The Detroit Tigers have knocked the Los Angeles Dodgers off the top spot, while the Minnesota Twins surge into the top 10. Here’s how the latest Sportsnaut MLB Power Rankings shape up.
**Statistics as of Monday, May 19**
1. Detroit Tigers (Last week: 2)
For the first time this season, the Tigers top our MLB Power Rankings. They boast baseball’s best winning percentage (.660), a dominant 17-5 home record, and have won seven of their last 10 games.
“They have won seven of their last nine series and have yet to post a losing streak of more than three games, showing the offensive punch that was missing a year ago alongside a terrific pitching staff,” writes Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers (Last week: 1)
The Dodgers were surprisingly swept by AL West basement dwellers Los Angeles Angels in a three-game weekend series. Clayton Kershaw made his season debut, surrendering five earned runs in four innings. Despite this setback, they maintain their NL West lead.
“The Dodgers were 17-4 at home heading into the weekend series, where they were tasked with playing the Angels,” notes CBS Sports’ Matt Snyder. “The Angels were 8-15 on the road. And the Angels swept them. Baseball is the best when it makes no sense.”
3. New York Yankees (Last week: 5)
The Yankees bested Juan Soto and the New York Mets during the Subway Series, taking two of three. Aaron Judge continues his MVP-caliber play, hitting .401 with 15 home runs and 41 RBI, topping the AL in each category.
“I bring up this great Sarah Langs piece a lot, but this is the sort of season it is incredibly valuable. It tracks the latest any hitter has gone into the year while still hitting above .400. Aaron Judge, after 46 games, is still there,” writes MLB.com’s Will Leitch. “If he’s still there after 49 games, he’ll move into the second-deepest into a season hitting .400 since 2008; the latest this century is currently Luis Arraez (78 games), just two years ago.”
4. Chicago Cubs (Last week: 7)
Pete Crow-Armstrong is emerging as an NL MVP favorite. The Cubs’ third-year player is having a breakout season, leading the NL in bWAR (3.1) while slashing .290/.325/.585 with 12 home runs and a 153 OPS+.
“PCA vs. the White Sox was no match: 8-for-14, nine RBIs, four extra-base hits,” writes USA Today’s Gabe Lacques after the Cubs swept the White Sox.
5. New York Mets (Last week: 3)
Soto fell flat in his return to the Bronx, going 1-for-10 with four walks, three strikeouts and no extra-base hits as the Mets lost two of three.
“The Mets are 17-5 with a staggering plus-33 run differential at Citi Field this season, but they dropped below .500 on the road with Sunday night’s loss to the Yankees,” writes Reuter. “After wrapping up their current road trip with three games against the Red Sox, they play nine in a row at home, so that should give them a chance to make another push for the No. 1 spot.”
6. Philadelphia Phillies (Last week: 6)
The good: Mick Abel had a magnificent MLB debut, out-dueling Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes in the Phillies’ 1-0 win on Sunday. The bad: Top reliever Jose Alvarado has been suspended for 80 games after testing positive for a PED and will be ineligible for the postseason.
“Considering the Phillies are very much planning on being a part of that postseason, you should expect the team to address its sudden bullpen hole quickly, and with aggression,” states Leitch.
7. Minnesota Twins (Last week: 15)
The Twins were on an incredible 13-game winning streak before it was snapped Sunday in a 5-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. The streak came with consequences as both Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa landed on the seven-day concussion IL.
“Their pitching staff has been the driving force, leading the majors in ERA (2.57) and WHIP (1.05) in May, and Joe Ryan (9 GS, 2.42 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 63 K, 52.0 IP) is putting together a compelling case for his first All-Star selection,” adds Reuter.
8. Seattle Mariners (Last week: 11)
Bryan Woo has emerged as the ace of the Mariners’ elite staff with Logan Gilbert and George Kirby sidelined. Woo is 5-1 in nine starts with a 2.65 ERA, 138 ERA+, 2.78 FIP, and just a 0.867 WHIP.
“A good sign from a first-place team is going through a rough stretch (losing five of six) and then bouncing back in a big way. A series sweep in which the pitching staff totally keeps the Padres’ bats quiet qualifies,” writes Snyder.
9. San Francisco Giants (Last week: 8)
Who leads the NL in RBI? Giants designated hitter Wilmer Flores with 42. During their sweep of the Athletics, Flores had a three-home-run, eight-RBI game on Friday night.
“He has a chance to break Mel Ott’s team record of 151 RBIs in 1929 (he’s on pace to be within five) and had 41 RBIs through 45 games, the most for any Giant since Barry Bonds back in 2001 (45). (It is always a good sign when a Barry Bonds stat comes up when someone is writing about you.),” notes Leitch.
10. San Diego Padres (Last week: 4)
Should we be concerned about the Padres? They got swept at home by the Mariners in a three-game series and haven’t had a winning record since mid-April.
