Position: SP B/T: R/R

Player Data: Age: 31 (07/14/1994)

2025 Traditional Stats: 26 G (26 starts), 145 IP, 3.41 ERA, 1.290 WHIP, 10-4, 121 K, 56 BB

2025 Advanced Stats: 120 ERA+, 19.7 K%, 9.1% BB%, 4.99 xERA, 4.17 FIP, 4.59 xFIP, 2.0 fWAR, 2.1 bWAR

Rundown

From 2019 to 2022, Lucas Giolito was a stalwart at the front end of the White Sox’s starting rotation. However, a disastrous finish to the 2023 season saw his stock plummet, leading him to sign a one-year deal with the Red Sox with a player option for 2025. Giolito’s Boston tenure got off on the wrong foot, as he underwent elbow surgery in spring training of 2024, causing him to miss the full season.

Giolito finally made his Red Sox debut at the end of April in 2025 and turned in some solid work, posting a 3.41 ERA over 145 innings. His flyball rate dropped from 29% in 2023 to 27% in 2025, which was encouraging considering he allowed a major league-worst 41 homers in 2023. His opponents’ OPS dropped from .799 to .685, and he was able to complete at least five innings in 17 of his 26 starts. Thanks to reaching 140 innings, Giolito was able to convert his club option into a mutual option, which allowed him to hit the open market at the season’s end.

However, Giolito produced some concerning underlying metrics. His strikeout rate plummeted to 19.7%, a concerning number for a pitcher who struck out at least 200 batters in three of his previous four full seasons. That low strikeout rate was coupled with a 9.1% walk rate, giving him an underwhelming 2.16 strikeout-to-walk ratio, his lowest mark since his dreadful 2018 season. Giolito also surrendered an average exit velocity of 90.1 miles per hour, the highest he’s allowed in a full season. His opponents’ .267 xBA, .342 xwOBA, and .455 xSLG all far exceed their actual marks, and his 4.99 xERA, 4.17 FIP and 4.59 xFIP don’t paint a pretty picture. Giolito’s health concerns came back at the end of the season, too, as he was left off Boston’s Wild Card Series roster with elbow irritation, though he didn’t need surgery.

Part of the reason Giolito was able to succeed with subpar metrics was his ability to limit damage with men on base – he held opponents to a .596 OPS with runners in scoring position, and that number dropped to .417 with two outs. Additionally, his 76.7% strand rate was his highest mark since 2019.

Giolito uses a four-pitch mix – a four-seam fastball, slider, changeup and curveball. His four-seamer showed a huge improvement from 2023, going from a negative-10 run value to a plus-5, though it was still hit hard (48.1% hard-hit rate, .507 xSLG) and didn’t generate whiffs at a high rate (16.7%). Giolito’s slider produced the most encouraging results of his pitches, recording a 32.1% whiff rate and holding opponents to a .333 SLG. Giolito’s changeup held opponents to just a .194 batting average, but also surrendered seven home runs, more than any of his pitches.

Contract

Giolito declined his end of a $19 million mutual option for the 2026 season. MLB Trade Rumors predicts he will receive a two-year deal worth $32 million.

Recommendation: Worth Checking In

The Mets still need to shore up their starting rotation, but they haven’t shown they are willing to give a long-term contract to any arm on the market. Giolito is no longer an ace and won’t command a big contract in terms of length or salary, but he comes with concerns surrounding his health and his underlying data. Giolito is more established than the arms David Stearns brought in ahead of 2025 (Frankie Montas, Griffin Canning and Clay Holmes), but teams should proceed with caution in negotiations. It couldn’t hurt to try to sign Giolito, but he shouldn’t be at the top of the Mets’ board.

The post Free Agent Profile: Lucas Giolito, SP appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Criswell debuted with the Los Angeles Angels in 2021 and has spent time with both the Tampa Bay Rays and the Red Sox. He has a career 4.48 ERA and 1.44 WHIP as a big-leaguer while serving as both a starting pitcher and a high leverage reliever. In the majors last year, he threw 17 2/3 innings to a 3.57 ERA and 1.58 WHIP. In 65 2/3 innings in Triple-A, he pitched to a 3.70 ERA and 1.34 WHIP.

Criswell joins Robert Stock and Nick Burdi as former Red Sox pitchers acquired by the Mets so far this offseason. All three previously worked with new Mets pitching coach Justin Willard in Boston.

Criswell throws a changeup, a sinker, a cutter and a sweeper. His sweeper is arguably his best pitch with 2,562 RPM of spin and -17.8 inches of horizontal break. In Triple-A this year, that pitch generated a 42.6% whiff rate. His sinker averages 89.4 MPH, but he has jumped it up to 91.7 MPH out of the bullpen. In the majors, he generated a 33.3% chase rate across his pitches, led by his changeup at 44.2%.

Tim Healey of the Boston Globe reported that, “The Red Sox gave Cooper Criswell a larger-than-normal guaranteed 2026 salary in the hopes that it would help sneak him through waivers.” He is guaranteed to make $800k next season.

It is expected that Criswell will fit into a long relief/swingman-type role for the Mets, though he does have experience pitching in high-leverage situations as needed.

The post Mets Claim Cooper Criswell Off Waivers from Red Sox appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

On Tuesday, the St. Louis Cardinals traded right-hander Sonny Gray to the Red Sox for pitching prospect Brandon Clarke and Richard Fitts, as first reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post. ESPN’s Jeff Passan later added that St. Louis will kick in $20 million in the deal. Gray’s contract will also be slightly modified, likely as a reward for waiving his full no-trade clause.

The 36-year-old Gray currently slots in as Boston’s No. 2 starter behind Garrett Crochet. He brings 13 years of big-league experience, including three seasons with Cy Young votes — the most recent coming in 2023.

Heading to St. Louis are two young arms in Clarke and Fitts. Clarke, a 22-year-old lefty, is an intriguing prospect who’s touched 100 mph and pairs it with a plus-plus slider. The 2024 fifth-round pick reached High-A in 2025. Fitts, on the other hand, has already gotten a taste of the majors and looked solid in the first few months of the season. The hard-throwing righty made 11 big-league starts and finished with a 5.00 ERA, but at 25, he still has room to grow.

MMO’s Robert Colonna has more.

David Richard-Imagn Images

Latest Mets News

Hayden Senger had a big night for the Tigres del Licey, hitting a homer earlier in the game and producing the game-winning hit off former Mets closer Jeurys Familia. We’re slowly getting deep into the offseason now, folks.

Marcus Semien had his first press conference as a member of the Mets. Read about it here.

The Mets are seeking an Applied Biomechanics Engineer to develop and apply biomechanics tools for their major league team, collaborating across pitching, hitting, and performance departments. Candidates should have experience in motion capture, wearable sensors, and programming. Visit this link with any interest.

The Mets are in agreement with four players on minor league contracts: RHP Nick Burdi, LHP Anderson Severino, RHP Robert Stock, and OF Jose Ramos. Stock’s signing is the most notable, as he returns to the organization after a stint with the team way back in 2021. Following time abroad and some mechanical adjustments, he made it back to the majors in 2025 after missing the 2022-24 seasons. More here, via MMO’s Robert Colonna.

The Amazin’ Mets Foundation is hosting its annual Coat Drive at Citi Field on Wednesday, Dec. 10, from 10 AM to 6 PM. Donors who bring a winter coat will receive a voucher for two tickets to select 2026 home games.

