MLB Division Series preview: Two close AL matchups and two NL heavyweights
Yankees–Rays, White Sox–Guardians, Braves–Dodgers, and Padres–Brewers compared through final team ratings, TOP, and the hitters and pitchers who could decide each series.
“It’s not the will to win that matters—everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters.” – Herb Brooks
This section presents team power ratings and analytical summaries for the National Hockey League.
Hockey is a low-scoring sport with a significant number of close games, making raw win–loss records an incomplete measure of team quality. A single goal, an overtime result, or a shootout can dramatically affect outcomes without fully reflecting how teams performed over the course of a game.
Beyond the Standings NHL ratings are designed to evaluate overall team strength by incorporating scoring margin, opponent quality, and game outcomes while accounting for hockey’s unique structure.
NHL power ratings are calculated using an iterative, Elo-style approach similar to other game-driven sports, with adjustments specific to hockey:
The result is a rating system that reflects how well teams play, not just how often they win.
For a high-level explanation of how to read these rankings, see the Ratings Overview.
For a full explanation of how the ratings are calculated and how to interpret them, see the:
Yankees–Rays, White Sox–Guardians, Braves–Dodgers, and Padres–Brewers compared through final team ratings, TOP, and the hitters and pitchers who could decide each series.
An in-depth look at White Sox–Astros, Red Sox–Yankees, Phillies–Braves, and Cubs–Padres, with final team metrics and the leading hitters and pitchers for every club.
Milwaukee closes with 103 wins and the top pitching staff, Pete Crow-Armstrong edges Yordan Alvarez, and Jacob Misiorowski finishes well clear of the pitching field.
Milwaukee finishes No. 1, the Yankees lead the AL in my rankings, and the Cubs bring the top offense into October. Compare all 12 playoff teams using the final regular-season numbers.
2026 Season Final Report
2026 Season Final Report
2026 Season Final Report
2026 Season Final Report
2026 Season Final Report
2026 Season Final Report