Featured in this week’s Power Rankings, Tarik Skubal shows out, the Astros are back among the game’s elite teams, Sonny Gray throws a super-charged Maddux, the Guardians’ bats are having a historically-bad June, James Wood gets the Barry Bonds treatment, and the Marlins are unstoppable.

As the month of June winds to a close, the Major League Baseball landscape is starting to show a clearer line between contenders and non-contenders, though more than a few clubs still reside in the middle ground.

We play a lot of close game,” Shildt said, “and we need to figure out a way to add on and have a little bit of margin for error with our pitching group.” It’s the story more often than not. The Padres are three games better than they were through 83 games last year,

Like the opener of the homestand against Philadelphia, Framber Valdez, Bryan Abreu and Josh Hader combine on a shutout. Jose Altuve homers.

The Chicago Cubs completed their challenging stretch of 26 games in 27 days, including one postponement due to rain, with a 12-13 record.

The Chicago Cubs (49-34) visit the Houston Astros (49-34) Sunday in the finale of a 3-game series. First pitch from Daikin Park is set for 2:10 p.m. ET. Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's MLB odds around the Cubs vs. Astros odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Jeremy Pena is hit by a pitch in the second inning during the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on Friday, June 27, 2025. The Houston Astros have been slammed with injuries all season.

Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña has a fractured rib and will be placed on the 10-day injured list. The team revealed the extent of the injury Monday, saying it was a small fracture in Peña’s left rib cage.

Houston's shortstop left Friday's game in the sixth inning after Chicago Cubs starter Cade Horton hit him with a pitch in the second inning.