Latest MLB News

Despite a rough two-month stint with the Mets in 2025, Ryan Helsley remains confident in his abilities, blaming pitch tipping and predictability as the causes of his struggles. The two-time All-Star closer, who led the majors with 49 saves in 2024, has drawn interest from roughly 15 teams, including the Detroit Tigers, and is considering both relief and starting roles. Additionally, he has tinkered with the idea of possibly adding a new pitch in order to return to peak form and try to capitalize from a weaker free agent class. Katie Woo of The Athletic has a more in-depth look at Helsley’s market.

Yoo Jee-ho of the Yonhap Sports Agency reports that the Samsung Lions have re-signed first baseman Lewin Díaz (one year, $1.5 million) and former Met Ariel Jurado (one year, $1.6 million) for 2026, with both eligible for additional incentives. Díaz dominated the KBO in 2025 with record-setting power, while Jurado has pitched well over his first three seasons in the KBO. Both were long-shot candidates for MLB returns this offseason.

Corner infielder Jonah Bride has agreed to a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers, including an invitation to major league camp, according to Jeff Passan’s ESPN. The 29-year-old reunites with new Rangers manager Skip Schumaker, under whom he had his best MLB season in 2024 with Miami.

Latest on MMO

Gabe Herz analyzes some of the routes the Mets could decide to take following the Nimmo-Semien trade.

Robert Colonna profiles right-hander Tatsuya Imai as a potential Mets free agent target.

In the latest MMO crossfire, Allison Waxman argues that the Mets should sign Kyle Tucker, while Mojo Hill makes the case for Cody Bellinger.

On This Date in Mets History

1967: The Mets acquire Gil Hodges from the Washington Senators in exchange for Bill Denehy and $100,000.

Born on This Date: Richie Hebner (1947), Brian Schneider (1976), Josh Smoker (1988).

The post Morning Briefing: Veteran Starter Gray Off the Market appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Unfortunately for most the readers involved, the penultimate day of the season will be filled with anxiety and potentially disappointment.

The Mets, who had the best record in baseball in mid-June, and the second wild card spot in August, are on the verge of completing their collapse. They are “tied” with the Reds entering Saturday’s affair with the Marlins, but need to finish one game better than the Reds to make the playoffs.

Detroit, however, is going through an even worse collapse. Perhaps the biggest in baseball history. On September 10, the Tigers held a 9.5-game lead over the Guardians for the division lead and looked bound for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Now, on September 27, they’re deadlocked with the Guardians at 86-74, and would be the third wild card if the season ended today.

That leaves the Astros as the team looking up in the American League playoff race. They’re one game behind the Tigers for the third wild card, and would need to win the last two games of the season and see one of the Tigers or Guardians lose the remaining two to secure a playoff spot.

Eric Canha-Imagn Images

1. Phillies

Losing Zack Wheeler for the season hasn’t slowed down the Phillies.

They’ve gone 16-7 in September, inserted Aaron Nola back into the rotation, and have pulled two within one game for the best record in the majors.

Nola shoved in Friday’s start against the Twins, punching out nine batters across eight innings of one-run ball. If they win the last two games and the Brewers are swept by the Reds, then they’d get home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

2. Yankees

The AL East might actually be within grasp for the Bombers.

They’ve won six consecutive games, backed by Aaron Judge‘s latest heater. He’s hit four homers in his seven games, and bolstered his case for MVP. And yes, he should win the MVP. Every number in Judge’s .330/.458/.687 slash line leads the league, including his 124 walks and 9.5 bWAR. He’s also clubbed 52 homers, driven in 111 RBIs, scored 135 runs and recorded 366 total bases (both second in MLB), despite missing 10 games. Yeah, I don’t really care that Cal Raleigh catches.

With Judge, along with Giancarlo Stanton, leading the way, the Yankees easily have a path to the division crown. Beat up on the Orioles two more times, and hope the Rays can win one of the final two games against the Blue Jays.

3. Brewers

The Brew Crew is about to get a big arm back heading into the postseason.

Trevor Megill is expected to come off the 15-day IL Sunday after hitting the shelf with a right flexor strain. Him, paired in the backend of the ‘pen with Abner Uribe, would lock down the scariest duo in the bullpen heading into October.

Till then, the Brewers are in a position where they would like to win a game this weekend over the Reds. Just one would give them home-field advantage throughout October and lock down the best record in baseball. They could achieve that with a loss by the Phillies, but they’re playing the Twins and that’s a big ask.

Jackson Chourio also made history in Friday’s 3-1 loss to the Reds. With his 20th stolen base, he is now the youngest player in major league history with multiple 20-20 seasons. The youngest before him was Mike Trout.

4. Dodgers

The Dodgers finally popped champagne last week.

Thursday’s win over the Diamondbacks secured the club’s fourth straight National League West title, their 12th in the last 13 seasons.

It’s been an incredible run for the defending champs, who seemingly haven’t even hit their full potential. They recently added Max Muncy, Roki Sasaki, and Blake Snell off the IL, adding to a team that struggled to a 91-win season as of Saturday morning.

Plus, with Mookie Betts back in form, this team could easily run the table for one final month of the season. They’ll start October with either the struggling Mets or average Reds, then get a crack against a strong Phillies team for five in the NLDS if they advance.

5. Blue Jays

Nathan Lukes played hero Friday night for the Jays.

Tied at two against a Rays team that has the Jays’ number this season, Lukes clubbed a two-run homer in the fifth to stave off Tampa. The win kept the Jays tied with the Yanks at 92-68 and atop the AL East.

Because they have the tiebreaker, all the Jays have to do to win their first AL East crown since 2015 is finish with the same record as the Yankees. They’ll have two more games against the Rays, including one Saturday where they’ll throw rookie Trey Yesavage. As of now, they have home-field advantage through the playoffs, but would lose it if the Yankees win the division or the Mariners (tiebreaker) finish with the same record.

6. Mariners

Seattle has been the best team in baseball the last calendar month. They’re 17-6 in September, but have gone 17-3 in their last 20 games. At one point in September, the Mariners and Astros were only separated by a game, but the M’s rode the elevator up and left the Astros in the lobby.

Cal Raleigh continues to club homers at a ridiculous pace, and became the first catcher to ever hit 60 homers in a season last week. He doubled last night in a 3-2 loss to the Dodgers, and has two more games to try and pass Aaron Judge (63) for the most homers ever hit in an AL season.

With their ridiculous pace of winning, the Mariners also bypassed the wild card round. They could take home-field advantage for the AL side of the playoffs, but they’d need to win two games against the Dodgers, and the Rays and Yankees would have to lose out.

7. Cubs

The Cubs got a massive win over the Cardinals.

Pete Crow-Armstrong homered to reach the 30-30 club in his age 23 season, helping the Cubs reach the 90-win mark to pull two games ahead of the Padres for home-field advantage in the wild card series. Crow-Armstrong also became the sixth player this season to record a 30-30 season, marking a new MLB record.

Friday also saw the return of Kyle Tucker to the lineup. The lefty went 1-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored. Getting a healthy Tucker back would be massive for the Cubs’ playoff push, along with Cade Horton, who hurt his back in his start against the Mets Tuesday.

8. Red Sox

Boston has climbed their way back into the top-10 for the final list of the season.

Despite trading away Rafael Devers, losing Alex Bregman for time in the middle of the season, and now Roman Anthony for a month, the Sox have clinched a playoff spot.

