<p>-
- MLB power rankings: Marlins' wild run as baseball's best team continues</p>
<p>Gabe Lacques, USA TODAYAugust 4, 2025 at 6:30 PM</p>
<p>We're not going to mince words here: The Miami Marlins are for real.</p>
<p>We can talk about it now, because the Marlins, arguably Major League Baseball's most forgotten franchise, have reached the .500 mark after a rousing weekend sweep of the New York Yankees, who have their own issues to worry about.</p>
<p>But there's one team – the Milwaukee Brewers – that's played as well as the Marlins since June 13, when they began a roll that's now at 30 wins in 44 games and resulted in them being very much alive rather than a carcass to be picked over at the July 31 trade deadline.</p>
<p>Heck, they even held onto franchise bulwark Sandy Alcantara, which may or may not portend positive things for a winter to build upon this surprise season. Miami's pitching staff leads the majors in WHIP (1.06) and the NL in ERA (3.16) since June 27, a 31-game stretch.</p>
<p>For now, though, the Marlins have zoomed up four more spots in USA TODAY Sports' power rankings – and are even loitering on the fringes of the NL wild-card race, six games out but with three teams to pass.</p>
<p>But if they keep up this pace, there's no ceiling that can stop them.</p>
<p>A look at our rankings:</p>
<p>Agustin Ramirez and the Marlins celebrate after a win over the Yankees.1. Milwaukee Brewers (+2) -</p>
<p>Banged out a franchise-record 56 hits in three-game sweep of Nationals.</p>
<p>2. Chicago Cubs (-1) -</p>
<p>All-Star Game headed to Wrigley in 2027. Which uniform will Kyle Tucker be wearing?</p>
<p>3. Toronto Blue Jays (-1) -</p>
<p>Don't look now, but Max Scherzer has struck out 16, walked none and won each of his past two starts.</p>
<p>4. Detroit Tigers (-) -</p>
<p>Can they unlock a closer-like performance from newly acquired Kyle Finnegan?</p>
<p>5. Philadelphia Phillies (+1) -</p>
<p>Jhoan Duran's dominant stuff accompanied his personal intro on trip from Minnesota to Philly.</p>
<p>6. Los Angeles Dodgers (+1) -</p>
<p>Max Muncy is ready to return, with Tommy Edman likely replacing him on the IL.</p>
<p>7. New York Mets (-2) -</p>
<p>Cedric Mullins will fit very snugly on their playoff roster.</p>
<p>8. San Diego Padres (+2) -</p>
<p>Has anyone ever rebutted A.J. Preller when he simply asked, "Why not?"</p>
<p>9. Houston Astros (-1) -</p>
<p>Carlos Correa still eight days away from playing his first home game at Minut-, errr, Daikin Park since Game 6 of the 2021 World Series.</p>
<p>10. Boston Red Sox (+1) -</p>
<p>Once again, a pretty lame deadline, but Steven Matz is low-key a useful bullpen piece.</p>
<p>11. Seattle Mariners (+2) -</p>
<p>Big series win against a Rangers team suddenly right in their way.</p>
<p>12. New York Yankees (-3) -</p>
<p>Hard for Brian Cashman to blame Aaron Boone when the players he acquired blew up in the skipper's face.</p>
<p>13. Cincinnati Reds (+1) -</p>
<p>Survived the Speedway semi-debacle. Will rest of season be a red flag?</p>
<p>14. Texas Rangers (-2) -</p>
<p>Jacob deGrom the fastest to 1,800 strikeouts in both innings (1,493 ⅓) and games (240).</p>
<p>15. San Francisco Giants (-) -</p>
<p>A "soft sell" at the deadline, if you will, but now they're back at .500. One more run in 'em?</p>
<p>16. Miami Marlins (+4) -</p>
<p>Kyle Stowers with a shot at 40 homers.</p>
<p>17. Cleveland Guardians (+1) -</p>
<p>You'd think Emmanuel Clase would be the cautionary tale that gets ballplayers' attention.</p>
<p>18. St. Louis Cardinals (-2) -</p>
<p>.500 looking like their destiny.</p>
<p>19. Kansas City Royals (-) -</p>
<p>Mike Yastrzemski kind of a nice "Why the hell not?" pickup.</p>
<p>20. Tampa Bay Rays (-7) -</p>
<p>Have now lost 11 of 16 since break.</p>
<p>21. Los Angeles Angels (+1) -</p>
<p>Taylor Ward now with a career-high 26 home runs, his latest a walk-off.</p>
<p>22. Arizona Diamondbacks (-1) -</p>
<p>The Jordan Montgomery Era really was something.</p>
<p>23. Minnesota Twins (-) -</p>
<p>Like many Americans, they're struggling to be debt-free.</p>
<p>24. Baltimore Orioles (-) -</p>
<p>The deadline decimated entire roster, but lineup has responded; bullpen has not.</p>
<p>25. Atlanta Braves (+1) -</p>
<p>Don't think anyone will complain if someone calls the Speedway trophy "a piece of metal."</p>
<p>26. Athletics (-1) -</p>
<p>Just 23 wins in Yolo County; only Rockies, Nationals have fewer at home.</p>
<p>27. Pittsburgh Pirates (-) -</p>
<p>The trade of moderate success story Bailey Falter was moderately depressing.</p>
<p>28. Washington Nationals (-) -</p>
<p>Run differential now minus-134; only Rockies (-277) are worse.</p>
<p>29. Chicago White Sox (-) -</p>
<p>Luis Robert is still here.</p>
<p>30. Colorado Rockies (-) -</p>
<p>At least a few of their bros on the Yankees give them something to root for.</p>
<p>This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB power rankings: Marlins have been best team in baseball</p>
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