Two weeks into the MLB season, it’s time for our first check-in on the power rankings. It may be early in a 162-game grind, but that never stops fanbases from spiraling before mid-April even arrives.
1. Dodgers
Boasting by far the best xwOBA mark in the majors, the Dodgers also own the best record. The two-time defending champions are primed for another highly productive regular season.
2. Yankees
A sweep of the Giants was followed by series wins over the Mariners and Athletics. The Yankees have scored 52 runs and only conceded 25 in their first 10 games.
3. Reds
Despite ranking 30th in wRC+ and losing Hunter Greene to the 60-day IL, the Reds are off to a strong start. Their pitching staff has significantly outperformed expected metrics though, so watch out for potential regression.
4. Astros
A 6-6 start isn’t great, and Hunter Brown is on the shelf for at least a month. Still, the Astros lead baseball in xwOBA and have a top 10 rotation in xERA.
5. Pirates
The feel-good boost from Konnor Griffin’s debut and extension has the Pirates climbing these rankings. Pittsburgh has been solid across the board since its rough Opening Day loss to the Mets.
6. Mets
The Mets have produced at the plate, and their pitching staff ranks in the top five in xERA. Juan Soto’s injury stands as the only real negative.
7. Rangers
The offense has lagged, but the pitching staff has carried Texas early. Jack Leiter’s uptick in stuff is a major positive.
8. Mariners
At 4-8, the record isn’t pretty, but the rotation leads MLB in xERA. The cold offense looks more like a small-sample blip.
9. Braves
Atlanta may be trending back toward its early-2020s offensive peak. The Braves rank fifth in xwOBA, and the pitching staff has also started strong.
10. Brewers
Milwaukee’s rotation and bullpen are middling in xERA. Their offense has picked up where it left off last season, but there’s still some skepticism about how this team follows up its spectacular 2025.
11. Cardinals
A 6–5 start is a pleasant surprise for the Cardinals given low preseason expectations. St. Louis ranks sixth in xwOBA, though there are some concerns with the pitching staff.
12. Phillies
The 6-5 Phillies conceded six runs to an ice-cold Giants offense on Tuesday. Zack Wheeler is yet to return and a ranking of 14th in xwOBA might suggest this lineup is beginning to age.
13. Marlins
The Marlins have been solid on both sides to start the year. They’re not a playoff team, but Owen Caissie is swinging it well, and Sandy Alcantara looks like himself again.
14. Angels
The bullpen has been good and the rotation has been passable. The 6-6 Angels might be getting a breakout from Nolan Schanuel, plus José Soriano is pitching at an elite level.
15. Tigers
Detroit’s lineup hasn’t clicked yet, and Justin Verlander is on the injured list. Still, a 4–7 start isn’t overly concerning.
16. Rockies
Winners of three straight, Colorado took a series from the Blue Jays and has one of the 10 best bullpens in baseball. The lineup and rotation have been a different story though and should bring worry.
17. Twins
Minnesota owns a positive run differential and picked up a win against Tarik Skubal on Tuesday. Taj Bradley and Joe Ryan are showing signs of forming a quietly dominant one-two punch.
18. Padres
San Diego’s bullpen once again looks like the best in baseball. The offense has dealt with some batted-ball misfortune, but a series win over the Red Sox could signal a turnaround.
19. Orioles
Baz and Rogers have opened the year well, while Chris Bassitt has gone the other way. Meanwhile, Pete Alonso, Samuel Basallo, and Coby Mayo have been ice-cold.
20. Guardians
A 7–5 record reflects Cleveland’s continued ability to win low-scoring games. The underlying metrics however, don’t suggest they’re much better than preseason projections.
21. Rays
Joe Boyle has been a bright spot early, but the outfield continues to be an issue, with Cedric Mullins and Jake Fraley struggling at the plate. A 5–6 record fits.
22. Diamondbacks
Arizona sits at -18 in run differential through 11 games. The schedule stays tough until a White Sox series in a couple of weeks.
23. Royals
Kansas City’s top power bats have yet to make an impact, and the bullpen remains uncertain. An upcoming series with the White Sox is important before a tougher stretch against the Tigers, Yankees, and Orioles.
24. Cubs
Cade Horton is out for the year. Matthew Boyd has a biceps strain.
Chicago has one of the worst bullpens in the majors by xERA, and their lineup is middle of the pack in xwOBA.
25. Blue Jays
Toronto has lost six games in a row after a 4-1 start. Shane Bieber and Trey Yesavage are yet to make their season debuts, and Cody Ponce is out for the year. The bullpen has really struggled.
26. Athletics
No team has a higher strikeout rate than the Athletics, and only one has a worse record as of April 8. Luis Severino hasn’t carried over his World Baseball Classic form, and the lineup has yet to find its groove.
27. Nationals
Despite ranking third in xwOBA, Washington is 4-7. They have the worst bullpen in baseball and rank 27th in xERA from their rotation.
28. Giants
Questions are already surfacing about the construction of the Giants’ roster amid limited offensive production. San Francisco ranks 29th in xwOBA despite having Heliot Ramos, Rafael Devers, Willy Adames, and Matt Chapman available.
29. Red Sox
A win on Tuesday lifted Boston to 3–8. Most games have been close, but the bullpen has leaked runs and the rotation has been inconsistent behind Garrett Crochet.
30. White Sox
The White Sox have already been outscored by 27 runs. A sweep of the Blue Jays looks more like an outlier for a roster lacking top-tier talent, though their young hitters and Munetaka Murakami have produced.
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