MLB Power Rankings: Where All 30 Teams Stand at 2016's 1st-Quarter Mark
One quarter of the 2016 MLB season is in the books, but there's still a ton of baseball ahead.
The Chicago Cubs stumbled a bit with a series loss to the San Diego Padres, but they're still comfortably looking down on the other 29 teams from the No. 1 spot in these rankings.
Things continue to shuffle within the top 10, though.
The Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles both climbed with strong showings, and the Philadelphia Phillies are officially inside the top 10 for the first time this year.
What a world.
The NL East as a whole is as close as it gets right now with four teams currently over .500. There will no doubt be plenty of shuffling among that group in particular as they square off in-division.
We're still dealing with a relatively small sample size at this point, so one particularly good or bad week of play can often result in a significant climb or drop in the rankings with so many teams clustered together with similar records.
One thing remains true: These rankings are a fluid process, with teams rising and falling based on where they were ranked the previous week. If a team keeps winning, it will keep climbing—it's as simple as that.
Here's a look at where all 30 MLB teams stand.
30. Atlanta Braves (9-27, Previous: 30)
1 of 30
Last Week: 2-4
Still looking to break the double-digit win mark on the season, the Atlanta Braves remain an easy choice for the No. 30 spot in these rankings.
The team pulled the trigger on its first significant trade since Opening Day when it shipped Jhoulys Chacin to the pitching-starved Los Angeles Angels in exchange for left-handed relief pitching prospect Adam McCreery. Williams Perez replaces Chacin in the rotation for the time being.
If there's one area that has been a strength this season, it's the Braves' starting pitching, as it ranks 15th in the majors with a solid 4.18 ERA as a group.
Mike Foltynewicz helped that mark with eight scoreless innings last week. The 24-year-old continues to tease his potential with a 2.89 ERA and 1.179 WHIP in his first three starts of the year.
Hitter of the Week
- 1B Freddie Freeman (8-for-24, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 4 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Mike Foltynewicz (W, 8.0 IP, 7 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K)
29. Minnesota Twins (10-26, Previous: 29)
2 of 30
Last Week: 2-3
The Minnesota Twins entered the weekend mired in a terrible 1-12 stretch but managed to close out the week with a pair of wins against the Cleveland Indians.
That earned them their first series win since they took two of three from that same Indians team back on April 27. The Twins will look to use that as momentum heading into a series against the struggling Detroit Tigers this week.
Tyler Duffey has given the rotation a shot in the arm since being recalled from the minors, posting a 1.85 ERA in four starts. However, the pitching staff as a whole remains a major weakness, as it ranks 26th in the majors with a 4.76 ERA.
Joe Mauer was moved to the leadoff spot in the lineup last week in an effort to make the most of his on-base skills. However, he still seems to be adjusting to the switch, as he's gone 4-for-19 with three walks and four strikeouts out of the No. 1 spot.
Hitter of the Week
- DH Byung Ho Park (5-for-19, 1 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 4 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Tyler Duffey (W, 7.0 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K)
28. Cincinnati Reds (15-22, Previous: 28)
3 of 30
Last Week: 2-3
The biggest storylines for the Cincinnati Reds continue to revolve around what they're expected to do once the trade market heats up.
Outfielder Jay Bruce still looks like the most likely player to be moved, and with a strong showing last week, he's now hitting .258/.318/.500 with six home runs and a team-high 23 RBI. If he keeps it up, there will no doubt be more than a few suitors.
As for the continued development of some of the Reds' young players, left fielder Adam Duvall is worth keeping an eye on, as he's put up a .902 OPS with 12 doubles and six home runs.
The 27-year-old was viewed more as a placeholder for top prospect Jesse Winker heading into the season, but he's made a case to be part of the team's plans going forward. He'll have his hands full holding off Winker, who is currently hitting .281 with a .386 on-base percentage in Triple-A.
