Every week, the Pitcher List team will publish an update to our power rankings, highlighting three teams among the different tiers of contention. As always, the full rankings can be found at the bottom of this article, but where’s the fun in that?
With most of MLB refusing to go on long winning streaks or be bad enough to lose a bunch, these rankings have become kind of stale in recent weeks. At this point, at least six (if not eight) playoff spots appear locked in, with only the crowded middle left to create a couple of legitimate postseason races. At the same time, the teams that have featured the proverbial seasons from hell continue to descend into their own negativity, as evidenced by the Giants at the bottom of this article.
Contender
No. 10 Chicago White Sox (40-37, -3 run differential)
Despite three straight 100-loss seasons entering 2026, there was some justified optimism around the Chicago White Sox, in what was expected to be a positive transitional season. And yet, not even the most optimistic Sox fans could have foreseen just how far their team would come with nearly half a season on the books. Making the top 10 in these rankings for the first time in years, the White Sox have not only defied expectations, they might actually be legit.
Even after a tough 1-5 week, there is no denying that Chicago has entered the conversation of AL contenders for a playoff spot, albeit with a limited ceiling to go far if they make it. Regardless of that, we should be celebrating and enjoying the progress this franchise has made, especially after they are seeing their years-long plan finally coming to fruition. Many expected the team to fall off following the tough injury to Japanese sensation Munetaka Murakami, but the Sox’s young core have simply kept on raking. The infield combo of Miguel Vargas, Colson Montgomery, and Chase Meidroth has thrived, with all of them below 26 years old. However, the surprising depth of the Sox has allowed to avoid the pitfalls of many young teams on the rise, with 19 hitters contributing with at least one homer, as the Sox rank second in MLB with 107 long balls.
Chicago’s pitching staff is more middle of the road, but has proven more than competent in a weak AL Central, led by the surprising Davis Martin and his AL-leading nine wins. Manager Chris Getz continues to make the most of an interesting mix-and-match bullpen, with a pristine 15-8 record in one-run games, including a clutch 6-5 win over rival Cleveland to start the new week. The White Sox have also avoided any losing streak longer than three games, which may be the key going forward if they remain close atop the Central. With the Tigers still trying to claw back into contention, it may be time for the Sox to seize this opportunity.
💥SAM ANTONACCI WALKS IT OFF 💥 pic.twitter.com/bSKWBkSTNF
— White Sox on CHSN (@CHSN_WhiteSox) June 23, 2026
The scary part for the rest of the division is that any success Chicago has in 2026 is just gravy. With their core coming into their prime years, this franchise could become the class of the Central for several seasons. The front office has already shown a penchant for creative trades and inspired signings like Murakami, and they could parlay that into an aggressive stance this trade deadline. With six more games to go against the Guardians before the All-Star break, they could go into the midseason classic with a nice cushion.
The Middle
No. 15 Las Vegas Athletics (38-40, -54 run differential)
In a down season for the American League, where nine teams remain within three games of the final wild card spot, few outcomes would be more fun than the Athletics reaching the postseason. From a neutral fan’s perspective, every A’s game has the potential of turning into pure baseball chaos, almost making us forget how this team was stolen from the city of Oakland. Playing in a minor league stadium plays into that notion of Coors Field-like feeling, but it is not enough to explain the truly talented and dynamic offense the A’s have assembled.
Nick Kurtz this June: 🔥
.300 AVG
.926 OPS (1st in MLB)
9 HR
20 RBI (Tied for 1st in MLB)Will he recieve Back ✌️Back AL Player of the Month? 👀💫 pic.twitter.com/tzy2bdmlVy
— SleeperAthletics (@SleeperAth) June 22, 2026
The last 13-game stretch for the A’s, which included six “home” games in Las Vegas and then seven at Sacramento, created some of the wildest baseball of 2026. The Athletics went 7-6 in that span, scoring 91 runs while allowing 102, with plenty of comebacks and blown leads to keep everyone on their toes. This theme of going to extremes is likely to follow the A’s all season long, with the likes of Nick Kurtz and Shea Langeliers confirming their status as elite hitters, while they employ plenty of capable complementary hitters to sustain rallies, as Zack Gelof has become a hitting machine and the return of Jacob Wilson should offset the long IL stint for Brent Rooker.
