Ranking the 12 MLB postseason teams

If you take a look at the odds surrounding which team will win the 2025 World Series, it's clear that there is no dominant team lurking out there as the MLB postseason gets underway.

According to BetMGM, the Philadelphia Phillies are the favorite to win the World Series at +425, followed by the Seattle Mariners and the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers at +500. Philadelphia's +425 represents the longest odds for any Fall Classic favorite since the 2014 Dodgers were +450.

With what could be considered a wide-open field, which MLB team is truly the strongest heading into the postseason? Here is a ranking of the 12 teams (six each from the American and National Leagues) competing in meaningful October baseball and where they fit on the scale from longest shot to strongest contender.

12. Cincinnati Reds

At 83-79, the Reds have the worst record of any postseason participant. While they may have momentum on their side by making it in, this is also a team that was just 14-11 in September and 33-32 after the All-Star break.

11. Boston Red Sox

Garrett Crochet will start Game 1 for Boston in the Bronx against the New York Yankees, and the MLB leader in strikeouts is who you want on the mound for the opening game. Will Boston's youth movement show up well under the bright postseason lights?

10. Detroit Tigers

The Tigers didn't win the division, but at least got in as the third wild-card team. Now they get a rematch in Cleveland against the Guardians, a team that feasted on Detroit's 7-17 record in September.

9. Chicago Cubs

The Cubs get to open the postseason at Wrigley Field, where they were 50-31 this season. That's the good news. On the flip side, Chicago's pitching overall has a minus-6.2 Wins Above Average, placing the Cubs 28th out of MLB's 30 teams.

8. New York Yankees

New York will go as far as their bats will take them. With five players with 25 homers or more on the roster, the Yankees can mash the ball. When the bats go cold, however, the streaky Yankees can be in big trouble.

7. San Diego Padres

San Diego general manager A.J. Preller built this team to win in October, but a star-studded lineup hasn't always lived up to its potential this season. Ramon Laureano's finger injury leaves a hole in the lineup and in left field.

6. Cleveland Guardians

The Guardians completed the comeback to win the AL Central, storming back from a 10.5-game hole on September 1 to overtake the Tigers. Can that momentum continue against the best remaining teams in baseball?

5. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers' bullpen makes any late-game lead feel unsafe, and that's a big problem in the postseason. Their relievers combined for minus-6.4 Wins Above Average, ranking them next-to-last among all MLB teams.

4. Milwaukee Brewers

This is a Brewers team that has been under the radar on a national level most of the season. Freddy Peralta and Quinn Priester lead what has been a solid rotation and could spell trouble for other teams in October.

3. Seattle Mariners

Cal Raleigh's MVP-type season isn't the only great story in the Pacific Northwest right now. These Mariners have momentum, with Julio Rodriguez (32 homers and 95 RBI) and Randy Arozarena (27 homers and 76 RBI) giving The Big Dumper plenty of protection in the lineup.

2. Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays were one of just two teams (joining the Kansas City Royals) to strike out less than 1,100 times this season (Kansas City had 1,096 while the Blue Jays had 1,099). Toronto puts the ball in play and is playing sound fundamental baseball, just what is needed as October begins.

1. Philadelphia Phillies

No team in baseball has more Wins Above Average for the entire roster than the Phillies, a team that racked up 18.7 this season (way ahead of second-place Milwaukee's 14.0). Philadelphia's pitchers are a big part of that, finishing first in MLB with 14.9 WAA.

If pitching wins championships, Philadelphia seems well-built to make Red October one to remember.