By Louis Friedl 
A lot has changed since the start of the week. Some of these teams have struggled, while others have have not only played well, but also have played well against tough opponents. This is not about the current standings, this is about who has what it takes to make a deep postseason run:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
They are in a dog fight with the Padres for the NL West division. Still, they will make the playoffs, they are the reigning champs and once October starts, they need to be considered one of the top favorites. They move back into the top spot in these rankings after the Phillies struggled this week against the Mets.
2. Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies have been a force to be reckoned with in the postseason for many years now. They have a loaded lineup, and improved bullpen and a solid rotation. The one problem they might run into in the playoffs is that they no longer have a true ace, because Zack Wheeler appears to be out for the year.
3. Toronto Blue Jays
The Jays still have the lead in the AL East, but they have been losing ground, especially to the Red Sox. They do seem to be the most complete team in the division though, and if Shane Bieber and Max Scherzer can remain healthy come playoff time, it should be a huge boost for them to have veteran, playoff proven pitchers.
4. Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers lead the league in wins right now and do look like they should hold onto the NL Central. Still, they do lack “star power” and they have shown over the years that come playoff time, they struggle to win when it matters most. If their starting pitching can stay strong though, they have what it takes to make a deep run, and because of that, they move up from the 5th spot to the 4th spot.
5. Houston Astros
They are only ranked this high because they have proven for nearly a decade now that they know what it takes to win in the playoffs. They have a solid rotation, made some improvements to the lineup at the trade deadline and if they can get Josh Hader back, they are set up well for a postseason run.
6. Chicago Cubs
The Cubs have been one of the best teams all season long. They will be in the post season without a doubt, the big question for them is if their starting pitching can hold up against the leagues best offenses.
7. San Diego Padres
The Padres are in a tight race with the Dodgers in the NL West. They will be a playoff team regardless of if they win the division though and thanks to an elite bullpen and timely hitting, they can make a deep run in the postseason.
8. Detroit Tigers
The Tigers have been the best team in the American League nearly all season, with the exception of a two week slump following the all-star break. They have a commanding lead in their division, are currenly the one seed in the AL and could make a deep run. The reason why they are ranked so low on this list is that behind Tarik Skubal, their rotation is inconsistent.
9. Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox have gotten very strong starting pitching and bullpen work over the past couple of months, which is not something that was expected from them coming into the season. Their lineup is very good as well, and with an ace like Garrett Crochet, they could be very dangerous, especially in a short playoff series.
10. New York Yankees
Despite having one of the most loaded rosters in the league, the Yankees have struggled this season against quality opponents. At this point, it seems like if they do get into the postseason, it will be an early exit. However, they were the AL representatives in the 2024 World Series, so perhaps come playoff time, they can flip a switch.
11. New York Mets
The Mets were one of the better teams in baseball in the first half, but recently it seems like they can’t buy a win. They are in the final wild card spot in the NL currently, but are looking over their shoulders at a solid Reds team. The Mets went to the NLCS last season, and are a better team on paper this season, so maybe like the Yankees, they can flip a switch when the playoffs begin.
Angel Atienza-Romero