Hitter of the Week
- RF Jay Bruce (6-for-13, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 5 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Dan Straily (W, ND, 11.0 IP, 10 H, 2 ER, 6 BB, 10 K)
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27. Milwaukee Brewers (16-22, Previous: 26)
4 of 30
Last Week: 3-4
The Milwaukee Brewers split a four-game series with the San Diego Padres to wrap up last week, so they maintain a half-game lead over the Cincinnati Reds for third place in the NL Central. It's not a pennant race, but it's what they're playing for from a win-loss standpoint this year.
Most expect top prospect Orlando Arcia to join the big league roster shortly after the Super Two deadline passes in June, but incumbent Jonathan Villar is doing his best to make that a tough decision.
The 21-year-old Arcia is currently hitting .299/.333/.401 in Triple-A, but after a 12-for-29 performance last week, Villar now carries a terrific .292/.391/.392 line with 10 doubles and 11 stolen bases on the year.
Meanwhile, 31-year-old Junior Guerra has now gone six innings in three consecutive starts after twirling a gem against the Padres on Friday, when he allowed just two hits and no runs. He's been a pleasant surprise on a team that has an MLB-worst 5.83 ERA by its starting pitchers.
Hitter of the Week
- SS Jonathan Villar (12-for-29, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Junior Guerra (W, 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K)
26. Detroit Tigers (16-21, Previous: 18)
5 of 30
Last Week: 2-5
The downward spiral continues for a Detroit Tigers team that sat at No. 7 in the May 2 version of these power rankings but has gone an abysmal 2-11 in their last 13 games.
Amid those struggles, the Tigers players have stood behind manager Brad Ausmus, who obviously finds his seat getting increasingly hot.
"We're the ones not hitting. We're the ones not scoring runs, not getting outs," J.D. Martinez told Katie Strang of ESPN. "He can come in here and try to hoo-rah us all he can, but at end of the day, we've got to find it within ourselves to get the job done."
After spending big to add Jordan Zimmermann and Justin Upton this offseason, as well as a number of smaller-scale additions, this team was expected to contend. Despite the players' support, if they continue to struggle, change will be coming.
Hitter of the Week
- RF J.D. Martinez (7-for-26, 1 2B, 3 HR, 4 RBI, 5 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Justin Verlander (L, 8.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K)
25. Los Angeles Angels (16-21, Previous: 27)
6 of 30
Last Week: 3-3
The Los Angeles Angels dropped to 2-10 in their last 12 games after being swept by the St. Louis Cardinals to begin last week, but they closed things out by doing some sweeping of their own with three straight victories over the Seattle Mariners.
In need of some starting pitching help after losing Garrett Richards for the season, right-hander Jhoulys Chacin was acquired from the Atlanta Braves. He threw seven strong innings for a no-decision in his Angels debut.
"He's an experienced guy that has, I think, gotten his stuff back to where he can pitch well in the big leagues," manager Mike Scioscia told Pedro Moura of the Los Angeles Times. "We'll give him his chance. Hopefully, he's going to give us what we need to fill out our rotation."
The Angels' newfound winning streak will be put to the test this coming week with a four-game series against the interleague rival Dodgers, with Kenta Maeda and Clayton Kershaw pitching the first two games for them.
Hitter of the Week
- RF Kole Calhoun (8-for-21, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 5 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Jhoulys Chacin (ND, 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K)
24. Arizona Diamondbacks (17-23, Previous: 22)
7 of 30
Last Week: 2-5
Sketchy starting pitching continues to be the biggest issue facing the Arizona Diamondbacks. They enter the week coming off of a four-game sweep at the hands of the San Francisco Giants.
They currently rank 26th in the league with a 4.97 starter's ERA, and they've managed just 16 quality starts in 40 games, with only five of those coming from prized offseason acquisitions Zack Greinke and Shelby Miller.
Somewhat lost in the shuffle of what has been a trying season to this point has been the performance of Brandon Drury, who is squarely in the running for NL Rookie of the Year honors at the quarter mark.
The 23-year-old is hitting .320/.343/.547 with nine doubles, six home runs and 13 RBI, and he's done it while seeing time at second base, third base and both corner outfield spots.