It came Friday with a wild win over the Tigers. Tied 3-3 in the ninth, Aroldis Chapman stranded a runner on third with only one out, and then Ceddanne Rafaela drove a ball off the wall in center to score Romy Gonzalez to win the game.

It was the 12th walk-off hit for the Red Sox this season, which is the most in the majors. They’ll go on the road for a wild-card series, but no one wants to face Garrett Crochet and Brayan Bello in a three-game series.

9. Padres

The Padres’ 7-4 win Friday kept them alive in the race for the top wild card spot.

Now two games behind the Cubs, the Padres could secure home-field advantage by completing a sweep over the Snakes, along with a two-game winning streak by the Cardinals to end the season.

Friday was also positive because it saw a good start from Yu Darvish. The veteran went five innings while allowing only two runs against a desperate D-backs team. A strong Darvish would be a positive for a Friars team that has struggled to find good, consistent rotation options.

10. Astros

Friday was an absolute blow to the Astros’ playoff hopes.

Tied 3-3 in the eighth, Mike Trout launched a go-ahead solo homer to take the lead for the Angels, eventually handing them a 4-3 loss. Now one game out of a playoff spot, the Astros are going to score board watch.

Luckily, the free-falling Tigers are only one game ahead of them, and face a tough Red Sox team in Boston. The Guardians also lost Friday 7-3 to the Rangers, leaving a second potential team to fall out of a spot for the Astros.

Houston will send AJ Blubaugh to the mound Saturday to keep their playoff hopes alive. If they lose today, the Astros will be eliminated from the playoffs, as they don’t hold the tiebreaker over the Tigers or Guardians. Luckily for Houston, they face a weaker Angels team

Rest of the field

11. Guardians
12. Tigers
13. Reds
14. Mets
15. Diamondbacks
16. Rangers
17. Royals
18. Giants
19. Rays
20. Braves
21. Marlins
22. Athletics
23. Cardinals
24. Orioles
25. Pirates
26. Angels
27. Nationals
28. Twins
29. White Sox
30. Rockies

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By the time next week’s power rankings drop, the final month of baseball will be here, and the long race of baseball will become a sprint.

With the final month will come division’s finally be set in stone. The American League East, AL West, National League East, and NL West are still up for grabs, with the largest lead in the four mentioned divisions being the Phillies at five games over the Mets.

Other divisions are on the precipice of wrapping up. One division to keep an eye on is the NL Central, where the Brewers lead over the Cubs is six and half games. Those two teams don’t match up the rest of the season, but the Cubs’ offense could carry them and make the division interesting.

Eric Canha-Imagn Images

1. Dodgers

Hey, Mets fans. We should all be thanking the Dodgers right now.

After dropping a series on the road to the Padres, the Dodgers hosted the Reds for three games, where they promptly swept them without breaking a sweat. The series created breathing room in the division, while also impacting the wild-card race.

We highlighted him last week, and we’ll do it again. Mookie Betts is officially back. He clubbed another homer last week, and is OPS’ing closer to .800 over the last month. If the Dodgers get an All-Star caliber Betts back to their lineup, then they should be regarded as the same powerhouse they were in 2024.

2. Brewers

After a generational start to their second half, the Brewers are starting to stall. They’re 4-7 in their last 11 games, and the door has creaked open for a division title. Last week they lost a series to the Giants, split at home with the Diamondbacks, and now their lead for the division is at 6.5 games.

Fortunately for the Brewers, they have no more matchups with the Cubs. Plus the club got Jackson Chourio back off the IL Saturday. That should help offset the loss of Trevor Megill suffered earlier in the week.

3. Phillies

Last week wasn’t ideal for Philadelphia.

They went into Citi Field with a seven-game lead over the Mets, and left only up four. For those who struggle with math, that means they were swept.

Still, the Phillies reminded everyone of who they were with a Friday night whalloping of the Braves at the bank. Kyle Schwarber continued his bid for the NL MVP with four homers in the game, becoming the third player this season (Eugenio Suárez and Nick Kurtz) to achieve the feat. Philadelphia’s offense is scary, and one series against the Mets shouldn’t dissuade anyone from that idea.

4. Padres

San Diego might not have taken the season series against the Dodgers, but in crunch time, they won down the stretch. They took two of three against the Dodgers last week at home to stay within striking distance, and trail by only two games heading into Saturday.

That deficit could have been only one game, but Friday saw a 7-4 loss to the Twins on the road. That’s a bad loss for a team contending for the division. Still, the schedule is in San Diego’s favor, as they face Minnesota for two more, host the Orioles at home for three, and then go to Colorado for three. The only tough series left for the Friars are against the Reds at home and the Mets on the road. And despite them being tough, the Padres are 3-0 against the Mets and 1-2 against the Reds.

5. Yankees

The Bombers are getting hot at the right time.

They’ve won six games in a row, pulled ahead of the Red Sox in the division, and have pulled to within three of the Blue Jays. Sure, it’s helped that they’ve played the Nationals and White Sox back to back, but they’ve won the “gimme” games that we see many teams drop.

Trent Grisham has been one of the many contributors to this team’s success, and he’s worth mentioning. He’s batting .248 with 28 homers and an .836 OPS. The lefty clubbed a grand slam Friday, helping the Yanks secure a 10-2 win over the White Sox. The Bombers will be tested next week against Houston, then go home for a decisive three-game set against the Blue Jays.

6. Tigers

The Tigers had a rough series last week against the Athletics. There’s no way around it.

They were swept out of Sacramento, with only Game 2 being competitive despite the 7-6 loss. Tarik Skubal pitched 6 2/3 innings in Game 1, but allowed seven hits and six runs (one earned). Friday was a nice bounce-back win over the recently hot Royals, but the Tigers are on my list of skeptical postseason teams. Skubal is obviously a buzzsaw, but the lineup and rest of the rotation could be suspect against teams like the Astros, Mariners, Red Sox, and Yankees in the playoffs.

7. Astros

Welcome back, Yordan Alvarez.

The big lefty missed the majority of the season, but came back last week and homered Wednesday at home against the Rockies. Now 73-60, the Astros have a slim two-game lead over the Mariners, but have a lot of their big guns back. Carlos Correa. Jeremy Peña. And now Alvarez.

Losing Josh Hader was a rough blow, but starting a playoff series against Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez will be tough for any opposing team. Plus Bryan Abreu has sparkled with a 1.47 ERA this season and is another weapon to lock down the ninth. The division isn’t locked down, as the Astros host the Mariners in the second-to-last series of the season, but they’re in a good spot.

8. Red Sox

What an exceptional week for Boston. They took three of four from the Yankees in the Bronx, then went south to Baltimore to sweep the Birds in a four-game series. They’re 7-2 in their last nine games, and only three and a half back of the Blue Jays.

Rookies have led the way for the Red Sox, and they debuted another weapon Friday against the Pirates. Lefty Payton Tolle got the start, striking out eight batters while allowing two runs over 5 1/3 innings of work. He throws hard, looks legit, and is a scary option to pair with Garrett Crochet from the left side.

The Sox could easily win the division, and the schedule is in their favor. They host the Pirates for two more at Fenway, welcome the Guardians for three afterwards, then go out west to face the Diamondbacks and Athletics. If they’re able to dominate those weaker teams, it’ll set them up for the end of September, where they face the Yankees and Blue Jays for a total of six games.

9. Blue Jays

The Blue Jays aren’t necessarily struggling or doing anything wrong. They continue to win at a decent pace.

