Several outlets publish updated MLB power rankings as the season resumes after the All-Star break, dividing clubs into categories such as playoff “locks,” “contenders,” and “pretenders.” Both sources frame the rankings as a way to gauge which teams are positioned to reach October and which may struggle during the late-season stretch. In the National League, both accounts identify the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers as teams they consider playoff locks. Beyond those top-tier designations, the coverage outlines additional teams in other tiers—contenders and potentially weaker clubs—suggesting that the remaining regular-season games will be crucial for determining playoff outcomes. The rankings are presented as a weekly evaluation rather than a formal forecast, and they rely on current team performance leading into the second half of the season. Overall, the articles emphasize that the All-Star break marks a turning point, with teams’ prospects reassessed as they move into the final stretch.