MLB power rankings: A new team takes the top spot
The calendar has turned to May and the New York Yankees have turned up the intensity and the power, leading to a shakeup at the top of the latest MLB power rankings.
Of course, the top isn’t the only place where there was some movement this week in our MLB power rankings. Let’s get right to the rankings and where teams stand as we enter May and the first full month of MLB games.
From the best MLB team entering the month of May to the one struggling the most, here are the latest MLB power rankings
30. Cincinnati Reds (last week: 30)
What can be said about what has been nothing short of a miserable start to the season for the Reds? Jonathan India went back on the disabled list this weekend as the Reds were swept in Colorado to fall to 3-19 on the season after the first game of the new month.
29. Kansas City Royals (last week: 27)
Kansas City has dropped eight of its last 10 games and lost Adalberto Mondesi to a torn ACL this week. The injury will cause a shift in some positions for the Royals, but at least there is a bright spot with Andrew Benintendi among MLB leaders in batting average (.366 through his first 20 games).
28. Baltimore Orioles (last week: 28)
The Orioles may have lost John Means for the season, but they are seeing other members of the starting rotation step up in his absence. That includes Bruce Zimmermann, who has a 0.93 ERA through his first four starts and has struck out 21 in 19.1 innings of work.
27. Detroit Tigers (last week: 22)
A trip to Los Angeles to face the Dodgers this weekend at least provided Detroit with one win in three games and snapped a six-game losing skid. The Tigers have to figure out what is going on with Akil Baddoo (.128/.190/.231 slash line through his first 39 at-bats), who was such a pleasant surprise for them in his rookie season of 2021.
26. Washington Nationals (last week: 25)
Everyone is focused on MVP candidate Juan Soto, but don’t overlook what Josh Bell has done so far this season. He’s leading the team in RBI (15) while his .351 batting average is among the National League leaders.
25. Arizona Diamondbacks (last week: 29)
Madison Bumgarner is off to a strong start in the desert, posting a 1.17 ERA through his first five starts. However, the Arizona offense is simply nonexistent, thanks in part to a combined .181 batting average that places them at the bottom of all MLB teams in the category.
24. Texas Rangers (last week: 26)
Corey Seager seems to be fitting right in in the Lone Star State, posting a .271/.323/.424 slash line through his first 21 games with the Rangers. Marcus Semien, the other half of the high-priced middle infield the Rangers acquired in free agency, is off to a very slow start, however. His .157/.226/.217 slash line and zero home runs won’t last long, but it’s not helping the Rangers get any early momentum.
23. Pittsburgh Pirates (last week: 24)
Ke’Bryan Hayes is showing Pittsburgh exactly why that record contract extension was worth it, slashing .333/.424/.417 through his first 21 games. David Bednar has looked good in the late innings for the Pirates, striking out 14 in 9.2 innings to help him to a 0.93 ERA.
22. Chicago White Sox (last week: 17)
The White Sox have lost 10 of 12 and still has an injury report that seems long enough to wrap around Guaranteed Rate Field. It can’t last forever, but it’s been a perfect storm of ugly proportions on the South Side to start the season.
21. Chicago Cubs (last week: 20)
Meanwhile, across town, the Cubs avoided a sweep in Milwaukee with a Sunday win, thanks in part to starting pitcher Marcus Stroman who allowed just two hits over seven innings in his second consecutive strong start after getting shelled in his previous two outings (12 earned runs on 14 hits in 8.1 combined innings).
20. Oakland A’s (last week: 18)
Some of the shine of Oakland’s decent start has worn off with losses in four of their last five games, including being swept at home by Cleveland. Tampa Bay comes to town to start a three-game series on Monday in what could be a very interesting barometer for how much magic these new A’s have in them.
19. Cleveland Guardians (last week: 16)
Hats off to the Guardians, who completed their first sweep in Oakland in 22 years over the weekend. The sweep came after seven consecutive losses, so Cleveland fans can choose to look at the glass half-empty or half-full with what the Guardians have done over their last 10 games.
18. Boston Red Sox (last week: 9)
All eyes seem to be on Boston first baseman Bobby Dalbec right now, who is slashing just .147/.213/.235 through his first 20 games. After hitting 25 homers last season, Red Sox fans were wondering if he was the answer at first base. They’re still wondering it as the team is off to a 9-14 start.
17. Philadelphia Phillies (last week: 21)
Philadelphia swept four games at home against Colorado then went to New York and couldn’t get a hit as the Mets tossed a combined no-hitter. The Phillies lost the series to the Mets, but at least they know Kyle Schwarber can still do damage against them, no matter what uniform he wears. In his first 36 career games against the Mets, his 16 home runs off New York pitchers are the most by any MLB player during that span.