Hitter of the Week
- CF Chris Owings (10-for-28, 2 2B, 1 3B, 5 RBI, 2 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Rubby De La Rosa (W, ND, 14.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 13 K)
23. Houston Astros (15-24, Previous: 23)
8 of 30
Last Week: 3-4
The Houston Astros are still searching for answers on the pitching side of things, and the return of Lance McCullers to the starting rotation did not provide the immediate spark the team was hoping for.
McCullers allowed seven hits and five earned runs in 4.2 innings against a red-hot Boston Red Sox offense in his season debut on Friday.
Meanwhile, rough outings from Dallas Keuchel (6.0 IP, 10 H, 8 ER) and Collin McHugh (6.0 IP, 10 H, 4 ER) raised their ERAs to a matching 5.58 on the year.
The Houston offense has been solid all season with 4.26 runs per game, but a 4.67 team ERA that checks in at 25th in the majors has largely undermined that. It's an issue that will need to be resolved quickly if the Astros are going to get their season back on track.
Hitter of the Week
- RF George Springer (8-for-28, 1 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 6 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Doug Fister (ND, 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K)
22. Tampa Bay Rays (16-19, Previous: 15)
9 of 30
Last Week: 1-5
The Tampa Bay Rays won just one game last week, as they were swept by the Seattle Mariners before dropping two of three to the Oakland Athletics.
Their lone win was an impressive one, though, thanks to right-hander Matt Andriese.
The 26-year-old stepped into what had been a revolving No. 5 starter spot with a strong start on May 8, in which he allowed four hits and one run in seven innings, but he took things up a notch in his second start with a two-hit shutout.
"I learned a lot last year, going back and forth," Andriese told Andrew Astleford of MLB.com. "That's just part of the deal. When I got called up for my last start, I told myself I want to be here for good. I've been taking that mentality and building off that each outing."
Andriese was 3-5 with a 4.11 ERA and 1.325 WHIP in eight starts with the big club last year, and he impressed early this season in Triple-A with a 3.41 ERA, 1.136 WHIP and 44 strikeouts in 34.1 innings.
Hitter of the Week
- LF Brandon Guyer (9-for-25, 4 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 4 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Matt Andriese (W, 9.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K)
21. Oakland Athletics (16-22, Previous: 20)
10 of 30
Last Week: 2-4
A 2-4 week sends the Oakland Athletics down one spot in the rankings, but this is a team that has been trending downward as a whole since the calendar turned to May.
After going 13-12 in April, the Athletics are just 3-10 with a minus-43 run differential so far this month.
Rich Hill has been one of the best signings of the offseason at 5-3 with a 2.68 ERA, 1.191 WHIP and 10.9 K/9, but the rest of the starting rotation has been wildly inconsistent.
That includes ace Sonny Gray, who enters the week at 3-4 with a 5.84 ERA and 1.545 WHIP. He has a chance to bring a king's ransom on the trade market if he can turn things around, but at this point, the A's would be selling low if he doesn't improve his performance.
As for other potential trade chips, a five-homer week from Danny Valencia will catch the eye of teams who could be looking to upgrade at third base or a corner outfield spot.
Hitter of the Week
- 3B Danny Valencia (7-for-13, 5 HR, 7 RBI, 6 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Rich Hill (W, 6.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 7 K)
20. San Diego Padres (17-22, Previous: 24)
11 of 30
Last Week: 4-3
A series win against the Chicago Cubs sends the San Diego Padres up four spots in this week's rankings, though they didn't manage to parlay that into further success, as they split a four-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers to close out the week.
It's crazy to say, but as things currently stand, there's little question that Melvin Upton Jr. is the better of the Upton brothers.
- Melvin: .281/.363/.453, 5 2B, 5 HR, 16 RBI, 16 R
- Justin: .216/.255/.318, 9 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 16 R
Suddenly, the two years and $31.9 million left on Melvin's contract doesn't seem quite so impossibly immovable. With a little bit of cash thrown into the mix, he could actually wind up being a sought-after trade chip come July.
