.png?w=1280 "MLB Power Rankings")
MLB Power Rankings as White Sox and Nationals Surge Out of Nowhere
The first quarter of the 2026 MLB season is done, and there are still 22 teams within five games of a .500 record or better. That level of parity has opened the door for clubs to make major jumps in these weekly rankings if they can string together a few good series.
Enter the Chicago White Sox and Washington Nationals
A year after combining for 198 losses, the two rebuilding clubs were expected to set up shop near the bottom of the rankings once again this year, but they have instead climbed high enough to be within shouting distance of a top 10 spot.
Further down the rankings, the New York Mets are finally showing signs of life, while the Athletics and Cincinnati Reds have leveled off after surprising starts and are starting to slide as a result.
All that to say, there's plenty of shuffling once again in this week's MLB power rankings.
In case you missed it, B/R's MLB Power Rankings from last week and every fresh power rankings throughout the season can be found at the new MLB Power Rankings hub.
Nos. 30-28
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30. Los Angeles Angels (16-31)
Previous Rank: No. 27
Last Week: 0-3 @ CLE, 0-3 vs. LAD
With a 1-8 record in their last nine games and a minus-46 run differential during that stretch, the Angels have gone from bad to truly dreadful. A resurgent Mike Trout (.881 OPS, 11 HR) has done little to move the needle for a flawed team ticketed for another year of also-ran status.
29. Colorado Rockies (18-29)
Previous Rank: No. 30
Last Week: 1-2 @ PIT, 1-2 vs. ARI
After a serviceable start to the season, the Rockies starting rotation has once again settled to the bottom of the barrel with a 5.64 ERA that ranks last in the majors by nearly half a run. With five straight series losses in May, a competitive 13-14 showing in April has quickly become a distant memory.
28. Boston Red Sox (19-27)
Previous Rank: No. 25
Last Week: 1-2 vs. PHI, 1-2 @ ATL
The Red Sox have scored just 44 runs through 15 games in May, undercutting a 2.73 ERA from the pitching staff over that same span. Veteran journeyman Mickey Gasper has been a nice surprise, going 8-for-25 with two doubles in seven games out of the No. 2 spot in the lineup since he was called up to replace the injured Roman Anthony.
Nos. 27-25
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27. Detroit Tigers (20-27)
Previous Rank: No. 22
Last Week: 0-3 @ NYM, 1-2 vs. TOR
The Tigers were No. 10 in these rankings just three short weeks ago, but they have been in an absolute free fall of late with a 4-11 record in their last 15 games and four straight series losses. A four-game series at home against a streaking Guardians team to start the upcoming week will be a tough test.
26. Houston Astros (19-29)
Previous Rank: No. 28
Last Week: 1-3 vs. SEA, 2-1 vs. TEX
The banged up Astros are ready to take a few big steps toward getting healthy. Jeremy Peña and Jake Meyers are both on track to return this week. Meanwhile, Josh Hader is working through a rehab assignment and Hunter Brown is getting ready to start one of his own, and the pitching staff could certainly use the boost.
25. San Francisco Giants (20-27)
Previous Rank: No. 26
Last Week: 2-2 @ LAD, 2-1 @ ATH
Despite the trade of catcher Patrick Bailey, the Giants are reportedly not planning on any further moves at this point in the season. On the field, a split with the rival Dodgers on the road and a series win over the Athletics stands as one of their better weeks of the year, though they are already nine games back in the NL West standings.
Nos. 24-22
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24. New York Mets (20-26)
Previous Rank: No. 29
Last Week: 3-0 vs. DET, 2-1 vs. NYY
The Mets have won four of their last five series, and they are legitimately flirting with respectability after taking two of three while playing host to the Subway Series over the weekend. That said, losing Clay Holmes (2.39 ERA, 52.2 IP) "for a long time" after he suffered a fractured right fibula is a major blow to the rotation.
23. Miami Marlins (21-26)
Previous Rank: No. 18
Last Week: 1-2 @ MIN, 1-2 @ TB
The Marlins ended April with a bang when they took two of three at Dodger Stadium, but they have just one series win so far in May and are steadily slipping down the rankings. Is there a bigger surprise this season than the fact that Liam Hicks is one of the first two players in baseball to reach 40 RBI on the year?
22. Kansas City Royals (20-27)
Previous Rank: No. 17
Last Week: 0-3 @ CWS, 1-2 @ STL
The Royals are 3-8 in their last 11 games and they have fallen into a tie in the AL Central cellar. The bottom of the lineup is once again an offensive black hole, and Vinnie Pasquantino (.624 OPS) and Salvador Perez (.595 OPS) are not pulling their weight in key run production roles.
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Nos. 21-19
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21. Minnesota Twins (21-26)
Previous Rank: No. 23
Last Week: 2-1 vs. MIA, 1-2 vs. MIL
The Twins have been without star Byron Buxton since Wednesday as he deals with right hip flexor soreness, but he worked out on the field over the weekend and is expected to return soon. Rookie left-hander Connor Prielipp (5 GS, 2.88 ERA, 29 K, 25.0 IP) completed six innings for the first time on Saturday as his strong MLB start continues.
