There are changes aplenty from the last edition of our MLB power rankings. Two weeks is a long time in an MLB season, with hot streaks and slumps quickly reshaping the standings.
1. Tampa Bay Rays
Second in MLB in winning percentage, the Rays have taken five of six against the AL champion Blue Jays over the last two weeks. The rotation has exceeded all expectations to become the best in baseball, and the lineup ranks inside the top 10.
2. Atlanta Braves
The Braves are eight clear atop the NL East. They still own the best record in baseball, though the Rays have been hotter over the last 20 games. With the Marlins, Nationals, and Red Sox coming up, Atlanta’s mark could improve even further.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers got back on track with a three-game sweep of the Angels after winning the last two games of their series against the Giants. Injuries have inevitably impacted the pitching staff, but Los Angeles still has the second-best Pythagorean win-loss record in the majors.
4. Philadelphia Phillies
The Phils are 15-5 over their last 20 games. Zack Wheeler’s return has reinforced the rotation, and the lineup has begun to show more signs of life.
5. New York Yankees
Even with Max Fried injured and Jazz Chisholm, Trent Grisham, and Ryan McMahon underperforming offensively, the Yankees are having a very nice season. Their offense is among the best in baseball and Cam Schlittler is leading a formidable rotation.
6. Chicago Cubs
Losing six of their last eight keeps the Cubs out of the top five. Chicago is top of the NL Central, though, and has very few holes on its roster. The rotation (19th in ERA) is slightly concerning.
7. Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee has the best record in baseball over the last 10 games (8-2). No matter the circumstances, the Brewers always seem to find a way to stay competitive. They are only 1.5 games behind the Cubs.
8. Pittsburgh Pirates
Only six teams can better Pittsburgh’s Pythagorean record. The lineup has been productive, but it may be time to question Marcell Ozuna’s spot.
9. San Diego Padres
No team has been luckier, relative to its Pythagorean record, than the Padres. San Diego has a 90 wRC+ and ranks 20th in rotation ERA. Winning tight games behind an elite bullpen has fueled the Padres’ success so far.
10. Seattle Mariners
Seattle sits below .500 and two games back in the division, but the Mariners have scored more runs than they’ve allowed and rank in the top 12 in wRC+, rotation ERA, and bullpen ERA. A weak defense, 29th in outs above average, has been the only real issue to date.
11. Cleveland Guardians
Cleveland’s offense (103 wRC+) has been uncharacteristically effective. The rotation is eighth in ERA, but the bullpen is a work in progress, and currently ranks 15th in ERA.
12. Chicago White Sox
Who expected the White Sox to be in the top half of the league in Pythagorean win-loss as of May 19? It’s a minor miracle, and much of that is down to a 106 wRC+.
13. Athletics
Middling in offense and rotation production, the Athletics are somehow atop the AL West, even with one of the worst bullpens in baseball. There’s a lot to like about this team, but they need more from Brent Rooker, Jeff McNeil, and Lawrence Butler.
14. St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis is overachieving its Pythagorean record by four wins. JJ Wetherholt has been excellent, Jordan Walker is in the MVP race, and the rotation has been far better than anyone could have reasonably projected.
15. New York Mets
Winning 11 of their last 20 hasn’t turned the Mets’ season around, but it has kept their playoff hopes alive. This offense has shown recent improvement, and it’s simply too talented to remain in the bottom five all year.
16. Washington Nationals
Quietly, the Nationals have been an elite offensive team. Curtis Mead and Keibert Ruiz have been two of the main accomplices alongside stars James Wood and CJ Abrams. The pitching staff, though, continues to limit this team’s ceiling.
17. Minnesota Twins
Much like the Nationals, the Twins were not expected to be anywhere near contention this year. Minnesota is still not likely to make the playoffs, but the club sits only 4.5 games back in the division and has to be encouraged by the performances of Connor Prielipp, Bailey Ober, and Ryan Jeffers.
18. Toronto Blue Jays
Injuries have unfortunately burdened the Blue Jays. Addison Barger is back on the shelf after only a few days on the active roster, while George Springer has provided very little at the plate since returning. There have at least been positives in the rotation, with Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, and Trey Yesavage all excelling.
19. Texas Rangers
The Rangers have struggled offensively. Corey Seager and Evan Carter are surely going to get hot at some point, though, and their pitching staff has been phenomenal. This team has 90-win upside.
20. Miami Marlins
An 8-13 slide has dragged the Marlins down. Miami’s overall record remains solid, but the performance of the rotation suggests that’s not going to be sustainable.
21. Detroit Tigers
Detroit is tied with the Royals for the worst record in the AL Central. Various injuries have hampered the Tigers through the first 50 games, and they are still a ways away from Tarik Skubal’s return. For now, this looks like a .500 team at best.
22. Boston Red Sox
This is looking more like a lost season for the Boston Red Sox. Jarren Duran, Caleb Durbin, and Marcelo Mayer are all struggling at the plate. There’s some hope for the pitching staff, but Boston needs to start showing progress sooner rather than later.
23. Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati has won only six of its last 20 games. It might seem harsh to rank a 25-24 team this low, but the Reds have overachieved their Pythagorean record by four wins and rank in the bottom five in ERA. Sal Stewart cooling off at the plate has also shown just how much the lineup relied on him.
24. Arizona Diamondbacks
Good defense has been Arizona’s greatest strength. The Diamondbacks are still waiting for Ketel Marte to get going at the plate, and the back end of the rotation has hardly been flourishing with Ryne Nelson, Merrill Kelly, and Zac Gallen all owning ERA marks above five.
25. Kansas City Royals
Outside of great defense, the Royals have been alarmingly mediocre. The performances of Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo probably aren’t sustainable. Salvador Perez and Vinnie Pasquantino have been liabilities offensively.
26. San Francisco Giants
Rafael Devers hitting a few homers has been a rare bright spot for the Giants. Logan Webb is on the injured list and only four teams have fewer wins. San Francisco should be looking to trade Robbie Ray and Luis Arraez in the next few weeks.
27. Baltimore Orioles
A 101 wRC+ isn’t enough to compensate for the Orioles sitting in the bottom 10 in ERA and outs above average. Moves to fix their long-running rotation issues haven’t paid dividends, with Chris Bassitt and Shane Baz struggling.
28. Houston Astros
How does a team with a 108 wRC+ end up near the bottom of the standings? Well, the Astros have had the worst pitching staff in baseball so far. They also own the second-worst Pythagorean mark in the majors.
29. Colorado Rockies
Since their surprisingly bright 6-6 start, Colorado has gone 12-23. The rotation is by far the worst in the sport and the lineup is 29th in wRC+. At least Mickey Moniak looks like he will be a valuable trade asset.
30. Los Angeles Angels
The Angels have the worst record in baseball and have won just five of their last 26. Many of those losses have come in blowout fashion. There were some promising signs early on, but most of those have disappeared.
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