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MLB power rankings: Dodgers, Braves, Yankees lead the way, with Brewers and Rays rounding out the top 5

By Jordan Shusterman
June 2, 2026 13 Min Read
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Welcome to June. This edition of our power rankings seeks to answer a simple question: How is each team feeling about its outlook today compared to on Opening Day? 

I can’t pretend to speak on behalf of every MLB organization, but consider this my attempt to convey how I believe these teams should be evaluating their situations, based on preseason expectations and what has unfolded since the beginning of the season. 

Using a spectrum ranging from “better” to “about the same” to “worse,” with some variance sprinkled in, here’s a vibe check for all 30 clubs: 

About the same. It has been a business-like start to the season for the defending champs, who have yet to get scorching-hot but have also avoided any prolonged slumps prompting any sort of doubt about their status as the prohibitive favorites. Even without any of their offensive stars performing at the peak of their potential, the Dodgers rank third in runs per game and first in OPS. More notable has been the pitching staff, which has shaken off injuries to Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Edwin Diaz, plus an awful April from Roki Sasaki, to form one of the deepest and most effective run-prevention units in the league. That Shohei Ohtani fellow sure has contributed on that front (that’s not to mention his .909 OPS at the plate).

Better. There were a lot of reasons for optimism that Atlanta could resurface as a contender this season after last year’s uncharacteristic bout of irrelevance, but thinking they’d build this kind of lead (9.5 games entering play Tuesday) atop the NL East this quickly would’ve been fanciful, considering the projected quality of the foes in their division. But the Braves have taken full advantage of the brutal starts for the Mets and Phillies and played excellent baseball of their own to create the largest cushion of any division leader. Most impressive is how Atlanta has managed to amass baseball’s best record with so many key personnel injured along the way, primarily on the mound to start the season but more recently with star catcher Drake Baldwin sidelined.

Slightly better. The Yankees have yet to prove it against other top teams, and Tampa Bay’s surge has added an unexpected obstacle in their annual quest to claim the AL East. But in terms of roster quality, the Yankees have a lot to feel good about. The starting pitching has been outstanding, and the offense has been plenty productive, even without Aaron Judge performing anywhere near his usual otherworldly peak (not yet, anyway). Questions linger in the bullpen and regarding the health of a few key pieces (Giancarlo Stanton, Max Fried), but on the whole, New York looks to be in great shape.

Better. Monday’s drubbing of the lowly Giants exemplified the Brewers’ unique offensive identity, as Milwaukee scored 16 runs on 18 hits without hitting a home run. The Brewers rank sixth in MLB in runs per game at 4.98 despite bringing up the rear in long balls, with just 40 dingers in 57 games, but this low-slug lineup is proving plenty good enough. Meanwhile, the performance on the mound has been elite: Milwaukee’s pitching staff ranks second in ERA, third in WHIP, first in FIP, first in K% and first in fWAR.

Much better. It was tough to get a read on this team entering the season, considering how much the roster changed over the offseason, but Tampa Bay looks to be putting together another vintage “how are the Rays doing this?” campaign. The lack of over-the-fence power (27th in home runs) and an uncharacteristically shaky bullpen (24th in reliever ERA) are ominous indicators moving forward. But the Rays are doing a lot right on both sides of the ball, with three standout hitters (Yandy Diaz, Junior Caminero, Jonathan Aranda) and three above-average starting pitchers (Nick Martinez, Drew Rasmussen, Shane McClanahan) leading the charge.

About the same. It’s disappointing that a team considered one of the American League heavyweights entering the season has thus far failed to take advantage of its lackluster division. But Seattle is starting to round into form and deserves credit for doing so with minimal contributions from Cal Raleigh and top offseason addition Brendan Donovan appearing in only 25 games due to injury. There’s still tremendous upside with this roster — about as much as any team in the American League other than the Yankees. Don’t be surprised if the Mariners start to separate themselves atop the division as many expected all along.

Better. The Guardians have benefitted from the severe struggles of their projected rivals in Detroit and Kansas City, and they should be strong enough to fend off the upstart White Sox as they seek a third consecutive AL Central title. Some troubling statistical indicators remain — Cleveland’s underlying slugging metrics remain near the bottom of the league, and the pitching has started to show some cracks — but credit to the Guardians for their consistency: They are one of just three teams along with the Dodgers and Braves that have not been swept in any series this season. Their stellar record — a rarity in this year’s American League — reflects that.

Worse. Since starting 10-19, the Phillies have gone 20-10 to climb back into the NL postseason picture, an admirable course-correction that several other slow starters across the league surely envy. But that early hole in tandem with Atlanta’s excellence has all but eliminated Philadelphia’s chances of defending its division crown, setting the stage for a more daunting push for a wild-card spot. The Phillies have one of the more top-heavy rosters in the league, but that upper tier of stars is so good that this is still a team to take seriously over the long haul.

