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MLB Power Rankings: Playoff picture heats up as Guardians climb and Tigers and Mets plummet

Featured in the final MLB Power Rankings of the season, the playoff picture is finally coming into focus, the Tigers and Mets are flirting with the wrong kind of history, baseball is fun in the state of Ohio, Clayton Kershaw approaches the end, Mike Trout achieves a milestone, and Nationals center fielder Jacob Young does some straight-up magic against the Mets.

(Please note these power rankings are a combination of current performance and long-term projected outlook)

Let’s get started!

Note: Rankings are from the morning of Monday, September 22.

1) Milwaukee Brewers

Last week: 1

Three straight NL Central titles and likely homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. That’s great, but there’s plenty of uncertainty about the availability of Jose Quintana, Brandon Woodruff, and Trevor Megill. As of now, either Jacob Misiorowski or Chad Patrick figure to follow Freddy Peralta and Quinn Priester in the postseason rotation.

2) Philadelphia Phillies

Last week: 2

Good news on Trea Turner, who is expected to face live pitching on Tuesday and Wednesday as he rehabs from a hamstring injury. He could be back in the Phillies’ lineup as soon as Friday, which would allow him to shake the rust in game action before the playoffs begin.

3) Toronto Blue Jays

Last week: 3

So far, the Blue Jays are the only American League team to clinch a postseason berth. They could also be looking at their first AL East title in 10 years. If they can hold off the Yankees, that is. One major advantage is that the Blue Jays hold the tiebreaker.

4) Los Angeles Dodgers ⬆️

Last week: 6

The Dodgers’ rotation is falling into place just in time for the postseason, but it sounds like they’ll be missing Will Smith as he recovers from a hairline fracture in his right hand. Mookie Betts has picked things up this month, but this lineup isn’t nearly as scary without Smith in there.

5) Chicago Cubs ⬇️

Last week: 4

The Cubs are back in the postseason for the first time since the COVID-shortened season in 2020. Craig Counsell's club should have home field advantage in the Wild Card Series next week, but will they have Kyle Tucker and Daniel Palencia?

6) New York Yankees ⬆️

Last week: 7

The Yankees are almost certainly playoff-bound, so the only question is if they’ll be able to chase down the Blue Jays for the AL East lead. While they are two games back in the standings, they’ll actually need to gain three games because of the tiebreaker. It’s a tall task even with a favorable schedule (White Sox, Orioles) to close out the regular season.

7) Seattle Mariners ⬆️

Last week: 8

After sweeping the Astros over the weekend, the Mariners probably have the AL West locked up. Depending on how things go this week, they could secure a first-round bye, as well.

Oh, and Cal Raleigh just keeps mashing dingers and setting records. How high can he climb this week?

8) Detroit Tigers ⬇️

Last week: 5

We’re looking at DEFCON 1 levels of panic and anxiety. The Tigers have lost six straight and nine out of 10, giving them a skinny one-lead over the surging Guardians in the AL Central. They are fortunate that the Twins did them a major favor on Sunday. Now all eyes of the baseball world will be on a three-game series between the Tigers and Guardians in Cleveland, beginning on Tuesday.

9) Boston Red Sox

Last week: 9

The Red Sox had to go out there and make things more difficult for themselves by losing to the Rays on Sunday night. This is by no means an easy week to close out the regular season, as they get three against the Blue Jays (who are trying to finish out the AL East) and three against the Tigers, who are trying to avoid an epic collapse.

10) Cleveland Guardians ⬆️

Last week: 14

The Guardians’ winning streak was snapped at 10 games on Sunday, but they are just one game behind the free falling Tigers and also find themselves tied with the Astros for the final Wild Card spot. Absolutely incredible. You’ll be shocked to hear this, but the Guardians’ pitching staff has been the big key, as they’ve posted a 2.32 ERA this month.

11) San Diego Padres ⬇️

Last week: 10

Michael King bounced back from a brutal start against the Mets to deliver five scoreless innings against the White Sox on Sunday. The Padres haven’t officially clinched a postseason spot yet, but that’s more of a formality. King is the likely choice to start Game 2 of the Wild Card series, with Nick Pivetta expected to start Game 1.

12) Houston Astros ⬇️

Last week: 11

Missing Yordan Alvarez due to an ankle sprain, the Astros were swept by the Mariners at the home over the weekend. With the division looking unrealistic at this point, now they need to fight to keep a Wild Card spot.

