MLB Power Rankings: Each team's MVP

It's the ninth and final edition of theScore's MLB Power Rankings for the 2026 regular season. Here we hand out each team's Most Valuable Player.

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1. Milwaukee Brewers

Jacob Misiorowski: The Brewers have been one of baseball's best stories this season, and a big part of their success is due to the 24-year-old. A true ace, Misiorowski will likely become the organization's fourth Cy Young winner. The right-hander leads MLB with a 1.89 ERA, 243 strikeouts, a 0.81 WHIP, and a .160 opponents average. He's arguably produced the best season of any pitcher in franchise history.

2. Los Angeles Dodgers

Max Muncy and Yoshinobu Yamamoto: Shohei Ohtani's injuries opened the door for two other Dodgers to take this honor - and since Ohtani's a two-way player, we'll call it a tie between their All-Star third baseman and their superstar starter. Muncy's picked up the slack on offense with one of the best seasons of his career, anchoring a lineup that's been depleted by Ohtani's ailments and Kyle Tucker's struggles. Yamamoto, meanwhile, quietly turned in another Cy Young-caliber campaign while once again saving L.A.'s injury-riddled rotation.

3. Tampa Bay Rays

Junior Caminero: Who else would it be? Caminero is the straw that stirs the Rays' drink, and he's making a late push for AL MVP honors. The 23-year-old's hit an AL-leading 41 homers - including two walk-off shots in the last week - and ranks top four in slugging (.532), OPS (.895), hits (161), RBIs (96), and OPS+ (148). He's also taken big strides defensively, improving his fielding run value from minus-9 to plus-1 since the end of May while accruing a career-best four defensive runs saved.

4. New York Yankees

Ben Rice: While Cam Schlittler deserves enormous credit for his likely Cy Young-winning season, we're giving the nod to Rice for carrying the offense during Aaron Judge's lengthy absence. The 27-year-old leads the Yankees in games played, hits, home runs, RBIs, OBP, slugging, and OPS. He's belted more than twice as many homers as Jazz Chisholm Jr., who ranks second on the club.

5. Atlanta Braves

Chris Sale: Age is but a number for the 37-year-old future Hall of Famer, who is once again in the Cy Young conversation. The Braves' staff was hit hard by injuries almost from the get-go, and that put a lot of pressure on Sale's left shoulder. He's answered the bell and then some, serving as the rock their rotation desperately needed while posting his lowest ERA (2.18) since 2018. Atlanta's bats have done their part, but this team would be lost without Sale.

6. Chicago Cubs

Pete Crow-Armstrong: PCA will probably win the NL MVP with ease for his remarkable campaign. He's put up 10.4 fWAR and is three steals away from the seventh 40-40 season in MLB history. He leads the majors in runs scored (115) and isolated power (.299), and he's second in wRC+ (159). And did we mention that his 26 outs above average in center field are the most in baseball, regardless of position? There is no better all-around player in the game right now.

7. San Diego Padres

Mason Miller: It takes a special season for a closer to be a team's MVP, and Miller has authored exactly that. Baseball's best closer has converted 37 of 39 save opportunities while allowing eight earned runs (1.12 ERA) in 64 1/3 innings. Miller ranks 16th in fWAR (3.7) among all pitchers with at least 60 IP despite being a reliever. The Padres aren't in a playoff spot without Miller locking down the late innings.

8. Philadelphia Phillies

Kyle Schwarber: One of baseball's worst offenses has been propped up by Schwarber and his MLB-best 45 home runs. Schwarber and Bryce Harper are the only two Phillies hitters sporting an OPS+ above 100, and while Harper deserves a ton of credit, it's the big DH who's kept Philadelphia's lineup rolling. The Phillies will lean on Schwarber in a big way should they make the playoffs.

9. Boston Red Sox

Willson Contreras: A big part of Boston's stunning turnaround can be attributed to Contreras. The first baseman posted a 1.117 OPS across 20 games in July to help lead the Red Sox to a 21-4 record. But Contreras is no one-month wonder; he's posted an OPS of at least .860 in five of six months and leads the club in home runs, RBIs, OPS, and fWAR.

10. Cleveland Guardians

Parker Messick: The rookie southpaw has been phenomenal and could wind up being a finalist for both the AL Cy Young and Rookie of the Year. Messick leads Cleveland starters with a 2.57 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and .211 opponents' batting average. He's tied for first among all pitchers in run value thanks to a four-seam fastball that is among the most effective offerings in baseball.

