A new squad sits atop the MLB power rankings with just a few more days left in April.
1. Detroit Tigers (18-10) | Last week: 10 (+9)
The Tigers began the week by taking two of three games versus the Padres to knock them off the top spot, and it was followed it up with a sweep of the Orioles. Their vault to No. 1 is well deserved, and ace Tarik Skubal (down to a 2.34 ERA) has been dominant since a slow start.
2. New York Mets (19-9) | Last week: 3 (+1)
New York certainly has a case to be ranked first in this week’s power rankings, but a collapse versus the Nationals yesterday—with a blown 7-1 lead and walk-off error—ended the weekend on a sour note. Before the series loss to Washington, the Mets swept Philadelphia at Citi Field.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers (18-10) | Last week: 2 (-1)
Teoscar Hernandez has caught fire with three home runs over the past four games, and going deep in back-to-back wins helped Los Angeles snap their 0-3 start to last week. The Dodgers will host the Marlins tonight before a trip to Atlanta this weekend versus a Braves club that is climbing out of an early-season hole.
4. San Francisco Giants (19-10) | Last week: 6 (+2)
San Francisco is tied with the Mets for the most wins in baseball, and consistency has been key with just one series loss through the first month of the season. Getting at least a split versus the Padres over the next two days would set up the Giants nicely—as it’s followed by a four-game homestand versus the last-place Rockies.
5. New York Yankees (17-11) | Last week: 4 (-1)
Aaron Judge (.406 average with 27 RBI) appears to be on his way to another MVP campaign based on how the season has started, and Max Fried (1.43 ERA) leads the MLB in wins (five). The Yankees would love to bury the Orioles starting tonight in Baltimore.
6. San Diego Padres (17-11) | Last week: 1 (-5)
The Padres went 1-5 last week to push them out of the top five, and the bats have quieted down with five total runs over the past five games. As stated, though, the opportunity is there to reclaim the NL West lead by Wednesday night with the Giants coming to town for a two-game series.
7. Philadelphia Phillies (15-13) | Last week: 5 (-2)
Philadelphia salvaged the week with an extra-innings win over the Cubs last night in a game that almost had a playoff feel to it, but there is growing concern about their October outlook after being swept by the Mets. Despite cooling off recently, Kyle Schwarber—now entrenched in the cleanup spot—has reached base in all 28 games this year.
8. Chicago Cubs (17-12) | Last week: 7 (-1)
The Cubs had a chance to rise in the power rankings with back-to-back thrilling wins over the Dodgers, but they stay behind the Phillies due to the series loss at Wrigley Field. Emerging star Pete Crow-Armstrong destroying Los Angeles by going six-of-nine with two home runs and seven RBI bodes well for how he might fare in big games moving forward.
9. Seattle Mariners (16-12) | Last week: 8 (-1)
Concerns about the Mariners being able to score enough runs seems to have been erased with their play of late—and Seattle has thrived with the long ball and aggressiveness on the base paths to rank third in both homers (42) and steals (35). Looking ahead at the schedule, they won’t have to hit the east coast again until July 8.
10. Cleveland Guardians (15-12) | Last week: 12 (+2)
Cleveland is another team that was unable to capitalize on momentum over the weekend with back-to-back losses versus the Red Sox—but they’re surely happy about the series win over the Yankees to begin last week. Struggling closer Emmanuel Clase (7.15 ERA) pitching in the eighth inning of his last outing is a storyline to watch.
11. Boston Red Sox (16-14) | Last week: 15 (+4)
12. Arizona Diamondbacks (15-13) | Last week: 9 (-3)
13. Cincinnati Reds (15-13) | Last week: 18 (+5)
14. Atlanta Braves (12-15) | Last week: 14
15. Texas Rangers (15-13) | Last week: 11 (-4)
16. Houston Astros (14-13) | Last week: 17 (+1)
17. Milwaukee Brewers (14-15) | Last week: 12 (-5)
18. Kansas City Royals (14-15) | Last week: 21 (+3)
19. Oakland Athletics (14-14) | Last week: 22 (+3)
20. Tampa Bay Rays (14-14) | Last week: 24 (+4)
21. Toronto Blue Jays (13-15) | Last week: 16 (-5)
22. Washington Nationals (13-15) | Last week: 26 (+4)
23. Minnesota Twins (12-16) | Last week: 27 (+4)
24. Los Angeles Angels (12-15) | Last week: 19 (-5)
25. St. Louis Cardinals (12-16) | Last week: 23 (-2)
26. Miami Marlins (12-15) | Last week: 25 (-1)
27. Baltimore Orioles (10-17) | Last week: 20 (-7)
28. Pittsburgh Pirates (11-18) | Last week: 28
29. Chicago White Sox (7-21) | Last week: 29
30. Colorado Rockies (4-23) | Last week: 30