We're right down to the last days of the 2024 common season — and there are nonetheless fairly just a few groups which have one thing to play for.
Which golf equipment will get to maintain enjoying into October, and which is able to watch their playoff aspirations come to an finish?
There are nonetheless two wild-card spots obtainable in every the American League and National League, with loads of intrigue surrounding them. The Mets and Braves — two of three squads vying for these spots in the NL — will probably face off in a doubleheader Monday with a postseason berth on the line after the last two video games of their midweek collection have been postponed by climate. Meanwhile, the Padres and Dodgers are enjoying a last recreation with the division title nonetheless up for grabs, although L.A. can safe it with a win. And the Tigers?! What a late-season surge into competition — however can they maintain on to their wild-card spot in the AL?
Our professional panel has mixed to rank each staff based mostly on a mixture of what we have seen thus far and what we already knew going into the 162-game marathon that is a full baseball season. We additionally requested ESPN MLB consultants David Schoenfield, Bradford Doolittle, Jesse Rogers, Alden Gonzalez and Jorge Castillo to weigh in with an remark for all 30 groups.
Week 25 | Second-half preview | Preseason rankings
Record: 94-65
Previous rating: 1
The Phillies celebrated their first NL East title since 2011 with a 6-2 win over the Cubs at residence Monday as Aaron Nola received his thirteenth recreation and Kyle Schwarber slugged his thirty seventh residence run. “OK, still got some work to do,” supervisor Rob Thomson stated in the clubhouse as the beer and champagne kicked off. “But we want to get that bye. That's very important.” The Phillies are nonetheless battling the Dodgers for the high seed in the NL and maintain the tiebreaker by advantage of a 5-1 season collection win, so all they should do is end with the identical file to safe the 1-seed. — Schoenfield
Record: 94-64
Previous rating: 2
The Dodgers ought to quickly clinch the division and a first-round bye. And although skipping the wild-card spherical has led to swift elimination in the ensuing division collection the previous two years, there is a sense round the staff that the Dodgers particularly want the time without work this yr. Their starting-pitching scenario is that dicey.
With Tyler Glasnow and Gavin Stone out, Clayton Kershaw nonetheless on the mend — he is at present “in a holding pattern,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated Tuesday — and Bobby Miller in the minor leagues, it seems like their October rotation shall be Jack Flaherty, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Walker Buehler and 27-year-old rookie Landon Knack. All 4 carry various levels of concern. The Dodgers will most likely want some recent relievers. — Gonzalez
Record: 92-66
Previous rating: 3
Aaron Judge's 2024 season shall be remembered as considered one of the biggest offensive performances in historical past. The AL MVP front-runner leads the majors in residence runs, RBIs, walks, intentional walks, on-base share, slugging share, OPS, OPS+, wRC+, fWAR and bWAR. We haven't seen this stage of manufacturing since Barry Bonds in 2004. But these numbers get wiped away subsequent week.