13) Cincinnati Reds ⬆️

Last week: 18

Coming off a four-game sweep of the Cubs, the Reds are now in position for the final NL Wild Card spot thanks to their tiebreaker with the Mets. Hunter Greene set the stage on Thursday night with a complete game one-hitter. It would be so much fun to see him on the playoff stage.

14) New York Mets ⬇️

Last week: 13

With a pair of brutal losses to the Nationals over the weekend, the Mets no longer control their own destiny for a playoff spot. The Mets have struggled for a while, but it’s still a shocking fall for a team who had the best record in baseball in June.

15) Arizona Diamondbacks ⬆️

Last week: 16

No matter what happens this week, kudos for the Diamondbacks to even being in this position. Everybody knows about Corbin Carroll and his excellence, but Geraldo Perdomo has been playing out of his mind down the stretch.

16) Texas Rangers ⬇️

Last week: 12

After going on a 16-4 run to climb back into playoff contention, the Rangers have lost seven straight to effectively end their playoff hopes.

17) Kansas City Royals

Last week: 17

The Royals probably aren’t making the playoffs, but they still have a chance to secure their second-straight winning season. Recent call-up Carter Jensen has been a bright spot of late, hitting an even .300 (12-for-40) with two homers and 11 RBI over 14 games.

18) San Francisco Giants ⬇️

Last week: 15

The Giants rallied to avoid a sweep on Sunday, but they’ve lost seven out of their last nine to make them extreme long shots for the postseason. Quite the disappointment given how things looked after the trade for Rafael Devers.

19) Tampa Bay Rays

Last week: 19

This will be the first time the Rays have missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons since they missed the playoffs in five straight years from 2014-2017. With ownership set to change and executives Matt Silverman and Brian Auld stepping down, some big changes are afoot with this franchise.

20) St. Louis Cardinals

Last week: 20

We’re in the final week of the John Mozeliak Era in St. Louis. Cardinals fans are rightly eager to move forward now that the club has missed the postseason in three straight years, but it’s still been an incredible run.

21) Miami Marlins ⬆️

Last week: 22

Credit to the Marlins for keeping the pressure on, as they’ve won 10 out of 11 to give themselves a chance at a .500 season going into the final week. That would be a huge accomplishment.

22) Baltimore Orioles ⬆️

Last week: 23

This year will go down as a failure for the Orioles, but it’s at least easier to be optimistic about next year with Trevor Rogers returning to form and Kyle Bradish back in the fold from Tommy John surgery. Grayson Rodriguez will be a question mark as he returns from shoulder/elbow surgery, so the Orioles still have work to do with this rotation.

23) Athletics ⬇️

Last week: 21

The A’s were in Pittsburgh this weekend, which led to this cool moment between father and son.

24) Atlanta Braves ⬆️

Last week: 25

The Braves are set to miss the postseason for the first time since 2017, but Matt Olson is finishing the season on the a high note. He’s hitting .357 with seven homers, 16 RBI, and a 1.217 OPS in September.

25) Los Angeles Angels ⬇️

Last week: 24

Mike Trout became the 59th player in history to reach the 400-homer plateau over the weekend, and my goodness did it he do it in emphatic fashion.

That Coors Field special traveled 485 feet, giving him the longest home run of the 2025 MLB season.

The coolest part of this whole thing wasn’t even the home run. It was the aftermath, which resulted in the fan who caught it getting to play catch with Trout.

26) Pittsburgh Pirates ⬆️

Last week: 27

The Pirates finished their home slate with a 44-37 record, their best record at PNC Park since 2018. There’s reason for optimism here, if they can just spend some money to upgrade on the position player side.

27) Washington Nationals ⬆️

Last week: 28

Mets fans, look away. You probably don’t want to see this. Still, I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t show Jacob Young’s circus catch from Sunday.

Young's ninth-inning robbery isn’t going to get as much attention, but it was an amazing play nonetheless, especially given the context.

28) Minnesota Twins ⬇️

Last week: 26

A lost year for Pablo Lopez is officially over due to a right forearm strain. He was great when healthy, posting a 2.74 ERA over 14 starts, but he also missed time with a hamstring strain and a shoulder strain. Fortunately, an MRI ruled out any concerns with his elbow or ulnar collateral ligament.

29) Chicago White Sox

Last week: 29

Losers of eight out of nine, the White Sox go into the week with 98 losses. Now they play six on the road (three against the Yankees and three against the Nationals). It’s going to be tough to avoid another 100-loss season.

30) Colorado Rockies

Last week: 30

Hey, at least the Rockies won’t be the worst team ever? The Rockies took two out of three from the Angels over the weekend to get them to 43 wins, two more than the White Sox had last season when they set the modern record for losses in a season.

