The race for baseball’s greatest report continues to be extremely shut — with six groups separated by simply two video games and no workforce on tempo for greater than 96 wins. The final time that occurred in a full season was 2007.
As MLB’s greatest golf equipment — the Dodgers, Yankees, Orioles, Guardians, Phillies and Brewers — battle for the highest spot, plenty of squads are already wanting in the 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 inconceivable to understand how these races will play out, but it surely makes for thrilling baseball!
Our professional panel has mixed to rank each workforce primarily based on a mixture of what we have seen up to now 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 commentary for all 30 groups.
Week 20 | Second-half preview | Preseason rankings
File: 76-52Previous rating: 1
Mookie Betts made a stunning return to proper area upon being activated off the injured record, partly as a result of the Dodgers are a greater defensive workforce 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 because the 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 severe size to it once more. They’ve adopted a sub-.500 July by successful 13 of their first 19 video games this month, holding off the hard-charging Padres and D-backs within the Nationwide League West. — Gonzalez
File: 74-53Previous rating: 2
Clay Holmes did not permit an earned run over his first 20 appearances this season. He was, for seven weeks, the perfect nearer in baseball. Three months later, he may not be a better 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 aspect, however, as a floor ball pitcher, he is extra inclined to misfortune than most closers. — Castillo
File: 74-52Previous 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 in all probability only a blip and this might nonetheless be nearly as good as any bullpen within the sport, but it surely hasn’t pitched at that stage these days. — Schoenfield
File: 74-54Previous 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 turning into the fifth Orioles starter on the IL, becoming a member of John Means, Kyle Bradish, Tyler Wells and Grayson Rodriguez. Supervisor Brandon Hydge stated the workforce expects Eflin again in September, however any setback at this level within the calendar is alarming. — Castillo
File: 73-53Previous rating: 7
Editor’s Picks
2 Associated
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 outdoors of Freddy Peralta. The pitching workers had a heck of a run final week, giving up simply 12 runs over the course of a five-game successful streak — towards 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 tug 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
File: 73-53Previous rating: 5
It has been a sequence of streaks of late: that seven-game shedding skid adopted by a five-game successful streak adopted by a three-game sweep to the Brewers over the weekend, through 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 stored the sport going. With Clase reducing his ERA to 0.61, discuss him as a Cy Younger candidate has emerged, however he stays a protracted shot. Eric Gagne was the final reliever to win, again in 2003. Plus, you might have Tarik Skubal, who may win the pitching Triple Crown (wins, ERA, strikeouts). — Schoenfield
File: 72-56Previous rating: 8
Maybe no person embodies the spirit of this 12 months’s Padres higher than Jurickson Profar, who was signed off the proverbial scrap heap for a mere $1 million, made his first All-Star workforce and is at the moment having the season of his life, slashing .290/.387/.474 with 20 dwelling 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 workforce 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 workforce than final 12 months’s group — and Profar is the face of that. — Gonzalez
File: 72-56Previous rating: 6
The D-backs are at the moment with out three key hitters in Gabriel Moreno, Christian Walker and Ketel Marte, and but they boast a serious league-best .853 OPS because the 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 12 months 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 hunch in 2023 — has been one of many Diamondbacks’ most essential contributors. He is a giant cause why they’ve gained 23 of their previous 31 video games and look primed for a return to the postseason. — Gonzalez
File: 68-58Previous rating: 10
The Astros’ latest 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 Pink Sox together with his first game-ending homer on Monday, the second of three straight video games through which he went deep. For the reason that 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, every now and then, first base on days he isn’t behind the plate. — Doolittle
File: 71-56Previous rating: 11
The resilient Royals are contemporary off considered one of their most explosive weeks of the season. The spree featured a five-game successful 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
File: 71-56Previous rating: 9
MLB rest-of-season storylines, predictions
Who will dominate the homestretch? Here is what our MLB consultants are watching.