16. Houston Astros (last week: 15)
As a team, Houston has a .214 batting average (24th in MLB) and a .290 on base percentage (23rd in MLB). Pitching has helped the Astros overcome a slow start at the plate, including 39-year-old Justin Verlander turning back the clock with his 1.73 ERA and 0.69 WHIP through his first four starts (26.0 innings).
15. Colorado Rockies (last week: 13)
Colorado gets swept in Philadelphia, then comes home to sweep Cincinnati. With Washington and Arizona on the schedule for the next six games, the Rockies have a chance to build some momentum. C.J. Cron will also have the chance to build upon his National League-leading eight home runs.
14. Atlanta Braves (last week: 10)
With Ronald Acuña Jr. back in the lineup, this Braves team could easily rebound from a 10-13 start. Atlanta knows that slow starts won’t be what determines where they finish the season. After all, last year’s World Champions started the season 12-14.
13. Miami Marlins (last week: 23)
Miami had pieced together seven straight wins before dropping the finale of a three-game home series against the Seattle Mariners on Sunday. Pablo Lopez and his 0.39 ERA through four starts (23.1 innings) has been a very under-the-radar story so far this season.
12. Seattle Mariners (last week: 6)
Julio Rodríguez showed his power on Sunday with his first career home run, but don’t forget that his nine stolen bases lead MLB as well. Power and speed? The future looks bright in the Pacific Northwest.
11. Tampa Bay Rays (last week: 8)
Wander Franco has hit a little bit of a skid for the Rays, going 4-for-27 over his last seven games. Tampa dropped two of three at home to the Minnesota Twins and now heads to the West Coast for 10 games in Oakland, Seattle, and Los Angeles against the Angels. It will be very interesting to see how the Rays navigate this part of the schedule.
10. St. Louis Cardinals (last week: 4)
The only thing apparently cooling off Nolan Arenado is when he is forced to sit out a game to serve a one-game suspension. Sure, he missed out on his own bobblehead giveaway at Busch Stadium because of the suspension, but returned to the lineup on Sunday and blasted a solo home run. His OPS? Currently at 1.132.
9. Minnesota Twins (last week: 19)
OK, Minnesota, we see you. Winners of nine of their last 10 games, the Twins are becoming must-watch baseball, thanks in part to Byron Buxton proving that, when healthy, he’s one of the best players in the game today.
8. Los Angeles Angels (last week: 14)
The Angels lead the American League West despite Shohei Ohtani’s inflated numbers on the mound and lower numbers at the plate. However, Mike Trout playing like Mike Trout will help any team boost its chances of winning. Trout is batting .364 over his last seven games and has 14 extra-base hits in 64 at-bats this season.
7. Milwaukee Brewers (last week: 11)
Milwaukee has won seven of its last 10 and six of their next nine games are against Cincinnati. Christian Yelich is starting to put together decent numbers at the plate (7-for-26 over his last seven games) and this stretch against some subpar Reds pitching could help him find his swing even more.
6. San Diego Padres (last week: 12)
Eric Hosmer sure looks good in brown and gold, doesn’t he Padres fans? All of the talk about his place on the roster (or lack thereof) has quieted down considerably with him posting a .382 batting average in his first 21 games.
5. San Francisco Giants (last week: 5)
Carlos Rodón has 38 strikeouts through his first 23.0 innings of work in San Francisco. He has allowed one run over his last 11 innings and has yet to allow a home run this season. So far, so good on that two-year, $44 million contract he signed with the Giants in the offseason.
4. Toronto Blue Jays (last week: 2)
Sure, everyone is ready to talk about Toronto’s explosive offense, but Alek Manoah and Kevin Gausman are posting incredible numbers on the mound. Gausman made quite an impression with his new team in April, having a historic month by striking out 30 or more batters and not issuing a walk or home run.
3. New York Mets (last week: 3)
The Mets are putting on a show to start the season, setting a franchise record by winning their first seven series of the campaign. Mark Canha continues to thrive with his new team, slashing .345/.429/.364 in his first season outside of Oakland.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers (last week: 1)
Remember all of the talk in the offseason about Clayton Kershaw and what kind of pitcher he might be after an injury-riddled 2021 campaign? Well, all he has done this season is become the Dodgers’ all-time strikeout leader and have us all wondering if he should have been pulled in the middle of a perfect game. Not bad for the 34-year-old future Hall of Famer.
Next. Why this Yankees pitcher likes being the "kind of funky" part of the rotation. dark
1. New York Yankees (last week: 7)
Winners of nine straight games, the Bronx Bombers are just that right now. Anthony Rizzo leads all of baseball with nine home runs and Aaron Judge is right behind him with eight. Can the Yankees keep things going when they head north of the border for the first time this season to face the Blue Jays in Toronto for three games, beginning on Monday? Those two teams are tied atop the MLB home run leaderboard with 31 each.