Meanwhile, the breakout continues for Drew Pomeranz, who is now 4-3 with a 1.80 ERA, 1.075 WHIP and 51 strikeouts in 40 innings after another terrific start last week.
Hitter of the Week
- LF Melvin Upton Jr. (10-for-23, 2 2B, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 5 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Drew Pomeranz (W, 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 10 K)
19. Colorado Rockies (19-18, Previous: 25)
12 of 30
Last Week: 4-2
A three-game sweep of the New York Mets earns the Colorado Rockies a six-spot bump in this week's rankings. They are now 10-6 in their last 16 games.
After a typically awful 5.50 ERA from the pitching staff in April, the Rockies have bettered that significantly with a 4.05 ERA so far this month. That's been the biggest reason for their improved performance of late.
Since starting the season with an 11.42 ERA over his first two starts, Jon Gray has rattled off three straight quality starts with a 1.80 ERA, 0.700 WHIP and 10.8 K/9 while holding opponents to a .145 batting average.
This is what the Rockies envisioned for Gray when they took him No. 3 overall in the 2013 draft, and a continued breakout performance would be huge for their staff as a whole.
In other news, the Jose Reyes situation finally gained some clarity, as he'll be suspended through the end of the month. Now the question is whether or not the Rockies will be able to find a taker on the trade market, which still seems like a long shot at this point.
Hitter of the Week
- CF Charlie Blackmon (9-for-23, 1 2B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 4 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Jon Gray (W, 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 K)
18. Toronto Blue Jays (19-20, Previous: 19)
13 of 30
Last Week: 3-3
In a tough week on the road against the San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers, the Toronto Blue Jays managed to escape with a 3-3 record.
That should be something they can build off of as they head home to face the Tampa Bay Rays before a trip to Minnesota to take on the cellar-dwelling Twins.
Not everyone was in love with the Blue Jays' decision to give J.A. Happ a three-year, $36 million deal and Marco Estrada a two-year, $26 million contract, but they've been the team's two best starters so far this season.
Happ is 5-0 with a 2.05 ERA and 1.159 WHIP in seven starts, while Estrada is 1-2 with a 2.89 ERA and 1.145 WHIP in seven starts. They've combined for 11 quality starts.
Hitter of the Week
- SS Troy Tulowitzki (9-for-24, 3 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 7 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP J.A. Happ (W, 8.2 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 K)
17. Kansas City Royals (18-19, Previous: 14)
14 of 30
Last Week: 3-4
The mediocrity continues for the Kansas City Royals, as they've gone 10-17 since opening the year at 8-2 and looking like a serious threat to defend their title.
They haven't won consecutive games since April 21 and 22, which speaks to the inconsistency of their starting pitching.
Edinson Volquez (8 GS, 4-3, 3.51 ERA) and Ian Kennedy (7 GS, 4-3, 3.25 ERA) have been solid, but the rest of the rotation has gone a combined 5-10 with a 6.18 ERA and 1.685 WHIP.
Yordano Ventura and Kris Medlen both have more walks than strikeouts on the year, while Chris Young is 1-5 in his seven starts.
The issues with the Royals' pitching carry over to the offense, as Lee Judge of the Kansas City Star explained:
"If the starting pitcher gives up runs early, it limits what the offense can do. You don’t bunt down by five, and you don’t steal bases when one run isn’t going to do you much good.
If the Royals get down on the scoreboard, they have to play for a big inning ... and that means base runners standing around waiting for someone to hit a bomb that will get them back in the game.
The Royals are 14th in the league when it comes to home runs, so that approach isn’t going to work very often.
"
It may never be the strength of the team, but it all begins with at least passable starting pitching for the Royals.
Hitter of the Week
- CF Lorenzo Cain (8-for-23, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 5 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Edinson Volquez (W, 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K)
16. Cleveland Indians (17-17, Previous: 13)
15 of 30
Last Week: 2-4
After climbing up to No. 13 in last week's rankings, the Cleveland Indians are once again headed in the wrong direction after dropping series to two teams that reside near the bottom of these rankings in the Houston Astros and Minnesota Twins.