Prime rest-of-season storylines »
Celebrity predictions »
The Twins remaining within the AL Central title hunt is a testomony to their expertise as a result of their damage 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 dwelling runs in 41 video games earlier than the damage. The excellent news for the Twins is he might return as quickly as Friday. The unhealthy information is Correa, one of many workforce’s two All-Stars, nonetheless does 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
File: 67-59Previous rating: 14
Triston Casas returned to Boston’s lineup Friday after lacking almost 4 months with a rib damage — and he did not waste any time making an affect. The primary baseman is 8-for-23 with 4 walks in six video games. He delivered a two-run dwelling run in Tuesday’s 6-5 win over the Astros that included a four-hit effort from All-Star Jarren Duran. Dom Smith, who grew to become expendable with Casas’s reinstatement, was a serviceable fill-in at first base, however Casas is a possible sport changer. A wholesome Casas provides the Pink Sox one other elite energy supply alongside Rafael Devers. It is the type 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
File: 67-59Previous rating: 13
Austin Riley suffered a fractured hand after getting hit by a pitch on Sunday, an damage that would sideline him the remainder of the common season. The offense has been hitting properly 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 isn’t going to assist a lot. The pitching should carry Atlanta to the postseason. — Schoenfield
File: 66-61Previous rating: 15
Again when Francisco Lindor hit .197 in April, it was laborious 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 means of his age-30 season. Six of the seven forward of him are Corridor of Famers (and Alex Rodriguez is the eighth). — Schoenfield
File: 64-64Previous rating: 12
One other skid has the Mariners staring on the actuality {that a} sub-.500 report has turn into a extra seemingly final result for his or her 2024 season than a postseason look. As has been the case all season, the perpetrator continues to be an offense that wallowed in ineptitude all 12 months 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 workforce mark dipped to .216, which, if the season ended right now, can be tied for the fifth worst of the trendy period. The bottom of the low was .211 by the 1910 White Sox. — Doolittle
File: 65-64Previous rating: 16
Earlier than Wednesday’s ninth-inning blowup towards the lowly White Sox, solely two groups held a greater bullpen ERA than the Giants this month — the Rays and Astros. And although a number of the periphery stats aren’t 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 together with his ERA at 4.70. He’s anticipated to rejoin the workforce on its upcoming street journey, although his function remains to be to be decided. If he can recapture his dominance, maybe he might help the Giants stay in competition down the stretch. — Gonzalez
File: 64-62Previous rating: 20
ESPN ‘Sunday Evening Baseball’
Catch the largest names and the perfect groups in baseball on ESPN all season lengthy.
Sunday, 7 p.m. ET: Astros-Orioles
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 so far in Tampa Bay. It’s totally early — simply 15 video games — however the switch-hitting outfielder is slashing .267/.353/.489 with three dwelling runs in 51 plate appearances. That is after he batted .198 with a .515 OPS and 0 (0!) dwelling runs in 138 plate appearances for St. Louis this season. Carlson, as soon as a consensus top-30 prospect throughout baseball, is beneath contract by means of 2026. The Rays received 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 company that has thrived off them. — Castillo
File: 62-64Previous 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 evening, as properly, Wednesday’s walk-off extra-innings win was a wanted jolt of vitality). Over that timeframe, their offense was backside third in a number of classes, together with dwelling runs and stolen bases. In actual fact, 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 beneath .500 and much off the wild-card race. Add the third hardest remaining schedule of any workforce down the stretch and a second consecutive 12 months lacking the playoffs may simply be within the playing cards for this storied franchise. — Rogers
File: 62-65Previous 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 in all probability will not be on the bullpen, which has righted the ship after a troublesome begin to the 12 months. For higher or worse, the Cubs consider in growing relievers, together with closers. That hasn’t at all times labored out for them. Both means, they should discover a celebrity on offense. If Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is available on the market this winter, Chicago ought to pounce and be keen to pay him the going charge for gamers who can produce a .900-plus OPS. — Rogers
File: 62-65Previous 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 12 months, hoping for higher well being? Is supervisor David Bell on the recent seat? The place do the fixes come from if not from inside? Their issues have principally come on the plate, the place they’re league common in scoring. The center of their order — outdoors of Elly De La Cruz — merely hasn’t carried out as much as expectations, but it surely’s nonetheless a younger workforce that would take that proverbial subsequent the 1st step 12 months later than anticipated. It is not remarkable. The Reds have a really promising beginning workers, anchored by Hunter Greene. He simply went on the IL as did Jeimer Candelario. It has been that type of 12 months in Cincinnati. — Rogers
File: 62-65Previous 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 in recent times, 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 stated the workforce needs to see what it has in its youthful gamers down the stretch — significantly Trey Sweeney, who came visiting from the Dodgers within the Jack Flaherty commerce. Complicating issues, in fact, is the truth that Baez remains to be signed by means of 2027. — Gonzalez
File: 59-69Previous rating: 21
The Rangers might get a glimpse at Jacob deGrom in a giant league uniform earlier than the tip of the season, although the dream situation of the ace righty becoming a member of a late-season push will not be going to return to go. Nonetheless, it could 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. Mockingly, Max Scherzer (shoulder) is reportedly scheduled to comply with deGrom with a rehab outing for Frisco on Friday. That will imply the RoughRiders can have gotten a take a look at a one-two deGrom-Scherzer rotation earlier than the Rangers, as Scherzer joined Texas final 12 months after deGrom had already hit the IL. — Doolittle
File: 59-68Previous rating: 24
Up to date MLB 2024 prospect rankings
The draft and commerce deadline are behind us. Who has moved up our record?