They still hold first place in the AL East. Guys like George Springer (.930 OPS, 24 homers), Bo Bichette (AL leading 171 hits), and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (.869 OPS, 24 homers) continue to carry the team. The only issue is the teams behind them are winning at lightning fast paces, putting pressure on Toronto to win night in and night out.

Whether they do or not is up for debate. The rotation is old, and Kevin Gausman has struggled in his last five starts (14 ER in 31 innings). September will sort things out, as it always does, when the Jays face the Yankees and Red Sox in the final weeks of the season.

10. Cubs

The Cubs continue to trade wins and losses in the second half. After sweeping the Angels in Los Angeles, the Cubs went to San Francisco and lost three straight against the Giants. They bounced back Friday with an 11-7 over the Rockies, but their 20-19 record in the second half hasn’t allowed them to chase down the Brewers, who really slowed down after their scorching hot start out of the All-Star break.

Pete Crow-Armstrong has really hit a wall, hindering the team’s offense. Once on a 40-40 pace this season, Crow-Armstrong hasn’t reached 30 homers this season and his OPS has dropped below .800. The Cubs will need guys like him and Kyle Tucker to bounce back to have a chance for the division, or even the playoffs in a tough NL field.

Rest of the field

11. Mets
12. Mariners
13. Reds
14. Guardians
15. Royals
16. Rangers
17. Giants
18. Rays
19. Diamondbacks
20. Cardinals
21. Orioles
22. Athletics
23. Marlins
24. Braves
25. Pirates
26. Angels
27. Twins
28. Nationals
29. White Sox
30. Rockies

The post MLB Power Rankings: Week 22 Update appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The Mets went to Atlanta and got a massive 12-7 win to stave off the Reds in the National League wild card chase, the Red Sox stole a win 1-0 in the Bronx against the Yankees to solidify second place in the American League East, and the Padres finally defeated the Dodgers 2-1 to pull into a tie for first place in the NL West. Plus, the Nationals upset the Phillies 5-4 against Jhoan Duran in the ninth to play spoiler in an NL East race that sees the Mets holding on to by their pinkie.

It was an exciting day. And the last week smoothed out some edges in all the division races around the league. Buckle up everybody, we’re almost into September.

John Jones-Imagn Images

1. Brewers

Milwaukee wasn’t a team caught in a division game Friday. But there were fireworks.

Facing the spiraling Giants, William Contreras launched a walk-off shot with two outs in the ninth to secure the 81st win of the season for the Brewers. It was a nice bounce back after Shelby Miller and Aaron Ashby blew their 4-2 lead over the seventh and eighth inning, and marked their second win in a row after they went just 2-3 against the Cubs the last week.

The Brewers are now 25-8 in the second half and are the only team with 80 wins or more. They continue to look like the best team in baseball, and will play a key role in the AL and NL East divisional races, as they face the Blue Jays and Phillies from August 29 to September 4.

2. Dodgers

The Dodgers snapped out of their funk last week with a massive series against the Padres.

In LA, the Dodgers took three of four from their division rivals, providing extra space in the division heading into Monday. Mookie Betts has helped with his recent resurgence, as the former MVP has hit .344 and slugged .475 in his last 15 games. Clayton Kershaw has also been an added bonus to the rotation, pitching the Dodgers to four wins in his last four starts, going at least 5 2/3 innings in each outing.

The only issue? The Dodgers split a series in Colorado against the Rockies, and there’s been some drama with Teoscar Hernández‘s defense in right field. It hasn’t been good, and cost the Dodgers a win. Betts reportedly went to Dave Roberts to talk about the defensive alignment, but a change is uncertain. Now, after Friday’s 2-1 loss in San Diego, the Dodgers and Padres are knotted up atop the NL West. We’ll see how the other two games go, as the Dodgers are 8-3 against the Padres.

3. Phillies

Philadelphia got horrid news last week. Zack Wheeler had a blood clot in his shoulder, requiring surgery to remove with no timetable for return. Usually losing an ace is detrimental to a team with World Series aspirations, but fortunately for the Phillies, they’ve got about two more.

Cristopher Sánchez has been absolutely brilliant this season, pitching to a 2.46 ERA with 169 strikeouts in 25 starts. He’s third in the NL in ERA, and had a stellar outing Tuesday against the Mariners (6 1/3 IP, 12 SO, 2 BB, 2 ER).

Pair that with Jesús Luzardo (2.32 in last five starts) and Ranger Suarez, plus the return of Aaron Nola, and Philadelphia can survive the loss of Wheeler. It also helps that the offense is getting a vintage J.T. Realmuto, who’s slashing .311/.360/.515 with five homers (only five homers in first half) in the second half.

4. Padres

The Friars squeaked by with a 2-1 win over the Dodgers Friday. It tied them for first in the NL West, but a series against the Dodgers earlier in the week prevented them from asserting themselves.

They went 1-3 in LA against the Dodgers in the beginning of the week, preventing them from taking control in the division. Actually, their entire 2025 season against the Dodgers has prevented them from being a top team in the NL. Both teams are 73-56, yet the Padres are 3-8 against their rivals.

If they played .500 ball, or for the argument one game under, the Padres would hold a two-game lead over the Dodgers. But hindsight is always 20/20, and the Padres are doing just fine.

The bullpen is still elite. Yu Darvish turned back the clock to 2013 Friday in their 2-1 win. The only thing missing from the Padres game is the long ball. Especially from Fernando Tatis Jr. He’s gone 120 plate appearances without a homer (July 24).

5. Tigers

Detroit went back to their winning ways last week.

They swept the Astros at home, took three of four against the Twins, and before that won a series against the White Sox. The real series to dissect was the Astros series, where Detroit pitching held Houston to two runs over three games.

Jack Flaherty was dominant in the series opener, striking out nine over seven scoreless innings. And then Tarik Skubal continued his brilliance with 10 punchouts over seven scoreless the next day, which saw the Tigers win 1-0 in extras.

6. Cubs

The Cubs are just 17-16 in the second half, and a lot can be attributed to the offense regressing.

Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker are the biggest proponents of the offense stalling. PCA is slashing .224/.280/.411 with just five walks in his last 30 games, and Tucker just .232/.348/.373 since his newly disclosed hand injury suffered on June 1 against the Reds.

Still, a 3-2 record against the Brewers last week helped the Cubs climb to seven back in the division and to the first NL wild card spot. With no games left against the Brewers, the Cubs might be finished in the NL Central, but there’s a lot of baseball left. And the postseason seems likely barring a major collapse.

7. Blue Jays

There’s been no team as consistent as the Blue Jays all season.

Outside their 11-4 month, the Jays have gone above .500 every month of the season. August is no different, as they’re 11-8, and picked up two series wins last week over the Cubs and Rangers.

The real difference maker continues to be George Springer. He’s thrived in the DH spot, posting a .965 OPS with 17 homers in 57 games. It’s been a stark difference from his 33 games in RF this season, where he posted a .788 OPS with only three homers. Anthony Santander could return this season, but it may be best to leave the 35-year-old Springer as the DH.

8. Yankees

The Yanks have gotten some serious juice from the return of Giancarlo Stanton.

The former MVP has produced video game numbers, slugging .943 over his last 15 games, and .747 over his last 30 with 12 homers. He, along with Aaron Judge (who is the 2025 AL MVP, I don’t want to hear Big Dumper) and Cody Bellinger (.270/.323/.492 with 24 homers), have finally formed a dangerous trio atop the Yankee lineup.

