Matt Johnson
month of the 2026 Major League Baseball season is in the books. The results have been a bit unexected, with the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds each having twice as many wins as the New York Mets.
Let’s dive into our latest MLB power rankings, analyzing all 30 clubs entering May. Note, MLB stats and records are as of Friday, May 1.
1. Atlanta Braves (Previously: 2)
The Atlanta Braves are the best team in baseball right now. They didn’t lose a single series in April, recording the most wins (19) with a pitching staff that posted the second-best ERA (3.32). The excellence on the mound came before Spencer Strider’s return from the injured list and with Raisel Iglesias, Spencer Schwellenbach, Hurston Waldrep and AJ Smith-Shawver still on the IL. Plus, the Braves lineup will soon have Sean Murphy and Ha-Seong Kim back. Life is good in Atlanta right now.
2. New York Yankees (4)
The New York Yankees rotation finished April with the third-lowest ERA (3.12) and the lowest WHIP (1.06) in baseball. That’s even with abysmal stuff on the mound from Luis Gil. In two weeks, New York will have both Carlos Rodón and likely Gerrit Cole back on its pitching staff. What we’re curious to see is if if New York moves to a six-man rotation, lightening the workload on Cole, Rodón, Cam Schlittler and Will Warren or moves Ryan Weathers (29.2% K-rate and 1.22 WHIP) into the bullpen. Personally, we like the first option better.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers (1)
The Los Angeles Dodgers finished April with a 16-10 record, tied for the fifth-best mark in baseball in the last month. There’s been a bit more inconsistency from the back-to-back World Series champions as of late, as seen in their fall from 15-4 to 20-11 in the last two weeks. There are no major reasons for concern in Los Angeles; this is still one of the best MLB teams in 2026, but the Yankees and Braves are simply performing better right now.
4. San Diego Padres (3)
The San Diego Padres ran into trouble at Petco Park this week against the Chicago Cubs, dropping their first series since the end of March. Fortunately for San Diego, it gets to face two of the worst MLB teams in this upcoming six-game stretch before being battle-tested again versus the Cardinals, Brewers and Mariners. If Jackson Merrill (.200/.270/.330) and Fernando Tatís Jr. (.250/.323/.286) could start getting it going at the plate, the Padres should be able to maintain their status as one of the best MLB teams right now.
Related: New Padres Owner Might Be Eyeing Big Move
5. Cincinnati Reds (7)
The Cincinnati Reds entered May 20-11 even with their two best starting pitchers on the injured list. If that’s not impressive enough, the Reds lineup entered play on Friday ranked 20th in runs scored (133) with the worst batting average in MLB (.220), with Elly De La Cruz (.920 OPS) and Sal Stewart (.943 OPS) basically carrying things. We remain a bit worried about Cincinnati’s lineup, but Nick Lodolo will be back within two weeks to give the Reds a front-line starter and that’s a massive win.
Related: Best MLB Rookies 2026
6. Chicago Cubs (6)
What prevents the Chicago Cubs from snagging a top-five spot in our MLB power rankings is simply the concern we have with the pitching. Justin Steele now may not return this season, joining Cade Horton in two front-line starters that won’t be options down the stretch. To make matters worse, Matthew Boyd seems to be regressing. The Cubs lineup is doing it all right now: .261 batting average (fourth), .427 SLG (fourth) and 169 runs scored (third); but pitching matters most over a full season.
7. Seattle Mariners (12)
The Seattle Mariners posted a 7-3 record in the last 10 games. What stands out about that mark is it came with the pitching staff (4.55 ERA) struggling. Seattle’s batting order is turning things around: .808 OPS, 16 home runs and .334 OBP; with Julio Rodriguez, Cal Raleigh and Josh Naylor returning to form. If Seattle can ever get both things to align at the same time, this can be the best team in the American League.
8. Detroit Tigers (5)
Injuries may force the Detroit Tigers‘ hand. Javier Baez (ankle sprain) and Parker Meadows are now out long-term, creating an even bigger opening in center field. Max Clark, one of the top MLB prospects in 2026, is playing well at Toledo with a .290 batting average and a .792 OPS. However, the 21-year-old has room to improve versus lefties (.642 OPS) and, as A.J. Hinch is proving with Colt Keith, those things matter. As for the rest of the Tigers, they’re looking to rebound back at home after losing consecutive series to the Reds and Braves.