Outfielder Michael Brantley is back on the disabled list, as his surgically repaired right shoulder continues to give him problems.
"We need to look at the big picture and take care of him," manager Terry Francona told Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. "I think he understood, and I think this makes sense."
Brantley had gone 9-for-39 with two doubles since starting the season on the disabled list while continuing his recovery from offseason surgery. Getting him healthy and productive in the middle of the lineup will be paramount to the team's chances of contending.
Hitter of the Week
- 2B Jason Kipnis (10-for-25, 1 3B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Trevor Bauer (W, L, 13.2 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 15 K)
15. New York Yankees (16-20, Previous: 21)
16 of 30
Last Week: 5-2
Series wins against the Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox send the New York Yankees back in the right direction in these rankings, but there are still significant concerns.
Ivan Nova did a great job filling in for CC Sabathia in the starting rotation, but the team's other four starts went a combined 1-2 with a 9.24 ERA and 1.934 WHIP last week.
Not exactly a recipe for sustained success, even with the offense picking things up.
That was the positive takeaway, though, as a largely dormant offensive attack piled up 36 runs in seven games.
In the process, Carlos Beltran joined the 400 home run club.
He's now one of just five players with 400 home runs and 300 steals (Barry Bonds, Willie Mays, Andre Dawson, Alex Rodriguez), and one of just four switch hitters to eclipse the 400 mark (Mickey Mantle, Eddie Murray, Chipper Jones).
Teammate Mark Teixeira is three homers away from joining him in that second group.
Hitter of the Week
- RF Carlos Beltran (7-for-24, 2 2B, 4 HR, 6 RBI, 7 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Ivan Nova (W, ND, 10.1 IP, 10 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K)
14. Pittsburgh Pirates (19-17, Previous: 10)
17 of 30
Last Week: 2-3
The Pittsburgh Pirates managed to avoid getting swept by the Chicago Cubs on Sunday behind the arm of Gerrit Cole and the bat of Jung Ho Kang.
Since returning to the roster on May 6, Kang is hitting .292/.357/.875 with two doubles, four home runs and eight RBI in 28 plate appearances.
His return has pushed David Freese into a super utility role of sorts, as he's seen time at first and second base in an effort to keep his bat in the lineup.
As for Cole, he twirled eight shutout innings on Sunday and is now 8-2 with a 3.00 ERA and 1.087 WHIP in 11 career starts against the Cubs.
"I don't really think they're the best team in baseball," Cole said of the Cubs following the start, per Tony Andracki of CSN Chicago.
Those are strong words from eight games behind the Cubs in the standings and fresh off of a series loss, but he's earned the right to say that with the way he's held them in check.
Hitter of the Week
- 3B Jung Ho Kang (5-for-16, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Gerrit Cole (W, 8.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K)
13. St. Louis Cardinals (20-18, Previous: 12)
18 of 30
Last Week: 4-2
The St. Louis Cardinals came away with a winning record last week, but their struggles against quality teams continued as they lost two of three to the Los Angeles Dodgers on the heels of sweeping the Los Angeles Angels.
They are now 6-13 against teams with a record over .500, compared to 14-5 against sub-.500 teams, and that ongoing trend is reason enough for their stock to be trending down despite a winning week.
On the positive side of things, Mike Leake delivered his two best starts in a Cardinals uniform last week, and in the process he lowered his ERA from 6.03 to 4.66.
Now if only they could get Adam Wainwright on track. He enters the week at 3-3 with a 6.80 ERA and has yet to pitch more than 6.1 innings in any of his eight starts.
Offensively, it may be time to consider moving Aledmys Diaz (.376 BA) up in the lineup and Stephen Piscotty down from No. 2 to more of a run production spot, as he's hitting a ridiculous .475 with runners in scoring position.
Hitter of the Week
- LF Matt Holliday (9-for-27, 2 2B, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 5 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Mike Leake (2 W, 14.0 IP, 10 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 8 K)
12. Miami Marlins (20-17, Previous: 17)
19 of 30
Last Week: 4-3
The Miami Marlins took two of three from the Milwaukee Brewers last week before splitting a big four-game series with the Washington Nationals.
