The Los Angeles Dodgers maintain their grip as baseball’s top team while the St. Louis Cardinals and Minnesota Twins make surprising leaps in Sportsnaut’s Week 8 MLB Power Rankings. Check out how the list shakes out.
**Statistics as of Tuesday, May 13**
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (Last week: 1)
The Dodgers hold the top spot in Sportsnaut’s MLB Power Rankings with first baseman Freddie Freeman leading the charge.
“Freddie Freeman will turn 36 years old this coming September. He is hitting .376/.437/.734 right now,” writes CBS Sports’ Matt Snyder. “In the Expansion Era (1961-present), the highest single-season batting average by a player 35 years old or older is .372 (Tony Gwynn, 1997, age 37).”
2. Detroit Tigers (Last week: 5)
The Tigers now boast baseball’s best run differential at plus-84 as reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal builds his case for back-to-back awards.
“After running away with the Cy Young Award last season, Tarik Skubal has been even better so far this season,” writes NBC Sports’ D.J. Short. “The southpaw owns a 2.08 ERA through eight starts and carried a perfect game into the sixth inning in his most recent start against the Rangers on Friday.”
3. New York Mets (Last week: 4)
Juan Soto, New York’s $765 million superstar, is heating up as the Mets continue to lead the NL East.
“It is kind of hilarious that anyone was ever doubting Juan Soto after his slow(ish) start (for him) with the Mets,” notes MLB.com’s Will Leitch. “That (not really all that slow) start is now over. Heading into May, he was slashing .241/.368/.384 in 31 games. In May? .282/.383/.718 with five homers in 10 games.”
4. San Diego Padres (Last week: 2)
The Padres scored 21 runs in a game while shutting out the Colorado Rockies and now have Jackson Merrill and Jake Cronenworth back in the lineup.
“The lineup is finally at full strength after Jackson Merrill and Jake Cronenworth were both activated from the injured list, and they went a combined 14-for-29 last week in their return to action,” writes Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter.
5. New York Yankees (Last week: 8)
Yankees outfielder Jasson Dominguez is living up to the hype, delivering a three-home-run game against the Athletics over the weekend.
“Yes, the three-homer game on Friday does some heavy lifting here, but Jasson DomÃnguez is hitting .302 with six extra-base hits, eight RBI and 12 runs in his last 13 games. Keep in mind, he’s still only 22 years old,” notes Snyder.
6. Philadelphia Phillies (Last week: 9)
Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber is having one of the best years of his career as he approaches free agency. He currently has a 47-game on-base streak (fourth all-time in team history) and is tied for the league lead in home runs with 14.
“Is Kyle Schwarber having the best year of his career? He’s tied for the MLB lead in homers, he’s more than halfway to Ted Williams’ record of 84 straight games reaching base, and he’s top 10 in the majors in OBP. Pretty good way to head into free agency, all told,” writes Leitch.
7. Chicago Cubs (Last week: 3)
The Cubs dropped back-to-back series against the Mets and San Francisco Giants as their high-powered offense stalled.
“The Cubs logged their longest losing streak of the season when they dropped three in a row last week, though they did manage to avoid getting swept by the Mets thanks to a strong start from top prospect Cade Horton in his MLB debut,” writes Reuter.
8. San Francisco Giants (Last week: 7)
The Giants got swept by the Minnesota Twins after taking two of three against the Cubs. They continue to play without Tyler Fitzgerald, who is sidelined with a broken rib.
“Fitzgerald, the 27-year-old second baseman, looked in April like he was on his way to replicating his surprising rookie season — until he broke his rib diving for a ball,” writes The Athletic’s Andy McCullough. “He has missed all of May as he heals. The duo of Christian Koss and Brett Wisely has not been able to replace Fitzgerald’s production. Fitzgerald should return soon enough, but his absence stings for a team jockeying for position with the Dodgers, Padres and Diamondbacks.”
9. Kansas City Royals (Last week: 11)
The Royals’ pitching staff is carrying them into contention with an 8-2 record over their last 10 games, including a seven-game winning streak.
“The Royals remain one of the hottest teams in the majors despite dropping back-to-back games to the Red Sox to close out the weekend,” writes Short. “Led by a pitching staff with the second-lowest ERA in the majors, Kansas City is 16-4 over their last 20 games.”