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Better. Owners of the longest active postseason drought in the National League, the Buccos should feel good about arriving in June within striking distance of a playoff spot and with the fifth-best run differential (+31) in MLB. The overhauled lineup has exceeded expectations, and the starting pitching has lived up to the hype, though the shaky bullpen has undone some of those efforts. Considering how challenging the NL Central has proven to be, Pittsburgh will need to battle its way to October, but it has the pieces to do so.

About the same. This is one of the more difficult clubs to evaluate, as the Padres’ strong record seems to be masking a lot of underlying shortcomings. Sure, Fernando Tatis Jr. finally hit a home run, but the Padres rank near the bottom of the league in most offensive categories, and even a vintage Tatis hot streak won’t change that anytime soon. With an elite bullpen and a sufficient starting staff, there’s a path to continued success if San Diego can keep winning close games, but that’s a delicate tightrope to walk for another 100 contests, let alone in October. The bats have to heat up at some point, or the Padres are going to start slipping in the standings. 

Slightly worse. It feels absurd to suggest that a team that has already rattled off multiple 10-game winning streaks could feel worse than it did on Opening Day, but a more recent 10-game skid, a slew of pitching injuries and a hyper-competitive NL Central have combined to put Chicago in something of a precarious position. That said, the high-end talent is intact here, particularly in the lineup, and if enough key arms can get healthy down the stretch, a postseason berth should be well within reach.

Better. The Snakes’ offense tends to get the attention because of the high-profile names in the lineup, but it’s the pitching that has stepped up in a big way lately. The D-backs’ 5.09 ERA across March and April ranked 28th in MLB, but they’ve completely flipped the script since, with a 2.91 ERA since May 1, which ranks second behind only the Brewers. Their true talent level on the mound is likely somewhere between those two extremes, but that’s a positive trend if Arizona wants to stay in the mix in acrowded National League playoff race.

Better. In what many expected to be a transition year for St. Louis in its first season under new president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom, the Cardinals have emerged as the most surprising competitive club in the stacked NL Central. Only the Nationals boast a younger position-player group than the Cardinals, with star rookie JJ Wetherholt and breakout slugger Jordan Walker headlining a dynamic St. Louis lineup well worth tuning in for. A lack of impact pitching might prove to be this team’s undoing in 2026, but the Cardinals are building something promising.

Much better. Munetaka Murakami heading to the injured list with a hamstring strain was the first bit of bad news in a season otherwise filled with encouraging developments and reasons for Sox fans to get excited. Murakami’s splendid rookie introduction has been cause for celebration, and Miguel Vargas and Colson Montgomery give Sox fans two more position-player pillars to enjoy while the Japanese sensation is sidelined. Huge steps forward from pitchers such as Davis Martin also offer optimism on the mound. The bottom of this roster still reflects that of a noncompetitive club, but there’s too much to enjoy at the top right now to worry too much about that.

Worse. The Reds haven’t been below .500 since they were 0-1 after Opening Day, but they followed a 17-9 April with a 10-17 May and are now at the bottom of the NL Central. Shortstop Elly De La Cruz just went on the injured list for the first time in his career due to a hamstring strain, joining sidelined ace Hunter Greene and three top relievers in Emilio Pagan, Pierce Johnson and Graham Ashcraft. This is an unfortunate time to be missing this many key players, as Cincinnati faces a challenging June slate including road series at the Cardinals, Padres, Yankees, Pirates and Brewers.

Much better. What a roller coaster it is to watch this team: a juggernaut offense combined with a susceptible pitching staff culminating in a boatload of riveting shootouts for the neutral observer to enjoy. But with the pitching staff performing more respectably lately, these chaotic contests have more often ended in Washington’s favor. The overhauled front office and coaching staff have given Nationals fans a lot to look forward to, even if the team’s performance this season regresses to something resembling the preseason projections that pegged them as one of the worst teams in baseball.

Worse. The Blue Jays aren’t the only team that can point to a crowded injured list as the chief culprit behind their slow start, but their collection of sidelined stars does stand out. Those absences plus several notable offseason additions have made this roster staggeringly different from the one that journeyed to Game 7 of the World Series last fall. That unfamiliarity is disorienting to some degree, but a healthy version of this roster still projects as one of the best in the AL. We’re just not sure exactly when we’re going to see that version.

Slightly worse. A team that has been squarely average since hoisting the World Series trophy in 2023 is once again floating somewhere in the middle, yo-yoing between hot and cold due to a strong pitching staff that keeps them competitive and a meager offense that can be shut down with ease. Texas should stay relevant in an AL postseason race without many clear-cut contenders, but it will have to meaningfully improve on offense to be considered a threat to do any sort of damage in October.