There's no question this team is trending in the right direction, as it's now gone 15-6 since stumbling to a 5-11 start.
Jose Fernandez once again looks like one of the league's true aces, while the rest of the rotation is slowly falling into place as left-handers Wei-Yin Chen and Adam Conley provide solid support and Tom Koehler rounds into form.
The offense was never as big of a concern, and with the Marlins' outfield trio producing at a high level, Martin Prado hitting .374 and catcher J.T. Realmuto in the midst of a breakout season, the loss of Dee Gordon has not been the huge blow some predicted.
The Marlins have a big week ahead, with three games each against the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals, and they'll have a shot at cracking the top 10 by next week.
Hitter of the Week
- CF Marcell Ozuna (13-for-26, 2 2B, 1 3B, 3 RBI, 8 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Jose Fernandez (2 W, 14.0 IP, 8 H, 1 ER, 7 BB, 22 K)
11. New York Mets (21-16, Previous: 5)
20 of 30
Last Week: 2-5
Ranked second among NL teams and No. 5 overall in last week's rankings, the New York Mets slip out of the top 10 after being swept by the Colorado Rockies over the weekend.
They'll have a great chance to redeem themselves this coming week with a three-game series against the Washington Nationals to kick things off.
Otherwise, they risk slipping behind the hard-charging Philadelphia Phillies and Miami Marlins in these rankings, and they've already dropped a half-game behind the Phillies in the standings.
The team will throw Noah Syndergaard, Bartolo Colon and Matt Harvey in the Nationals series, but its starter for Friday is still up in the air, as Steven Matz is set to have his sore left elbow examined by team doctors Monday.
With Jacob deGrom missing time early, Matz's status in question now and Matt Harvey not looking like himself, we've yet to truly see the Mets' juggernaut of a rotation firing on all cylinders.
Hitter of the Week
- LF Yoenis Cespedes (7-for-25, 2 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 3 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Noah Syndergaard (W, 8.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K)
10. Philadelphia Phillies (22-16, Previous: 16)
21 of 30
Last Week: 4-2
Slowly but surely, the Philadelphia Phillies have clawed their way into the top 10 in these rankings.
They took care of business against a pair of bottom feeders last week with series wins over the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds, and they'll have a chance to beat up on the Braves more this coming weekend after a big three-game set with the Miami Marlins.
The Phillies starting rotation as a whole has been one of the biggest surprises in baseball this year and the biggest reason for the team's early success, as it ranks 10th in the league with a 3.80 ERA.
Philadelphia acquired Jeremy Hellickson this past offseason in hopes that he could eat some innings and perhaps turn himself into a viable trade chip before July. He's done just that so far, but he may wind up staying put, even in a contract year.
It might sound crazy, but he's a legitimate qualifying offer candidate if he keeps it up. He's still just 29 years old, and the market for pitching will be incredibly thin next offseason.
Hitter of the Week
- CF Odubel Herrera (9-for-24, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 4 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Jeremy Hellickson (W, 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 K)
9. Seattle Mariners (21-16, Previous: 3)
22 of 30
Last Week: 3-3
Few teams in baseball were hotter than the Seattle Mariners heading into last week, and they shot up to No. 3 in these rankings as a result.
They still have the look of a contender, but after being swept by the Los Angeles Angels, they fall out of that elite range and settle into the No. 9 spot for now.
The bullpen let them down last week with three blown saves, though the starting pitching was not exactly on point either, with just three quality starts in six games.
At any rate, the Mariners will have a chance to prove they still belong among the AL's elite teams with a big three-game matchup on the road against the Baltimore Orioles this coming week.
Hitter of the Week
- SS Ketel Marte (8-for-26, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 5 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Felix Hernandez (W, L, 14.1 IP, 11 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 13 K)
8. Los Angeles Dodgers (20-18, Previous: 11)
23 of 30
Last Week: 4-3
A four-game split with the New York Mets and a series win over the St. Louis Cardinals is the best the Los Angeles Dodgers could have hoped for in a tough week.