Kiley McDaniel’s prime 100 prospects »
Rating all 30 MLB farm methods »
Bear in mind when Toronto tried convincing Shohei Ohtani to signal north of the border? That looks as if 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 major cause 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 mistaken. — Castillo
File: 59-67Previous rating: 22
A latest 10-game shedding streak sunk any likelihood the Pirates had of stealing a wild-card berth, or maybe even 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 properly, 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 workforce lands. — Rogers
File: 57-70Previous 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 dwelling run off the Phillies’ Jeff Hoffman into right-center off a fastball. The one double he pulled was a mushy line drive into right-center area, so his incapability up to now to tug the ball within the air is definitely … attention-grabbing. Basically, he is nonetheless studying to raise the ball (common launch angle of simply three levels), which is able to hopefully include expertise so he can faucet into his uncooked energy. He has above-average bat velocity and wonderful plate self-discipline, so the instruments are clearly there, however he’ll must be taught to tug the ball to turn into an elite slugger. — Schoenfield
File: 54-73Previous rating: 26
Oakland’s post-trade deadline rotation has featured a few better-than-average Joes these days. 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 towards the Rays on Monday, the perfect 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 towards Tampa Bay the following evening and threw 7â…” innings, permitting solely a solo homer to Jose Siri that proved to be the sport’s solely run. — Doolittle
File: 54-73Previous rating: 27
The Angels personal a lone World Sequence title throughout their 64 seasons however the franchise has not often bottomed out. The franchise report for losses is a not-so-horrible 95, set in 1968 and tied in 1980. It’s the solely energetic franchise with no 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. Nevertheless, additionally they have to go 14-22 to keep away from a minimum of matching the membership report for defeats, which might be set with a doable 12-24 end. It has been a protracted season. — Doolittle
File: 47-80Previous rating: 29
Commerce deadline winners and losers
The 2024 MLB commerce deadline is over! Who crushed it, and who left a lot to be desired? Here is our take a look at all 30 groups.
Bradford Doolittle »
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 just lately seen as considered one of few vibrant spots for the Rockies. However he is 33 years outdated and his energy numbers are means down this season. Having slipped by means of waivers, Diaz is now a free agent. A workforce just like the Giants, who just lately misplaced Patrick Bailey to an indirect damage, 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 total select of highschool in 2020. — Gonzalez
File: 46-81Previous rating: 28
The Marlins’ rotation is on tempo for its fourth month with an ERA over 5.00 — solely in Might (4.30) did it get beneath 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 12 months’s group sits at 2.4 fWAR, just under the two.8 from the 1998 workforce, which dealt most of its notable gamers and misplaced 108 video games a 12 months after successful the World Sequence. Clearly, accidents are the primary cause for the 2024 catastrophe, however it might even be good to get some outcomes from Edward Cabrera and Max Meyer down the stretch. — Schoenfield
File: 31-97Previous rating: 30
The report tempo is alive! Chicago is trending towards breaking the all-time report for losses in a 162-game season, however an upcoming 10-game homestand could be the tonic it wants. Having stated that, the Tigers, Rangers and Mets aren’t precisely pushovers regardless of the primary two groups being beneath .500. Nobody is a pushover with regards to the White Sox, who’re 3-8 beneath interim supervisor Grady Sizemore. September is a brutal month for them schedule-wise, so if they do not choose up a bunch wins in these 10 video games, the White Sox may very well be observing historical past — and never the nice sort. — Rogers