Only the burden of expectations these statistics created will stay, and up to date Octobers haven't been variety to Judge. He is 10-for-70 (.143) with 5 residence runs, six walks and 25 strikeouts over his previous three postseasons. In 2022, the final time the Yankees reached the playoffs, he went 5-for-36 with 15 strikeouts in 9 video games after setting the AL file for residence runs in a season. That included a 1-for-16 efficiency — and rounds of boos at Yankee Stadium — in the ALCS towards the Astros. The stress shall be on Judge to ship in October and carry the Yankees to their first World Series since 2009. — Castillo
Record: 91-67
Previous rating: 5
There's a sense round the Padres that this season — coming off the dying of their beloved, free-spending proprietor Peter Seidler in November — has some serendipity to it. It was confirmed as soon as once more Tuesday night time, after they clinched a playoff spot by ending a recreation, preserving a two-run lead and leaving Shohei Ohtani in the on-deck circle, with a triple play. It was simply the third game-ending triple play of the wild-card period and the first ever to clinch a playoff spot. With it, the Padres improved to a serious league-best 41-17 since the All-Star break. Their lineup is buzzing, their rotation is dominating, and their bullpen is shortening video games. Said Padres basic supervisor A.J. Preller: “We feel like we're as dangerous as anybody.” — Gonzalez
Record: 90-68
Previous rating: 4
The Brewers took a second to rejoice one other division title — whereas shedding three of 4 to Arizona final weekend — however then received again to the work of making ready for the postseason. They may luck out contemplating the Mets and Braves need to play a doubleheader Monday upfront of the wild-card spherical starting Tuesday. There's a great probability Milwaukee will play the staff that emerges victorious from that, giving it an enormous pitching benefit. The Brewers aren't more likely to earn a bye this weekend, however two groups battling out for the proper to play them in Round 1 is the subsequent smartest thing. — Rogers
Record: 92-67
Previous rating: 6
The Guardians clinched their second AL Central title in three years and twelfth general on Saturday — after which clinched a first-round bye with Tuesday's win over the Reds. They did it with out ace Shane Bieber, who went down after two begins. They did it with out key relievers Trevor Stephan and James Karinchak, who each missed the whole season. They did it with out future Hall of Fame supervisor Terry Francona, as Stephen Vogt stepped into these huge sneakers.
Instead, they did it with Jose Ramirez, who's closing in on a 40-40 season and one other excessive end in the MVP voting (let's name him a future Hall of Famer, too). They did it with Josh Naylor becoming a member of Ramirez in the 100-RBI membership, Steven Kwan's All-Star first half, nearer Emmanuel Clase and the bullpen's dominant season, and a variety of well timed hitting. On to October. — Schoenfield
Record: 86-73
Previous rating: 8
The Astros' turnaround from a sluggish begin was accomplished Tuesday when a win over Seattle clinched their fourth straight AL West title and eighth straight playoff berth. The win additionally locked the Astros into the AL's 3-seed, and as they wait to see who they will face in the wild-card spherical, they will shift again into fear mode due to the problematic knee of star slugger Yordan Alvarez. Alvarez has already appeared in a career-high 147 video games, however a sprained knee now appears more likely to lower his common season brief. His final look was Sept. 22, and the timeline for his return is unclear, although the prospects embrace being obtainable at the outset of the postseason. Still, if Alvarez is not fairly prepared by subsequent week, Houston's slumberous begin might need come again to chunk it, as a result of it certain might use the additional time without work. — Doolittle
Record: 88-71
Previous rating: 7
The D-backs are an ideal instance of how shortly issues can nonetheless change in the standings. On Saturday night time, they received for the thirty eighth time in 58 video games throughout the second half, giving them a three-game cushion in the wild-card race. They proceeded to lose three in a row, trimming their benefit to solely half a recreation earlier than capturing a much-needed victory on Wednesday. Now their season will come right down to a weekend residence collection towards the division-rival Padres, house owners of the finest second-half file in baseball. After an 11-0 loss to the lowly Giants on Tuesday, D-backs supervisor Torey Lovullo reportedly held a staff assembly and tried to mild a fireplace beneath his gamers. “We've got to play better baseball,” he instructed the media thereafter. “We've got to play more focused baseball.” — Gonzalez
Record: 88-70
Previous rating: 9