Their pitching has been shaky at times this year, but in the starting rotation and the bullpen, Clayton Kershaw remains the one constant.
The stud left-hander threw a three-hit shutout Thursday, his second in his last three starts, and he's now struck out double-digit batters in each of his last five appearances.
Perhaps the most impressive number of all is an outrageous 77-4 K/BB ratio. That's 19.25 strikeouts for every walk, a mark that would shatter the record of 11.63 set by Phil Hughes in 2014.
A big week from Corey Seager at the plate was also a nice positive, as the young shortstop is now hitting .370/.420/.717 in the month of May.
Hitter of the Week
- SS Corey Seager (11-for-27, 2 2B, 4 HR, 6 RBI, 6 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Clayton Kershaw (W, 9.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 13 K)
7. San Francisco Giants (22-18, Previous: 9)
24 of 30
Last Week: 5-2
The San Francisco Giants followed a series loss to the Toronto Blue Jays with a four-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks. With that, the Giants now hold a one-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West standings.
After getting shelled for 10 hits and eight runs (six earned) on May 5, Matt Cain turned in his two best starts in literally years last week.
He allowed six hits and two runs while striking out seven in eight innings against the Blue Jays on Tuesday but was the tough-luck loser. He then followed that up with seven hits and one run allowed over seven innings against the Diamondbacks in a no-decision Sunday.
"His bullpens have been fine, and his pregame warm-ups," manager Bruce Bochy told reporters. "In the game, it just wasn't going well for him. I think he's realizing, 'Hey, I'm fine, and my stuff is great. I'm healthy.' It's all about the confidence now that he's settled in with."
Getting one of Cain or Jake Peavy going would be a huge boost to the back of the starting rotation and would rectify the team's biggest weakness here in the early going.
Hitter of the Week
- 2B Joe Panik (6-for-27, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 4 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Matt Cain (ND, L, 15.0 IP, 13 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 12 K)
6. Washington Nationals (23-15, Previous: 6)
25 of 30
Last Week: 4-3
A series win against the Detroit Tigers and a four-game split with the Miami Marlins is enough to keep the Washington Nationals stationary in the No. 6 spot in these rankings.
A pair of Nationals starting pitchers dominated MLB headlines last week.
Stephen Strasburg surprised more than a few people when he agreed to a seven-year, $175 million extension seemingly out of the blue Tuesday. He was set to hit free agency at season's end and would have been by far the top arm on the market.
"I am delighted to ensure that Stephen is going to remain an important part of the Washington Nationals," general manager Mike Rizzo said in a statement (via ESPN.com). "From the moment he was drafted, Stephen has been far more than just a pitcher for our organization, and his talent is transcendent; the numbers speak for themselves."
Not to be outdone, Max Scherzer made it clear he's still the ace of the staff the following night, when he tied the MLB record by striking out 20 Detroit Tigers in a complete-game victory.
Hitter of the Week
- 2B Daniel Murphy (11-for-26, 1 2B, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 2 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Max Scherzer (W, 9.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 20 K)
5. Chicago White Sox (24-14, Previous: 2)
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Last Week: 2-4
The Chicago White Sox dropped two of three to both the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees last week. In the process, they drop out of the No. 2 spot in these rankings.
With another complete-game victory last week, Chris Sale is now 8-0 with a 1.67 ERA, 0.758 WHIP and .167 opponents' batting average. Fellow southpaw Jose Quintana has been every bit as good at 5-2 with a 1.54 ERA, 0.987 WHIP and .215 opponents' batting average.
However, the back of the rotation has begun to falter.
Carlos Rodon has not taken that next step, Mat Latos has a 7.63 ERA in his last three starts and Miguel Gonzalez has not been the answer in the No. 5 starter role with a 5.17 ERA in three starts since replacing John Danks.
The White Sox were terrific early, but they could fall quickly in these rankings if things don't improve behind Sale and Quintana.
