2026 MLB Power Rankings: July 1st Update

30. Colorado Rockies (Previous Ranking: 29)

June Record: 11-15

We have been delaying the inevitable over the past few power rankings, but it has finally happened. The Colorado Rockies have landed back at the bottom of our power rankings. Having the worst record and the worst run differential in the sport puts the Rockies squarely at the bottom.

29. New York Mets (Previous Ranking: 22)

June Record: 10-17

The New York Mets’ season was on life support after a brutal 7-19 month of April, but last month, they seemed to be trending in the right direction.

Rookies Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing were providing a spark to a Mets outfield that already had Juan Soto. Francisco Lindor was working his way back from the IL and was expected to return at some point in June. All the Mets had to do was keep their heads above water until he got there.

Instead, they drowned.

The Mets played .500 baseball for the first two weeks of June, sitting at around seven games under .500 all month. Then they played the Phillies, who outscored them 21-5 across the final two games of a series. The Mets lost seven games in a row, with manager Carlos Mendoza being let go after the first six.

Now the Mets look to be prime sellers at this year’s deadline, as they have effectively dug a hole that they no longer have time to dig their way out of.

28. Los Angeles Angels (Previous Ranking: 28)

June Record: 13-14

No movement from the Los Angeles Angels in this power ranking as the only major thing that has changed for the Angels over the past month is that Mike Trout has landed on the IL.

The Angels have a surprisingly strong starting rotation (one which could be shopped at the trade deadline), and Zach Neto remains one of the game’s most underrated shortstops, but this team is a longshot to make a playoff push, even in a wide-open American League.

27. San Francisco Giants (Previous Ranking: 27)

June Record: 12-14

The San Francisco Giants have already accepted their fate as sellers at this year’s trade deadline, with pretty much every major player under contract outside of Logan Webb reportedly being on the block. The Giants were buried by a 10-18 month of May, which they followed with a much more respectable June.

Rookie Bryce Eldridge has more than found his footing with more playing time, as he posted 150 wRC+ in the month of June. Rafael Devers, Matt Chapman, Jung Hoo Lee and Luis Arraez all thrived this month as well. Unfortunately, it was likely too little too late for the Giants, who still couldn’t manage to post even a .500 record in June.

26. Kansas City Royals (Previous Ranking: 26)

June Record: 13-14

The Kansas City Royals entered the month of June 15 games under .500, coming off a pair of abysmal months to start their season in April and May. June brought a better string of play for the Royals, who have seen the emergence of Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen, giving Bobby Witt Jr. a pair of running-mates in the lineup.

The emergence of a budding young core is great for the future of the Royals, but it may not be enough to help in the present. The good news for Kansas City is that they belong to the American League, so one winning streak could get them back into the race. But the Royals are running out of time to do so.

25. Cincinnati Reds (Previous Ranking: 14)

June Record: 9-17

The Reds have been on a steady drop down our power rankings, as they were a top 10 team in baseball after a strong 20-11 start to their season, which had them in first place in the NL Central. Everything changed once the calendar flipped to May, and they have been on a decline ever since.

The return of Elly De La Cruz should help the Reds, but he returns to a lineup that only featured one hitter who’s finished June with a wRC+ over 103. Chase Burns and Brady Singer have both thrown the ball well out of the Reds rotation, but they have struggled to find consistency from the rest of their starters.

In a division where the Pirates and Cardinals have been surprise contenders this year, the Reds are fading to the point of irrelevance.

24. Detroit Tigers (Previous Ranking: 30)

June Record: 15-11

The Detroit Tigers are one of the more fascinating teams in baseball right now, with all eyes on Tarik Skubal and the decision that will be made at the trade deadline.

A solid month of June showed that the Tigers could contend this year, especially in a terrible American League. A 6.5-game deficit is not impossible for Detroit to overcome, but they will need to do a lot of that legwork in July to avoid a sell-off.