The offense was still number one in most offensive categories before Staton’s return from injury, but now it is at the level of World Series contender. The only issue has been the bullpen blowing leads. Jake Bird was optioned to Triple-A, Camilo Doval has a 7.36 ERA, and David Bednar has blown multiple leads in the ninth.

9. Red Sox

Boston this low on the list every week feels criminal.

They’re 70-59, in second place in the AL East, and have a series with the Blue Jays in September to possibly take the division, which they currently trail by only five games.

They took the first two games against the Yankees in the Bronx Thursday and Friday, and have the potential to win the series with Garrett Crochet on the mound Saturday. Roman Anthony was a big culprit in Friday’s win, providing insurance in the ninth with a two-run homer. The kid has 17 doubles in only 60 games, and could turn those two baggers into four with some more time in the majors.

10. Astros

Houston really struggled last week, dropping a series to the Orioles at home, followed by a road sweep in Detroit, where they scored only two runs.

So why are they No. 10 0n the list? Well, for one, they’re still in first place in the AL West. And secondly, they bounced back Thursday and Friday with wins over the Orioles in Baltimore.

The offense also won’t be a problem for too long. We’ve said it all year, but Yordan Alvarez is on his way back. The DH picked up three hits in his second rehab start, and looks to add even more juice to a team that added Jesús Sánchez and Carlos Correa at the deadline.

Rest of the Field

11. Mariners
12. Mets
13. Reds
14. Guardians
15. Royals
16. Cardinals
17. Diamondbacks
18. Rangers
19. Giants
20. Rays
21. Orioles
22. Marlins
23. Braves
24. Angels
25. Pirates
26. Twins
27. Nationals
28. Athletics
29. White Sox
30. Rockies

The post MLB Power Rankings: Week 21 Update appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The Mets continue to free-fall in the third spot, opening space for the Reds, Cardinals, Diamondbacks, and Giants to attempt a push for the final spot. The true threat are the Reds, who at 64-59 are only half a game back, and the Giants (59-63), who have the pitching and talent to pull off a strong month and a half.

The Cubs are also struggling and are 3-7 in their last 10 games. Their spot in the second wild card is more comfortable, and with a four-and-a-half lead over the third spot, the Cubbies should be able to correct their course.

In the American League, the final wild-card spot looks like a three-team race between the Red Sox, Yankees, and Guardians. Cleveland has truly impressed after looking dead in the water, and an 11-4 stretch in their last 15 games has pulled them to one and a half games behind New York (AL) for the third spot.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

1. Brewers

Apparently I called Milwaukee a state in my last update. I do in fact know the city of Milwaukee is in the state of Wisconsin, just like I know the Brewers have won 13 straight games.

This team is scary. They’ve got a blue-collar style of play, churn out runs 1980s style, and no deficit is too large to overcome. Just take Friday as an example. The Crew was down 8-1 in the second inning, and then ripped off nine unanswered runs to win 10-8.

They’re 33 games over .500 (77-44), have the largest run differential in the league (+161), and are six games better than the next best clubs record-wise in the Blue Jays and Tigers. This is the last team you want to run into in the playoffs, and they’ll likley have home-field advantage the entire playoffs. The entire state of Wisconsin should be ecstatic.

2. Padres

Not to quote Aaron Boone, but everything is right in front of the Padres. They’re tied for the division lead after losing to the Dodgers 3-2 Friday, and have the opportunity to take the NL West and run with it.

The only issue has been their head-to-head with the Dodgers. They’re 2-6 against their division rivals, and Friday, as previously stated, was no different. Yet, they’ve got the talent to win this division against the floundering, injured Dodgers. Especially with the addition on Ramón Laureano, who’s slashing .327/.389/.633 with three homers in 13 games with the Padres.

3. Mariners

After hitting a wall in Baltimore, the Mariners found their groove again in New York.

Friday saw a back-and-forth affair, in which the M’s came out victorious. They defeated the Mets 11-9, getting big homers from Cal Raleigh and Mitch Garver, plus a five-run seventh inning which grabbed the lead for good.

This team is deep. And even with a disappointing season from the rotation, the club is half a game back from the Astros for the AL West lead. Like the Brewers, the Mariners have a chance to get their first World Series trophy this season. They just need Eugenio Suárez to get going (.135/.193/.231 in 14 games).

4. Dodgers

The league has finally found the Dodgers’ kryptonite: The Angels.

No, seriously. They finished 0-6 against their crosstown “rivals,” proving why baseball is the best sport on the planet. Anyone can win any night. But seriously, that stretch has allowed the Padres to creep back into the NL West race, which features a series against San Diego this weekend.

The Dodgers took Game One with a vintage performance from Clayton Kershaw (6 IP, 1 ER) and a go-ahead homer from Teoscar Hernández in the seventh. If they continue to get clutch performances like this down the stretch, then everyone’s division parlays won’t miss.

5. Tigers

After a 1-12 stretch during July, the Tigers have finally returned to normalcy. (Yes, read that Mets fans, even the Tigers went on a 1-12 stretch. Positivity!)

They took the first two games against the Twins Thrusday and Friday, and are looking for three consecutive series wins since the beginning of June. They’ll need to keep racking up wins as well, as the Guardians continue to creep back into the AL Central race.

6. Phillies

After an 11-12 July, the Phillies have started August with a strong 9-5 record. Kyle Schwarber continues to make his MVP case, and had another big homer in Friday’s win over the Nationals.

Philadelphia looks bound for the NL East crown, and is getting serious help from the skydiving Mets. The only two factors that could prevent a division title are their seven games remaining against New York, and a potential serious injury to Jhoan Duran. The closer hadn’t allowed a run in four innings, but was carted off the field after being struck by a ball in Friday’s win.

7. Blue Jays

The Jays keep pushing on in the AL East, and after a 7-3 stretch in their last 1o games, find themselves with a healthy five-game lead over the Red Sox in the division.

The club is 72-51, tied for the best record in the AL with the Tigers. And on August 16, it’s time we highlight the resurgence of Bo Bichette. The 27-year-old is having a bounce-back contract year, leading the AL in hits (149) with 16 homers. It’ll be an interesting decision for the Jays whether or not they bring him back, but for now, he and the rest of the core continue to set their sights on October.

8. Astros

Houston has held down the fort atop the AL West despite the M’s making a late-season push.

They won back-to-back series against the Red Sox and Yanks, but ironically, almost found themselves on the wrong side of a perfect game by Brandon Young and the Orioles. Again, isn’t baseball the best?

Still, they hold a slim half-game lead over the Mariners, and the additions of Carlos Correa and a healthy Jeremy Peña have rejuvenated a stale offense.

Correa in particular keeps on raking. He’s slashing .340/.404/.511 with two homers in 12 games in his second stint with H-Town, and I have a strange feeling we’ll be seeing the Astros cause havoc again in October.

9. Cubs

Yeesh. That’s my evaluation of the Cubs right now.

After looking like one of the best teams in the majors in the first half, the Cubs have gone 11-14 to kick off the second half. They’re now nine games behind the Brewers, are 3-7 in their last 10 games, and look wild-card bound.

The regression has hit Pete Crow-Armstrong the most. The 23-year-old is slashing .226/.262/.435 over his 30 games, and hasn’t walked since July 29 against the Brewers.

10. Red Sox

It’s been a fun summer in Boston. And Friday was just another notch in that storyline this season.

With the bases loaded and nobody out, Trevor Story chopped a single past the second baseman to give the Sox a 2-1 in over the Marlins. It was the fifth walk-off in their Green Monster jerseys, which if I may say, is a candidate for the best jersey in baseball.

