MLB Power Rankings: Cubs & Marlins In Top 5, Brewers Move Up In Top 10

There is no shortage of ways to rank teams across Major League Baseball, but most rely too heavily on wins and losses. Those results matter, yet they often miss the bigger picture. Teams can look dominant or overmatched in short bursts, and traditional power rankings tend to chase those swings rather than explain them.

This version takes a different approach. Using third-order wins, derived from Clay Davenport’s adjusted standings, the focus shifts to how teams should perform in a neutral context. By factoring in run production, ballpark effects, and quality of competition, these rankings aim to reflect underlying performance instead of surface-level results.

The outcome is a set of power rankings that lean more predictive than reactive, highlighting which teams are positioned for sustained success and which may be riding unsustainable trends. Below you will see updated rankings with up, down, or neutral arrows to show how things changed compared to last week's rankings.

1. Dodgers — 22.4–10.6 (.679) 
Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Dodgers lost more than three games in a row for the first time this season. They also had a homerless drought that stretched for much of the week.

2. Yankees — 22.2–10.8 (.673) 
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Will Warren is making a case to stick in New York’s rotation even with Carlos Rodon and Gerrit Cole set to return over the next two months. Warren has allowed two or fewer earned runs in each of his seven starts, the most in the majors.

3. Braves — 22.0–11.9 (.649) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Drake Baldwin has quickly emerged as one of the most surprising breakout stars in the National League. Baldwin ranks among league leaders in OPS and weighted runs created (wRC+), while regularly playing catcher.

4. Cubs — 21.2–11.8 (.642) ⬇️

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Nico Hoerner exited Friday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks due to left-sided neck tightness. He entered that game with a slash line of .291/.370/.449 with four homers across 31 contests.

5. Marlins — 19.7–13.2 (.599) ⬆️

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Xavier Edwards is developing into a star for Miami. In his first 32 games, he has an .873 OPS, 146 OPS+, and a 148 wRC+. He ranks near the top of the NL in batting average and OBP.

6. Pirates — 20.0–14.0 (.588) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Mitch Keller pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, and the Pittsburgh Pirates ended a five-game losing streak on Friday night. However, the team’s bullpen cost them multiple wins this week.

7. Rays — 18.2–13.8 (.569) 
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Ryan Pepiot is out for the season after having hip surgery. Since joining the Rays, Pepiot has a 3.75 ERA, a 4.18 FIP with a 25.4 K% and 8.9 BB% over 297.2 IP.

8. Brewers — 17.9–14.1 (.559) ⬆️

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Jacob Misiorowski had a no-hitter into the sixth inning on Friday before he had to leave the game with a right hamstring cramp. It was his 85th pitch that came on the heels of four consecutive strikeouts.

9. Tigers — 18.6–15.4 (.547) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Detroit Tigers placed pitcher Casey Mize and infielder Javier Báez on the injured list earlier this week. Mize goes on the 15-day IL with a right adductor strain, while Báez is on the 10-day list with a right ankle sprain.

10. Guardians — 18.1–15.9 (.532) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Travis Bazzana, the organization’s No. 1 overall prospect, made his MLB debut. In his first three games, he failed to record a hit but walked four times.

11. Rangers — 17.5–15.5 (.530) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Wyatt Langford suffered a setback in his return from a forearm injury. During Thursday’s extended spring training game, he felt discomfort in his forearm after his first at-bat of the contest.

12. Angels — 17.8–16.2 (.524) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Mike Trout is back! He leads the AL in runs scored and has an OBP above .400 for the first time in five seasons.

13. Cardinals — 16.7–16.3 (.506) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina will be inducted into the Cardinals’ Hall of Fame this September.

14. Mariners — 16.9–17.1 (.497) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Mariners retired Randy Johnson’s number 51 over the weekend. Johnson spent 10 seasons with the Mariners from 1989 through 1998, going 130-74 with a 3.42 ERA. He also threw the team’s first no-hitter in 1990.

15. Blue Jays — 15.7–17.3 (.476) ⬆️

Biggest Weekly Storyline: George Springer returned from a fractured big left toe, but left Saturday’s game with what looked like a similar injury after being hit by a pitch. However, there was no new fracture.

16. Royals — 15.5–17.5 (.470) ⬆️

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Salvador Perez is not hitting the ball all that hard this year. His career hard-hit rate is 46.3%, but so far in 2026, Perez is hitting the ball hard only 39.6% of the time.

17. Padres — 15.0–17.0 (.469) ⬇️

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Xander Bogaerts has seen improved performance this year. In 30 games (126 ABs), Bogaerts has a .769 OPS with a 114 OPS+. He also has the lowest K-rate (13%) and career-best walk rate (10.7%).

18. Athletics — 15.1–17.9 (.458) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Nick Kurtz walked in his 20th consecutive game on Friday to tie Barry Bonds for the second-longest streak in MLB history. Former Detroit Tigers outfielder and first baseman Roy Cullenbine walked in 22 straight games, establishing the all-time longest streak.

19. Diamondbacks — 14.6–17.4 (.456) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Ildemaro Vargas extended his hitting streak to 27 games on Friday, breaking the major league record for a Venezuelan native.

20. Nationals — 15.3–18.7 (.450) 
Biggest Weekly Storyline: CJ Abrams broke out of a slump with a series against the Mets. He went 5-for-11, tallying five RBIs, including a home run that proved to be the difference in

21. Twins — 15.1–18.9 (.444) 

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Byron Buxton is one of baseball’s hottest hitters. He has 10 homers in a 17-game stretch after starting the year on a bit of a cold streak.  

22. White Sox — 14.1–18.9 (.427) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Munetaka Murakami’s MLB-leading 13th home run and Noah Schultz’s six shutout innings were the only reasons to watch the White Sox.

23. Mets — 14.1–18.9 (.427) ⬇️

Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Mets have one of baseball’s worst records, but David Stearns said this week that manager Carlos Mendoza’s job is not in imminent danger.

24. Astros — 14.5–19.6 (.425) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Lance McCullers Jr. owns a 6.32 ERA, has walked 17 batters in just 31.1 innings, and has given up 24 earned runs. His WHIP sits at 1.40, and opponents are hitting to an OPS of .776 against him.

25. Rockies — 14.3–19.7 (.421) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Chase Dollander owns a 2.25 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 32 innings. The ninth overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft is finding success even in the thin mountain air.

26. Red Sox — 13.6–19.5 (.411) ⬆️

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Garrett Crochet was put on the IL with a shoulder injury, but an MRI didn’t show anything other than inflammation. He is shut down from throwing for at least a couple of days while he builds shoulder strength.

27. Phillies — 13.5–19.5 (.409) 
Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Phillies fired manager Rob Thomson with the team tied for MLB’s worst record.

28. Reds — 13.2–19.8 (.400) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Elly De La Cruz is the first Major Leaguer since 1900 with 10+ homers and 8+ stolen bases before May.

29. Giants — 12.9–20.1 (.391) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Giants were shut out for the seventh time already this season.

30. Orioles — 12.5–20.5 (.379) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Orioles put closer Ryan Helsley on the 15-day injured list Friday because of right elbow inflammation. However, the club is optimistic their closer will not miss significant time.

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