Skubal will be the most talked-about player in baseball this month, as the Tigers could receive a haul of prospects for him if dealt. Losing Skubal will be a tough pill for the fan base to swallow, but if it is inevitable, Detroit may be wise to pull the trigger, as the return is sure to exceed the value of the comp pick they’d get for Skubal turning down the qualifying offer.

23. Baltimore Orioles (Previous Ranking: 19)

June Record: 11-16

The Baltimore Orioles went into this season hoping to be contenders, but so far this year has played out a lot more like 2025 than 2024. The Orioles have yet to have a winning month this season, and playing five games under .500 in June constitutes their worst month yet.

Trevor Rogers had a return to form this month, Shane Baz has thrown the ball well, and Brandon Young is enjoying much more success in his sophomore season than he did as a rookie back in 2025. Kyle Bradish struggled a bit in June (4.55 ERA), and Trey Gibson was almost a scheduled loss for Baltimore (9.58 ERA).

On offense, Pete Alonso has really hit his stride, leading the Orioles with eight home runs, 23 RBIs and a 161 wRC+. Blaze Alexander represented another bright spot, posting a 171 wRC+ in 23 games, but the Orioles did not have many other standouts to speak of in June.

22. Boston Red Sox (Previous Ranking: 25)

June Record: 12-14

The Boston Red Sox are an enigma wrapped in a riddle. On one hand, almost every move they made this offseason panned out. Ranger Suarez and Sonny Gray have headlined a solid Red Sox rotation, and Willson Contreras has been the Red Sox’s best hitter.

Even Caleb Durbin has started to settle in, hitting six home runs and running a 160 wRC+ across the month of June. For Boston, it is the incumbents who have struggled, as Jarren Duran is mired in a miserable season, meanwhile Roman Anthony hasn’t been able to stay on the field.

Boston could still conceivably get back in the race, but the clock is ticking on their season.

21. Athletics (Previous Ranking: 24)

June Record: 12-15

There’s still a lot to like about the A’s on the offensive side of the ball, even if consistency has been a problem for most of their promising bats. In June, Nick Kurtz continued to do what Nick Kurtz does, while Zack Gelof and Tyler Soderstrom looked hot, and Henry Bolte impressed.

Unfortunately, the pitching staff struggled to an MLB-worst 6.20 ERA, despite Gage Jump’s best efforts. The Athletics are still only 3.5 games back of a Wild Card spot, but their -65 run differential is the third-worst in the majors. Early in the season, we were asking if the A’s were contenders or pretenders. It’s starting to look like they’ve answered that question, and not in the way their fans were hoping.

Middle of the Pack

20. Arizona Diamondbacks (Previous Ranking: 7)

June Record: 12-15

After a strong start to the season, the Diamondbacks fall 13 spots to No. 20 in the power rankings after going 12-15 in the month of June. Their 12-18 record over their last 30 games is the second-worst in MLB, ahead of only the Cincinnati Reds, who are 11-19 over their last 30. Likewise, their -24 run differential ranks 11th worst in the National League and 19th in MLB.

The Diamondbacks haven’t done anything particularly well this season. Their offense ranks 25th in baseball with a 92 wRC+ and 27th with a .694 OPS. Though Corbin Carroll is doing his best to buoy the lineup, only four hitters in Arizona’s current starting lineup have a wRC+ over 100.

Eduardo Rodriguez and his 2.21 ERA have been a savior for a Diamondbacks rotation that ranks 18th in baseball in ERA, while the bullpen has been closer to league average. Still, there are too many shortcomings on this roster to ignore.

19. Toronto Blue Jays (Previous Ranking: 16)

June Record: 11-15

After it looked like the Blue Jays were trending in the right direction in May, a disappointing June has the reigning AL champions sitting third in the AL East, 11 games behind the division lead and three games out of a playoff spot.

Still, it feels as though it’s only a matter of time before this team returns to form. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer each own a wRC+ below 100, and Alejandro Kirk is still finding his footing after returning from the injured list with a 49 wRC+. But each of those players has too strong of a track record to believe those struggles will continue.