Bad damage luck has been a theme for Baltimore this season, however the tide has turned in latest days. Zach Eflin (shoulder), Ramon Urias (ankle), Heston Kjerstad (concussion), Jacob Webb (elbow), Ryan Mountcastle (wrist), Danny Coulombe (elbow) and Jordan Westburg (hand) have all been reinstated from the injured checklist over the previous two weeks. Their returns make the Orioles as complete as they have been since the starting of the summer season. Just not as complete as they'd hoped. Grayson Rodríguez was anticipated to hitch the reinforcements — and bolster a shorthanded beginning rotation — earlier than the finish of the common season, however that does not seem doubtless as a result of the right-hander nonetheless has not confronted hitters since happening the IL with a proper lat pressure on Aug. 7. His absence would depart Baltimore with out a clear Game 3 starter behind Corbin Burnes and Eflin. — Castillo
Record: 87-70
Previous rating: 10
The Mets took three out of 4 towards Philadelphia over the weekend to set themselves up for the huge last street journey to Atlanta and Milwaukee, though that started with a 5-1 loss to the Braves on Tuesday, dropping New York's lead over the Braves to 1 recreation. Because of rainouts, the Mets must wait to complete that collection till Monday, the day after the common season technically ends. Meanwhile, Francisco Lindor has had only one at-bat since Sept. 13 as he battles a again damage, regardless of his hoping to get into the remainder of the Atlanta collection. Luisangel Acuna has managed to fill in properly, hitting .375/.394/.781 with three residence runs and 6 RBIs in his first 10 MLB video games. Still, getting Lindor again for the postseason — assuming the Mets maintain on to get there — stays paramount to their probabilities. — Schoenfield
Record: 86-71
Previous rating: 12
Looking up at the Mets and Diamondbacks in the wild-card race, Tuesday's recreation towards the Mets appeared like a must-win recreation, and the Braves delivered a 5-1 victory as Michael Harris II homered and doubled for his fifth straight multihit recreation and Spencer Schwellenbach tossed seven nice innings for his eighth win (not unhealthy for a pitcher who started the season in High-A). With each Wednesday's and Thursday's video games rained out, the Mets are scheduled to return to Atlanta for a doubleheader on Monday with and a doable playoff spot on the line. (Though, there is an opportunity the doubleheader wouldn't be wanted if the playoff race is settled by Sunday.) — Schoenfield
Record: 84-74
Previous rating: 13
The potential completion to Tarik Skubal's eventual Cy Young season was a definitive one: seven scoreless innings towards the Rays on Tuesday, culminating in a strikeout to safe his 18th win, drop his ERA to 2.39 and preserve the surging Tigers on the proper aspect of the wild-card standings with a 3rd straight victory. Detroit has received 13 of its final 16 video games and can end its common season with three video games towards a White Sox staff that is on the verge of setting the file for losses in a season. If the Tigers want Skubal to pitch in the regular-season finale Sunday, he'll be prepared. If not, he'll take the ball for Game 1 of the wild-card spherical. “This is why you play the game,” Skubal instructed reporters, “to play in moments like this.” — Gonzalez
Record: 84-74
Previous rating: 11
The Royals have just a few treasured remaining days in the 2024 season to outline their narrative as both of a surprising rise or considered one of an much more gorgeous plummet. The key to the joyful model of this story is most likely clutch hitting. For almost the whole marketing campaign, Kansas City's elite numbers with runners in scoring place have helped clarify its push into competition. Since first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino went down Aug. 29, this fickle power has betrayed the Royals. At that point, they led the majors with a .294 common with runners in scoring place. Since then, they're final at beneath .200. — Doolittle
Record: 82-76
Previous rating: 14
On Sept. 1, regardless of shedding 9 of 12 video games, the Twins have been sitting comfortably in a wild-card spot with a 4½-game cushion. That is now not the case. They are two video games out of a playoff spot with 4 video games remaining after dropping 14 of 23 video games in September. The offense has disappeared, scoring fewer than 5 runs in eight straight video games earlier than Wednesday's 8-3 win over the Marlins, which additionally stopped a three-game skid. The bullpen has been liable to implosions. The beginning rotation has been mediocre. All season, the Twins overcame accidents to vital gamers — particularly Carlos Correa, Royce Lewis and Byron Buxton — to carry regular in the playoff image. They want wins and nice luck in the subsequent 4 days to keep away from being erased from it. — Castillo
Record: 82-77
Previous rating: 15
Better late than by no means? Or already too late? The Mariners can nonetheless make the playoffs, however a variety of issues should break their means. Julio Rodriguez, for one, seems intent to make miracles occur. After floundering for months, the younger star has lastly morphed again into the participant many noticed as the potential face of baseball over the subsequent decade. J-Rod's major failing had been a puzzling lack of energy, resulting in an honest however empty batting common.