20. Baltimore Orioles (21-26)
Previous Rank: No. 24
Last Week: 2-1 vs. NYY, 1-2 @ WAS
Only the Angels (-60) and Astros (-51) have a worse run differential than the minus-44 mark the Orioles have this year, so the fact that they are only five games below .500 is a small victory. Kyle Bradish had a season-high 10 strikeouts on May 8 and tossed six scoreless innings of one-hit ball on May 13 as he moves closer to frontline form.
19. Toronto Blue Jays (21-25)
Previous Rank: No. 20
Last Week: 1-2 vs. TB, 2-1 @ DET
With 13 losses and nine blown saves, the Blue Jays bullpen has been a glaring hole, even with the emergence of Louie Varland as a lockdown option in the late innings. With two series wins in their last three, they are showing some signs of life, and a four-game set at Yankee Stadium to start the week will be a good test of where things stand.
Nos. 18-16
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18. Arizona Diamondbacks (22-23)
Previous Rank: No. 15
Last Week: 1-2 @ TEX, 2-1 @ COL
The D-backs need to get something offensively from outfielders Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (88 PA, .228 BA, .611 OPS) and Ryan Waldschmidt (31 PA, .241 BA, .600 OPS) if they hope to do better than hovering around .500. On the mound, Michael Soroka has logged back-to-back quality starts, and he has been one of the best bargain signings of the winter on a one-year, $7.5 million deal.
17. Texas Rangers (22-24)
Previous Rank: No. 14
Last Week: 2-1 vs. ARI, 1-2 @ HOU
With Nathan Eovaldi shaking off a slow start, MacKenzie Gore rounding into form and Jacob deGrom once again pitching like an ace, the Rangers rotation is shaping up to be a legitimate strength. However, their 171 runs scored are 28th in the majors, as they average just 3.7 runs per game.
16. Seattle Mariners (22-26)
Previous Rank: No. 16
Last Week: 3-1 @ HOU, 0-3 vs. SD
The Mariners improved to 7-1 against the Astros on the year by taking three of four last week, but that was promptly followed by a three-game sweep at the hands of the Padres. Top prospect Colt Emerson (No. 3 on B/R Top 100) made his MLB debut on Sunday, and he could provide a major offensive spark.
Nos. 15-13
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15. Cincinnati Reds (24-23)
Previous Rank: No. 11
Last Week: 1-2 vs. WAS, 1-2 @ CLE
The Reds were 20-11 with a one-game lead atop the NL Central when April came to a close, but they now sit closer to the large middle-of-the-pack than they do to the top 10. Since he was called up from Triple-A on April 26, outfielder JJ Bleday is hitting .303/.418/.682 with six home runs and 19 RBI in 19 games.
14. Athletics (23-23)
Previous Rank: No. 10
Last Week: 1-2 vs. STL, 1-2 vs. SF
The once-promising Athletics have lost four of their last five series, and they rank 24th in the majors in May with a 4.50 ERA. The offense continues to be an above-average group overall, with Shea Langeliers (1.005 OPS, 12 HR) and Nick Kurtz (.913 OPS, 8 HR) both making a strong case for their first All-Star selections.
13. Washington Nationals (23-24)
Previous Rank: No. 21
Last Week: 2-1 @ CIN, 2-1 vs. BAL
With an 8-5 record in their last 13 games and a pair of series wins last week, the Nationals have gone from better-than-expected to making a serious push for a winning record more than a quarter of the way into the 2026 season. They lead the NL with a .785 team OPS in May, and that has helped cover up some of their shortcomings on the mound.
Nos. 12-10
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12. Chicago White Sox (24-22)
Previous Rank: No. 19
Last Week: 3-0 vs. KC, 2-1 vs. CHC
With a 7-1 record in their last eight games and a series win over the crosstown rival Cubs, it's time to start taking the White Sox seriously. The starting rotation is still a limiting factor, even with an ace-caliber breakout from Davis Martin, but this is the most improved team in baseball one year removed from a 102-loss campaign.
11. Pittsburgh Pirates (24-23)
Previous Rank: No. 9
Last Week: 2-1 vs. COL, 0-3 vs. PHI
The Pirates are 8-12 in their last 20 games, and after getting shut out in back-to-back games on Saturday and Sunday their season is at something of a crossroads. Are the offensive strides they showed early in the year sustainable, or is this where they regress back to the middle of the pack?
10. Philadelphia Phillies (24-23)
Previous Rank: No. 13
Last Week: 2-1 @ BOS, 3-0 @ PIT
The Phillies have climbed above .500 for the first time since April 7 when they started the season with a 6-5 record. They have won their last six series, including an 8-2 record on the road during that hot streak. Kyle Schwarber hit four more home runs last week to become baseball's first 20-homer slugger in 2026.
