2025 MLB Midseason Report: Grades, Surprises, and Playoff Predictions
A comprehensive look at the 2025 MLB season's first half, grading all 30 teams, highlighting surprises, and predicting playoff contenders.

As the 2025 MLB season crosses the 90-game mark, it's time to evaluate the performance of all 30 teams. From the dominant Houston Astros to the struggling Baltimore Orioles, this midseason report provides detailed grades, key player performances, and playoff predictions.
Detroit Tigers: A+
The Tigers have been the standout team of the first half, boasting the best record in MLB. Tarik Skubal leads a deep roster, while Javier Baez is having a remarkable comeback season. With a strong farm system, the Tigers are well-positioned to make significant moves at the trade deadline.
Houston Astros: A
Despite losing key players, the Astros are playing their best baseball since their 2022 World Series win. Hunter Brown, Framber Valdez, and Jeremy Pena have been stellar, and rookie Cam Smith has exceeded expectations.
Chicago Cubs: A-
The Cubs are on pace for their most wins since 2016, thanks to breakout performances from Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki. However, injuries and inconsistency in the rotation could be a concern.
Toronto Blue Jays: A-
The Blue Jays have surged to first place in the AL East, driven by George Springer's resurgence and Addison Barger's power hitting. Despite some statistical anomalies, they remain a strong contender.
Milwaukee Brewers: B+
The Brewers have been a model of consistency, with Freddy Peralta leading the way. Brandon Woodruff's return could provide a significant boost in the second half.
Tampa Bay Rays: B+
After a slow start, the Rays have clawed back into the AL East race. Junior Caminero and Jonathan Aranda have been key contributors, but a challenging schedule ahead could test their depth.
Los Angeles Dodgers: B
The Dodgers' lineup has been terrific, led by Shohei Ohtani and Will Smith. However, injuries to Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki have tempered expectations slightly.
Philadelphia Phillies: B
The Phillies are on pace for 95 wins, largely due to their strong rotation. However, bullpen issues and a lack of power in the lineup could hinder their playoff push.
St. Louis Cardinals: B
The Cardinals have been a pleasant surprise, but their offense has been fading. Without a true star, they may struggle to maintain their position in the second half.
San Francisco Giants: B
The Giants' strong pitching has kept them in contention, but their offense needs to improve. A crucial series against the Dodgers before the All-Star break could be pivotal.
New York Mets: B
The Mets started strong but have faltered recently due to rotation injuries. Juan Soto's resurgence is a positive sign, but they need more consistency to stay in the race.
Seattle Mariners: B
Cal Raleigh has been a one-man show, but the Mariners need more from their rotation. Recent shutouts against the Pirates could be a turning point.
Los Angeles Angels: B-
The Angels are hanging around .500, exceeding preseason expectations. Their home run power and stable rotation have kept them in the wild-card hunt.
San Diego Padres: B-
The Padres have struggled against top teams but have feasted on weaker opponents. Yu Darvish's return could provide a much-needed boost.
Cincinnati Reds: C+
The Reds are stuck in neutral, but their rotation has potential. If they can get healthy and consistent, they could make a push for the playoffs.
New York Yankees: C
The Yankees have hit their annual midseason swoon. With injuries mounting, they need to make some tough decisions at the trade deadline.
Miami Marlins: C
The Marlins' offense has been a surprise, but their rotation struggles could derail their season. An eight-game winning streak has kept them in the NL East race.
Arizona Diamondbacks: C
The Diamondbacks' offense has been strong, but pitching issues have held them back. They need a hot streak to stay in the playoff hunt.
Boston Red Sox: C-
The Red Sox have been a soap opera on and off the field. Their young talent needs to step up if they want to stay in the wild-card race.
Kansas City Royals: C-
The Royals' offense has been a disappointment, but their pitching has kept them competitive. They may need to trade for some offensive help.
Chicago White Sox: C-
The White Sox have been more competitive than expected, but they are still on pace for 100 losses. Their young players are getting valuable experience.
Minnesota Twins: D+
The Twins have underperformed, and the Tigers have passed them in talent. They need a strong second half to stay in the AL Central race.
Pittsburgh Pirates: D+
The Pirates have been inconsistent, but Paul Skenes has been a bright spot. Their recent six-game stretch was one of the best in history, but they need more consistency.
Texas Rangers: D+
The Rangers have struggled to score runs, and their pitching has been inconsistent. If they can make the playoffs, they could be a dangerous team in a short series.
Washington Nationals: D
The Nationals have some bright spots, but their pitching has been a disaster. Until they improve, they will be stuck in the NL East cellar.
Cleveland Guardians: D-
The Guardians' offense has been abysmal, and their pitching has regressed. This season looks like a lost cause.
Oakland Athletics: D-
The A's have some promising young players, but their overall performance has been poor. The move to Sacramento has been a disaster.
Atlanta Braves: F
The Braves have been the biggest disappointment in the NL. Their offense has collapsed, and their pitching has been inconsistent. Their playoff streak is in jeopardy.
Baltimore Orioles: F
The Orioles have been one of the worst teams in baseball. They will be sellers at the trade deadline and need to do some serious soul-searching in the offseason.
Colorado Rockies: F
The Rockies have been historically bad, but they are drawing fans. They need to make significant changes to improve their performance.