Well, in a 25-game span over the previous month, he is hitting .366/.407/625 with eight homers and has lifted his OPS from .660 to .736. While it won't be sufficient to get his staff into the postseason, at the very least, this end can have Mariners followers feeling significantly better about their franchise participant heading into the winter. — Doolittle
Record: 81-78
Previous rating: 16
The Cubs are testing the waters with some call-ups in the last days of the common season. They want an account of what precisely they've heading into the offseason. This winter might be the proper time for a mammoth commerce from their prospect group to be able to purchase a real star: Think Vladimir Guerrero Jr., if he is obtainable, or a pitcher of the identical caliber. Otherwise, the Cubs is perhaps caught in the center of the pack. They're a great staff, however their place participant group shall be a yr older — a number of turned 30 this season — so the group must make some daring selections. Chicago hasn't made the postseason in a full yr since 2018 — that ought to be the driving power between now and subsequent April. — Rogers
Record: 80-79
Previous rating: 17
If all goes as deliberate, the Red Sox can have 4 premier prospects make their main league debuts subsequent season. Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, Kristian Campbell and Kyle Teel, all considered top-25 prospects, completed 2024 in Triple-A, although Mayer did not play after his promotion. It's an proprietor's dream: 4 gifted, younger and inexpensive contributors beneath membership management for the subsequent six years (at the very least). As of now, they'd be a part of a place participant group headlined by All-Star Game MVP Jarren Duran, three-time All-Star Rafael Devers, 2024 AL Rookie of the Year candidate Wilyer Abreu and slugger Triston Casas.
The drawback? None of the 4 prospects are pitchers. Boston should tackle its pitching employees — each the rotation and bullpen — this winter if it desires to compete in the loaded AL East after three straight seasons with out a playoff look. That might imply buying and selling from the place gamers already in the huge leagues or the ones coming by the pipeline. — Castillo
Record: 81-77
Previous rating: 18
What's going to occur to Paul Goldschmidt? A spring extension by no means materialized, and now he is ending off arguably the worst yr of his profession. At 36 years outdated, it isn't surprising that he is perhaps slowing down, however he most likely nonetheless has a great yr or two left in him. He's not that far faraway from being a dominant hitter, successful NL MVP as just lately as 2022. The excellent news is Goldy can nonetheless hit a fastball — he simply did not barrel up off-speed stuff this season like he has in the previous. A reset with a brand new staff is perhaps so as. — Rogers
Record: 79-80
Previous rating: 21
Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi outlined the staff's offseason blueprint to beat reporters just lately, expressing a want to amass a shortstop; carry again frontline starter Blake Snell, who appears sure to choose out; and never block the path of 19-year-old high prospect Bryce Eldridge at first base. Zaidi additionally acknowledged, after a fifth playoff absence in his six years atop baseball operations, that he won't be the one making these selections. “It's my job to evaluate everything in my purview, and it's their job to evaluate everything in my purview plus me,” Zaidi, referencing the Giants' possession group, instructed native reporters. “And so I think that process is happening, and I understand it.” — Gonzalez
Record: 78-80
Previous rating: 19
The Rays, although mathematically alive in the wild-card race, will miss the postseason after 5 consecutive appearances. There's an opportunity they will end beneath .500 for the first time since 2016. However, their monitor file — and projected 2025 roster — suggests it will be a one-year blip. The basis for this yr's falloff was the spate of accidents to their beginning pitchers. Shane McClanahan, an All-Star the previous two seasons, did not pitch in any respect after present process Tommy John surgical procedure final yr. Jeffrey Springs, Shane Baz, Drew Rasmussen, Ryan Pepiot and Taj Bradley all missed chunks of time. Zack Littell, who had by no means made greater than 14 begins in a season, leads the staff with 28.