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Kraken Reassign Six Players To Their Junior Clubs

The Seattle Kraken have reassigned six players to their junior clubs, highlighted by 2025 first-round pick Jake O'Brien.

Among the six players are Alexis Bernier, Jakub Fibigr, Blake Fiddler, Julius Miettinen, Jake O'Brien and Will Reynolds.

Bernier will head back to the Drakkar de Baie-Comeau in the QMJHL, where he's spent three seasons. The 19-year-old defender set a career-high in goals and points last year and will be looking to improve on those numbers when he returns from rehabbing an ACL injury.

Fibigr, a 19-year-old Czech defender, will return to the Brampton Steelheads. The Steelheads will look quite different this season after Kraken prospect Carson Rehkopf and other top NHL prospects Porter Martone and Luke Misa have left the team. Fibigr will play a large role with both the Steelheads and the Czechia National Team at the world juniors.

Fiddler, a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL draft, is heading back to the WHL to rejoin the Edmonton Oil Kings. The 18-year-old got his first taste of NHL action last night and looked strong and poised. The right-handed defenseman has a massive frame and skates very well for his size. Another strong WHL season can go a long way for Fiddler.

Blake Fiddler (Candace Kludt)

Miettinen is currently recovering from an injury and did not participate in rookie camp or training camp. He'll return to an Everett Silvertips team who are hoping for better fortune in the playoffs this year. With exceptional status defenseman Landon DuPont and 2025 first-round pick Carter Bear, the Silvertips should be among the favorites to take home the WHL championship. 

O'Brien, like Fiddler, got his first opportunity at playing against NHL competition and did not look out of place. O'Brien is as smart as they come, but he is in major need of adding muscle to his 6-foot-2 frame. Another season or two of developing in the OHL with the Brantford Bulldogs will be very beneficial toward becoming an NHL-ready center. 

Reynolds was a third-round pick in the most recent NHL draft and will embark on a new era of his career. The 18-year-old has spent the past season and a half with Acadie-Bathurst Titan in the QMJHL but will join the Newfoundland Regiment this year. Listed at 6-foot-3, Reynolds has appealing physical tools for a defenseman. 

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Bruce Pearl, winningest men’s basketball coach in Auburn history, announces retirement

Auburn coach Bruce Pearl announced his retirement Monday less than six months after finishing the Tigers' best season in program history with another trip to the Final Four. Pearl's 38-year-old son Steven Pearl, who has been on his father's coaching staff for all 11 seasons at Auburn, will take over as coach. "I just feel when I can’t give 100% it’s time to pass the torch,” Bruce Pearl said in a 14-minute video posted on social media.

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Former London Knight Impressing Maple Leafs Organization & Fanbase

<i>Landon Sim hoisting the J. Ross Robertson Cup in 2024. Photo credit: Ian Goodall/Goodall Media</i>

The majority of NHL teams have kicked off their pre-season this past weekend, including the Toronto Maple Leafs. Training camp and pre-season are opportunities for younger players in the system to impress coaches and management and make a name for themselves. 

We could say that is exactly what former London Knights forward Landon Sim is doing in Toronto. 

The Toronto Marlies signed the agitating forward to a one-year AHL contract in early May, briefly after the Knights swept the Kitchener Rangers in the Western Conference Finals to advance to their third consecutive OHL Finals. He factored in massively in that series, scoring four goals in that four-game series. 

Additionally, Sim was a goal-scoring threat all throughout the 2025 playoffs for the Knights, scoring 12 goals in 17 games, 10 of which were at even strength, and three were game-winners. He can be described as a nasty player who loves to get under his opponent’s skin, as evidenced by his 33 penalty minutes, which were the third-most in the 2025 playoffs. 

This isn’t Sim’s first opportunity to attend an NHL training camp. The New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, native was drafted 184th overall in the sixth round of the 2022 NHL Draft by the St. Louis Blues. 

St. Louis never extended an entry-level contract offer his way, although the organization appreciated his game and had him attend their training camp last year as a free agent invite. 

A year goes by, and after scoring a combined 43 goals in 76 games across the OHL regular season, playoffs, and Memorial Cup tournament, the Maple Leafs organization snatched him up via their farm team, and Sim’s physical presence, chippiness, and competitiveness have started to raise eyes in Leafs nation. 

Landon Sim is no stranger to dropping the gloves. In fact, I think it’s something he really enjoys doing. He recorded 18 fighting majors in his OHL career, with a career high of eight last regular season. So, it was no surprise when Sim dropped the gloves in Toronto’s first game of their rookie tournament showcase against Ottawa Senators’ prospect, Matthew Andonovski, who was the Kitchener Rangers captain last season.