“So here’s something to keep an eye on: For all the excitement around the Padres so far, they are, in fact, an under .500 team since April 15, which, if you happen to have your calendar handy, is actually more than a month ago now,” explains Leitch. “They were 14-3 up to that point, the best in baseball on that date, but it should be noted: That early hot streak is disguising a team that has been average ever since.”
11. St. Louis Cardinals (Last week: 12)
The Cardinals have become a legitimate playoff threat. They are 8-2 in their last 10 games and are tied for seventh in baseball with a plus-38 run differential. Second baseman Brendan Donovan is hitting .330 with 15 doubles and an .853 OPS.
12. Atlanta Braves (Last week: 16)
The Braves are finally above .500 after starting the season 0-7. They’ve gone 10-5 in their past 15 games and will soon welcome back Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuna Jr.
13. Texas Rangers (Last week: 20)
The Rangers are trending upward, going 7-3 in their last 10 games as Jacob deGrom begins to round into form after making just nine starts the previous two seasons due to Tommy John surgery.
14. Arizona Diamondbacks (Last week: 14)
The Diamondbacks are only .500 at home with just a plus-three run differential on the season. They recently recalled top prospect Jordan Lawlar after he was crushing Triple-A pitching. However, he’s 0-for-8 with five strikeouts in three games.
15. Kansas City Royals (Last week: 9)
Following a seven-game winning streak, the Royals have lost six of their last eight. They field one of baseball’s worst offenses — 27th in runs scored at 159 — and lost starters Seth Lugo and Cole Ragans to the injured list. Help could arrive soon on the offensive side as top prospect Jac Caglionone was promoted to Triple-A.
16. Cleveland Guardians (Last week: 10)
The Guardians were swept by the Reds over the weekend and are 4-6 in their last 10 games. They carry a minus-20 run differential as their pitching staff ranks 19th in baseball with a 4.14 ERA.
17. Houston Astros (Last week: 19)
Astros ace Hunter Brown has become one of baseball’s elite pitchers. The 26-year-old right-hander leads all of MLB in wins (6), FIP (1.92) and lowest hits per nine (5.2), while topping the AL in home runs allowed per nine (0.3) and bWAR (2.6).
18. Cincinnati Reds (Last week: 21)
The Reds have a plus-30 run differential but remain a .500 team. Their pitching staff boasts the fourth-best ERA in the NL (3.58) and ranks second in batting average allowed (.223). They have the talent to make a run — they just need consistency.
19. Boston Red Sox (Last week: 13)
The Red Sox have been struggling, losing six of their last 10 games, including getting swept by the Tigers and dropping two of three to the Braves over the weekend.
20. Toronto Blue Jays (Last week: 17)
What happened to Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman? After sporting a 1.10 ERA through his first 14 appearances, it’s now risen to 5.75. Over his last six outings, he’s surrendered 11 earned runs.
21. Milwaukee Brewers (Last week: 22)
The Brewers find themselves drifting further from first place after losing seven of their last 10 games. If they continue to falter, first baseman Rhys Hoskins could emerge as a trade candidate at the deadline.
22. Tampa Bay Rays (Last week: 23)
The Rays lost two of three over the weekend to the struggling Marlins. Junior Caminero has eight home runs on the season but just a .682 OPS with 36 strikeouts against only eight walks.
23. Washington Nationals (Last week: 24)
The Nationals swept the Orioles at Camden Yards over the weekend, scoring 24 runs across three games. James Wood continues to impress with 12 home runs and a .908 OPS this season.
24. Athletics (Last week: 18)
The Athletics have stumbled after a 20-16 start. They’ve gone 2-8 over their last 10 games, including a five-game losing streak. Their pitching staff has allowed the fourth-most runs in baseball at 238.
25. Los Angeles Angels (Last week: 26)
This is why Sarah Langs always says, “Baseball is the best.” The Angels, mired in last place in the AL West, went into Dodger Stadium and swept the defending World Series champions.
26. Miami Marlins (Last week: 28)
The Marlins took two of three from the Rays during rivalry weekend and feature promising young offensive talent in Connor Norby, Agustin Ramirez and Kyle Stowers.
27. Pittsburgh Pirates (Last week: 27)
In Skenes’ last six starts, the Pirates have scored just 10 runs, including getting blanked Sunday 1-0 by the Phillies as the ace pitched the first complete game of his career.
28. Chicago White Sox (Last week: 29)
Miguel Vargas has emerged as a bright spot on a struggling White Sox team. The third baseman has six home runs, 10 doubles and a .749 OPS.
29. Baltimore Orioles (Last week: 25)
Have the Orioles finally hit rock bottom? They fired manager Brandon Hyde and have lost six straight games after getting swept by the Twins and Nationals at home.
30. Colorado Rockies (Last week: 30)
The Rockies are on pace to lose 133 games this season, which would break the modern-day losing mark set by the White Sox last year by 12 games.
