Add The California Post on Google Each week, the California Post will power rank MLB’s 30 teams and check in on one intriguing awards race. Records as of Saturday morning:
The Brewers are closing in on the winningest record in the majors for the second-straight year. But will it lead to more October success this time around? It could depend on whether they can find more star-level pitching to pair with Jacob Misiorowski. Right now, rookie Logan Henderson is their only other starter with a sub-4.00 ERA. (Last week: 1st)
The Dodgers have done what they needed to against a soft spot in the schedule, reeling off wins in 12 of their last 15 to lock up the National League West and close in on a first-round bye –– one that will be crucial as they manage a litany of injuries from Shohei Ohtani on down. (Last week: 2nd)
The Rays are finishing the season in a flourish, winning six-straight games this week to eliminate any doubts about who the best team (at least during the regular season) in the American League is. (Last week: 4th)
The Braves are back in the playoffs, and on the verge of locking up the NL East. They might be the biggest mystery team in the NL playoff field this year, with a boom-or-bust lineup and pitching that is led by, but also drops off quickly after, Chris Sale. (Last week: 3rd)
Trouble is brewing in the Bronx again, with Aaron Judge back on the injured list and his playoff availability suddenly back up in the air. Granted, he hadn’t exactly hit the cover off the ball in his seven games back, going just 4-for-23. But if he is out, or even compromised, in October, it could derail the Yankees’ World Series chances. (Last week: 5th)
The Red Sox are coasting to a wild card round matchup with the Yankees. So for now, they’re having fun –– with some, um, interesting travel day attire this week. (Last week: 8th)
We thought the Padres would be battling down the stretch just to make the playoffs. Instead, an 11-1 tear has put them in a three-way tie with the Cubs and Phillies for the top NL wild-card spot –– and the home wild-card series that would come with it. (Last week: 9th)
The Cubs made a detour ahead of their series in Cincinnati this week, going to Churchill Downs to watch an Alex Bregman-owned horse run a victorious race. Right now, however, the team could use some more wins itself, with a 4-7 slide putting it in danger of having to go on the road in the wild-card round. (Last week: 6th)
Jesus Luzardo is on the injured list, and the Phillies can only hope he returns for the playoffs. If not, the team will be heavily reliant upon Cristopher Sánchez (who has quietly cooled off with an ERA over 5.00 in the last month), Zack Wheeler (who will be looking for redemption after being sidelined by his own health issue last year) and Aaron Nola (who, after owning an ERA of nearly 6.00 over 2025 and the first half of 2026, has a 2.10 ERA in his last 10 starts). (Last week: 7th)
10) Guardians (79-75)
It’s not quite as dramatic as their comeback from a 12 ½-game division deficit last year, but the Guardians are once again making a late surge to the AL Central crown, winning two of three over the White Sox this week (and nine of 14 games overall) to position themselves for a third-straight division title. (Last week: 13th)
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The Dbacks must have used up all their luck while reaching the World Series as an 84-win team in 2023. Since then, they missed the playoffs on a tiebreaker in 2024, by three games after a season-ending five-game losing streak last year, and are on track to be the last team left out again this season. (Last week: 10th)
The clock might be striking midnight on the White Sox’s Cinderella season. They dropped a gut-wrenching series to the Guardians this week to squander first place in the AL Central, then blew a six-run lead to the Tigers on Friday, leaving them just 1 ½ games up for the last wild card spot. (Last week: 12th)
Maybe no one really does want to win the AL West, a division with a whopping -436 run differential (!) this year. A week ago, the resurgent Astros had built a three-game lead –– and have since lost five of seven. (Last week: 11th)
We’ve tried to write the Rangers off many times in these rankings. But the woeful AL West keeps having other ideas. Suddenly, a 5-1 run has them back in a tie for first place, thanks in no small part to Corey Seager’s return to form in September. (Last week: 19th)
For much of this year, the Pirates looked like a playoff contender. If they were in the AL, they’d be in the thick of the wild-card race. Alas, they find themselves playing out the string again in what has become another lost season. Their only goal now: Finishing with a winning record for the first time since 2018. (Last week: 14th)
It hasn’t been all Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s fault this year, but no one stat sums up the Blue Jays’ regression more than this: The star slugger hit his first home run at home all season this week. They’re still alive in the wild card race, but last year’s heroes have let them down this season. (Last week: 15th)
