Simply three weeks stay earlier than MLB groups shift their focus to the postseason — or for some, to an offseason with the hope of fixing no matter saved them from reaching the playoffs. Earlier than attentions shift fully, Yardbarker’s MLB writers took a take a look at figuring out every membership’s most beneficial participant this season.
(Data and stats are all getting into play on Monday.)
AL East
Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero.
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Baltimore Orioles (66-77) | LHP Trevor Rogers |
When the Orioles initially traded for Rogers final summer season (then with the Miami Marlins), the deal was broadly panned. However in 2025, Rogers has been Baltimore’s finest participant, not to mention pitcher, with a glowing 1.51 ERA in 15 begins to show the Orioles proper.
Boston Pink Sox (79-65) | LHP Garrett Crochet |
Crochet has been excellent for the Pink Sox in 2025, pitching to a 2.67 ERA (sixth in MLB) in 28 begins as Boston hunts for a playoff spot. The younger lefty’s 218 whole strikeouts this season is second in all of MLB behind AL Cy Younger favourite Tarik Skubal, which makes him an indispensable a part of this 12 months’s Pink Sox staff.
New York Yankees (80-63) | OF Aaron Decide |
Who else however Aaron Decide, the Yankees’ captain and franchise participant? He’s as soon as once more within the AL MVP dialogue (together with Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh) regardless of lacking a while with an elbow harm, with 43 house runs and a 1.099 OPS in 480 at-bats this season.
Tampa Bay Rays (71-72) | 3B Junior Caminero | Caminero is the youngest Rays participant with a 40+ homer, 100+ RBI season and solely the second in franchise historical past to perform the previous (first baseman Carlos Pena hit 46 lengthy balls in 2007). There’s no denying the 22-year-old’s immense expertise and his famous person ceiling, each of which have culminated in Caminero’s breakout 2025 marketing campaign.
Toronto Blue Jays (82-61) | OF George Springer | The Blue Jays have a number of stars worthy of consideration right here amid a shock 2025 season, however Springer is the selection given his renaissance on the plate (27 house runs, .942 OPS). Toronto has usually obtained stellar manufacturing from first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and shortstop Bo Bichette, however the re-emergence of Springer actually elevates this lineup to a different stage.
— Seth Carlson
AL Central
Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez.
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Chicago White Sox (55-89) | IF Colson Montgomery |
Thought-about one of many prime prospects within the White Sox system, Montgomery has had a powerful debut. He’s tied for second on the staff with 18 homers regardless of having lower than half the plate appearances as fellow infielder Lenyn Sosa and outfielder Andrew Benintendi, exhibiting that the longer term has already begun.
Cleveland Guardians (72-70) | 3B Jose Ramirez | Ramirez has constantly been among the many finest third basemen in baseball regardless of an absence of safety within the Guardians’ lineup. This 12 months isn’t any completely different, as Ramirez has already marked his seventh 20+ homer/20+ steal season and will finish the 12 months together with his third 30/30 season.
Detroit Tigers (82-62) | SP Tarik Skubal | Skubal must be considered the favourite for the AL Cy Younger award as he leads the league in ERA (2.18), WHiP (0.873), Ok/9 (11.2) and pitching bWAR (6.2). He has cemented his place because the Tigers’ ace and is a key cause why they lead the AL Central.
Kansas Metropolis Royals (73-70) | SS Bobby Witt Jr. | Witt has continued to cement his place as among the finest gamers in Royals historical past. He already has his fourth consecutive 20/20 season and has improved his protection at brief, making him a powerful all-around expertise.
Minnesota Twins (63-80) | SP Joe Ryan | Regardless of scuffling over his previous 4 outings, Ryan has continued to ascertain himself as a top-of-the-rotation possibility in Minnesota. A primary-time All-Star, Ryan is without doubt one of the few established gamers on the Twins roster following their hearth sale on the commerce deadline and ought to be a scorching commodity if he finally ends up on the commerce block this offseason.
— David Hill
AL West
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh.
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Athletics (66-78) | 1B Nick Kurtz |
Regardless of not getting the call-up till April 22, Kurtz has been a monster in his first style of MLB motion. His 29 homers and .304 batting common have made him the AL Rookie of the Yr favourite and a possible future league MVP candidate.
Houston Astros (78-66) | SP Hunter Brown |
The Astros, who misplaced All-Stars Alex Bregman (in free company) and Yordan Alvarez (who has missed the vast majority of the season because of harm), had no enterprise persevering with their AL West success. Nevertheless, stellar pitching, led by Brown’s 2.25 ERA, 1.014 WHIP, and 190 strikeouts, has established a brand new profitable id in Houston.
Los Angeles Angels (67-76) | OF Jo Adell | Adell narrowly edges out teammate Zach Neto, who has been spectacular with 25 homers and 24 steals. Nevertheless, Adell’s ascent from a busted former prime prospect right into a star with a team-leading 35 homers has supplied the largest increase to the Angels this season.
Seattle Mariners (75-68) | C Cal Raleigh | The most prolific energy season by a catcher in league historical past has Raleigh as a prime candidate for 2025 AL MVP honors. It is usually essential to notice that the famous person backstop remains to be producing Platinum Glove-level protection at a premier place.
Texas Rangers (74-70) | SP Nathan Eovaldi | Texas’ pitching workers, that includes a bounce-back season by former Cy Younger winner Jacob deGrom, thrilling leaps by former prime prospect Jack Leiter and stable manufacturing from veterans Patrick Corbin and Tyler Mahle, has been the membership’s energy in 2025. Fascinatingly, an totally dominant 1.73 ERA, 0.854 WHIP, 11-3 document and 129 strikeouts throughout 130 innings by veteran Eovaldi have anchored the Rangers’ season.