They’re only 5-5 in their last 10, but the Sox start a stretch where they finish this series against the Marlins, play the Orioles six times, visit the struggling Yanks, and then host the Pirates. The division is in reach, and the Sox still have three games left against the Blue Jays in September.

Rest of the Field

11. Guardians
12. Yankees
13. Reds
14. Mets
15. Rangers
16. Giants
17. Royals
18. Rays
19. Cardinals
20. Marlins
21. Angels
22. Twins
23. Diamondbacks
24. Braves
25. Pirates
26. Orioles
27. Athletics
28. White Sox
29. Rockies
30. Nationals

The post MLB Power Rankings: Week 20 Update appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The Mets and Yankees have been two of the worst teams in the league since the second week of June, both giving ground to their rivals in the division. And in the Mets case, that includes the Marlins.

The Amazins’ are 18-29 since June 13. The Bombers 19-30. Due to the downward spiral, a hard decision was made. Both squads were excluded from the top-10 this year, as teams like the Red Sox, Mariners, and Padres continue to soar.

Meanwhile, the Marlins continue to their unlikely push toward a wild card spot in the National League. They fell to 57-58 after reaching .500 last week, but are 7-3 in their last 10 games and defeated the Braves Friday 5-1. They’re five and half games back, but have a young core in Kyle Stowers and Agustín Ramírez, plus a strong rotation.

Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

1. Brewers

The Crew continues to win, and continues to excite the state of Milwaukee in their pursuit of a pennant.

They’re the only team with 70 wins in the majors, plus had an exciting win over the Mets Friday when Blake Perkins nailed Starling Marte at the plate as the tying run to end the game.

The Brewers are 9-1 in their last 10 games, 21-4 since July 7, and look like the most well-rounded team in the NL. Plus Brandon Woodruff looks elite since returning, including his dominant seven-inning performance against the Mets Friday.

2. Dodgers

The Dodgers stumbled earlier in July when they had a rough stretch entering and leaving the All-Star break, but since then have stabilized.

They’ve gone 9-8 since July 20, holding on to a not-so-comfortable three-game lead over the Padres in the NL West. Yet, they still hold the second-best record (67-49) in the NL and have been getting reinforcements to the rotation with Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Shohei Ohtani.

Ohtani especially looked good, striking out eight Cardinals across four scoreless innings August 6. This team is starting to get healthy, making them the unstoppable force they were in 2024.

3. Tigers

Detroit fired off four consecutive wins to end July, but have been human in the early goings of August. They split a series with the Phillies at the Bank, and then lost a series to the depleted Twins at home.

Friday saw a nice 6-5 bounce-back win against the Angels, which held the Guardians at six games behind in the American League Central. The bullpen has been an issue in August, with the collective group pitching to a 4.76 ERA with five homers allowed in 22 2/3 innings pitched.

Still, like the Dodgers, struggles as of late haven’t been detrimental to the overall product. They’re 67-50, hold a six-game lead over Cleveland, and are 6-4 in their last 10 games. And as of August 9, the Tigers are the only club in the AL Central with a positive run differential (+76).

4. Cubs

Chicago has middled like the other teams above in the power rankings over the last couple weeks. They’re 4-6 in their last 10, and have barely kept pace with the Brewers during their ridiculously hot stretch.

The Cubbies are five games behind the Brewers in the NL Central, but still hold a bulky +110 run differential. They also hold the top wild card in the NL at 66-49, two and half games above the Padres and three and half games ahead of the Mets.

5. Phillies

Philadelphia has maintained a steady pace in the race for the NL East. They’re 10-7 since July 20, and 5-3 since July 30. Yet, that’s all they’ve needed to do to get ground on the Mets.

The Phillies’ lead in the division is up to three and half games over the Mets, and a lot of it is due to strong starting pitching, the addition of Jhoan Duran, and Kyle Schwarber.

Schwarber in particular could win an MVP this season. No, seriously. He’s slashing .255/.379/.588 with a major league-leading 41 homers and 95 RBIs, anchoring a star-studded lineup that includes Bryce Harper and Trea Turner.

6. Astros

Who would have thought the Astros would get vintage Carlos Correa back from the Twins?

Now playing a less demanding position in third base, Correa is slashing .379/.455/.552 with a homer in seven games. His line drive rate also jumped from 24.8% in Minnesota to 40%, leading to more scolded hits. It’s helped the Astros, who presumably lose Isaac Paredes for the rest of the season.

The addition has also helped stave off a hot Mariners team that leveled up at the trade deadline. The ‘Stros hold a thin one and half game lead over the Mariners, and have a tough stretch against the Yankees and Red Sox this week.

7. Padres

San Diego added a whole lot at the deadline, and so far it’s paid dividends.

Ryan O’Hearn clubbed a game-tying homer off a lefty last Wednesday to lead to a 3-2 win over the D-backs, and Ramón Laureano has put up a .300 average and .889 OPS in seven games with the Friars.

The Padres are keeping pace with the Dodgers, holding a 64-52 record with the best bullpen ERA in baseball and a dangerous lineup. They lost Friday 10-2 to the Red Sox, but all eyes are on the upcoming two weeks, where the Padres play only the Giants and Dodgers the next 13 games.

8. Red Sox

Unlike the Padres, the Red Sox did little to nothing at the deadline. Some would say they got worse by shipping off James Tibbs III (Rafael Devers‘ trade) for a rental Dustin May.

Yet, they’re the hottest team in baseball, going 12-5 since July 20, and pulling to within three games of the middling Blue Jays. Garrett Crochet looks like the AL Cy Young, Roman Anthony looks like a veteran and just signed an eight-year extension, and Aroldis Chapman is vintage, shutting down the ninth. This team is real. And with Alex Cora at the helm, it wouldn’t surprise me if this team won the division.

9. Blue Jays 

On the flip side of the Red Sox, the Blue Jays are starting to stall at the top of the AL East. They’re 5-5 in their last 10 games, with three of the wins coming from a sweep of the Rockies.

They lost 5-1 to the Dodgers, and enter a two-week stretch that could see them slip from the top of the division. Two more against the Dodgers, three against the Cubs, then three against a resurgent Rangers.

The club has the veteran presence and lineup to make the playoffs, as well as young pieces in Addison Barger, who’s clubbed 17 homers with a .825 OPS in 93 games.

10. Mariners

The Mariners locked and loaded at the deadline, and they’ve surely reaped the rewards provided by the new guys.

Josh Naylor has clubbed three homers and put up a .798 OPS at first, which seems pedestrian, but has been a massive upgrade over a revolving door of guys at the position this season.

It’s led to a five-game win streak, pulling Seattle to within one and a half games of the Astros. I feel like I believe every year, but 2025 feels different. Cal Raleigh has evolved into one of the best hitters in the sport, and Julio Rodríguez has resurged by hitting seven homers in 21 games in the second half (14 in 94 games in the first half).

Rest of the Field

11. Guardians
12. Yankees
13. Giants
14. Mets
15. Rangers
16. Reds
17. Marlins
18. Rays
19. Royals
20. Cardinals
21. Diamondbacks
22. Twins
23. Angels
24. Orioles
25. Pirates
26. Braves
27. Nationals
28. Athletics
29. White Sox
30. Rockies

The post MLB Power Rankings: Week 19 Update appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The Brewers and Yanks both hold five-game win streaks entering Saturday morning, making up ground in both of their respective divisions. The Red Sox have won eight games in a row behind their strong core, emphasized by Ceddanne Rafaela‘s monster-clearing home run Friday.