Evidently, Pete Alonso still has a few fans in Queens. The two home runs he hit in his reunion series with the Mets this week made for some memorable –– and awkward –– scenes in the stands, where he was serenaded with cheers. But even that series sweep hasn’t gotten the O’s back in the playoff picture. They are three games out of a wild-card spot with three teams to jump. (Last week: 17th)
No one in baseball seems to understand why, but the Marlins used Sandy Alcantara on one day of rest for a save opportunity this week. It worked but … did they forget they were already out of the playoff race? (Last week: 18th)
A once-promising season in St. Louis finally met its official end on Friday, when the Cardinals became the latest team eliminated from playoff contention. That marks four-straight years without October baseball for the club, its longest drought since the early ‘90s. (Last week: 16th)
A scary scene in Queens this week, where Jared Young was sent to the hospital after a friendly-fire collision at first base. If you’re not familiar with Young, just watch this clip of interim manager Andy Green discussing him. The good news: His prognosis is “as good as could be expected” for now, per Green. (Last week: 20th)
Here’s the state of the Reds season: The one positive of late –– Elly De La Cruz absolutely crushing the ball –– only prompted Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to be asked during a road trip to Cincinnati this week whether the young slugger was auditioning to one day play for the Dodgers. Unfortunately, Roberts didn’t take the bait: I think there’s a lot of willing takers for that person and talent,” he said. (Last week: 21st)
The Twins were a pleasant surprise for a lot of this year. They also clinched a losing record as expected. Tough to tell if this was a step forward, or a missed opportunity to truly tank and begin rebuilding. (Last week: 22nd)
The Nats locked up 28-year-old pitcher Cade Cavalli to a four-year, $47 million contract extension this week, rewarding him for a 12-win, 3.12-ERA season while cementing another core piece of their ongoing rebuild. (Last week: 24th)
Good news: Cal Raleigh is finally hitting, with an OPS over .850 in his last 42 games. Bad news: It has come much, much, much too late to save the Mariners, who could be in for some changes (perhaps starting with their manager) this offseason. (Last week: 23rd)
A sub-plot worth monitoring during the final week of the season: Kenley Jansen is at 497 career saves. Even at 38 years old, he doesn’t seem to be planning to retire soon. Still, reaching 500 saves before the offseason (and a potentially prolonged lockout) would be preferable. (Last week: 25th)
The Royals weren’t quite the worst team in the majors this year, but they might have been the most irrelevant. Do they get to hang a banner for that? (Last week: 26th)
Congratulations to the Giants. According to Rotowire, they were the most injured team in the majors this year, most recently losing the previously red-hot Rafael Devers to a core muscle surgery. We ask again: Do they get to hang a banner for that? (Last week: 27th)
A shoutout to Athletics prospect Ryan Lasko, who after being paralyzed in an outfield collision with a teammate in June was released from the hospital this week to continue his recovery. A well-deserved reception. (Last week: 28th)
Hey Angels fans. Want to know what the future of Angel Stadium might look like under Stan Kroenke? Just look at what he unveiled for his sports teams in Colorado. (Last week: 29th)
The Rockies are about to clinch their fourth-straight 100-loss season. One more will tie an MLB record. Maybe they can pop champagne bottles for that. (Last week: 30th)
Award Tracker: American League MVP
1) Yordan Alvarez (.312 average, 40 home runs, 99 RBIs, 1.031 OPS)
This has become a real race, even with Alvarez still lurking for a triple-crown season. The reason: Though he has been by far the best hitter in the majors this year, the Astros DH doesn’t play defense. His top competition, Junior Caminero, has started every game of the year for Tampa Bay at third base. Still, Alvarez has a more than 100-point edge on Caminero in OPS (as well as a 40-point edge in OPS+), and more than a full 1.0 advantage in WAR, according to Fangraphs. That should be enough to earn him more MVP votes –– but keep an eye on this final week. If the gap gets even slightly closer, it could flip the race.
2) Junior Caminero (.277, 41 home runs, 94 RBIs, .897 OPS)
Last year, there were some subtle suggestions that Caminero’s 45-homer, .846 OPS season was aided by playing in the bandbox that was the Yankees spring complex of Steinbrenner Field. Well, Caminero and the Rays returned to the Trop this year, and he has only gotten better, raising his batting average, on-base-percentage and OPS while taking the lead for the AL home run crown. The way voters view the value of his defense, however, could be a determining factor for the MVP. Among 14 qualified third basemen, Caminero ranks fourth in defensive runs saved (plus-3) but last in outs above average (minus-12).
3) Cam Schlittler (14-6, 1.95 ERA, 184 ⅔ innings, 228 strikeouts)
Aaron Boone might’ve been overstating it when he said Schlittler “might be the MVP” in addition to the likely Cy Young Award winner. But the young Yankees star will certainly get some Cy Young voting love, trailing only Alvarez and Bobby Witt Jr. in combined WAR in the AL, according to Fangraphs.