Slightly better. Despite never being more than three games over .500, the A’s sat alone in first place in the AL West for a full month before they were swept by Seattle last week and surrendered the top spot to the Mariners. In a lineup loaded with promise, huge production from Shea Langeliers, Nick Kurtz and Carlos Cortes (!) has been counterbalanced by relative no-shows from Brent Rooker and Lawrence Butler. Most pressing for the A’s is finding some stability on the mound, where they rank 22nd in ERA (4.53), 25th in WHIP (1.43) and 26th in fWAR.

Worse. The front office’s attempt to rebuild the pitching staff in support of the promising offensive core has thus far fallen flat, with the Orioles ranking 25th in team ERA (4.65). While injuries have contributed to these struggles, Baltimore is hardly the only team that can lean on such an excuse. At the plate, the Orioles have featured an above-average offense, with offseason additions Pete Alonso and Taylor Ward making a difference. But outside of the terrific catching duo of Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo, not enough hitters have stepped up enough to make up for the inconsistency on the mound.

Worse. The Red Sox have played slightly better since the stunning firing of longtime manager Alex Cora at the end of April, but they still find themselves last in the AL East and without much clarity regarding when their two best players, Garrett Crochet and Roman Anthony, will return from injury. Rookie left-handers Payton Tolle and Connelly Early have been undeniable bright spots in Crochet’s absence, but this strangely constructed roster does not inspire much confidence.

Worse. The Mets quietly put together a respectable May after a pathetic showing in April, but as long as the position-player group is nowhere near full strength, it will be hard to envision the Mets garnering the necessary momentum to make a legitimate postseason push. There is too much impact talent for the Mets to be discounted entirely — Juan Soto has been spectacular lately — but they still have a ton to prove, and they need to get healthier across the board.

Worse. Houston’s pitching was so bad and so injured over the first month that salvaging the season seemed impossible, yet the Astros have done just enough recently to avoid falling completely out of it, winning 11 of their past 18 games. There are still issues to sort out on the mound, but modest strides have been made (Spencer Arrighetti, hello), and having an MVP contender in Yordan Alvarez goes a long way. Things aren’t going great in H-Town, but it’s not nearly as dire as it seemed a month ago.

About the same. The Twins have delivered some extended stretches of competence, winning eight of nine in early April and seven of nine in mid-May to climb back toward .500. But overall, this Minnesota roster is still undermanned, even compared to the bevy of other underperforming American League clubs. Another sell-off come deadline time appears likely, with Joe Ryan and Ryan Jeffers both primed to be swirling in trade rumors.

About the same. With one of the youngest rosters in the league, the Marlins have experienced a mix of breakouts (Liam Hicks, Max Meyer) and frustrating stagnation (Jakob Marsee, Eury Perez) among their core players, but they’ve performed about as expected on the whole. Monday’s victory at the Nationals was a rare road triumph; only the Tigers (9-24) and Royals (8-20) have worse records away from home than Miami’s 9-19 mark.

Worse. There was ample intrigue surrounding the hire of celebrated college head coach Tony Vitello as manager, but San Francisco’s player performance has been so poor that it has been difficult to evaluate Vitello’s first year as a big-league skipper. A team that has been mired in mediocrity lately — winning 81, 79, 80 and 81 games the previous four seasons — has sunk to something much worse, leaving larger questions about the direction of the organization. 

Much worse. The Tigers were hovering around .500 when ace Tarik Skubal went down with an elbow injury that necessitated surgery, and it seemed plausible that Detroit could tread water in his absence, especially with Skubal undergoing a procedure that could dramatically expedite his return to the rotation. But while Skubal’s unprecedented rehab appears to be on track and he could be back soon, the Tigers tailspinned so badly in May that his pending return is prompting trade rumors rather than optimism for Detroit. The deadline is still two months away, but it will take a heroic stretch of play from the Tigers to dig themselves out of this hole and quiet those Skubal trade rumors.

Worse. Despite star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. lapping the field atop the position-player fWAR leaderboard, the rest of the Kansas City roster has done little to support his brilliance, and the Royals find themselves near the bottom of the American League standings alongside fellow mega-disappointment Detroit. Just 12 teams have endured a losing streak of at least six games this season. Just two of those 12 — the Angels and Rockies — have had two six-game losing streaks. The only team with three such skids? The Kansas City Royals. Yikes.

Worse. An ugly loss to the Rockies on Monday was the latest display of baseball’s worst bullpen by ERA, with the Angels’ shoddy relief corps the most problematic attribute on a roster full of weaknesses. As refreshing as it has been to watch a rejuvenated Mike Trout back in center field, his presence isn’t much consolation amid another dismal campaign. Two years ago, the Angels narrowly avoided losing 100 games for the first time in franchise history by eking out a 63rd win down the stretch; we’ll see if they can do the same this September. 

Better. Is there a decent chance the Rockies have the worst record in MLB for the second consecutive season? Yes. But this Colorado club has been far more respectable across the board than last season’s historic disaster, and there are enough positive developments in progress on both sides of the ball to believe the new leadership has this organization moving in the right direction, if ever so slowly.

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Jordan Shusterman

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