MLB Playoff Power Rankings: Can anyone dethrone Dodgers?

Welcome to theScore's postseason power rankings. Here, we break down each of the 12 playoff teams' chances to win the World Series. Odds courtesy of theScore Bet.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

Despite posting the second-best record in the majors, no roster enters October with more talent, depth, and championship pedigree than the Dodgers. A playoff rotation of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tarik Skubal, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow seems almost insurmountable for opponents, while the offense is coming off a September in which it finished second in the majors in OPS. Even with Shohei Ohtani's injury concerns, there's more than enough firepower here. It's World Series-or-bust once again for the back-to-back reigning champions, and a Dodgers three-peat would cement this team as a dynasty - while also dramatically affecting CBA talks this winter.

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2. Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers won an MLB-high and franchise-record 103 games for a reason: they're a well-oiled machine. Presumptive NL Cy Young winner Jacob Misiorowski and underrated rookie Logan Henderson are as good of a one-two rotation punch as you'll find this October. Led by Trevor Megill and Aaron Ashby, among others, the bullpen is also one of the best in the business. Though Milwaukee's offense lacks power - only Toronto hit fewer homers - the lineup makes up for it by putting the ball in play and bleeding pitchers to death. The team's .341 OBP and 1,422 hits led the majors, and it scored the second-most runs in the regular season. The Brewers also seem to have learned lessons from last year, when L.A. swept them in the NLCS. All the ingredients are there for Milwaukee to finally break through.

3. Tampa Bay Rays

The AL's top seed will be a very difficult out. Tropicana Field was the toughest ballpark for road teams this season, with the Rays posting an MLB-best 55-26 record at the Trop and securing home-field advantage through the ALCS. Tampa Bay boasts a top-five offense built on power, contact, and speed, led by AL MVP candidate Junior Caminero and featuring Yandy Díaz, Jonathan Aranda, and Chandler Simpson, who paced the AL in stolen bases. On the pitching front, AL Cy Young contender Drew Rasmussen, Freddy Peralta, and Nick Martinez will be tough to handle in a short series. Meanwhile, Bryan Baker anchors the bullpen, finishing tied for the MLB saves lead. It's hard to find a weakness on this team.

4. Atlanta Braves

The Braves shook off last year's injury-plagued disappointment to win 94 games and another division title. This team starts with a powerful offense that can strike at any moment. Drake Baldwin, Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies, and Michael Harris II - in whatever order manager Walt Weiss chooses - make life miserable for opposing pitchers. Former Cy Young winner Chris Sale sits atop the rotation, and an underrated bullpen led by Raisel Iglesias and Didier Fuentes has shutdown power. But question marks remain around a pitching staff decimated by injuries. Martín Pérez is now on the IL, and Bryce Elder's playoff status remains in doubt. With little rotation depth behind Sale and Grant Holmes, Atlanta faces more pressure to win in their October starts.

5. New York Yankees

The biggest question mark for the Yankees heading into the playoffs is Aaron Judge's status. The three-time AL MVP said he plans to be ready for the wild-card series despite dealing with a calf strain. However, the Yankees are operating as if they won't have their captain against Boston in the wild-card series. Although New York still has Ben Rice and his 41 homers - plus Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Cody Bellinger, among others - this lineup just isn't the same without Judge. The rotation is now the strength of the team. Soon-to-be AL Cy Young winner Cam Schlittler, Max Fried, Gerrit Cole, and Carlos Rodón could lead the club to the World Series if they all pitch to their capabilities.

6. San Diego Padres

The Padres are as hot as any team in baseball entering the postseason, going 18-6 in September to tie Milwaukee for the majors' best record this month. Fernando Tatis Jr. has been on a tear down the stretch, going deep eight times with 16 RBIs and a 1.065 OPS over the last month. He's notably hit 20 homers since the All-Star break after going over two months without one to start the season. Manny Machado, Jackson Merrill, and a rejuvenated Ty France round out a strong middle of the order. San Diego is particularly dangerous with a late-game lead, as Mason Miller and Adrian Morejon lead the NL's best bullpen. However, the club has major questions in the rotation, and the Padres' core has already failed multiple times in the playoffs.

