The 2025 Main League Baseball season has been the season of the tailspin. We have seen so many contending groups going by way of simply completely wretched stretches of baseball. The Mets gained on Sunday, however earlier than that had misplaced eight in a row and have been getting in peril of falling out of the playoff image, however they have been merely the most recent entrant on the collapse practice.
We need not rehash it for every particular person group. Each single contender besides most likely the Brewers have gone by way of stretches the place the fan base most likely had that determined, “we’re by no means gonna win one other recreation!” feeling. And Brewers followers have been tortured sufficient in postseason play that I really feel fairly assured in saying the next:
I do not assume we have ever had a season the place followers of each single contending group may have such a low stage of confidence heading into the playoffs.
Significantly, each single week in Energy Rankings, I really feel like followers of a handful of contenders are going to yell at me for having their favourite group too excessive. When does that ever occur? Often it is that I am too low on their favourite group and want to present them extra credit score. On this bizarro season, followers are lining as much as inform me, “hey man, you do not notice how a lot they suck.”
Examine New York. There is no approach any Mets fan has religion within the group proper now. Ask a Yankees fan how good the Yankees are and you will get one thing again about how they’re really unhealthy and the remainder of the groups behind them are additional particular horrible.
How in regards to the defending champion Dodgers? Their followers are totally prepared to simply accept the intestine punch because the bullpen blows the season. We will keep out west, the place Padres followers have given up on the season a number of instances. How are Astros followers feeling proper now? Do you assume Mariners followers belief the Mariners? Within the playoffs? In the event that they even make it?
The Tigers fan base can’t probably have any religion proper now. I can communicate from expertise on the Cubs’ finish. With out wanting on the potential playoff matchups, the sensation is, “I suppose it is cool that we’ll make the playoffs, however we cannot win a recreation.” After all, proper now, the Padres are lined as much as go to the Cubs within the Wild Card Sequence and there is not any approach Padres followers assume they’re successful at Wrigley.
On and on we may go. Is any fan base assured heading into the playoffs> My finest guess was perhaps the Phillies. However I am positive there are many individuals in Philly fearful in regards to the accidents to Zack Wheeler and Trea Turner and pondering of doom-and-gloom eventualities after final season’s fast exit.
Even the Brewers are simply 14-14 since Aug. 16.
It is outstanding, actually. The final vibe with this baseball season is principally simply, “my group will discover a strategy to fail.” The factor is, when two playoff groups are attempting out-fail each other, the potential for fireworks is excessive.
Is there chaos on the horizon? I am able to embrace it.
Greatest Movers
|
Rk |
Groups |
Chg |
Rcrd |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
|
There appears to be an overarching lovefest for the Tampa Bay Rays and the way they run a persistently good group regardless of a shoestring funds. After lacking the playoffs once more this season, the Rays may have made the postseason 5 of the final seven years. The Brewers, within the smallest market in baseball, thoughts you, are headed to the playoffs for the seventh time within the final eight years. That group deserves extra love than the Rays. | — | 91-59 |
2 |
|
Kyle Schwarber is now as much as 52 dwelling runs, having grow to be solely the second Phillies participant ever to achieve 50 in a season. Ryan Howard’s 58 in 2006 is the franchise file. Schwarber’s 127 RBI can also be a giant quantity, however don’t be concerned in regards to the franchise file right here as a result of it is 170 (Chuck Klein, a superb Immaculate Grid play, in 1930). | — | 89-61 |
3 |
|
George Springer has by no means hit .300 in a season earlier than. He is at .303 proper now. | 1 | 87-62 |
4 |
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By way of struggles from Seiya Suzuki, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker (and his harm after he lastly obtained scorching), Ian Happ has picked up among the slack. In his final 15 video games, he is hit .362 with 5 doubles, six homers, 12 RBI and 13 runs. | 2 | 85-64 |
5 |
|
Freddie Freeman leads the league in doubles, once more, with 39. He now has 547 profession doubles, good for a tie for thirty fourth all time with Manny Ramirez. How excessive can Freeman climb? Effectively, he cannot get to Tris Speaker’s file of 792, however 600 appears doable, a benchmark solely 18 gamers have ever hit. Attending to 606 would put him fifteenth in MLB historical past. | 2 | 84-65 |
6 |
|
It seems they prevented catastrophe with the Tarik Skubal harm, however there are nonetheless a number of causes to be involved about this group heading towards the playoffs. | 1 | 85-65 |
7 |
|