9. Tampa Bay Rays (13)
We’ve learned our lesson with the Tampa Bay Rays. Whatever magic this organization seems to have just keeps working season after season. While the Rays lineup only ranked 23rd in OPS (.691) and runs scored (109) in April, great pitching (3.82 ERA, eighth in MLB) made the difference. We’re now beginning to see Shane McClanahan show glimpses of a return to form and Drew Rasmussen has been lights-out. There’ll still be some regression, given the -1 run differential, but the Rays look like a wild-card contender.
10. Milwaukee Brewers (9)
Thankfully for the Milwaukee Brewers, first baseman Andrew Vaughn and outfielder Jackson Chourio are coming back to the lineup. That’s two excellent hitters providing much-needed support for a team that has still found a way to score 160 runs (sixth) with the fourth-best OBP (.338) in the majors this year. There’s rightfully concern about starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff after his velocity dipped 7 mph in his last start, but don’t forget that Quinn Priester is returning soon and Milwaukee always has pitching depth.
11. Texas Rangers (8)
The ups-and-down for the Texas Rangers continue. After dropping sets at home to the Athletics and Yankees, Texas continues to flirt with the .500 line. While it’s great to see Josh Jung (.317 BA and .545 SLG) breaking out while Corey Seager and Jake Burger provide ample power, the Rangers lineup still has scored the fourth-fewest runs (120) in baseball this season. It’s still too early in the season to completely overreact, but Texas certainly doesn’t look like a team who will have a legitimate shot at the AL West crown come September.
12. Cleveland Guardians (11)
The Cleveland Guardians lineup once again remains a problem. When play began on Friday, the Guardians ranked 19th in OBP (.324) and had the seventh-worst batting average with runners on base (.240). For as good as the Guardians rotation is, there’s a permanent ceiling on the club because above-average run production over any sustained period seems impossible.
13. Pittsburgh Pirates (10)
After posting a 16-11 record to open the 2026 MLB season, the Pittsburgh Pirates have now lost five straight games. It’s not going to get any easier in the upcoming slate with matchups against the Reds and Diamondbacks. On the bright side for Pittsburgh, Jared Jones is on a rehab assignment and his eventual return could allow the club to shift Bubba Chandler into a lesser role until he works out his command issues.
14. Baltimore Orioles (15)
It proved to be a bit of an odd week for the Baltimore Orioles, who scored double-digit runs in two games and consequently followed that up by surrendering double-digit runs to the same opponent hours later. Unfortunately for the O’s, there’s no timeline for Jackson Holliday to return from the wrist injury that’s sidelined him all year and now Trevor Rogers is on the 15-day injured list. There is a chance both could return around the same time, which could be the next chance Baltimore has to be multiple games above the .500 line.
15. St. Louis Cardinals (17)
Here comes JJ Wetherholt and the St. Louis Cardinals. Not only is the rookie providing excellent defense at second base, but he’s also slashed .316/.381/.737 with four home runs and a 1.118 OPS in his last nine games. He is everything the organization dreamed of and more. Jordan Walker (.649 OPS) has cooled down a bit in that same span, but St. Louis has still put up a 5-4 record in that nine-game stretch and the young birds continue to show so many reasons to be optimistic about the future.
16. Philadelphia Phillies (19)
Sign of life from the Philadelphia Phillies? On the one hand, maybe we shouldn’t put much stock in the fact that this ball club needed two walk-off wins to sweep the Giants at Citizens Bank Park. However, given the woes this team experienced prior to that sweep, the small victories matter. We still believe there’s far too much talent on the Phillies roster, especially with Zack Wheeler back, for this team to not climb its way back up the NL.
17. Arizona Diamondbacks (14)
We’ll start with the glass-half-full perspective for the Arizona Diamondbacks. They are still above the .500 line even with a -24 run differential through 30 games. What’s concerning is the league’s fourth-worst OBP and a pitching staff that has been equally as dreadful (4.99 ERA and five quality starts). Maybe things improve when Gabriel Moreno comes off the injured list, but we’ve lost some of our initial optimism in Arizona.
18. Sacramento Athletics (18)
The Sacramento Athletics lineup is an absolute delight to watch. As we say seemingly every week with this club, which is unfortunate, they don’t have the pitching to remain a contender. Sacramento’s staff has the eighth-worst WHIP (1.42) in the majors and that minor-league ballpark they play in absolutely punishes the fifth-highest fly-ball rate (41%) allowed.