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7. Cleveland Guardians

Just as they did last year, the Guardians surged late in the season to win their third straight AL Central title. Unlike in 2025, they'll have a bye to the ALDS, a huge benefit for a squad built around starting pitching. Parker Messick, a potential AL Rookie of the Year and Cy Young finalist, pairs with MLB strikeout leader Gavin Williams to form a potent duo at the top of the rotation, while All-Star reliever Cade Smith anchors a deep, dependable bullpen. However, Cleveland also has to hit, and that's where the team could struggle. Strong finishes from rookies Chase DeLauter and Travis Bazzana are good signs, and the threat of José Ramírez always looms even in a down year, but the lineup underperformed overall this season. No amount of great pitching will hide a lack of runs, especially in October.

8. Chicago Cubs

On Chicago's North Side, it starts and ends with Pete Crow-Armstrong. The 40-40 star and likely NL MVP is the lynchpin of one of MLB's best offenses, and he enters the playoffs on a high after hitting .266/.352/.553 with seven homers and 16 RBIs in September. Alex Bregman, about to begin his 10th postseason, and Seiya Suzuki also provide PCA with a couple of true running mates. But this offense has to carry the load because Chicago's pitching is in rough shape. The Cubs have the lowest K/9 (7.8) of the 12 playoff teams, and they allowed the most homers (231) in the NL this year, including 34 by team innings leader Shota Imanaga. Deadline acquisition Kevin Gausman has lots of big-game experience, though he's been inconsistent since arriving in August. If Chicago is going to make a playoff run, the pitchers need to shape up fast.

9. Boston Red Sox

A historic midseason turnaround catapulted Boston into the playoffs for a second straight year, but the team has a difficult hill to climb. Despite finishing with the AL's third-best record, the Red Sox landed the No. 5 seed and must travel to Yankee Stadium for the wild-card series once again. If they survive in the Bronx, their reward will be a date with the Rays in the ALDS. Boston's postseason success will likely hinge on an offense with firepower that sputtered down the stretch, ranking 28th in OPS and last in runs scored during the final month. Willson Contreras' health also looms large. The slugging first baseman was the club's best bat all season, but he suffered a hand injury late in the year. A lot of pressure will fall on a pitching staff led by 23-year-old Payton Tolle.

10. Philadelphia Phillies

September wasn't sunny in Philadelphia. The Phillies limped into the postseason, winning only one series in September and losing six of eight contests in the last week before clinching in Game 162. The team scored a combined three runs over a four-game losing streak until the bats finally woke up Sunday against Tampa Bay. The long ball powers Philadelphia's offense, yet the squad failed to homer in 46 consecutive innings before Bryce Harper went deep to ice Sunday's contest. While the club's rotation is still a strength, it's also a mess right now. Philadelphia had to burn Zack Wheeler on Sunday just to make the playoffs, Jesús Luzardo isn't fully built up after his recent IL stint, and Cristopher Sánchez would be going on short rest if he starts Game 1 against Atlanta. The Phillies still have plenty of talent and experience, but the arrow is currently pointing down.

11. Chicago White Sox

What a year it's been for the White Sox, who became the first team in MLB history to reach the playoffs after consecutive 100-loss seasons. Breakout All-Stars Munetaka Murakami, Tristan Peters, and Miguel Vargas top a dynamic lineup that can strike at any moment, and Murakami's and Vargas' power will help in October. Pitching is the big question. Sean Burke had a solid year, but he's not a true ace, and the rest of the rotation doesn't strike much fear in opponents. Deadline acquisition Luis Castillo was a bust and might not even make the playoff roster. The White Sox also enter October in a bit of a lull and must go on the road as the No. 6 seed after losing their grip on the AL Central during the last week. It's going to be a tough battle for this club, but they're also a young group that's ahead of schedule and playing with house money. Sometimes, that's the most dangerous team of all.

12. Houston Astros

Somebody had to win the AL West, and the Astros finally did it in Game 162. At 81-81, Houston is the first-ever division champion to finish a season without a winning record, while its minus-32 run differential is the second-worst ever for a division winner. Needless to say, the outlook isn't great. But as a division winner, the Astros get the No. 3 seed and home-field advantage in the wild-card series regardless of record, and Yordan Alvarez can change a game and series with one swing. Still, whether in the rotation or bullpen, Houston has almost no quality pitching outside ace Hunter Brown and closer Josh Hader. A team with the seventh-worst pitching staff ERA in baseball might survive a best-of-three coin-flip series at home, but it won't go much further.

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