Teams have also racked up losses. The Dodgers and Pirates — yes, both of those teams are in the same sentence — have lost seven games in a row, with the Dodgers giving up serious ground in the National League West to the Giants and Padres.

The Astros have also lost four games in a row, but have built up a safe cushion over the Mariners to survive the streak. They hold a six-game lead over the M’s, and climbed highly in this week’s list.

I also have to address some of the decisions made to this list. Yes, the Blue Jays are not a top-10 team. Not even 11th or 12th. Why, though? They’re first in the AL East and hold a 55-39 record.

Well, they’re simply not as good as the Rays, Red Sox, and Yankees. They have a +21 run differential and expected record of 49-45. It’s both lower expected numbers than the Rangers. Plus, their offense is being led by the 35-year-old George Springer. Does he have enough in the tank for the second half? And can the rotation that features Chris Bassitt, Kevin Gausman, and Max Scherzer produce to clinch a wild card spot by the end of September? I’m not sure. And anyways, that’s in the future, I’m talking about right now. And right now, they’re not a top-10 team.

Other teams I felt could have been top-10 are the Giants and Padres. Both had impressive wins Friday to make up ground behind the Dodgers, but barely fell short behind my No. 9 and 10 teams. Those four could really be mixed and matched.

David Butler II-Imagn Images

1. Tigers

Friday’s 12-3 loss to the Mariners wasn’t indicative of the Tigers’ week. They handled business by sweeping the Guardians to further bury their division rivals, then took a series against June’s hottest team in the Rays.

Detroit continues to be baseball’s best team in 2025. They win with their entire roster, and it’s time we give a new player praise on their roster: Colt Keith. The 23-year-old has slashed .313/.376/.531 over his last 30 games, including two homers in his last seven games. Plus, Casey Mize was recently added to the All-Star game, giving the Tigers a major league-leading six players on the American League roster.

2. Astros

The Astros may be on a four-game losing streak, but they’ve consistently been one of the majors’ best teams over the last month. We had them seventh before their sweep of the Dodgers, hence why I had them so low. Yes, I read the comments, everyone.

Sure, they were swept by the Guardians, but they’ve opened up a commanding six-game lead in the AL West behind two aces and a strong offense. Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez carry ERAs below three, and Isaac Paredes has finally found his power stroke with 19 homers on the season.

This team is scary. And they’ve gone 55-39 without Yordan Alvarez for essentially the entire season. If this team adds one more formidable starter and bat, they could be bound for another pennant.

3. Cubs

The Cubs lost a series to the Twins last week, but took the more important one prior against the Cardinals.

Chicago keeps rolling, holding the best run differential (+113) and runs scored (503) in the National League. Pete Crow-Armstrong has reached the 25-homer plateau before the All-Star break, and could be the first Chicago Cub and only seventh player in MLB history to complete a 40-40 season. Starting pitching, however, is still a concern. Matthew Boyd has a 2.52 ERA, but he can’t be the Game 1 starter heading into a playoff series.

4. Dodgers

Seven losses in a row for the mighty Dodgers? Yep, you read that correctly.

The Dodgers are in the midst of a rude awakening. They’ve lost seven in a row to the Astros, Brewers, and Giants, all playoff-bound, pennant-capable teams. The last series before that for L.A. were the Nationals, Rockies, White Sox, and Royals.

The starting pitching has been the concern. Dustin May allowed seven earned runs Friday. Yoshinobu Yamamoto allowed three earned runs in just 2/3’s of an inning Monday. Tyler Glasnow, however, was reinstated off the IL and struck out five across five scoreless innings. So that’s something.

The offense hasn’t been pretty either. Mookie Betts is slashing .215/.260/.339 with just three homers over his last 30 games. Freddie Freeman‘s slashline is also a measly .186/.256/.246 over his last month.

5. Brewers

The Brew Crew is sneakily dominating the majors right now. They swept the Dodgers last week, and are currently riding a five-game win streak heading into the All-Star break.

They’re one game behind the Cubs for the division, and hold the second-best run differential (+73) in the NL. Freddy Peralta and the rotation have been a primary reason for success, plus the addition of Jacob Misiorowski‘s 2.81 ERA in five starts has provided the Brewers with another ace. I hear that David Stearns guy is good at building teams.

But seriously, the Brewers are being overlooked by lots. And with the trade deadline a couple weeks away, the front office in Milwaukee has the opportunity to make a World Series-caliber move. They’re legitimately one big bat away from being an outlier in October.

6. Mets

Where were you when the Mets saved their season against the Yankees?

Last week, the Amazins got out of the gutter with a series win over their cross-town rivals. It included a dramatic comeback featuring a Jeff McNeil home run late, and a 12-6 beatdown by an offense that was among the worst in the league during their 2025 June swoon.

The very next series against the Orioles wasn’t ideal, but the Mets deserve some nuance. They had a gutsy 7-6 comeback win in Game 1, a close loss in Game 2, then a Game 3 loss that was started by Brandon Waddell and Justin Hagenman. Add in the comeback win Friday against the Royals, plus the addition of Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea later this week, and the Mets should climb back to the top of this list.

7. Yankees 

Speaking of seasons being saved, the Yankees have rode the high of beating the Mets Sunday to the extreme.

They swept the Mariners at home, punctuated by a comeback in the ninth in Game 3 to complete the cleaning. That momentum carried into the Cubs series Friday, where Cody Bellinger clubbed three homers against his former team. Maybe he would have had four if the right field wall were a little taller. Cam Schlittler also had a nice debut in the M’s series, striking out seven across 5 1/3 innings.

The Yankees have now won five in a row after dropping six in a row prior, pulling within two games of first place behind the Blue Jays.

8. Phillies

Philadelphia at eight might be shocking to sum. They have elite pitching and are in first in the NL East.

The true reason is the offense. It’s as hot and cold as Heat Miser and Snow Miser. Ya know, from the 1974 Christmas movie “The Year Without Santa Claus.” Anways.

The lineup features Bryce Harper (124 OPS+), Kyle Schwarber (158 OPS+), and Trea Turner (115 OPS+) as the only above league average hitters, along with Nick Castellanos, who has a barely above average OPS+ (108).

Their last series against the Giants is a prime example of how things have gone for Philadelphia. They lost the first two games, but then blew out the Giants 13-0. It also doesn’t help that the Phillies don’t have a closer. Jordan Romano is reaching DFA territory.

9. Red Sox

The past couple weeks, I’ve felt bad about leaving the Red Sox off the list. But now, their talent is undeniable.

They’ve won eight games in a row behind a gutsy young core. Roman Anthony is slashing .382/.452/.527 over his last 15 games, Wilyer Abreu has slashed .280/.345/.620, and Ceddanne Rafaela has slashed .317/.360/.625 with seven homers over his last 30 games. Including his titanic walk-off shot Friday.

This team is loaded with talent. And with a rotation of Garrett Crochet, Brayan Bello, and the revitalized Lucas Giolito, this team could advance to the ALCS.

10. Rays

It hasn’t been a fun stretch for the Rays in July. They’re 3-7 in their last 10 games and have fallen to five and half games behind the Blue Jays for first place.

Two of those losses in devastating fashion to the Red Sox Thursday and Friday. The first came when recently acquired Bryan Baker (remember him?) blew an eighth-inning lead and the game, then the second came when Pete Fairbanks allowed a walk-off homer in the ninth Friday.