Assuming these gamers are wholesome, the Rays ought to have considered one of the strongest rotations in baseball with out making any offseason additions. Factor of their perennially elite bullpen plus a strong place participant core, buoyed by high prospect Junior Caminero in his first full huge league season, and the Rays ought to return to playoff competition in 2025. — Castillo
Record: 76-83
Previous rating: 20
The Reds' managerial search is starting in earnest after the staff dismissed David Bell after a lackluster season. They had excessive hopes for 2024, and sure will once more subsequent yr, however hiring the proper candidate to carry out the finest of their younger staff is paramount. A veteran supervisor is most likely the proper transfer — there are lots on the market with expertise — however the roster ought to be augmented as nicely. Cincinnati does not all the time dip an excessive amount of into free company however might need to assume greater if it desires to take the subsequent step. A revered supervisor mixed with a big-name addition on the mound might get the Reds nearer to the place they wish to be. — Rogers
Record: 75-83
Previous rating: 22
If there is one factor that the Rangers may like to see earlier than the season winds down, it is Justin Foscue stringing collectively just a few hits. Extra-base hits can be additional good. Foscue mashed his means by the minors with a .278/.388/.499 slash line, primarily as a second baseman. At 25 years outdated, an age at which high prospects must be transitioning to the majors, Foscue started working at first base in spring coaching and performed there regularly all through the season. He has largely been a chosen hitter throughout three completely different stints in the majors this yr.
And whereas he has a bat that must play anyplace, he has put up numbers that will not play, interval. Foscue began his huge league profession by going 2-for-38 with a lone extra-base hit (a double). On the vivid aspect, the pattern is tiny and he ought to be high-quality in the future. Still, it'd assist solidify Texas' plan for 2025 if he rang up just a few hits to finish the season. — Doolittle
Record: 74-85
Previous rating: 23
Bo Bichette's maddening 2024 season concluded in merciless vogue final week when he fractured his proper center finger taking floor balls pregame after coming back from almost a two-month absence. Will that be the finish of his Blue Jays profession? That's considered one of a number of questions in Toronto heading into the offseason. Rumors about the staff's willingness to commerce the shortstop started swirling final winter earlier than his twenty sixth birthday, as he had two years of membership management remaining. But Bichette was coming off his second All-Star season and batting .306 with 20 residence runs and an .814 OPS.
This time, the Blue Jays can be dealing low after Bichette slashed .225/.277/.322 with 4 residence runs in 81 video games. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., their different franchise cornerstone, is additionally one yr away from free company and ending up one other large season. Do they commerce him along with his worth as excessive because it's ever going to be? Or do they attempt to lengthen and construct round him? Toronto has some vital selections to make. — Castillo
Record: 74-84
Previous rating: 24
If the Pirates have been keen to take dramatic motion — reducing infielder Rowdy Tellez — to avoid wasting $200,000, then what does that say about their upcoming offseason? They have been as frugal as any staff in the sport, however with Paul Skenes and Jared Jones in tow, there was a sense they'd transfer shortly to construct round their two energy arms. Perhaps they nonetheless will, however they misplaced the public relations battle this week to be able to save a couple of dollars, which is by no means a great look to followers. Actions communicate louder than phrases, so it doesn't matter what Pirates executives say about Tellez, or something actually, the winter shall be the story of whether or not Pittsburgh will ever be severe about successful once more. — Rogers
Record: 68-90
Previous rating: 25
Thursday is it for the Oakland Athletics. One extra tilt towards the Rangers and the A's then head out for a season-ending collection at Seattle. At some level after that, they will merely be often known as the Vagabond Athletics (not an official moniker, however as a result of the staff is punting on adopting a brand new metropolis label, we get to fill in the blanks). One sensible level for constructing towards subsequent season is determining how their non permanent residence in Sacramento will play. For what it is price, Sutter Health Park has usually performed as a pitching-friendly venue that is robust for residence run hitters. In different phrases, it'd play much like the park the Athletics are leaving. Still, figuring out that may impression how they form their subsequent few rosters. — Doolittle
