The Dodgers have punched their ticket to the National League West title and are closing in on a first-round playoff bye, but a growing list of injuries — starting with Shohei Ohtani — has cast doubt over how far the team can go in October. Los Angeles has won 12 of its last 15 games to lock up the division, ranking second in this week’s power rankings of all 30 MLB teams.
The Milwaukee Brewers hold the top spot for the second straight year, chasing baseball’s best regular-season record. Whether that translates into playoff success may hinge on their pitching depth behind ace Jacob Misiorowski. Right now, rookie Logan Henderson is the only other Brewers starter with an ERA under 4.00.
The Tampa Bay Rays climbed to third after ripping off six straight wins, cementing their case as the American League’s top regular-season team. The Atlanta Braves, in fourth, are on the verge of clinching the NL East but remain something of a wild card in the playoff picture, with a lineup that swings between hot and cold and a pitching staff that leans heavily on Chris Sale.
The New York Yankees dropped to fifth after Aaron Judge landed back on the injured list, throwing his playoff availability into question. Judge had struggled in his seven games back before the setback, going 4-for-23. If he’s limited or unavailable in October, it could seriously hurt New York’s championship hopes.
Wild-card scramble tightens
The Boston Red Sox have all but secured a wild-card round matchup with the Yankees and are settling in for the stretch run. The San Diego Padres have surged into a three-way tie with the Cubs and Phillies atop the NL wild-card standings after an 11-1 tear, putting them in position for a coveted home wild-card series.
The Chicago Cubs, meanwhile, have cooled off with a 4-7 slide that could force them onto the road in the wild-card round. The Philadelphia Phillies are hoping starter Jesus Luzardo, currently on the injured list, can return for the postseason. Without him, Philadelphia would lean on Cristopher Sánchez, whose ERA has climbed above 5.00 over the last month, Zack Wheeler, and Aaron Nola, who has posted a 2.10 ERA over his last 10 starts after a rough stretch dating back to 2025.
The Cleveland Guardians are making another late push, winning nine of their last 14 games to move toward a third straight AL Central title. The Chicago White Sox, by contrast, have stumbled badly — losing a key series to the Guardians and then blowing a six-run lead to the Tigers — and now lead the final AL wild-card spot by just 1 ½ games.
The AL West remains a muddle, with a combined run differential of minus-436 across the division. The Houston Astros built a three-game lead a week ago but have since lost five of seven, while the Texas Rangers have surged back into a tie for first thanks in part to Corey Seager’s resurgent September.
Notable storylines around the league
The Washington Nationals signed pitcher Cade Cavalli, 28, to a four-year, $47 million extension this week after a 12-win, 3.12-ERA season. Seattle’s Cal Raleigh has caught fire with an OPS over .850 in his last 42 games, though it may be too late to save the Mariners’ season. Veteran closer Kenley Jansen sits at 497 career saves and hopes to reach 500 before the offseason.
Athletics prospect Ryan Lasko, paralyzed in an outfield collision with a teammate in June, was released from the hospital this week to continue his recovery. The Colorado Rockies are on the verge of a fourth straight 100-loss season, which would tie an MLB record.
Awards races to watch
In the American League MVP race, Houston’s Yordan Alvarez leads the majors in hitting with a .312 average, 40 home runs, 99 RBIs and a 1.031 OPS, and remains in the hunt for a triple crown. Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero, batting .277 with 41 home runs, 94 RBIs and an .897 OPS, trails Alvarez by more than 100 points in OPS but has played every game at third base, giving him a defensive case Alvarez lacks as a designated hitter.
Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler has emerged as a top Cy Young contender, posting a 14-6 record with a 1.95 ERA and 228 strikeouts over 184 ⅔ innings, trailing only Alvarez and Bobby Witt Jr. in combined WAR in the American League.
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