11. Arizona Diamondbacks

Gabriel Moreno: The former top prospect showed flashes of his brilliance over his first three seasons, but he's truly come into his own this year. Moreno's career-best .307/.385/.485 slash line is by far the best on his team, and he also leads the Snakes in hits, doubles, and RBIs. The 26-year-old's done that while playing Gold Glove defense behind the plate and expertly shepherding a pitching staff that lacks strikeout power and consistency.

12. Chicago White Sox

Miguel Vargas: The White Sox have gotten positive contributions from a number of young players, but Vargas stands out. The All-Star third baseman has finally made good on his promise, achieving career highs in homers (31), RBIs (84), runs (98), hits (139), steals (19), and OPS (.827). His Baseball Savant page is a sea of red: He ranks in the 90th percentile or better in batting run value, expected slugging, chase percentage, and walk percentage.

13. Texas Rangers

Ezequiel Duran: The Rangers' Swiss Army knife has been the glue that's held together an inconsistent, injury-plagued lineup. Only three Rangers hitters have qualified for the batting title, and Duran leads that group in each slash-stat category as well as OPS+. He's also chipped in 17 homers and 47 extra-base hits in 561 plate appearances - and he's done it all without an everyday position. Duran's played wherever Texas has needed him, starting at least one game at every position save for pitcher and catcher and playing positive defense everywhere on the diamond.

14. Houston Astros

Yordan Alvarez: It's been a special season for one of baseball's most under-appreciated bats. Alvarez is making a Triple Crown push, as he leads the AL in average (by percentage points over Chandler Simpson) and is second in homers and RBIs. He also tops the majors in wRC+, OBP, OPS, and slugging - his .598 SLG is 17 points higher than the next-best hitter in baseball. Alvarez's 6.2 fWAR is higher than the next two qualified players on his team combined. The Astros wouldn't be in a playoff spot without him - in fact, if it wasn't for Alvarez, they might be one of the AL's worst clubs.

15. Toronto Blue Jays

Dylan Cease: The right-hander said he signed with Toronto to help realize his full potential, and he's done just that. Cease will likely finish second in AL Cy Young voting after a brilliant campaign. Toronto's rotation has been devastated by injuries, and the team wouldn't be within striking distance of a playoff spot if it wasn't for Cease's team-leading 28 starts. He's one of only two Blue Jays pitchers to throw more than 95 innings this season.

16. Baltimore Orioles

Pete Alonso: Joining a new team this season hasn't hindered Alonso's production, as he remains one of the best power hitters in baseball. The 31-year-old has reached the 30-homer, 100-RBI mark for fourth time in five seasons, and he paces Baltimore in almost every major offensive category. He's hit 13 more homers than his closest teammate and driven in 39 more runs. Alonso's also projected to record the second-highest fWAR total of his career.

17. Miami Marlins

Otto Lopez: Though he's cooled down considerably in the second half, Lopez remains Miami's best player by a wide margin. The shortstop has put together a five-win season. He leads the majors with 182 hits and sits third in the NL with a .306 average. He's also got 50 extra-base hits and 31 steals to his credit.

18. Pittsburgh Pirates

Brandon Lowe: The second baseman's been everything the Pirates hoped for when they acquired him from Tampa Bay last winter. Lowe has enjoyed taking aim at PNC Park's short right-field porch and leads Pittsburgh in fWAR (4.5), homers (31), RBIs (89), and slugging (.486). He's also been terrific with the glove, morphing from a defensive liability into one of the best at his position.

19. Detroit Tigers

Kevin McGonigle: This was a tough choice, since Dillon Dingler and Riley Greene warrant consideration, but McGonigle gets the edge with his ability to play two premium positions. The rookie shortstop and third baseman leads the team in hits, fWAR, stolen bases, total bases, and OBP while sitting second in games played, average, OPS, and wRC+.

20. St. Louis Cardinals

Alec Burleson: With all due respect to both JJ Wetherholt and Jordan Walker, who could have easily taken this honor as well, it's Burleson who's keyed the Cardinals' better-than-expected season. The 27-year-old leads the majors in doubles (37) and RBIs (111) and is also inside the NL's top 10 in hits, OPS+, and total bases. Burleson was already going to be a part of the Cardinals' future, but this season has cemented him as a core piece.

