MLB Power Rankings Week 25: Playoff contenders on the move

With 11 days remaining in the 2026 MLB regular season, eight playoff spots remain open after four teams clinched postseason berths over the past week. The Rays secured the season's first postseason spot, followed later that night by the Brewers, who have been the first team to clinch in each of the past two seasons and are the only club to have clinched their division so far.

The Brewers sit atop the latest power rankings with a 95-57 record. They wrapped up the NL Central with a win over the Pirates behind Jacob Misiorowski, becoming the first team to win the division four consecutive times since it was formed in 1994, and have won five of the past six division titles. Manager Pat Murphy said of the club, "This '26 club, there hasn't been a spot where you say, 'Wow, we're really special. But it's starting to grow on me."

The Dodgers rank second at 92-60 after locking up their 14th consecutive postseason appearance, tying Atlanta for the all-time record, and are on their way to a 13th division title and a first-round bye. The team has bullpen concerns, with Edwin Diaz struggling on his rehab assignment to the point that manager Dave Roberts raised the possibility he might not make the playoff roster, and Edgardo Henriquez landing on the injured list with back discomfort.

The Rays rank third at 92-59. Junior Caminero, in his age-22 season, has hit 40 home runs for a second straight season, joining Eddie Mathews as the only players with two 40-homer seasons through age 22. He is also the ninth player to reach 40 homers in his age-22 season, following Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Fernando Tatis Jr., who last did it in 2021.

The Yankees rank fourth at 88-64. Manager Aaron Boone has had Ben Rice leading off this month against right-handed pitchers after Trent Grisham hit .199 with a .303 OBP in 358 plate appearances in that spot, with Paul Goldschmidt leading off against lefties and Aaron Judge back in the two or three hole depending on the pitcher.

The Braves rank fifth at 89-64 and are heavily favored to clinch their seventh NL East title in the past nine seasons. Their rotation will be led by Chris Sale and Tyler Mahle, with questions remaining about the third and fourth starters, while closer-setup man Robert Suarez is nearing a return from the IL as the team sorts out who holds the bullpen's second-highest leverage role behind Raisel Iglesias.