I do not assume they will win the division, but it surely is not out of the query. The Yankees solely play the Twins, Orioles and White Sox the remainder of the way in which. | 4 | 83-66 |
8 |
|
The Mariners are white scorching! They have not misplaced since Sept. 5. Their first division title since 2001 is inside attain. | 5 | 82-68 |
9 |
|
I do know that lots of people say the batting order would not matter sufficient to get labored up over it, however I do not assume there’s something on lineup playing cards this season extra maddening than the Padres persevering with to stay with Luis Arráez within the two gap. He is nice at making contact and hitting for a reasonably good common (.286), but it surely’s an empty common with no walks or energy. He has a 95 OPS+. That’s not a hitter on this period who must be anyplace even near the 2 gap. | 2 | 82-68 |
10 |
|
Garrett Crochet has 240 strikeouts. If (when) he will get to 250, he’ll be a part of Pedro Martinez, Chris Sale, Roger Clemens and Smoky Joe Wooden as the one Pink Sox to ever accomplish that. | 2 | 82-68 |
11 |
|
The Rangers had gained 16 of 20 earlier than Sunday’s loss. Now they get three video games in opposition to the Astros. | 1 | 79-71 |
12 |
|
The Astros have now misplaced eight of Framber Valdez’s final 9 begins. For the reason that starting of August, he has a 6.41 ERA. | 2 | 81-69 |
13 |
|
The AL Central race has felt prefer it was over since, what, mid-June? Effectively, the Guardians are 6 ½ video games out and that also looks as if it is unattainable, would not it? However take into account this: The Guardians face the Tigers six extra instances. In the event that they sweep these six video games? You by no means know. They’re actually inside “so that you’re telling me there’s an opportunity” vary. | 4 | 78-71 |
14 |
|
They’re nonetheless going to make the playoffs (I believe?) after which it is a clear slate. Perhaps they will upset the Dodgers? (I believe I simply heard all of Queens burst out laughing once I typed that). | 5 | 77-73 |
15 |
|
Did they hit a wall? It is potential. They have been most likely taking part in approach over their heads. They’ve now misplaced 5 of eight. | — | 75-74 |
16 |
|
Final week, I went by way of each group, attempting to guess who the franchise record-holder is for profession dwelling runs off the highest of my head. I accurately guessed George Brett was the Royals’ chief. Salvador Perez, although, is coming. Perez’s dwelling run on Sunday was his 301st. Brett’s file is 317. | 2 | 75-75 |
17 |
|
By way of all of the unhealthy stuff that has occurred this season, to not point out buying and selling two of their largest bats, the Diamondbacks are simply two video games out of a playoff spot. | 2 | 75-75 |
18 |
|
That final wild card spot was sitting proper there for the taking and the Reds went into Sacramento and obtained swept. | 2 | 74-75 |
19 |
|
Shane Baz has now made 52 profession begins. He has a 5.15 ERA this season. He is 26 years outdated. The clock is ticking right here. | 1 | 73-76 |
20 |
|
The Cardinals went 14-14 in June, 8-16 in July, 13-15 in August and are 5-7 in September. They’re nonetheless solely 5 video games out of a playoff spot. This has been an argument that now we have too many playoff groups. | — | 73-77 |
21 |
|
Rookie Nick Kurtz homered once more on Sunday and he is now slugging .628. The one A’s gamers in historical past to slug at the least .625 with at the least 400 plate appearances are Jimmie Foxx, Mark McGwire, Al Simmons, Jason Giambi and Nap Lajoie. What a season for the child. | 1 | 70-80 |
22 |
|
Coby Mayo has homered in back-to-back video games. If he can shut the season sturdy, perhaps he is in line for a breakout season in 2026? | 1 | 69-80 |
23 |
|
The Marlins may have an excellent rotation subsequent season if issues break proper. Will Sandy Alcantara be part of it? He has a 2.48 ERA in his final six begins. A part of me wonders if perhaps the Marlins could be higher off simply buying and selling him after a robust end. They will have sufficient depth to shed him. | 1 | 70-80 |
24 |
|
Only a reminder that Anthony Rendon is due $38,571,429 subsequent season. It’s lastly the final 12 months of the contract, so there’s that. | 1 | 69-81 |
25 |
|
Good signal for subsequent 12 months: Ozzie Albies has been much more like his outdated self right here within the second half, significantly the final month or so. | — | 66-83 |
26 |
|
The Nats closed August with an eight-game dropping streak. They’re 9-4 in September. Oh, baseball, you fickle mistress. | 1 | 62-87 |
27 |
|
This is a good illustration of how unhealthy the offense is: Bryan Reynolds hits third. He is batting .242/.310/.398 this season. | 1 | 65-85 |
28 |
|
I’ve all the time stated there might be successes in terrible seasons. For the White Sox, they’ve had just a few actually good issues. Included could be the emergence of catcher Kyle Teel, who’s having a really good rookie season and appears like he might be part of the long run nucleus. | — | 57-93 |
29 |
|
The Twins have the worst file in baseball because the All-Star break. | — | 65-84 |
30 |
|
They will “catch” final 12 months’s White Sox in the event that they lose out. I do not assume it will occur. Whilst unhealthy because the Rockies are, they have not misplaced greater than eight straight video games all season. | — | 41-109 |