Hitter of the Week
- 3B Todd Frazier (9-for-21, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 6 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Chris Sale (W, 9.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K)
4. Texas Rangers (22-16, Previous: 4)
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Last Week: 4-2
The Texas Rangers roster could look a bit different in the days to come after their brawl with the Toronto Blue Jays. Second baseman Rougned Odor will almost certainly face a significant suspension.
However, for the time being, Texas just took two of three from both the Chicago White Sox and Blue Jays and has looked like the most consistent team in the AL for most of the season.
Speedy outfielder Delino DeShields was demoted to the minors last week ahead of the expected return of Shin-Soo Choo, who could be activated Friday.
Rookie standout Nomar Mazara will shift from right field to left field once Choo returns, while Ian Desmond has taken over as the team's primary center fielder.
Meanwhile, Yu Darvish will make his next rehab start for Double-A Frisco on Tuesday, with another likely scheduled for Sunday. If all goes according to plan with those two appearances, he'd be in line to return to the active roster May 27 against Pittsburgh, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.
Hitter of the Week
- CF Ian Desmond (10-for-27, 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 5 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Martin Perez (L, 6.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K)
3. Baltimore Orioles (23-13, Previous: 7)
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Last Week: 5-1
With a strong showing against a pair of AL Central teams in the Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers last week, the Baltimore Orioles climb up to the No. 3 spot.
Their offense remains among the most dangerous in baseball, averaging 4.72 runs per game, and it has only improved now that Adam Jones has gotten things going after a rough start.
The star center fielder is hitting .328/.386/.578 in his last 16 games after putting up a .196/.262/.286 line in his first 16 contests.
The starting rotation has also been better of late, though consistency in that department remains a concern.
Chris Tillman in particular is once again pitching like an ace, as he's recorded five straight quality starts and gone 4-0 with a 1.64 ERA and 1.121 WHIP during that span.
Hitter of the Week
- CF Adam Jones (13-for-25, 2 2B, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 9 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Chris Tillman (W, 7.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K)
2. Boston Red Sox (24-14, Previous: 8)
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Last Week: 6-1
A team can get by with mediocre starting pitching when it hits the ball the way the Boston Red Sox did last week.
In seven games, they piled up 101 hits and 73 runs.
To put that into perspective, the rival New York Yankees scored 74 runs in the entire month of April, a span of 22 games.
The starting rotation is still a huge concern, and it could very easily send the Red Sox sliding back down these rankings next week when the offense inevitably levels off.
However, after such a dominant display at the plate in series wins over the Oakland Athletics and Houston Astros, it's hard not to aggressively move them up these rankings, if only for a week.
Hitter of the Week
- CF Jackie Bradley Jr. (15-for-32, 2 2B, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 6 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP David Price (W, 6.2 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 12 K)
1. Chicago Cubs (27-9, Previous: 1)
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Last Week: 3-3
The Chicago Cubs suffered a series loss at home to the San Diego Padres last week but bounced back to take two of three from the Pittsburgh Pirates. At this point, there's no other team making a legitimate push for the title of best team in baseball.
It seems like each week a different player shines offensively for the Cubs, and this week it was Addison Russell's turn.
The young shortstop is hitting .340/.426/.596 with seven extra-base hits and 14 RBI in 12 games so far this month. Combined with his defensive prowess, it's reasonable to call him the best shortstop in the National League.
Meanwhile, it was more of the same on the mound, as the Cubs maintained the No. 1 spot in team ERA (2.64) and starters' ERA (2.24).
The starters also lead all of baseball in quality start percentage at 75 percent, as they've tallied 27 quality starts in 36 games.
Outside of finding a reliable left-handed reliever and getting Jorge Soler going, there's not much this team could do to improve at this point.
Hitter of the Week
- SS Addison Russell (7-for-18, 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 4 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP John Lackey (L, 8.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K)
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com, unless otherwise noted. Hitter and pitcher of the week stats reflect the week from Monday, May 9, through Sunday, May 15.
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