MLB Power Rankings: Which teams are rising -- and falling -- in mid-September?

Almost halfway done September, the 2025 playoff representation is taking signifier -- but it mightiness not beryllium arsenic acceptable arsenic it seemed conscionable a mates of weeks ago.

No squad has secured a postseason berth oregon adjacent clinched a division, though a fig of contenders person much than a 99% accidental of making the playoffs. But races that seemed arsenic if they mightiness beryllium implicit astatine the extremity of August are heating up again.

The Giants, who person won 13 of their past 17 games, person closed the spread connected the Mets successful the National League wild-card contention and beryllium lone 2 games backmost of the 3rd spot, aft it seemed arsenic if San Francisco was retired of the contention wholly past month. The Rangers are connected a akin way successful the American League, conscionable 1½ games backmost of the Mariners for the last chaotic paper contempt having aggregate stars sidelined by injuries.

And determination besides are inactive a fewer breathtaking part races. The Yankees and Red Sox could inactive drawback Toronto successful the AL East, Seattle is lone 1 crippled backmost of Houston successful the AL West and the Dodgers and Padres stay locked successful a conflict successful the NL West.

What other mightiness the last weeks of the regular play bring?

Our adept sheet has ranked each squad based connected a operation of what we've seen truthful acold and what we already knew going into the 162-game marathon that is simply a afloat shot season. We besides asked ESPN MLB experts Jesse Rogers, Alden Gonzalez and David Schoenfield to measurement successful with an reflection for each 30 teams.

Week 23 | Second-half preview | Preseason rankings

1. Milwaukee Brewers

Record: 89-58
Previous ranking: 1

A bid nonaccomplishment to the Rangers this week won't dampen the spirits successful Milwaukee aft the Brewers' play roadworthy expanse of the Pirates. Pitching was the sanction of the crippled successful Pittsburgh arsenic the Brewers gave up a full of 5 runs successful the 3 games -- nary of which were started by apical pitcher Freddy Peralta. A steadfast Milwaukee rotation has a plethora of choices for the postseason from Quinn Priester to Brandon Woodruff to Jacob Misiorowski to Jose Quintana -- immoderate of whom could transportation aft Peralta. With a first-round bye that gets the Brewers consecutive to the part circular connected the horizon, they tin acceptable up their rotation immoderate mode they spot fit. -- Rogers

2. Philadelphia Phillies

Record: 86-60
Previous ranking: 2

Kyle Schwarber has reached the 50 location tally people successful a play for the archetypal clip successful his vocation and it couldn't person travel astatine a amended time, considering he's a escaped cause this winter. After signing a four-year, $79 cardinal woody with the Phillies erstwhile helium was 29 successful 2022, Schwarber is going to beryllium 1 of those uncommon guys who signs a bigger deal successful his early-to-mid 30s. He has shown nary signs of aging, arsenic evidenced by his astir productive years coming after turning 30 successful 2023. Schwarber is successful enactment for a declaration good implicit $100 million. -- Rogers

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