If any of those three return to their 2025 form, it could change the trajectory of the season. But that hasn’t happened yet, and the calendar has already turned to July. The offense, dealing with injuries throughout the season, ranks 25th in runs scored and sits in the bottom 10 in both OPS and wRC+.

To Toronto’s credit, it has weathered a tremendous wave of injuries to its starting rotation. Arms are beginning to get healthy, and the Blue Jays’ bullpen ranks 10th in MLB in ERA thanks in large part to Louis Varland’s full-fledged breakout. The pieces are there for this team to climb these rankings by the next update, but for now, it’s difficult to justify placing them any higher than No. 19.

18. Minnesota Twins (Previous Ranking: 18)

June Record: 14-13

The Twins remain at No. 18 on this list heading into July. Though I’m sure if you were to tell a Twins fan at the start of the season that they’d be here, they’d likely be pleased.

Sitting at 41-46, the Twins are 5.5 games behind the division lead and just three games out of a playoff spot. Believe it or not, this team isn’t out of it, and the offense has quietly been one of the best units in baseball through the end of June.

Minnesota’s offense ranks seventh in MLB with 4.85 runs per game, eighth with a 104 wRC+, and ninth with a .734 OPS. With Royce Lewis heating up since returning from the injured list, this team’s playoff hopes will likely be carried by its offense.

The rotation has names to like and ranks near the middle of the pack, but the elephant in the room is whether the front office elects to retain ace Joe Ryan or trade him at the deadline. What’s more, Minnesota’s bullpen has been dreadful this season, posting a league-worst 5.50 ERA.

While the offense provides some intrigue, the pitching staff leaves a lot to be desired, and the direction the Twins choose at the trade deadline clouds their overall outlook.

17. Pittsburgh Pirates (Previous Ranking: 13)

June Record: 11-15

The Pirates made a surge in May but hit a speed bump in June, going 11-15 and dropping to No. 17 in these rankings. But the sky-high potential in the rotation is still there, and the offense has actually been the second-best unit in baseball by wRC+.

The Pirates sport a +24 run differential, the sixth-best mark in the National League. Pittsburgh has also scored the third-most runs in baseball while ranking behind only the Los Angeles Dodgers in both OPS and wRC+. Pirates fans have waited a long, long time for this type of offensive production.

The rotation, while not quite as dominant as some might have hoped entering the season, has still been solid, ranking ninth in MLB in ERA and fifth in fWAR. Plus, any rotation led by Paul Skenes has the potential to take off at any moment.

The bullpen has been this team’s biggest shortcoming. The unit posted a 5.15 ERA in June, which ranked 23rd in baseball, and it sits in the bottom third of the league in both ERA and WHIP overall. It lacks a true closer, making that an area the Pirates are expected to address at the deadline.

In a loaded NL Central, Pittsburgh’s path to the postseason will likely come through a wild-card spot. The Pirates are currently three games out of a playoff spot, but don’t be surprised if they work their way into the picture over the coming weeks.

16. Washington Nationals (Previous Ranking: 17)

June Record: 13-14

The Nationals have been one of the biggest surprises of the 2026 season. Some had high hopes for this offense, but I don’t think anyone could have predicted it would rank second in runs scored heading into July.

Led by James Wood and his second-year leap, the Nationals’ offense ranks fifth in wRC+ and seventh in OPS. They’ve made a living on the long ball, hitting the fifth-most home runs while ranking third in MLB in both slugging percentage and isolated power.

Pitching was expected to be this team’s weakness entering the season, and that has come to fruition. The staff ranks 25th in MLB with a 4.72 ERA, 29th with a 4.80 FIP, and last with a meager 0.6 fWAR.

Foster Griffin has been the team’s unsung hero, posting a sub-3.00 ERA in nearly 100 innings. But the rest of the rotation has been nothing to write home about. Meanwhile, the bullpen ranks in the bottom five in ERA, FIP, WHIP, and opponent batting average.

The Nationals are just 2.5 games out of a wild-card spot, and they should continue to hang around the postseason conversation as long as the offense keeps producing at this level.