Nos. 9-7
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9. Cleveland Guardians (26-22)
Previous Rank: No. 12
Last Week: 3-0 vs. LAA, 2-1 vs. CIN
The Guardians are 8-3 in their last 11 games, and they are currently the only team in the AL Central with a positive run differential (+13) and an expected win-loss record above .500 (25-23). Outfielder Angel Martínez has been a nice pleasant surprise offensively, and after going deep four times last week he now leads the team with nine home runs.
8. San Diego Padres (28-18)
Previous Rank: No. 6
Last Week: 1-2 @ MIL, 3-0 @ SEA
Despite an MLB-worst .203 team batting average in May, the Padres improved to 9-7 this month when they wrapped up a three-game sweep of the Mariners on Sunday night. The bullpen has been lights out, while the rotation got a major boost on Sunday when Lucas Giolito (5.0 IP, 1 H, 3 BB, 3 ER) made his season debut.
7. St. Louis Cardinals (27-19)
Previous Rank: No. 8
Last Week: 2-1 @ ATH, 2-1 vs. KC
The Cardinals rebuilding efforts have failed miserably, as they have gone straight from selling off several veteran pieces to contending, skipping the whole struggle through several years of bad baseball part. With a 15-7 record against teams with a winning record and a 10-3 record in one-run games, it's hard to poke holes in their unexpected start.
Nos. 6-4
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6. New York Yankees (28-19)
Previous Rank: No. 4
Last Week: 1-2 @ BAL, 1-2 @ NYM
The Yankees just wrapped up a 2-7 road trip, and they have not won consecutive games since May 5, but they still lead the AL by a wide margin with a plus-68 run differential. With just a 1-8 record against teams with a winning record, they have something to prove this weekend when they welcome the first-place Rays to Yankee Stadium.
5. Chicago Cubs (29-18)
Previous Rank: No. 3
Last Week: 1-2 @ ATL, 1-2 @ CWS
The Cubs have lost three straight series since rattling off their second 10-game winning streak of the year, and they scored just five runs in three games against the Braves. They still lead the majors with 19 wins over teams with a winning record, but will need to steer out of their current skid quickly as they welcome the Brewers to town starting Monday.
4. Milwaukee Brewers (26-18)
Previous Rank: No. 7
Last Week: 2-1 vs. SD, 2-1 @ MIN
The Brewers have not lost a series since they dropped two of three to the Pirates at the end of April, surging from fourth in the ultra-competitive NL Central standings to just 1.5 games behind a Cubs team that stumbled last week. Now those two clubs will go head-to-head for the first time this year starting Monday, with rising ace Jacob Misiorowski toeing the rubber on Tuesday.
Nos. 3-1
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3. Los Angeles Dodgers (29-18)
Previous Rank: No. 5
Last Week: 2-2 vs. SF, 3-0 @ LAA
The Dodgers outscored the Angels by a staggering 31-3 margin during their three-game series sweep, proving they can still steamroll an opponent, even with the full roster not quite firing on all cylinders. A red-hot week from Teoscar Hernández (11-for-27, 3 2B, HR) was a nice boost to the bottom of the lineup.
2. Tampa Bay Rays (30-15)
Previous Rank: No. 2
Last Week: 2-1 @ TOR, 2-1 vs. MIA
With an 18-4 record over their last 22 games, the Rays have built a three-game lead in the AL East standings and firmly established themselves as the best team in the American League. Center fielder Cedric Mullins (8-for-22, HR, 3 SB) raised his season OPS by 88 points with a strong week at the plate, potentially shoring up one of the few holes on the roster.
1. Atlanta Braves (32-15)
Previous Rank: No. 1
Last Week: 2-1 vs. CHC, 2-1 vs. BOS
After allowing just 11 runs in six games last week, the Braves now lead the majors with a 2.94 ERA and a stingy .206 opponents' batting average. The NL East leaders have gone 10-3 against the rest of the division so far this year, and they will take on the Marlins and Nationals this coming week as they look to further establish their divisional dominance.
Complete Tier Rankings
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Tier 1
1. Atlanta Braves
2. Tampa Bay Rays
Tier 2
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
4. Milwaukee Brewers
5. Chicago Cubs
6. New York Yankees
Tier 3
7. St. Louis Cardinals
8. San Diego Padres
9. Cleveland Guardians
10. Philadelphia Phillies
Tier 4
11. Pittsburgh Pirates
12. Chicago White Sox
13. Washington Nationals
14. Athletics
15. Cincinnati Reds
Tier 5
16. Seattle Mariners
17. Texas Rangers
18. Arizona Diamondbacks
19. Toronto Blue Jays
20. Baltimore Orioles
21. Minnesota Twins
22. Kansas City Royals
23. Miami Marlins
24. New York Mets
25. San Francisco Giants
Tier 6
26. Houston Astros
27. Detroit Tigers
28. Boston Red Sox
29. Colorado Rockies
30. Los Angeles Angels
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.png?w=600 "10 Scorching MLB Takes 🌶️")
