The Week's Headline
In a summer that has offered no shortage of memorable moments, nothing from this week quite matches what Jakob Misiorowski accomplished on the mound for the Milwaukee Brewers. According to reports, Misiorowski struck out the first seven Colorado Rockies batters he faced — a franchise record — as Milwaukee routed Colorado 11-2 on Sunday. It was the kind of performance that captures the imagination, the sort that reverberates beyond box scores and into the longer narrative of what the Brewers (66-39, #2 seed in the National League) are building this season.
FanVerdicts has Milwaukee graded among the elite organizations in baseball right now, and the numbers back that up. The Brewers carry an A Performance grade and a CVI of A+ — the latter suggesting that Milwaukee's front office has constructed its roster with exceptional efficiency and value. The Sentiment grade, however, sits at F, a striking disconnect that points to a fanbase that either isn't fully engaged or remains skeptical of the club's ceiling despite the standings. That tension between what the model sees and what the fans feel is one of the more intriguing subplots of the 2026 season.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Dodgers (67-39, #1 seed in the NL West) continue their march atop the National League. They dropped Sunday's game to the Mets 8-3 but had already secured a win the previous evening, 4-3, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto earning the decision for New York in a tightly contested affair. The Dodgers carry an A+ Performance grade and a CVI of A, with Sentiment trending positive at A-. Los Angeles remains the standard by which every other contender is measured, and with the trade deadline arriving on July 31, their next move could further cement that status.
The Hall of Fame ceremony at Cooperstown also provided one of the week's most compelling backdrops. Carlos Beltrán, Andruw Jones, and Jeff Kent were officially enshrined, with Beltrán drawing widespread praise for quoting Bad Bunny while thanking his parents — a moment that felt both deeply personal and entirely fitting for a player who transcended the traditional boundaries of the sport.
Players to Watch
Ronald Acuña Jr. continues to be the most decorated performer in FanVerdicts' player grades this week, earning an A+ Performance grade alongside an A+ Contract Value Index — a combination that signals not just elite production but extraordinary value for the Atlanta Braves (62-43, #3 seed). His Sentiment grade of B reflects a fanbase that appreciates him without quite reaching the fever pitch his numbers would seem to warrant. That might change soon.
Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates earns an A+ Performance grade with a matching A+ CVI — arguably the most important individual grade story in the National League outside of Los Angeles. Shohei Ohtani, in his pitching role for the Dodgers, carries an A+ Performance grade and the highest Sentiment score on this week's leaderboard at A+, reflecting his continued grip on the public imagination despite a CVI of C+ that hints at the complexity of his contract's long-term calculus.
Aroldis Chapman is making a compelling case in Boston, grading at A+ Performance with an A CVI — elite results at strong value. Reports out of Boston suggest the Red Sox are "going all-in" ahead of the deadline, per NBC Sports, which makes Chapman's continued dominance from the bullpen all the more significant. Jhoan Duran, now pitching for the Phillies, earns identical top-tier grades: A+ Performance and A+ CVI, making him one of the most efficient relievers in the game by FanVerdicts' measure.
Team Report Card
The Tampa Bay Rays (62-43, #1 seed in the AL East) had a taut, compelling week. They defeated the Cleveland Guardians 1-0 on Sunday, with Drew Rasmussen earning the win and Bryan Baker recording the save. It was the kind of disciplined, low-margin victory that defines what Tampa does. FanVerdicts grades the Rays at B- Performance and A- CVI — solid execution on a well-constructed roster — though the F Sentiment grade remains a persistent puzzle for a franchise sitting atop its division.
The Chicago White Sox (55-49, #2 seed in the AL Central) posted one of the week's most emphatic results, defeating the Houston Astros 12-3 on Sunday. The White Sox carry a D+ Performance grade — hardly elite — but their B Sentiment grade suggests the fanbase sees something worth believing in. The Astros (52-55, #9 seed), meanwhile, carry an F Performance grade, a stark reflection of where this franchise stands as the deadline approaches.
The Miami Marlins' collapse deserves its own chapter. Their losing skid has reportedly reached a franchise-high 12 games, and FanVerdicts' grades confirm the disaster: D- Performance, D+ Sentiment. Crucially, the Marlins carry an A CVI — meaning the model sees value in their contracts even as results remain brutal. That's either a sign of future potential or evidence of a gap between construction and execution that has yet to close. The San Diego Padres (53-53) swept them this week, winning Sunday's game 5-3, deepening the wound.
The New York Yankees (59-45, #4 seed) continue to post strong grades — B+ Performance, A+ CVI, B+ Sentiment — even as a headline this week noted that Cody Bellinger has headed to the injured list as another setback for the club. The Yankees' CVI of A+ is among the best in baseball, a testament to roster construction that is delivering results even amid injuries.
Fan Pulse
Fan voting data is limited this week, but the grades tell their own story about where engagement is concentrated. The Atlanta Braves lead all teams with a B+ Fan Verdict, a reflection of a passionate and active fanbase tracking Acuña and company through every at-bat. The San Francisco Giants and Washington Nationals each carry an F Fan Verdict, the lowest marks in the sport, while the Philadelphia Phillies — despite boasting elite bullpen talent in Duran — also earn an F from their fans, a sign that D- Sentiment has curdled into genuine frustration for a club sitting at 56-49 with the deadline imminent.
Looking Ahead
The trade deadline on July 31 will define the next chapter of the 2026 season. With Corey Seager reportedly nearing a rehab assignment after returning to live batting practice, the Texas Rangers (53-52) could be getting a critical piece back at precisely the right moment. The Red Sox have telegraphed aggressive intent. The Brewers and Dodgers sit at the top of their respective leagues with the grades to match. And somewhere in the wreckage of Miami's franchise-record losing skid, decisions are being made that will shape what this team looks like when September arrives — now just 62 days away.