While the offense projects to continue this trend of scoring in bunches, the team’s pitching staff is the only thing holding it back. Outside of J.T. Ginn and rookie Gage Jump, no A’s starter has shown the ability to be consistent and good, while manager Mark Kotsay continues to try and fail in landing the right bullpen formula to hold down leads. The team has 21 comeback wins fueled by their top-10 offense, but also has lost 20 games in which they led, thanks to the worst staff in the AL. With not many internal reinforcements and a front office that is not likely to invest in frontline hurlers, it seems that the A’s will need to outslug everyone on their way to a wild card spot.
Even as the Mariners have failed to seize control of the AL West, their well-rounded roster suggests that this will eventually happen, leaving the A’s as part of a muddled crowd in the AL, where somewhere around 84 wins should be enough to play in October. The idea of Kurtz hitting moonshots or Lawrence Butler making acrobatic catches in the outfield is enough to make many root for the A’s, especially if they can find a third quality starter to at least give them a chance in a short series. Despite a run differential that suggests otherwise, this is a team with enough talent to make some noise, especially if they can take advantage of a top-heavy season in the Junior Circuit.
Wait ‘Til 2027
No. 27 San Francisco Giants (31-46, -54 run differential)
In a season that was supposed to feature at least a semblance of contention, the Giants had been one of the most frustrating teams in the league, full of underperforming players and several non-competitive losses. That early lousiness on the field at least showed signs of improving, especially as some hitters became bright spots and Logan Webb returned to his old self after a long IL stint. Instead, the past week saw San Francisco’s season take a dark turn, creating tension on and off the field.
It all started with several relievers taking a stance by writing on their hats during the league-sponsored Pride Night, which created several conflicting reports and drama. The team’s bad record then led to a widely-reported potential sell-off at the trade deadline, as the front office let everyone know that nearly all Giant veterans would be open for business. A glimmer of hope then emerged, with the Giants winning a double-header against the best team in the NL, only for all momentum to evaporate after a humbling sweep at the hands of the Marlins. The final inning of the series then featured a truly embarrassing moment, as Rafael Devers threw a fit when he was lifted for a pinch runner, again undermining the status of rookie manager Tony Vitello.
Rafael Devers didn't want to be removed for a pinch runner after a leadoff walk to start the ninth pic.twitter.com/PR3DCOFd3M
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) June 21, 2026
In the end, the week served as a perfect microcosm of the team’s regrettable and forgettable season, as both wins against Atlanta looked like flukes after the Giants scored a combined seven runs in Miami. San Francisco’s schizophrenic nature has been evident during their 8-10 month of June, in which 41 of their 85 total runs were scored in three games. Luis Arraez, Jung-Hoo Lee, and Matt Chapman have emerged as reliable bats, while Bryce Eldridge has been even better after joining the lineup, but even they are not enough to carry the cold spells of Devers, Willy Adames and other offensive black holes. Meanwhile, Webb has returned to his vintage form and gives the team a chance to win every five days, but the same cannot be said for a mercurial rotation and a simply bad bullpen that has blown 18 leads.
For a team that was supposed to be built on pitching and defense, the Giants have failed miserably in their quest to return to the playoffs, making it almost certain that they will finally commit to a true rebuild. San Francisco’s minor-league system is considered a strength in the long run, while the inclusion of Eldridge as a building block could give the franchise the power bat they have craved for decades. If a sell-off means paying down the salaries of their troubled veterans, so be it. Half-measures have led the Giants to a decade-plus of mediocrity (2021 fluke excluded), and even the status of Vitello and POBO Buster Posey should be up in the air. Just like Devers wagging his finger in disapproval, Giants fans are tired of the state of the franchise.