15. Seattle Mariners (Previous Ranking: 12)

June Record: 13-14

The Mariners can’t seem to shake their mediocrity, and as a result, they land right in the middle of these power rankings. At 44-43, Seattle recently surrendered the division lead to the Rangers, though it currently holds the final AL wild-card spot by 1.5 games. Still, this team has left a lot on the table through the first half of the season.

After finishing as one of baseball’s better offensive clubs last season, Seattle ranks 13th with a 102 wRC+ but just 26th with a .696 OPS. On one hand, that’s somewhat encouraging considering Cal Raleigh missed a month with an oblique strain and has struggled when on the field, Josh Naylor has posted below-average production, and Brendan Donovan has spent much of the season on the injured list.

On the other hand, too many key contributors haven’t produced at the level they did a season ago when Seattle nearly reached the World Series. Moreover, the offense ranked 26th in wRC+ and 28th in OPS during June, so it’s not as if it’s beginning to find its footing.

Pitching continues to be the backbone of this team. The rotation ranks seventh in ERA and second in both FIP and fWAR, while the bullpen, despite Andrés Muñoz’s struggles, ranks seventh in ERA and third in FIP.

Dominic Canzone and his 153 wRC+, along with Randy Arozarena, have done their best to keep the offense afloat. It feels like a matter of time before Seattle goes on a run, but if it doesn’t happen soon, the Rangers could continue to pull away in the AL West.

14. Houston Astros (Previous Ranking: 20)

June Record: 16-11

After a brutal start to the 2026 season, when they opened the year 12-20, the Astros have gone 31-25 since, climbing six spots in these power rankings and, more importantly, back into playoff contention.

The Astros are 17-13 over their last 30 games, tied for the seventh-best record in MLB. Their offense, which was one of the worst units in baseball in May, took a step forward in June. Yordan Alvarez leads MLB with a 179 wRC+ this season, and he’s the only qualified hitter with an OPS above 1.000 (1.031), which certainly helps.

Isaac Paredes and Jeremy Peña posted OPS marks of .913 and .865 in June, respectively, while Cam Smith’s bat is trending in the right direction. Having that group shoulder more of the offensive burden would go a long way toward improving Houston’s playoff chances.

The rotation has been battered by injuries, and Astros starters own the second-worst ERA in MLB as a result. Hunter Brown recently returned from the injured list, and Tatsuya Imai is beginning to settle in, so better days should be ahead for Houston’s rotation.

The bullpen has greatly underperformed relative to preseason expectations, but Josh Hader returned earlier this month, and Bryan Abreu has looked much more like himself of late, posting a 2.55 ERA over his last 20 appearances.

After it looked like the Astros were destined to be sellers following a dreadful May, they’re suddenly just one game out of a postseason spot.

13. Texas Rangers (Previous Ranking: 21)

June Record: 16-11

The Rangers are one of the hottest teams in baseball. A 19-11 record over their last 30 games has propelled them up both the AL standings and these power rankings. Texas currently leads the AL West by one game over Seattle, and while the Rangers are trending upward, the Mariners are headed in the opposite direction.

Despite Corey Seager’s slow start, the lineup has been remarkably balanced. Losing Wyatt Langford to a recent hamstring injury certainly stings, but six hitters in the Rangers’ current lineup own a wRC+ above 100. Led by Joc Pederson, who has returned to form with an .804 OPS, and Josh Jung, who has broken out with a 124 wRC+, Texas’ offense ranked fourth in the American League in June with a 110 wRC+.

Jacob deGrom, MacKenzie Gore, and Nathan Eovaldi form a formidable three-headed monster at the top of the rotation, while the bullpen, anchored by Jacob Latz and his 1.76 ERA, ranks near the middle of the pack in ERA, FIP, and fWAR.

Texas might not excel in any one area, but it has been consistently solid across the board. That might not sound like much, but given the current state of the American League, it’s enough to make the Rangers one of the AL’s best teams heading into July.