21. Seattle Mariners

Randy Arozarena: Arozarena's been Seattle's only consistent bat, producing a 20-20 season along with a team-high .851 OPS and AL-best 103 runs scored. He's one of only two Mariners regulars (along with Dominic Canzone) sporting an OPS above .800. It's been a very disappointing season in Seattle, and it's easy to imagine how much lower they might've sunk without Arozarena in left field.

22. Washington Nationals

Cade Cavalli: The right-hander came into the season having made just 10 big-league starts from 2023-25 after Tommy John surgery. Not only has Cavalli's elbow held up, he's become a workhorse. The 28-year-old sits 12th in the NL in innings pitched and is in the top 10 in WHIP (1.17), FIP (3.33), ERA (3.12), ERA+ (139), and K/9 (10.6). He hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in a start since June 13. The Nats clearly have themselves an ace.

23. New York Mets

Nolan McLean: It's been another highly disappointing year for the Mets, but McLean's shown that he's a major building block. The 24-year-old leads the club in starts, innings pitched, ERA, strikeouts, and WHIP, and it's not even close. For a team with over $350 million in payroll, it's hard to believe their best player is making the league minimum, but that also sums up the Mets' problems this season.

24. Kansas City Royals

Bobby Witt Jr.: It was going to be tough for Witt to replicate the success he's had over the past two seasons, but he still put together a terrific year. The Royals' franchise player ranks second in the AL in steals and is the best defensive player at his position by outs above average. Add in a team-leading 144 hits, 84 runs scored, and .359 on-base percentage and Witt remains the best the Royals have by a wide margin.

25. Minnesota Twins

Kody Clemens: With Byron Buxton's great season once again shortened by injury, it's time for Clemens to get his due. The unheralded utility player has arguably been Minnesota's most important contributor this year - and Buxton's continuing health woes make Clemens' case even stronger. Clemens has posted career highs in homers (26), RBIs (76), triples (an AL-best seven), hits (121), and OPS (.773) while appearing at five different positions.

26. Cincinnati Reds

Elly De La Cruz: If not for an IL stint in June, De La Cruz might well be on his way to a 40-40 season and serious NL MVP consideration. The 6-foot-6 shortstop is two homers and four steals shy of 30-30, owns a career- and team-best .284/.362/.517 slash line, and sits sixth in the NL in slugging. He's also one of the most electric players in the sport with his combination of light-tower power, blinding speed, jaw-dropping defensive range, and a cannon of an arm.

27. San Francisco Giants

Rafael Devers: It took some time for Devers to get going, but now he's once again the elite hitter the Giants hoped they acquired last year. Boosted by an incredible September, Devers wrapped up his second season in San Francisco with a team-leading 37 home runs, 98 RBIs, and .865 OPS. It feels like the Giants will wind up being thankful that they didn't find a taker for Devers at the deadline.

28. Athletics

J.T. Ginn: There haven't been a lot of bright spots for the Athletics this year, especially on the mound. Ginn rose above the disadvantages of pitching in West Sacramento to emerge as the team's de facto ace. Although he's been on the IL since early September, the 27-year-old still leads the A's in WHIP (1.24), remains tied for the team lead in innings (138 1/3), and is second in strikeouts (121). FanGraphs valued Ginn's season at $13.7 million; Ginn - who isn't arbitration-eligible until 2028 - made just $785,000 this year.

29. Los Angeles Angels

Arte Moreno: Props to Mike Trout for his comeback season and Walbert Ureña for a stellar rookie campaign. But everyone in Orange County knows the real MVP of the 2026 Angels is the outgoing owner, who surprisingly sold the club to Stan Kroenke earlier in September. Moreno's exit should allow the moribund franchise to finally escape the dark ages - and maybe even make the playoffs again before Trout retires. Moreno gave the Angels and their fans a wonderful gift to help brighten another lost season.

30. Colorado Rockies

TJ Rumfield: Acquired in a nondescript trade with the Yankees this past January, Rumfield went from career minor-leaguer to staple at first base in Denver almost overnight. The 26-year-old leads the Rockies in hits (156), OBP (.393), OPS (.849), OPS+ (122), and walks (70), and he's also playing Gold Glove-caliber defense. The sweet-swinging Rumfield has the potential to be All-Star catcher Hunter Goodman's running mate at Coors Field for years to come.