MLB Power Rankings: Brewers Charging, Marlins & Blue Jays Surprise

The San Francisco Giants find themselves near the bottom of this week's rankings for reasons that extend beyond their disappointing play on the field. The organization found itself at the center of controversy during Pride Night, creating another unwanted headline in a season filled with frustration.

One of the biggest developments this week is the rise of the Brewers into the top three. Milwaukee continues to pair strong results with impressive underlying metrics, further strengthening the National League's hold on the upper tier of these rankings. There were also notable climbs by the Marlins and Blue Jays, two teams that have quietly surged into the top 10 after spending much of the season outside the league's elite.

That is why third-order wins remain such a useful lens for evaluating the league. Based on Clay Davenport's adjusted standings, the metric goes beyond wins and losses by factoring in run differential, quality of competition, and ballpark effects. The goal is to identify which teams are genuinely playing the best baseball rather than simply riding favorable sequencing or a soft portion of the schedule.

These rankings are built to highlight sustainable performance over temporary momentum. The arrows below show which teams are trending upward, slipping backward, or holding steady as the postseason race slowly starts to take shape.

1. Dodgers — 49.5–21.4 (.698)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Yoshinobu Yamamoto lost a perfect game in the eighth inning on a Mookie Betts error and gave up a solo home run in the ninth to lose the no-hitter. Over his last two starts, Yamamoto retired 45 batters in a row, the second longest streak in baseball’s live-ball era. 

2. Yankees — 44.0–24.9 (.639)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Since May 1, Yankees catchers have a combined 8 wRC+, a slash line of .130/.205/.165, and a strikeout rate of 30.7%. They have a combined 15 hits and 11 walks since May 1.

3. Brewers — 41.4–26.5 (.610) ⬆️

Biggest Weekly Storyline:  On Friday, Jacob Misiorowski began the game by throwing the fastest pitch ever recorded by a starting pitcher (104.5 mph). His final line: 15 strikeouts, 1 hit allowed, 0 walks, 0 runs on 95 pitches. He faced the minimum across nine innings, as his lone hit allowed in the fourth inning was erased by a double play.

4. Braves — 42.6–27.4 (.609) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Braves put Ronald Acuña Jr. on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain. It is Acuña’s second left hamstring injury this season.

5. Pirates — 39.4–31.5 (.556)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Evan Sisk has been a breakout player for the Pirates. The left-hander has a 1.29 ERA and 2.54 FIP with 36 strikeouts in 23 games in 2026.

6. Marlins — 38.9–32.1 (.548) ⬆️

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Sandy Alcantara became the fifth active Dominican-born pitcher to reach 1,000 K's. He joins Luis Castillo, Freddy Peralta, Luis Severino, and Framber Valdez.

7. Mariners — 38.7–33.3 (.538)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Mariners starter Bryce Miller has coaxed five double plays this season in 35 innings, matching his 2025 total in 90 1/3 innings and just one shy of his 2024 total in 180 1/3 innings.

8. Cubs — 38.1–32.9 (.537) ⬇️

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Ben Brown has an impressive 1.44 ERA across 31 1/3 innings pitched since moving to the rotation. That ERA since May 8 is the sixth-lowest in baseball, only behind Jacob Misiorowski (0.23 ERA),

Cristopher Sanchez (0.24 ERA), Shohei Ohtani (0.37 ERA), Kyle Harrison (0.90 ERA), and Bryce Miller (1.33 ERA).

9. Rays — 35.4–31.8 (.527)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Drew Rasmussen recorded a career-high 13 Ks as he struck out the Red Sox's top three batters three times each in win. His previous career high was 10 Ks back in 2022. 

10. Blue Jays — 36.7–34.3 (.517) ⬆️

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Alejandro Kirk got three hits in his return from the 60-day IL after recovering from a left thumb fracture. He reached base four times and drove in two runs as the Blue Jays beat the Yankees. 

11. Rangers — 35.9–34.1 (.513)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Corey Seager has had yet another injury-riddled season to start his 2026 campaign. He had a scary home plate collision on Thursday and has pain in his jaw and ribs.

12. White Sox — 35.0–34.0 (.507)  ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Outfielder Braden Montgomery became just the fifth player in MLB history to hit a walk-off home run in their debut since 1900. The other players on that list? Carlos Perez (2015), Miguel Cabrera (2003), Josh Bard (2002), and Billy Parker (1971).

13. Cardinals — 34.5–33.5 (.507) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Infielder Blaze Jordan forced the Cardinals' to call him up. The 23-year-old corner was slashing .313/.373/.548 with 11 home runs, 35 RBIs and a .921 OPS in 57 games.

14. Guardians — 35.9–36.1 (.499) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Guardians lost All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez to the IL with a fractured left hamate bone. Injuries like this can take six to eight weeks to heal after surgery. 