12. San Diego Padres (Previous Ranking: 11)

June Record: 11-15

The Padres are one of the more fascinating teams in baseball. Despite the well-documented struggles of the stars in their lineup — including Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill, Manny Machado, and Xander Bogaerts — the team somehow managed a 32-26 start that placed them near the top of the NL standings heading into June.

But at what point does the lack of offensive production catch up to them? As a team, the Padres rank dead last in MLB in wRC+, OPS, batting average, on-base percentage, and runs scored. Despite sitting two games above .500, they own a -16 run differential.

Like so many other teams, injuries have also plagued San Diego’s rotation. Padres starters rank 24th in ERA and fWAR and 25th in FIP. They’re also in the bottom third of the league in strikeout rate, walk rate, WHIP, and opponent batting average.

The bullpen has been this team’s saving grace, and the investment A.J. Preller made at last year’s trade deadline by acquiring Mason Miller has paid off. Miller owns a 0.78 ERA and was in the early Cy Young conversation, three Padres relievers own sub-2.00 ERAs, and five have ERAs below 3.00.

But at the end of the day, the Padres deserve credit for finding ways to win. Few teams have been better in late-game situations, and they have the lockdown bullpen to slam the door on opponents. Is it sustainable? That remains to be seen. But heading into July, the 43-41 Padres are right on the edge of the playoff picture.

11. St. Louis Cardinals (Previous Ranking: 15)

June Record: 13-12

The Cardinals have embraced their youth this season, and it’s led to a 44-38 record that currently places them in a postseason spot. While they stumbled to the finish in June, there’s no denying they’ve been one of the best teams in MLB through the first few months of the season.

The top half of the Cardinals’ lineup rivals any in baseball, with each of the first five hitters sporting a wRC+ of 120 or higher. JJ Wetherholt is the current odds-on favorite to win NL Rookie of the Year, Jordan Walker’s breakout has been one of the best stories in baseball this season, and several young players at the top of the lineup have taken a step forward in 2026.

Heading into the season, the expectation was that if this team was going to be successful, it would be because many of its young hitters took a step forward. So far, that’s been exactly the case.

The starting rotation has held its own, too. Cardinals starters rank 12th in ERA, with Michael McGreevy, Andre Pallante, Kyle Leahy, and Dustin May all providing strong performances through the first half of the season.

There were questions surrounding this pitching staff entering the season, and so far it has put many of those concerns to rest. The Cardinals have been one of the most impressive teams in baseball relative to preseason expectations, and they climb four spots in these power rankings heading into July.

Top 10 Teams in Major League Baseball

10. Cleveland Guardians (Previous Ranking: 6)

June Record: 10-15

The Guardians stumbled in June, but they still find themselves two games above .500 and two games behind the division-leading White Sox. With José Ramírez on the injured list, the offense has struggled mightily.

Just four hitters in Cleveland’s current lineup own a wRC+ above 100. As a team, the Guardians rank 28th in both runs scored and OPS and 26th in wRC+. They posted the second-worst wRC+ in baseball (77) during June, a major reason behind their 10-15 record for the month.

But the pitching has kept this team afloat. Gavin Williams, Parker Messick, Tanner Bibee, and Joey Cantillo all own ERAs below 4.00, with Messick leading the way at 2.85. As a staff, Cleveland’s rotation ranks sixth in MLB in ERA.

The bullpen has been a borderline top-10 unit as well, despite Cade Smith and Hunter Gaddis both carrying ERAs above 3.00. In a weak American League, the Guardians’ pitching has been good enough to keep them firmly in the playoff hunt and within the top 10 in these power rankings.

9. Chicago White Sox (Previous Ranking: 10)

June Record: 13-12

It’s been an electric start to the season on the South Side. Heading into July, the White Sox sit six games above .500 with a two-game lead in the AL Central, and their +30 run differential is tied with the Rays for the second-best mark in the American League.

Led by the breakouts of Miguel Vargas and Sam Antonacci, Chicago’s offense ranks fifth in MLB with a 107 wRC+ and a .741 OPS. Eight of the nine hitters in the White Sox’s current lineup own a wRC+ above 100. Kyle Teel is the lone exception, though he has played just seven games since returning from a hamstring strain.