Fighting one Kitchener Ranger wasn’t enough for Sim. Toronto’s next game was against the Montreal Canadiens, and guess who was playing: Rangers defenseman Andrew MacNeil. It was a spirited bout between the two. 

Now, MacNeill and Sim have a previous history. The two fought each other in the OHL last season on Mar. 18, where MacNeill was sending some heavy blows to Sim. 

Sim was in Toronto’s lineup for their first pre-season game against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday. The Hockey News Toronto Maple Leafs reporter David Alter jokingly tweeted out at the start of the game that his prediction for the game was that Sim would get into a fight. 

To much of everyone’s surprise, Sim did not get into a fight, however he did finish the game tied for the most hits on the team with four, despite logging the lowest ice time at 9:56. The two-time OHL champion played on a line with Jacob Quillan and Matthew Barbolini, two players he’ll have an opportunity to develop some chemistry with on the Marlies this season. 

Lastly, a clip of Sim during Maple Leafs practice went viral over the past week, as he had a spirited battle with his former London teammate Easton Cowan. 

It seems that Landon Sim is doing everything possible to make a strong impression not only on the Maple Leafs organization but also on the fanbase, who greatly appreciate that blue-collar, hard-nosed style of play.

Make sure you bookmark THN's OHL site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

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Flyers’ Experiment with Michkov, Zegras, and Grebenkin Already Shows Promise

Preseason hockey is usually about shaking off rust, breaking in new systems, and giving prospects a chance to show if they can handle NHL pace.

But sometimes, a coach stumbles onto something that makes the entire building lean forward in its seat. That happened in the Philadelphia Flyers’ first preseason matchup against the Islanders, when Rick Tocchet rolled out a line of Matvei Michkov, Trevor Zegras, and Nikita Grebenkin.

On paper, the appeal of Michkov and Zegras together is obvious. Both are high-skill, high-vision players who thrive in the creative pockets of the game. Michkov sees plays that don’t exist yet; Zegras has the flair and precision to execute them.

It’s the kind of pairing that fans dream about because it hints at highlight-reel chemistry. But the real intrigue came with the third piece of the line—Grebenkin, a prospect who has been making noise at camp and suddenly found himself flanking two of the Flyers’ brightest stars.

And he didn’t look out of place.

Grebenkin's chemistry with Zegras and Michkov was seamless, natural. He skated with pace, retrieved pucks, and found smart ways to keep plays alive, whether by extending possession along the wall or making the small, quick passes that let Michkov and Zegras do what they do best. (Not to mention, Grebenkin kept the game interesting by stirring the pot with the Islanders multiple times.) The chemistry was surprising not because the top two meshed—that was expected—but because Grebenkin elevated the line instead of weighing it down.

That detail matters in a camp like this, where internal competition has been one of the dominant themes. Tocchet and the Flyers’ veterans have been clear: jobs aren’t guaranteed. Prospects are pushing. Roster spots are being earned, not handed out. In that context, Grebenkin’s ability to keep stride with Michkov and Zegras was more than just a good shift or two in a preseason game—it was a tangible step forward in his case to make the Flyers' NHL roster.

It’s also telling about the type of player Grebenkin could become at this level. He has some NHL experience from his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but this is a prime opportunity for him to really show what he's capable of.

With Michkov and Zegras, Grebenkin doesn’t need to be the line’s driver, nor does he need to reinvent himself as a grinding specialist. Instead, his value lies in being the facilitator who can adapt to different situations and elevate the talent around him. That’s not always easy for a young player still acclimating to NHL pace and physicality, but Grebenkin managed to strike that balance in his first showcase alongside two of the team’s most gifted offensive minds.

Nikita Grebenkin (29). (Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News)

Of course, one preseason look doesn’t write the story. The Flyers have other forwards making strong pushes for roster spots—Alex Bump, Jett Luchanko, to name a couple—and the competition will only intensify as camp goes on. Tocchet will continue to shuffle combinations, searching for both balance and sparks. But what the Michkov-Zegras-Grebenkin line offered was a glimpse of possibility, and possibility is exactly what camps like this are meant to reveal.

For Michkov and Zegras, there’s no question the organization wants to see if they can form something lasting. For Grebenkin, the question is whether he can insert himself into that picture for more than just a trial run. Nights like this help make the case.