19. Toronto Blue Jays (16)
Perhaps the return of Trey Yesavage sparks something in the Toronto Blue Jays. He doesn’t look anywhere close to recapturing the lights-out form he showed as a rookie in 2025, but Toronto just needs quality pitching with Cody Ponce, Max Scherzer and Shane Bieber on the injured list. There are also more reinforcements coming, with Addison Barger and Jose Berrios closing in on being activated off the IL and Alejandro Kirk just a few weeks behind them.
20. Miami Marlins (20)
We’ve reached that tier in our MLB power rankings where what matters with these non-playoff contenders are the bright spots shown. In the case of the Miami Marlins, it’s a breakout year from Janson Junk (3.00 ERA) and the recent signs of progress from Max Meyer and Eury Perez. Of course, this isn’t even accounting for the fact that Braxton Garrett and Robby Snelling are banging at the door with their dominance at the Triple-A level. Miami has ample pitching and it’ll be a fascinating dealer to watch this summer.
21. Washington Nationals (26)
The Washington Nationals lineup isn’t particularly reliable, but James Wood, C.J. Abrams and Daylen Lile are doing enough. There’s even timely hitting from Jacob Young with a great threat on the basepaths in Nasim Nunez (14 steals). Changes throughout the organization this offseason have already paid off, and we’re now starting to see starting pitcher Cade Cavalli get better results on the mound.
22. Minnesota Twins (21)
After jumping out to an 11-7 start, things seemed to spiral for the Minnesota Twins after Mick Abel (elbow) hit the IL following his gem of a start. There have been some competitive flashes shown by this club, both against the Mariners and Blue Jays. If Abel can return to the mound relatively quickly, with the way Connor Prielipp is throwing since making his MLB debut, the Twins rotation will at least give them a chance to win a few games each week.
23. Colorado Rockies (28)
The Colorado Rockies are better than we anticiapted, that much is clear. We feel bad in some ways for the Rockies pitching staff, who hardly got a break being away from Coors Field with the series at Great American Ballpark. What matters is, following the regime shakeup in the front office, this lineup is producing much better at-bats and the results (fifth-highest batting average and eighth-best SLG) speak for themselves.
24. Boston Red Sox
The reporting this week that came out on executive Craig Breslow just raises more concerns about the immediate future of the Boston Red Sox. We can understand the frustration regarding the lack of development from Ceddane Rafaela, Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell, but Alex Cora also isn’t the one who gave away Rafael Devers and then let his replacement Alex Bregman walk. Now Boston isn’t just dealing with a run-production void but also a leadership issue inside the clubhouse.
25. San Francisco Giants
BLURB
26. Chicago White Sox (29)
Munetaka Murakami went 4-for-23 (.174 batting average) in the past week and the Chicago White Sox still posted a 4-2 record. This is more than a one-man highlight show now. Davis Martin (1.95 ERA and 33 strikeouts) is throwing gems nearly every start and rookie Noah Schultz has really shown impressive stuff in his last two outings. There’s hope for the White Sox, at long last.
27. Kansas City Royals (30)
It seemed like the Kansas City Royals might’ve found a semblance of light after sweeping the Angels. However, the trip out to the West Coast saw the Royals lineup fail to take advantage of an incredibly hitter-friendly ballpark. Now at 12-19 on the season, it’s fair to start talking about what the Royals could shop assuming they sell at the MLB trade deadline this summer.
28. Los Angeles Angels (22)
When you lose sets to two of the worst MLB teams in 2026, you’re going to plummet in the MLB power rankings. It’s only made worse for the Los Angeles Angels because they’ve now dropped from 11-10 in the middle of April to 12-20 with the calendar flipping to May. Where there was once hope, the Angels have fallen.
29. Houston Astros (27)
We will never like a club that has the worst pitching staff in MLB. This season, the Houston Astros’ arms have a 6.08 ERA and the third-worst team has a 5.09 ERA by comparison. That also comes with an awful 1.64 WHIP. It’s going to take weeks for reinforcements to come and even then, Houston will be in a deep hole and it still won’t have a staff good enough to dig out of it.
30. New York Mets (25)
The New York Mets are the worst team in baseball. There’s $370 million being spent on the Mets roster this season; let’s see what Steve Cohen is getting from his investment. The Mets lineup ranks last in OBP (.289) and slugging (.342), which explains how this club ranks 29th (106) in runs scored. Let’s also mention that New York’s bullpen is 16th in ERA (4.06) and the rotation has the fifth-worst walk rate (10.4 percent). Everything is bad.