This team has played with a special type of energy all season. With the third-youngest lineup in MLB, the White Sox’s offense has fired on all cylinders.

Davis Martin and his 3.00 ERA have led the way in the rotation, while the bullpen has received valuable contributions from Grant Taylor, Bryan Hudson, and Sean Newcomb, each of whom owns an ERA below 3.00. A division title is well within reach for the 2026 White Sox if the offense can sustain this level of production.

8. Miami Marlins (Previous Ranking: 23)

June Record: 20-6

The hottest team in baseball in the month of June, the Miami Marlins leapfrogged half the league to go from ranked 23rd to squarely in the top 10.

Sandy Alcantara and Max Meyer have been a great 1-2 punch atop the Marlins’ rotation, and Eury Perez has returned off the IL to make two really strong starts. The Marlins bullpen has been great, and their lineup has been one of the most potent in the game.

Otto Lopez has been a breakout star, which should result in his first career All-Star selection in a few weeks. Last year’s All-Star Kyle Stowers has started to hit his stride, and Joe Mack has been a revelation for the Fish, both behind the dish and in the batter’s box.

The Marlins can’t possibly sustain the run they just went on through June, but they are looking like a true playoff contender that no one is going to want to play down the stretch.

7. Chicago Cubs (Previous Ranking: 9)

June Record: 16-10

The Chicago Cubs have been one of the streakier teams in baseball this season, and the month of June was no different. After suffering a 10-game losing streak at the end of May, the Cubs opened June losing six of their first eight games, falling to 34-34 on the season on June 10th.

From that point on, the Cubs went on a tear, winning 14 of their final 18 games in June to finish six games over .500 in the month. The Cubs went into Milwaukee last weekend and sent a message by taking a series from the Brewers, and have since won the first two games of their series against the Padres.

With a rotation that has been ravaged by injuries, the Cubs made an early trade to address their needs, picking up southpaw David Peterson in a trade with the New York Mets. Peterson had struggled mightily with the Mets, but came just one out shy of a quality start in his Cubs debut.

The Cubs hope that with a fortified rotation and a red-hot lineup, they can continue to ascend up these rankings, and more importantly, up the standings.

6. Tampa Bay Rays (Previous Ranking: 4)

June Record: 13-13

Tampa Bay enters July with the best record in the American League at 49-33, boasting a 2.5-game lead in the AL East.

While the back half of the lineup leaves something to be desired, the top three have been as dangerous as any in baseball. Yandy Díaz and Junior Caminero each own a wRC+ above 155 and an OPS north of .920, while Jonathan Aranda isn’t far behind with a 141 wRC+.

That three-headed monster has powered an offense that ranks seventh in MLB in wRC+, and that’s been more than enough with how well the pitching staff has performed.

The Rays’ rotation ranks third in MLB in ERA while sitting among the top six in FIP, WHIP, and opponent batting average. Drew Rasmussen has continued his yearly dominance, Nick Martinez owns a sub-3.00 ERA, and both Griffin Jax and Shane McClanahan have posted ERAs in the mid-3.00s.

The bullpen could be improved at the trade deadline, but Bryan Baker has emerged as the team’s closer and has been one of baseball’s best relievers over the past month. It’s also worth noting that no team in MLB has a better home record than the Rays, who are 31-12 at the Trop.

5. New York Yankees (Previous Ranking: 5)

June Record: 12-14

Despite a sub-.500 record in June, the Yankees still look like the best team in the American League. That says a lot about how non-competitive the AL has looked this year, but make no mistake, the Yankees are a very powerful team.

Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger slumped in June, while Aaron Judge missed the whole month on the injured list. Paul Goldschmidt picked up the slack, with some help from Trent Grisham and Spencer Jones. It’s fair to be skeptical that any of Goldschmidt, Grisham, or Jones can keep it up, but they shouldn’t have to.

