punting on adopting a brand new metropolis label, we get to fill within the blanks). One sensible level for constructing towards subsequent season is determining how their momentary dwelling in Sacramento will play. For what it is value, Sutter Well being Park has usually performed as a pitching-friendly venue that is robust for dwelling run hitters. In different phrases, it would play just like the park the Athletics are leaving. Nonetheless, figuring out that may impression how they form their subsequent few rosters. — Doolittle
Document: 69-89
Earlier rating: 26
The Nationals despatched All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams to Triple-A over the weekend with what supervisor Dave Martinez termed an “inside problem,” however experiences surfaced that Abrams had been out at an area Chicago on line casino, leaving solely hours earlier than a 1 p.m. recreation that afternoon. Abrams made the All-Star group this season after hitting .268 with an .831 OPS within the first half, however he slumped to .203 with a .586 OPS within the second half. Abrams clearly stays a giant a part of the Nationals’ future, however apart from maturity points, the membership should decide if that is going to be at shortstop. Through Statcast’s outs above common, he was the worst shortstop within the recreation in 2024 (first percentile, 18 outs beneath common). — Schoenfield
Document: 63-95
Earlier rating: 27
Maybe the Angels’ greatest offseason determination is figuring out what position, if any, Anthony Rendon may have going ahead. Given the head-slapping $77 million he has coming his means for the following two seasons, it is all however sure he’ll be penciled in as their 2025 third baseman. The cash is a sunk price it doesn’t matter what occurs, and if the Halos are intent on constructing a win-now group round Mike Trout, they cannot afford to have an on a regular basis third baseman who slugs .267 — if he is on the sphere in any respect. And with prospect Christian Moore rising quick, they may have choices on the infield. Likelihood is, Rendon shall be again, however possibly the Angels’ finest plan is to construct the roster as if he weren’t. — Doolittle
Document: 60-98
Earlier rating: 28
A weekend dwelling sequence in opposition to the Dodgers will mark the top of Charlie Blackmon‘s profession. The lifelong Rockie introduced Tuesday that he will retire on the common season’s conclusion, ending a profession that spanned 14 seasons, included 4 journeys to the All-Star Sport and was constructed on unrelenting willpower. Fittingly, former teammate Nolan Arenado was there to observe him tackle the media. Blackmon’s prime coincided with a quick interval when the Rockies — additionally led by the likes of Arenado, Trevor Story, D.J. LeMahieu, Kyle Freeland and German Marquez — have been in a position to break by to the playoffs. Now they’re hoping to simply barely keep away from a second consecutive 100-loss season. It is a new chapter, certainly. — Gonzalez
Document: 58-100
Earlier rating: 29
With a 100-loss season on the ledger for 2024, the Marlins have now misplaced a minimum of 93 video games in 5 of the previous six full seasons, squeezing in playoff seasons in 2020 (31-29) and 2023 (84-78). Step one of the offseason shall be changing supervisor Skip Schumaker, who gained NL Supervisor of the Yr in 2023 however does not have a contract for 2025 (each side agreed final offseason to void a membership choice for 2025). The subsequent step shall be trying to evaluate the well being of all their pitcher accidents this season and what meaning for subsequent yr. Sixto Sanchez did make a one-inning rehab look in Triple-A, however Braxton Garrett had a setback after a current bullpen session. Sandy Alcantara needs to be prepared for spring coaching, and we’ll see about Jesus Luzardo. Eury Perez will nonetheless be recovering from Tommy John surgical procedure. — Schoenfield
Document: 38-120
Earlier rating: 30
Getting previous their historic season of shedding, the White Sox have some enterprise to take care of within the type of a brand new supervisor. GM Chris Getz reversed course this week, stating that interim supervisor Grady Sizemore would get the chance to remain on — however he is removed from the favourite. Getz desires an skilled in participant growth, and that candidate might come from anyplace within the majors. He’ll interview candidates starting subsequent month whereas additionally studying what different organizations do nicely. Chicago might study so much from its opponents within the AL Central, all of whom have small payrolls however nice success at discovering and creating expertise. — Rogers