15. Red Sox — 33.4–34.6 (.491)

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Closer Aroldis Chapman was on a podcast this week and said if Yankees trade for him that general manager Brian Cashman should apologize first. He missed a workout and was left off New York’s 2022 ALDS roster.

16. Tigers — 34.7–36.3 (.489) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal returned to the mound on Saturday just 38 days after having surgery on his left elbow. He allowed three runs (two earned) in 4 2/3 innings with four strikeouts and one walk.

17. Nationals — 34.6–36.4 (.487) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: At just 23-years-old, James Wood might be the NL’s best overall hitter. He currently has the 4th highest barrel rate in the Statcast Era, trailing only three historic Aaron Judge seasons (2017, 2022, 2024).

18. Angels — 33.9–37.1 (.477) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Mike Trout hit his 1,000th single of his career this week. The future Hall of Famer has over 1800 career hits. He leads the AL in walks and runs this season. 

19. Diamondbacks — 33.0–37.0 (.471)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Outfielder Jordan Lawlar returned from a two-month stay on the IL. In his first game back he made a terrific catch in the outfield, reached base three times, stole a pair of bases and delivered a two-run single to cap the Diamondbacks’ scoring in a tiebreaking, three-run ninth inning.

20. Athletics — 32.6–37.4 (.466) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: The A's activate shortstop Jacob Wilson and placed DH Brent Rooker on injured list with a left knee bruise. Wilson had missed a month with a dislocated left shoulder. 

21. Orioles — 33.5–38.5 (.465) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Gunnar Henderson hit his 100th career home run on Friday night. He became the fifth O’s player to reach 100 for the club before turning 25, including Manny Machado, Eddie Murray, Cal Ripken Jr., and Boog Powell.

22. Phillies — 32.3–37.7 (.461) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Zack Wheeler didn’t allow a hit to the Padres until sixth, and finished with seven innings by allowing two runs and striking out eight. In the same game, the Phillies cleared the 4-run threshold for the first time since May 18.

23. Astros — 32.5–39.5 (.451) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez became the first MLB player to hit a grand slam and multi-run home runs in the 1st inning on Friday night. He's currently leads the AL in homers. 

24. Mets — 31.2–38.9 (.445) ⬆️

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Bo Bichette had two homers including a grand slam as he drove in six runs to lead Mets past Braves 7-5. 

25. Royals — 31.2–39.9 (.439) ⬇️

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starting pitcher Seth Lugo was forced to leave Wednesday’s contest early after taking a 107-mph line drive off his forehead. The team reports he is “doing well” but he’s had to go on the 7-day concussion IL. 

26. Twins — 31.0–41.1 (.430) ⬇️

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Minnesota made a tremendous comeback on Friday night. Kody Clemens hit a three-run bomb in the seventh inning. Then Royce Lewis and Brooks Lee hit solo shots in the bottom of the ninth to put the Twins up for good. 

27. Padres — 29.5–39.5 (.428) ⬆️

Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Padres have lost 13 of their last 18 games. San Diego ranks at the bottom of baseball in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and runs scored.  

28. Reds — 26.8–42.3 (.388) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Tejay Antone has been a surprise contributor to the Reds bullpen. After three arm surgeries, he returned to the big-leagues and has registered a save, 14 strikeouts, four walks, and a 1.14 WHIP in 14 innings.

29. Rockies — 25.2–45.8 (.355) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Hunter Goodman, Cole Carrigg, and TJ Rumfield are giving Rockies fans something to be excited about. This young trio fueled a Rockies' series win over Cubs.

30. Giants — 32.8–38.2 (.462) ⬇️

Biggest Weekly Storyline: San Francisco should be higher on this list based solely on its projected record, but the Giants have earned a spot at the bottom.

The organization hosted Pride Night on Friday, with players wearing rainbow-themed SF caps as part of the celebration. On a night intended to recognize and support the LGBTQ+ community—a significant part of both the fan base and the city itself—the focus instead shifted to a message that many viewed as exclusionary.

Four of the Giants' five pitchers made statements regarding the team's choice of headwear. Landen Roupp, JT Brubaker , and Ryan Walker wrote Genesis 9:11-16 on their caps, a passage that references God's covenant symbolized by the rainbow. In recent years, some Christians have cited the verse while arguing that the rainbow is exclusively a religious symbol and that its use in Pride imagery represents an appropriation of something sacred. Meanwhile, Sam Hentges chose not to wear the rainbow cap at all.

The Giants went on to lose 5-1 and now sit 14 games under .500 with the National League's second-worst record. Giants fans deserve better than having a celebration intended to unite the community overshadowed by controversy.

What storylines stood out this week? Do you agree with the rankings above? Leave a comment and start the discussion.