The starting pitching also took a step back in June, but it’s hard to worry too much about a staff that features Cam Schlitter, Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, Will Warren, and Ryan Weathers, with Max Fried hopefully on the way back soon. The same is true for a bullpen led by David Bednar, Fernando Cruz, and Camilo Doval. The Yankees have their problems, but they also have too much talent to expect another sub-.500 month in July.

4. Atlanta Braves (Previous Ranking: 2)

June Record: 9-14

The Braves were the hottest team in baseball out of the gate, and despite a 9-14 record in June, they still crack the top five in these power rankings.

The offense took a step back in June, finishing the month with the lowest OPS and wRC+ in baseball. Even so, Atlanta still ranks near the middle of the pack offensively on the season and sits among the top 10 in runs scored per game, despite Ronald Acuña Jr. missing a significant chunk of time over the past few months.

Most of the hitters in Atlanta’s lineup have been above average, with Michael Harris II, Drake Baldwin, and Matt Olson performing at an even higher level.

The starting rotation, despite dealing with a myriad of injuries this season, ranks eighth in MLB in ERA. Meanwhile, the bullpen owns the best ERA in baseball by nearly half a run heading into July. Braves relievers also lead MLB in both FIP and WHIP while ranking second in opponent batting average.

After taking a step back in 2025, the Braves have reestablished themselves as one of the National League’s biggest threats and hold a 2.5-game lead in the NL East entering July.

3. Philadelphia Phillies (Previous Ranking: 8)

June Record: 18-9

As Atlanta jumped out to a red-hot start and Philadelphia wallowed below .500, it looked like the Phillies’ chances of defending their division crown were slim. Yet, entering play on July 1, they’re only 2.5 games back in the NL East. They’re still legitimate World Series contenders, and they proved it with a dominant showing in June.

Cristopher Sánchez and Zack Wheeler are the best one-two punch in baseball right now, and Jhoan Duran is as terrifying as any closer this side of Mason Miller. Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper are almost powerful enough to carry the lineup on their own, and with Brandon Marsh’s help, they led an offense that scored the second-most runs in MLB in June.

This team is still top-heavy, and they still might lead to problems, but the stars are doing everything they need to right now. If the biggest names can keep carrying the Phillies until reinforcements arrive at the deadline, the NL East could be a thrilling race down the stretch.

2. Milwaukee Brewers (Previous Ranking: 3)

June Record: 17-10

One of just two teams with 50 wins, the Brewers have picked up right where they left off after their historic 2025 season. It was a slow start to the year, but getting Jackson Chourio, Christian Yelich, and Andrew Vaughn back in the lineup over the past few months has done wonders for the offense.

Despite ranking 27th in MLB with 78 home runs, the Brewers rank fourth in the league in runs scored, sixth in wRC+, and seventh in fWAR. They’re walking at the second-highest clip in baseball, striking out at one of the lowest rates, and have the fifth-most steals in MLB. They’re once again making a living by putting together quality at-bats and doing the little things well.

On the pitching side, Jacob Misiorowski and Kyle Harrison have formed one of the most lethal one-two punches in the game. Misiorowski is the odds-on favorite for the National League Cy Young Award, while Harrison has posted a sub-2.60 ERA across 77 innings. Milwaukee’s rotation leads MLB in ERA, FIP, fWAR, and opponent batting average while ranking second in WHIP.

The bullpen has once again held its own, ranking in the top 10 in both ERA and FIP. The Brewers are doing what they do best: They’re a fundamentally sound, well-rounded ball club that constantly puts pressure on opponents, and that’s propelled them to the second-best record in MLB.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (Previous Ranking: 1)

June Record: 18-9

The Los Angeles Dodgers are right where they were last month, and really where they have been for the last two seasons: on the mountaintop, looking down on everyone else.

Aiming for their third-straight World Series, the Dodgers are a machine that just keeps rolling. No matter who ends up on the IL, who ends up struggling, the Dodgers always seem to have the depth to cover up any hole on their roster.

Regardless of what transpires over the next three months, the Dodgers will be perceived as the favorite in the playoffs and rightfully so. Goliath looks as tough as ever. Time will tell if a David can knock them off when the lights are the brightest in October.