MLB power rankings: Dodgers, Red Sox rise, 1 stud from every team

On Memorial Day, as we pause to honor those who gave their lives defending our nation and its freedoms, we also recognize it as one of the milestones during progression of the 2022 MLB season. On this very special day, we take the chance in this week’s MLB power rankings to tip our cap to one player making waves from each of the 30 MLB teams over the past week.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (last week: 2)

Mookie Betts is simply on fire. A six-game stretch where he posted a 1.713 OPS and went 11-for-22 at the plate is part of a potent Dodgers offense that holds the best run differential in all of baseball … and the only MLB team to cumulatively outscore its opponents by 100 runs or more.

2. New York Yankees (last week: 1)

Gleyber Torres has nine home runs on the season, and four of those have come over the last week (all solo shots) as the Yankees keep the best mark in the American League at 33-15.

3. New York Mets (last week: 4)

Heading into Sunday Night Baseball, Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was flashing his smile in plenty of ways after going 10-for-26 at the dish with 14 RBI in a seven-game span.

4. San Diego Padres (last week: 5)

Eric Hosmer hasn’t hit above .300 in a season since coming over to the Padres following the 2017 campaign. He’s hitting .321 and, along with Manny Machado, keeping the San Diego offense humming.

5. Houston Astros (last week: 3)

Justin Verlander is turning back time this season, posting a 2.03 ERA and league-leading 0.832 WHIP in his first 57.2 innings of his age-39 season. Not too shabby.

6. Milwaukee Brewers (last week: 8)

Corbin Burnes has allowed eight home runs in 64.2 innings to tie for the eighth-most long balls surrendered in all of MLB. However, that’s about all he has given up to opposing batters as his ERA sits at 1.95 through his first 10 starts.

7. Minnesota Twins (last week: 11)

Luis Arraez is 13-for-28 (.464) over his last seven games and 25-for-56 (.446) at the plate over his last 15.

8. Tampa Bay Rays (last week: 7)

Taylor Walls is just 7-for-73 (.096) in the month of May, but his home run in the fifth inning on Sunday helped the Rays beat the Yankees and earn a split in the four-game series in St. Petersburg.

9. Toronto Blue Jays (last week: 11)

We asked where the extra-base hits had gone for Vladimir Guerrero Jr., but they started to show back up this past week with a pair of home runs. However, a 4-for-22 time at the plate still didn’t shake Vlad Jr. out of his May-long slump where he is hitting just .230 and slugged just .368.

10. Los Angeles Angels (last week: 6)

Over the last seven games, Mike Trout is hitting .310. This season, Mike Trout is hitting an overall .310. Talk about consistentcy.

11. San Francisco Giants (last week: 13)

Joc Pederson isn’t just making news on the fantasy football front, he’s also been producing in a big way at the plate, posting a 1.627 OPS over a six-game span that included, yes, making some noise against the Tommy Pham-less Cincinnati Reds.

12. St. Louis Cardinals (last week: 9)

Nolan Arenado and Nolan Gorman may be getting attention, but don’t overlook Paul Goldschmidt and his 1.379 OPS he produced for the Cardinals over a six-game span this past week.

13. Chicago White Sox (last week: 12)

Tim Anderson was hitting .407 in the 27 at-bats before suffering a groin injury and heading toward the injured list. Can the White Sox stay within striking distance of Minnesota in the American League Central?

14. Boston Red Sox (last week: 19)

Eight home runs in his last 15 games is even to have the most calloused Red Sox fan thinking Trevor Story is a good addition for a Red Sox team that is showing plenty of life.

15. Atlanta Braves (last week: 15)

Opponents are hitting just .198 this season against Kyle Wright in his nine starts. That’s the seventh-lowest mark for any MLB starter.

16. Philadelphia Phillies (last week: 14)

Bryce Harper continues to put up MVP-like numbers, going 12-for-28 (.429) over his last six games before a Sunday Night Baseball tilt against the Mets.

17. Texas Rangers (last week: 22)

Martin Perez has made nine starts for the Rangers and has posted an MLB-leading 1.60 ERA in 56.1 innings.

18. Arizona Diamondbacks (last week: 16)

Heating up in the desert? The temperature for sure, as well as Ketel Marte, who is 8-for-25 over his last six games.

19. Cleveland Guardians (last week: 18)

José Ramírez posted a 1.380 OPS over his last six games, boosting his OPS for the season to 1.022.

20. Seattle Mariners (last week: 20)

Vive la France! Ty France has logged a .476/.577/.714 last week over a six-game span. Hitting .342 on the season, can he help the Mariners right the ship?

21. Baltimore Orioles (last week: 23)

Austin Hays has had the powers lately for Baltimore, going 9-for-26 at the plate and belting a couple of home runs.

22. Miami Marlins (last week: 21)

Pablo López has a 2.04 ERA in nine starts this season and faces perhaps his biggest challenge of the campaign yet when he draws the Memorial Day start at Coors Field against the Rockies.

23. Colorado Rockies (last week: 17)

Speaking of the Rockies, C.J. Cron leads the National League with 108 total bases and his 13 home runs this season have him being mentioned as a candidate for his first-ever All-Star Game.

24. Pittsburgh Pirates (last week: 24)

Over his last seven games, Pirates closer David Bednar has thrown 8.1 scoreless innings and allowing just four hits while grabbing four saves.

25. Chicago Cubs (last week: 25)

Patrick Wisdom is hitting just .220 on the season, but has started to turn things around at the plate, hitting .280 over his last seven games.

26. Detroit Tigers (last week: 28)

On a team with pitching beset by injuries, Wily Peralta has been a bright light, showcasing a 0.89 ERA in his first 13 games spanning 20.1 innings.

27. Oakland A’s (last week: 27)

Nine starts for Paul Blackburn has resulted in a 1.70 ERA. All eyes are on Frankie Montas as the trade deadline gets ever closer, but Blackburn is putting up the stats.

28. Washington Nationals (last week: 29)

Keibert Ruiz is 10-for-28 over his last seven games, upping his overall average for the season to .281.

29. Cincinnati Reds (last week: 30)

Yes, the Reds are playing decent baseball, going 5-5 in their last 10. Joey Votto has also found his form it seems, going 6-for-21 over his last seven games to up his overall average on the season to a very un-Votto-like .165.

30. Kansas City Royals (last week: 26)

Over the last seven games (31 at-bats), Bobby Witt Jr. has 10 hits, including a pair of home runs. Can he still make a run at the AL Rookie of the Year Award?