In the end, one game of preseason hockey isn't a big enough sample size to determine if this line can truly work. However, it's a promising start in the journey to identify pieces that fit—building the scaffolding of chemistry, giving players chances to prove where they belong. For one night, Michkov and Zegras did what they were supposed to do—and Grebenkin showed that maybe, just maybe, he belongs right there with them.

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Rockets star Fred VanVleet tears ACL, could miss entire season: Report

Rockets star Fred VanVleet tears ACL, could miss entire season: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Houston, we have a problem.

Rockets starting point guard Fred VanVleet tore his ACL and could miss the entire 2025-26 season, ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported Monday.

The injury transpired at a recent offseason workout, Charania added.

Because of Houston’s tight cap space situation, it cannot fill its one open roster spot with a free agent due to being $1.25 million below the first apron, barring a trade.

Current available point guards on the market include Russell Westbrook, Ben Simmons and Cam Payne, among others.

It’s a significant blow for a Houston side that has hopes of rocketing into the top tier of the Western Conference following the addition of Kevin Durant alongside many young talents.

But the 31-year-old VanVleet played an underrated two-way role on the team, ranking in the top three in assists, steals and 3-pointers made. He averaged 14.1 points, 5.6 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals on a 37.8/34.5/81 shooting split. Not having him available likely straps them in the tier below contending.

It was his second season with Houston following a seven-year run with the Toronto Raptors. He signed a two-year, $50 million extension in June, which includes a player option for next season.

If the Rockets opt for internal solutions, head coach Ime Udoka has 2018 first-round pick Aaron Holiday and 2024 No. 3 overall pick Reed Sheppard as the next men up.

Sheppard, a Kentucky product, played 52 games as a rookie but averaged just 12.6 minutes. In that time, he posted 4.4 points a game and 1.4 assists on a 35/33/81 shooting split on 4.6/2.7/0.3 volume.

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MLB's final week should be even wilder than expected thanks to the state of Ohio

From the shore of Lake Erie to the Kentucky border, baseball’s regular season is set for a dramatic final week in the state of Ohio.

The Cleveland Guardians have a chance to complete the biggest comeback in the history of divisional play. They now trail Detroit by one game in the AL Central after once being 15 1/2 back. At the southern end of the state, Cincinnati pulled into a tie for the final wild card in the National League with the New York Mets — and the Reds have the head-to-head tiebreaker between the two.

No team ever has won a division after being more than 14 games behind, and Cleveland’s 15 1/2-game deficit in early July doesn’t even do this comeback justice. As recently as Sept. 11, Detroit led the division by 9 1/2 over Cleveland. Since then, the Tigers (85-71) have been trapped in a Motown Meltdown, losing nine of 10 while the Guardians (84-72) went on a 10-game winning streak that finally was snapped. Cleveland cut the lead from 9 1/2 games to one in a span of only 10 days.

For the Reds, the situation has looked bleak at various points. They were six games out of a playoff spot on Sept. 6 — and also trailed San Francisco and Arizona — before a New York skid helped the Reds pull within 1 1/2 games less than a week later. The Cincinnati fell three games behind, but a four-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs now has the Reds and Mets even, with the Diamondbacks only a game back of them.

Other races that are coming down to the wire:

— The AL East, where Toronto (90-66) leads the New York Yankees (88-68) by two games. Those teams have the top two records in the American League, so a first-round bye is at stake here.

— The AL West, where Seattle (87-69) leads Houston (84-72) by three — and the Mariners have the tiebreaker. The Astros have not missed the postseason since 2016, but they’re in danger now with the Red Sox (85-71) in play for a wild card along with the AL East and AL Central runners-up.

— San Diego is three games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers atop the NL West, but the Dodgers have the tiebreaker and the teams don’t play each other this week.

Head to head

Detroit will have no choice but to snap out of its funk if it wants to save its season. The Tigers go to Cleveland for three games before finishing the regular season with a series at Boston.

Line of the week

Dominic Canzone went 5 for 5 with three homers and four RBIs to help Seattle to a 12-5 win over Kansas City. That game capped a 10-game winning streak for the Mariners, who have now won 14 of 15 to turn a 3 1/2-game deficit in the division into a three-game lead.

Comeback of the week

Philadelphia rallied from a four-run deficit in the sixth inning to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers. That was after Shohei Ohtani no-hit the Phillies for five innings. He also homered in the game.

Brandon Marsh and Max Kepler both homered during a six-run sixth for Philadelphia, and after the Dodgers tied it at 6, Rafael Marchan hit a three-run homer in the top of the ninth to provide the winning margin. Los Angeles had a 94.1% win probability in the sixth, according to Baseball Savant.