Record: 69-89
Previous rating: 26
The Nationals despatched All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams to Triple-A over the weekend with what supervisor Dave Martinez termed an “internal issue,” however studies surfaced that Abrams had been out at a neighborhood Chicago on line casino, leaving solely hours earlier than a 1 p.m. recreation that afternoon. Abrams made the All-Star staff this season after hitting .268 with an .831 OPS in the first half, however he slumped to .203 with a .586 OPS in the second half. Abrams clearly stays an enormous a part of the Nationals' future, however except for maturity points, the membership should decide if that is going to be at shortstop. Via Statcast's outs above common, he was the worst shortstop in the recreation in 2024 (first percentile, 18 outs beneath common). — Schoenfield
Record: 63-95
Previous rating: 27
Perhaps the Angels' greatest offseason determination is figuring out what function, if any, Anthony Rendon can have going ahead. Given the head-slapping $77 million he has coming his means for the subsequent two seasons, it is all however sure he'll be penciled in as their 2025 third baseman. The cash is a sunk value it doesn't matter what occurs, and if the Halos are intent on constructing a win-now staff round Mike Trout, they can not afford to have an on a regular basis third baseman who slugs .267 — if he is on the subject in any respect. And with prospect Christian Moore rising quick, they'll have choices on the infield. Chances are, Rendon shall be again, however perhaps the Angels' finest plan is to construct the roster as if he weren't. — Doolittle
(*26*)
Record: 60-98
Previous rating: 28
A weekend residence collection towards the Dodgers will mark the finish of Charlie Blackmon's profession. The lifelong Rockie introduced Tuesday that he'll retire at the common season's conclusion, ending a profession that spanned 14 seasons, included 4 journeys to the All-Star Game and was constructed on unrelenting dedication. Fittingly, former teammate Nolan Arenado was there to observe him tackle the media. Blackmon's prime coincided with a quick interval when the Rockies — additionally led by the likes of Arenado, Trevor Story, D.J. LeMahieu, Kyle Freeland and German Marquez — have been in a position to break by to the playoffs. Now they're hoping to only barely keep away from a second consecutive 100-loss season. It's a brand new chapter, certainly. — Gonzalez
Record: 58-100
Previous rating: 29
With a 100-loss season on the ledger for 2024, the Marlins have now misplaced at the very least 93 video games in 5 of the previous six full seasons, squeezing in playoff seasons in 2020 (31-29) and 2023 (84-78). The first step of the offseason shall be changing supervisor Skip Schumaker, who received NL Manager of the Year in 2023 however does not have a contract for 2025 (either side agreed final offseason to void a membership possibility for 2025). The subsequent step shall be making an attempt to evaluate the well being of all their pitcher accidents this season and what meaning for subsequent yr. Sixto Sanchez did make a one-inning rehab look in Triple-A, however Braxton Garrett had a setback after a latest bullpen session. Sandy Alcantara ought to be prepared for spring coaching, and we'll see about Jesus Luzardo. Eury Perez will nonetheless be recovering from Tommy John surgical procedure. — Schoenfield
Record: 38-120
Previous rating: 30
Getting previous their historic season of shedding, the White Sox have some enterprise to take care of in the type of a brand new supervisor. GM Chris Getz reversed course this week, stating that interim supervisor Grady Sizemore would get the alternative to remain on — however he is removed from the favourite. Getz desires an professional in participant improvement, and that candidate might come from anyplace in the majors. He'll interview candidates starting subsequent month whereas additionally studying what different organizations do nicely. Chicago might study lots from its opponents in the AL Central, all of whom have small payrolls however nice success at discovering and creating expertise. — Rogers
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