The crack of the bat. Balls soaring into or – over – the stands. The smell of ballpark hot dogs. Cheers erupting from the crowd as a runner stomps third base on his way to home plate. America’s favorite pastime, Major League Baseball (MLB), is back. So, how do the MLB’s 30 teams stack up a quarter of the way through 2025 season, and who’s expected to make a serious bid for a World Series title? Check out the MLB Power Rankings below to find out.
Will the Dodgers defend their World Series title? Will the New York Yankees look for revenge? Or will another team step up to the plate and set off on a championship run? The only way to find out is to pick up a few boxes of Cracker Jacks and tune in to MLB on DIRECTV.
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Meanwhile, let’s take a look at an overview of recent 2025 MLB Power Rankings to see how the season is shaking out, starting with …
The Top of the Field
Superstar talent, World Series wins and stellar win/loss records put these five teams toward the top of the odds. Read more about each team’s chances below.
1. Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers didn’t crack the top 10 of most power rankings prior to Opening Day, but boy have they surged since then. The Tigers now top our list, thanks in no small part to their dominant bullpen, strong pitching from Tarik Skubal and bounce-back seasons from key players like Javier Baez and Gleyber Torres.
Right now, the Tigers hold the league’s best record.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers remain near the top of the power rankings heading a quarter of the way through the season. The reigning World Series champions, they’ve doubled down on the success they’ve seen from adding baseball’s premier superstar, Shohei Ohtani, by making more significant upgrades to their roster. Signing Blake Snell solidifies their rotation, while Hyeseong Kim and Michael Conforto bring versatility and power to their lineup.
The Dodgers also retained Teoscar Hernández and Blake Treinen from last year’s championship squad, and Ohtani’s expected return to pitching further bolsters their already dominant rotation. A team this stacked has every expectation of making another deep playoffs run, if not a repeat title, this season.
3. New York Mets
We were just a few games away from a Subway Series in the World Series last fall when the Mets were eliminated by the Dodgers. Now, they’re looking to avenge their loss — and they are well on the way there.
Juan Soto’s addition has paired perfectly with Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor and Jeff McNeil, making the Mets’ lineup one of the scariest in the sport. Owner Steve Cohen is certainly showing his willingness to spend and build a championship-caliber team. There are still some questions surrounding the team’s depth, but those have started to be silenced as they continue rising up the rankings.
4. San Diego Padres
The Padres had a quieter offseason compared to some of their competitors, but that’s alright: The team they had last season took them all the way to the NLDS, where they lost to, you guessed it, the Los Angeles Dodgers. But that series was the closest the Dodgers came to elimination in the postseason, and the Padres have retained much of the core roster that made that happen.
While they didn’t make many flashy moves heading into Spring Training, their existing talent and team chemistry make them a formidable opponent. We’ve seen that play out over two months of play, and the Padres seem poised to make another deep run in the postseason.
5. New York Yankees
No Soto? No problem. Though superstar Juan Soto left the team in free agency, the Yankees were particularly aggressive in their offseason moves to fill the void, signing Max Fried from the Atlanta Braves and plugging holes in their lineup with Cody Bellinger, Devin Williams and Paul Goldschmidt. And don’t forget: They’ve still got Aaron Judge in town.
Despite losing in a near-sweep at the hands of the Dodgers in the World Series last season, the Yankees are still hanging out near the top of the standings this season and seem highly likely to enjoy another trip to the postseason.
The Second Tier
The top five teams will almost certainly be running neck-and-neck for a spot in the World Series, but there are plenty of other teams with their eyes on the grand prize. Let’s see who’s next in the mix of MLB Power Rankings.
6. Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies were one of last season’s most dominant teams, recording more wins than any other team besides the Dodgers. Though their season ended in heartbreak in the NLDS against the New York Mets, Philly has only gotten stronger over the offseason, adding Max Kepler, Jesús Luzardo, Jordan Romano and Joe Ross enhance both their lineup and pitching staff.
These acquisitions complement the team’s strong veteran core, including stars Bryce Harper and Trea Turner. The Phillies’ balanced roster makes them serious contenders for the NL pennant, and their moves appear to be paying off at the quarter season mark.
7. Chicago Cubs
The Cubs are riding high on the arm of pitcher Pete Crow-Armstrong and the bat of Dansby Swanson, rising steadily up the league standings at 30-20 (as of May 23, 2025). Chicago’s offense has been the driving force behind its success, with the acquisition of outfielder Kyle Tucker providing an immediate impact. Watch out for this squad as we get deeper into the season.
8. Minnesota Twins
The Twins have risen to become one of the top American League teams thanks to a strong, consistent pitching staff and a lineup that has only become more reliable as the season progresses. Their rotation continues to deliver quality starts, and the offense is showing improved balance, with timely hitting in close games.
Minnesota’s ability to avoid prolonged slumps and win tight contests has kept them in the playoff picture. If they can continue to get steady production from both the mound and the lineup, the Twins will be a serious postseason contender.
9. San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants have been one of the surprise teams in the 2025 MLB season, currently holding a strong 29-21 record and sitting in second place in the competitive NL West, just two games behind the division-leading Dodgers. Their success is built primarily on a strong pitching staff, which continues to be the backbone of the team. However, the Giants’ offense has also shown notable improvement compared to previous years, helping to sustain their winning pace.
10. Seattle Mariners
Seattle’s success has been built on a reliable starting rotation and a lineup that is finally clicking. The Mariners’ defense is among the league’s best, and their bullpen has been effective at holding leads.
With strong pitching and improved offensive consistency, the Mariners are positioned as serious AL West contenders and could make a deep postseason run if they maintain their current form.
The Rest of the Pack
As for the rest of the MLB’s hopefuls, here’s how things are currently stacking up:
11. Arizona Diamondbacks
12. St. Louis Cardinals
13. Houston Astros
14. Toronto Blue Jays
15. Tampa Bay Rays
16. Atlanta Braves
17. Texas Rangers
18. Milwaukee Brewers
19. Kansas City Royals
20. Boston Red Sox
21. Miami Marlins
22. Pittsburgh Pirates
23. Cincinnati Reds
24. Colorado Rockies
25. Los Angeles Angels
26. Washington Nationals
27. Baltimore Orioles
28. Athletics
29. Chicago White Sox
30. Cleveland Guardians
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which MLB team won the 2024 World Series?
The Los Angeles Dodgers won the 2024 World Series, nearly sweeping the New York Yankees (4-1).
Which teams are expected to perform at the top of the ranks for the 2025 MLB season?
According to a number of power ranking sources, the MLB teams most likely to make it all the way are the LA Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves
Which MLB team has jumped the most in the power rankings from 2024 to 2025?
The New York Mets rose multiple places across a number of MLB Power Rankings lists from 2024 to 2025.
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