Still, the team is loaded with talent and will always have pitching. Junior Caminero and Yandy Díaz continue to produce at the plate, plus Shane McClanahan had a successful full-intensity bullpen.

Rest of the Field

11. Giants
12. Padres
13. Blue Jays
14. Mariners
15. Cardinals
16. Rangers
17. Reds
18. D-backs
19. Royals
20. Twins
21. Marlins
22. Braves
23. Orioles
24. Guardians
25. Angels
26. Pirates
27. Nationals
28. Athletics
29. White Sox
30. Rockies

The post MLB Power Rankings: Week Fifteen Update appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Position: OF

Age: 28 (09/05/1996)

2025 Traditional Stats: 346 PA, .258/.312/.412/.724, 82 H, 5 HR, 38 RBI, 14 SB

2025 Advanced Stats: 97 wRC+, 24% K%, 6.1% BB%, .332 BABiP, .321 xwOBA, 1.0 fWAR, 1.4 bWAR, -3 OAA

Rundown

Jarren Duran is one of the most intriguing names in the lead-up to this year’s trade deadline. While it remains unlikely that the Red Sox move him, Duran is the kind of talent for whom a team should seriously consider parting with multiple top-100 prospects. Currently, in his age-28 season, Duran has a 1.0 fWAR and a 1.4 bWAR with a .258/.312/.412 slash line (101 OPS+, 97 wRC+).

Duran’s spectacular 2024 campaign makes him especially compelling for contending teams. Metrics varied in their assessment, but whether you rely on bWAR (8.7) or fWAR (6.7), Duran was somewhere between All-Star and MVP caliber. He hit .285/.342/.492 (.834 OPS) with a 131 OPS+, and his 2.5 defensive WAR (per Baseball Reference) highlights the elite value he brought to the field. While Fangraphs graded him out as well above average (95 percentile in OAA), they did not rate his defense quite as historically, illustrating the divergence in WAR. Still, any way you slice it, Duran was sensational.

There are two aspects of the Duran trade rumors that raise eyebrows. First, why would the Red Sox even consider trading him? Yes, the traded Rafael Devers, and yes, they have one of baseball’s top prospects, Roman Anthony, who also plays corner outfield. But good teams do not trade elite, controllable players in their prime. Duran has three more years of team control remaining after 2025.

That leads to the second question: who is the real Jarren Duran? The 2024 version, or the rest of his career version? In the two years bracketing 2024, Duran has posted a 111 OPS+ and been worth 3.6 bWAR and 3.5 fWAR over 177 games, with just 13 home runs. It’s worth exploring what fueled his breakout and whether he’s likely to repeat it—or if he’s closer to the player he was in 2023 and now in 2025.

Using Baseball Savant, Duran’s expected slash lines over the past three years are remarkably consistent:

• 2023: .268 xBA / .401 xSLG / .354 wOBA / .319 xwOBA
• 2024: .271 xBA / .448 xSLG / .357 wOBA / .338 xwOBA
• 2025: .258 xBA / .411 xSLG / .316 wOBA / .321 xwOBA

Despite a jump in his actual production in 2024, his expected outcomes do not show dramatic year-over-year improvement. His strikeout and walk rates have remained steady (21.5–24.9% K; 6.1–7.3% BB), and his 2025 hard-hit rate (47.3%) actually exceeds that of 2024 (43.9%). He’s also improved his launch angle (9.5° to 11.3°) and average exit velocity (90.8 to 92.3 mph).

So why does the data say he’s been less effective this year?

Two key shifts:

• Increased Pull Rate: Duran’s fly ball pull percentage jumped from 10.3% in 2024 to 12.7% in 2025.
• Less Opposite Field Contact: In 2024, 7.2% of his ground balls went to the opposite field. That figure has dropped to 5.1% in 2025.

In isolation, pulling the ball usually correlates with more slugging, but Duran is a lefty who plays half his games at Fenway Park—where pulled fly balls often die before reaching the seats. While Fenway ranks as the fourth-best hitting environment (per Statcast), it’s allowed the 10th-fewest home runs in 2025. Slugging at Fenway is a unique skill, often driven by hitting balls off the Green Monster—not pulling them. By leaning more into pull-side contact, Duran may be undermining one of the park’s biggest offensive advantages.

From the Mets’ perspective, the key question is whether Duran represents a significant upgrade over Tyrone Taylor—and if that upgrade justifies a substantial prospect cost. Taylor has produced 1.0 fWAR and 1.2 bWAR, with most of his value coming from defense. Taylor’s expected slash line of (.281/329/409) far exceeds his actual slash line (.236/300/351), suggesting that Taylor has been unlucky to some degree. 

David Stearns and the Mets’ front office will also have to evaluate Duran’s defensive value. While he was elite in 2024, his 2025 defense has regressed (17th percentile in OAA v 95th percentile in 2024). That’s a potential red flag for a front office that prioritizes strong up-the-middle defense. If Duran can’t stay in center field, that limits his overall fit.

Despite the caveats, there’s still a strong case for pursuing Duran aggressively. He’s 28, under team control through 2028, and fits David Stearns’ profile of targeting young, controllable talent. Stearns has consistently prioritized players in their twenties (e.g., Juan Soto, Yoshinobu Yamamoto) while avoiding long-term commitments to players in their thirties.

Duran ranks in the 92nd percentile in sprint speed and has improved his bat speed (from 73.6 to 74.5). His 2024 xSLG and actual SLG discrepancy were largely fueled by hustle—stretching singles into doubles and doubles into triples. While projecting speed-based production is risky, Duran is young enough, and his contact quality has improved enough, to believe his value isn’t purely legs-dependent.

Even if he never replicates his 2024 season, his 2023 and 2025 floors (111 OPS+, ~3.5 WAR per 162 games) are strong enough to justify a significant investment.

Package

Since the start of 2023, Duran has a 122 OPS+ and is 26th in fWAR among position players (10.3). Here are three past trades that offer frameworks for a potential Duran deal:

1. Matt Olson to the Braves (2022)
   Olson had 11.6 fWAR and a 136 OPS+ in the three full years prior to the trade. Atlanta gave up Shea Langeliers (No. 1 prospect) and others. For the Mets, a comparable package could include Brandon Sproat or Nolan McLean, Carson Benge, and a high-ceiling lottery ticket like Jesus Baez. Olson, like Duran was 28 when he was traded.
2. Christian Yelich to the Brewers (2018)
   Yelich had 11.6 fWAR and a 124 OPS+ in the three seasons prior to the trade. The Brewers gave up two top-100 prospects (Lewis Brinson and Isan Díaz) who didn’t pan out—but had pedigree. Duran is older(28 v 26) but similarly productive.
3. Starling Marte to the Diamondbacks (2020)
   Marte posted 11.5 fWAR and a 117 OPS+ over three years. He was older (31) and had a PED suspension. Still, he netted two decent prospects (Brennan Malone, the 33rd pick in the 2019 draft, and shortstop Liover Peguero- neither of whom made it to MLB). This would be the low-end baseline for a Duran deal.

Mets Receive

• Jarren Duran

Red Sox Receive

• Brandon Sproat
• Carson Benge

Recommendation

It remains unlikely Duran gets traded given the fact he’s productive, affordable, and under team control and Boston wants to compete. However, should Duran become available, any contending team with an outfield need should be ready to pounce. Duran’s speed, quality of contact, and peak potential make him a worthy gamble, and his floor is solid enough to justify a multi-prospect package. 

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