— Allen Settle
NL East
Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner.
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Atlanta Braves (64-79) | C Drake Baldwin | In a 12 months the place seemingly nothing went proper for the Braves, the emergence of Baldwin is one thing for the staff and followers to rejoice. The rookie has posted a .796 OPS with 15 homers and 63 RBI throughout 106 video games, and will definitely be within the working for NL Rookie of the Yr.
Miami Marlins (66-77) | LF Kyle Stowers | Though at the moment on the injured checklist, Stowers was, by far, the Marlins’ MVP this 12 months. Earlier than touchdown on the IL, the 27-year-old first-time All-Star was within the midst of a profession 12 months, belting 25 homers together with 21 doubles, 73 RBI and a .912 OPS — all profession highs. It stays to be seen if he’ll return this 12 months.
New York Mets (76-67) | RF Juan Soto | Soto is inevitable. His Mets tenure could have began rocky, however he is just one stolen base away from a 30-30 season, having hit 38 house runs this 12 months with 29 stolen bases. He additionally boasts a team-leading .928 OPS and an MLB-best 117 walks in 141 video games. Soto is proving that his 15-year, $765M deal was properly value it.
Philadelphia Phillies (83-60) | SS Trea Turner | Whereas Kyle Schwarber has made a convincing case for staff MVP, Turner has been Philadelphia’s finest, most constant hitter all season lengthy. He exited Sunday’s recreation with a hamstring pressure, and the Phillies should hope he is not out lengthy, as his 179 hits and .305 batting common lead the NL. His manufacturing could be sorely missed out of the leadoff spot as October looms.
Washington Nationals (58-84) | LF James Wooden | It hasn’t been an incredible 12 months in Washington, and it’s been an up-and-down season for Wooden. His 193 strikeouts lead MLB, however the second-year outfielder was named an All-Star and took part within the Dwelling Run Derby. Wooden has proved his energy is actual together with his team-leading 27 house runs, alongside 31 doubles, 86 RBI and an .818 OPS.
— Lauren Amour
NL Central
Pittsburgh Pirates beginning pitcher Paul Skenes.
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Chicago Cubs (81-62) | LHP Matthew Boyd | At 34 years previous, Boyd is having among the finest seasons of his 11-year MLB profession, highlighted by his first All-Star choice. Over 166 1/3 innings, he’s recorded 12 wins, a 2.92 ERA, 145 strikeouts and a 1.06 WHIP.
Cincinnati Reds (72-71) | LHP Andrew Abbott | Abbott has quietly anchored Cincinnati’s rotation, even amid a current chilly stretch. He holds an 8-5 document and a 2.88 ERA (seventh in NL), and earned his first All-Star choice this season, the place he tossed a scoreless inning.
Milwaukee Brewers (89-55) | RHP Freddy Peralta | Peralta has been Milwaukee’s undisputed ace, delivering a 16-5 document (most wins within the NL), a 2.50 ERA (second-best within the NL), 176 strikeouts and a 1.07 WHIP over 158 2/3 innings. Since Aug. 5, he’s had 5 consecutive begins of a minimum of 5 shutout innings, placing collectively 29 scoreless innings, the longest streak in MLB this season.
Pittsburgh Pirates (64-80) | RHP Paul Skenes | In one other dominant season, Skenes leads MLB with a 1.98 ERA, alongside 195 strikeouts (tied for the most within the NL) and a 0.94 WHIP (second within the NL) throughout 173 innings. He’s thrown 11 scoreless begins this season and has a 0.47 ERA over his final three begins.
St. Louis Cardinals (72-72) | SS Masyn Winn | With among the finest gloves within the majors, Winn leads MLB with 22 outs above common. Whereas not a standout energy hitter, Winn is batting .254 with 9 house runs and 51 RBI — the fourth most on the Cardinals this season.
— Taylor Bretl
NL West
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani.
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Arizona Diamondbacks (72-72) | OF Corbin Carroll | A decent contest between Carroll and shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, Carroll will get the sting due to his mixture of energy (30 homers lead the present roster) and velocity (his 25 stolen bases tempo the Diamondbacks as properly). His 16 triples additionally lead all MLB gamers.
Colorado Rockies (40-103) | C Hunter Goodman | In his first full season as a catcher, Goodman not solely earned Colorado’s solely All-Star bid this season, however has additionally been their offensive chief. His 29 house runs are a document for a Rockies catcher and essentially the most for a Nationwide League catcher since Atlanta’s Javy Lopez hit 43 in 2003.
Los Angeles Dodgers (79-64) | DH/RHP Shohei Ohtani | Ohtani may properly be on his solution to his second consecutive Nationwide League Most Precious Participant award (and third total) this season. He has not solely continued his prowess on the plate (he leads MLB with 127 runs scored and paces the NL in slugging proportion, OPS and whole bases) but in addition added effectiveness on the mound (3.75 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 36.0 innings).
San Diego Padres (78-65) | RHP Nick Pivetta | Certain, there are many offensive stars in San Diego, however Pivetta’s influence in his first season within the 619 can’t be ignored. The 32-year-old has logged 18 high quality begins, the fourth-most within the NL, and has been spectacular because the common season winds down, posting a 2.43 ERA over his final 5 begins overlaying 29.2 innings.
San Francisco Giants (72-71) | RHP Logan Webb | The 28-year-old right-hander has been constant for San Francisco as soon as once more this season, making an MLB-high 29 begins and going through essentially the most batters of any MLB pitcher (738). His present ERA+ of 124 places him on monitor to complete with an ERA+ of 111 or greater in 5 consecutive seasons.
— Kevin Henry