10. Cleveland Guardians (Last week: 10)
Guardians utility player Daniel Schneemann has been a revelation, posting an .857 OPS and 142 OPS+ in 91 plate appearances across 31 games.
“Remember last season how utility man David Fry emerged from obscurity to make the All-Star team? Take a look at the impact Daniel Schneemann is having this season,” notes Snyder.
11. Seattle Mariners (Last week: 6)
The Mariners have hit a rough patch with a four-game losing streak after being swept by the Toronto Blue Jays, outscored 21-7 in the series.
12. St. Louis Cardinals (Last week: 20)
Forget about the Cardinals being sellers at the deadline. They’re riding a nine-game winning streak and sit just one game behind the Cubs for the NL Central lead.
13. Boston Red Sox (Last week: 16)
The Red Sox face controversy surrounding Rafael Devers after he refused to play first base when Triston Casas suffered a season-ending knee injury. The drama isn’t affecting Devers at the plate — he has 10 hits in his last five games, including two home runs.
14. Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks are under .500 at home (11-12) with a minus-one run differential, factors that won’t help their October aspirations.
15. Minnesota Twins (Last week: 24)
The Twins have won eight straight games and boast a 15-6 home record, boosted by Byron Buxton’s return to health. Buxton has nine hits and three home runs during the winning streak.
16. Atlanta Braves (Last week: 19)
The Braves continue climbing out of their early 0-7 hole to start the season. Reinforcements are coming as Ronald Acuna Jr. has begun a rehab assignment.
17. Toronto Blue Jays (Last week: 22)
The Blue Jays swept the Mariners on the road and carry a four-game winning streak as they await Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s bat to awaken. He has just four home runs this season.
18. Athletics
The Athletics sit only 1.5 games behind the Mariners in the AL West despite carrying the seventh-worst run differential in baseball at minus-38.
19. Houston Astros (Last week: 15)
Jose Altuve (.686 OPS), Christian Walker (.654 OPS), and Yordan Alvarez (.646 OPS before landing on the IL with right hand inflammation) are all underperforming. The Astros need more offense to extend their postseason streak to nine consecutive years.
20. Texas Rangers (Last week: 21)
The Rangers took two of three from the Tigers on the road, scoring 16 runs in their victories. They’ve won three straight, but now Corey Seager is on the IL with a right hamstring strain.
21. Cincinnati Reds (Last week: 12)
The Reds plummet in the rankings after going 3-7 over their last 10 games. Adding to their woes, ace Hunter Greene landed on the IL with a right groin strain.
22. Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers’ offense is struggling, ranking 10th in the National League with 184 runs scored and crossing the plate four times in a game just once this month.
23. Tampa Bay Rays (Last week: 17)
The Rays were swept by the Phillies at home and have gone 4-6 in their last 10 games. Without a turnaround, expect them to become sellers at the trade deadline.
24. Washington Nationals (Last week: 23)
The Nationals have lost six straight, but James Wood continues to impress with 11 home runs, a .911 OPS, and 158 OPS+.
25. Baltimore Orioles (Last week: 25)
The Orioles remain stuck in the AL East cellar with a league-worst 5.31 ERA (29th overall).
26. Los Angeles Angels (Last week: 27)
The Angels enjoyed an exciting win Monday night when Taylor Ward hit a go-ahead grand slam in the ninth inning during their 9-5 victory over the Padres.
27. Pittsburgh Pirates (Last week: 29)
The Pirates fired manager Derek Shelton after starting the season 12-26. He finished 306-440 in six seasons with Pittsburgh.
28. Miami Marlins (Last week: 26)
The Marlins occupy the NL East basement at 15-25, but catcher Agustin Ramirez has provided a bright spot with four home runs, an .824 OPS, and 120 OPS+ in 18 games.
29. Chicago White Sox (Last week: 28)
The White Sox are 3-17 away from home with a minus-35 run differential.
30. Colorado Rockies (Last week: 30)
The Rockies fired manager Bud Black after Saturday’s 21-0 loss to the Padres. They appear headed toward breaking the modern-day loss record of 121 set by the White Sox last year.
