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 leading into the 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 could shake 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. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers top the power rankings heading into 2025 after another stellar offseason. 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.
2. 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 signal an all-in approach to chase another deep postseason run.
3. 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 will almost certainly hang out near the top of the standings this season and enjoy another trip to the postseason.
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. The Padres are banking on internal improvements and consistency to challenge the Dodgers for NL West supremacy.
5. Atlanta Braves
The Braves enter 2025 with some key losses, including ace Max Fried, the aforementioned newest addition to the Yankees, and veteran pitcher Charlie Morton, who left for the Baltimore Orioles. These departures have left their rotation thinner than in previous years, but the team still boasts a strong lineup led by MVP candidate Ronald Acuña Jr. and slugger Matt Olson. For the Braves to remain competitive, they’ll need their younger pitchers to step up and stay healthy. Their offense remains potent, keeping them in the playoff mix despite some serious question marks on the mound.
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 as we enter Spring Training. Let’s see who’s next in the mix of MLB Power Rankings.
6. Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles have been resurgent in the American League, and they’re angling to keep that momentum going with their offseason signing of veteran pitcher Charlie Morton away from Atlanta. Morton brings much-needed experience and stability to a rotation that includes emerging stars like Grayson Rodriguez.
Baltimore was already packed with plenty of other talent in Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, and Jackson Holliday, and their farm system is deep. Many of their young players got a taste of the postseason environment last season in the American League Wild Card Series, and they’ll be looking for a deeper push this season.
7. 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 — you guessed it again! — the Dodgers, and the Mets are looking to avenge their loss. They’ve even taken steps towards that goal by signing away one of the top stars from cross-city rival the Yankees, the team that did make it to the World Series and lost to … the Dodgers.
Soto’s addition pairs 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 they’re well-positioned for another solid playoffs run after a year in which they were considered the Cinderella story of the postseason.
8. Houston Astros
The Astros remain a perennial playoff contender, making the ALCS or the World Series seven times over the last decade. This year, they’re navigating significant roster changes, trading away Kyle Tucker, one of their most consistent offensive contributors, and Alex Bregman shipping up to Boston to join the Red Sox.
Despite these losses, the Astros reinforced their infield with Isaac Paredes and added Christian Walker to their lineup from the Diamondbacks. Houston’s ability to adapt and retool in this manner has been a hallmark of their recent dominance, and while they may face more challenges in 2025, they remain a team to watch in the American League.
9. Arizona Diamondbacks
Speaking of the D-Backs. Arizona is just two years removed from a World Series appearance, and they’ve made a big move this offseason to acquire ace Corbin Burnes from Baltimore. Burnes’ addition gives the Diamondbacks one of the most formidable rotations in the league, joining Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly to form a dangerous trio. Offensively, the team is led by breakout star Corbin Carroll, who has emerged as one of the most exciting young players in baseball. This is a team that’s ready to strike at another World Series appearance.
10. Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers suffered one of the off-season’s biggest losses, sending All-Star closer Devin Williams to the New York Yankees, but they acquired left-hander Nestor Cortes in return to reinforce their rotation.
Milwaukee’s offense continues to evolve, with rising star Jackson Chourio expected to play a major role this season. Chourio’s dynamic bat and defensive prowess could be a game-changer for the Brewers as they seek to avenge an early postseason exit last season with a deeper run this year.
The Rest of the Pack
As for the rest of the MLB’s hopefuls, here’s how things could end up stacking up:
11. Detroit Tigers
12. Cleveland Guardians
13. Chicago Cubs
14. Kansas City Royals
15. Boston Red Sox
16. Texas Rangers
17. Minnesota Twins
18. San Francisco Giants
19. St. Louis Cardinals
20. Toronto Blue Jays
21. Seattle Mariners
22. Los Angeles Angels
23. Chicago White Sox
24. Miami Marlins
25. Cincinnati Reds
26. Pittsburgh Pirates
27. Colorado Rockies
28. Oakland Athletics
29. Washington Nationals
30. Tampa Bay Rays
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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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