The New York Knicks are NBA champions. The Carolina Hurricanes hoisted the Stanley Cup. And somehow, baseball is already four months from the World Series. But this week’s MLB Power Rankings aren’t about parades — they’re about a widening gap between baseball’s elite and everyone else.
A small cluster of contenders is starting to separate from the pack. The Braves still sit at the top, but there are cracks in the armor. The Yankees are winning without Aaron Judge. The Tigers finally got Tarik Skubal back. And in the NL, a few teams are quietly making their case.
Here’s where your team lands this week.
1. Atlanta Braves (Record: 46-25)
The Braves went 1-4 this week — getting swept in a two-game set by the White Sox and dropping two of three to the Mets. Still, they own the best record in baseball. But concerns are mounting. Bryce Elder, one of the game’s best arms this season, got shelled for six runs in four innings Sunday. Spencer Strider landed on the IL with an ailing right elbow. The Braves have hit their first real speed bump of 2026, with the Giants and Brewers coming to town.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers (45-27)
The Dodgers took two of three from the Pirates, then dropped two of three to the White Sox. Shohei Ohtani sat out one game with knee swelling, then returned and promptly homered on the South Side. They’re just grinding, surviving injuries, and staying near the top. Next up: the Rays and Orioles.
3. Milwaukee Brewers (43-26)
The Brewers lost two of three to the A’s, then took two of three from the Phillies. They lead the NL Central by five games. Jackson Chourio is heating up — five homers in six games. The offense feasted at a minor-league park in Las Vegas, but the Brewers don’t apologize for padding stats. They face the Guardians and Braves next.
4. Tampa Bay Rays (43-27)
The Rays swept the Red Sox, then dropped two of three to the Angels. Chandler Simpson has stalled at the plate — .191 with a .457 OPS over his last 20 games, and no stolen bases since May 11. The AL East race is tightening, but Tampa still has a cushion. They visit the Dodgers and host the Nationals.
5. New York Yankees (43-27)
The Yankees swept the Guardians and took two of three from the Blue Jays. Anthony Volpe drove in two runs Sunday. Paul Goldschmidt crushed a massive homer Saturday. They’re figuring out life without Aaron Judge — at least for now. They host the White Sox and Reds this week.
6. Philadelphia Phillies (38-33)
The Phillies took two of three from the Blue Jays, then dropped two of three to the Brewers. Kyle Schwarber leads MLB with 24 homers and carries a .930 OPS. The rotation is elite. If someone behind Schwarber starts hitting, watch out. They face the Marlins and Mets at home.
7. San Diego Padres (37-33)
The Padres took two of three from both the Orioles and Reds. Fernando Tatis Jr. is playing second base due to injuries — and he hit a walk-off homer Wednesday. Lucas Giolito delivered a solid start. It feels like San Diego already hit rock bottom. They host the Cardinals and Rangers next.
8. Cleveland Guardians (38-31)
The Guardians were swept by the Yankees, then took both games from the Tigers. But Jose Ramirez is now on the IL with a hamate bone fracture — a potentially major blow. Angel Martinez and Chase DeLauter left the same game banged up but avoided the IL. Cleveland faces the Brewers and Astros on the road.
9. Seattle Mariners (37-36)
The Mariners split with the Orioles and lost two of three to the Nationals. They still lead the dreadful AL West by one game. Cal Raleigh and Brandon Donovan are still out. Bryan Woo got lit up against Baltimore. The M’s are surviving, but worry is creeping in. They host the Orioles and Red Sox.
10. Chicago Cubs (35-33)
The Cubs won their first series since May 7, taking two of three from the Giants. Michael Busch returned and crushed a three-run homer. With Seiya Suzuki hurt, the lineup still lacks depth. But two games over .500 keeps them alive. They host the Rockies and Blue Jays.
11. St. Louis Cardinals (36-29)
The Cardinals took two of three from the Mets, then dropped two of three to the Twins. Jordan Walker leads baseball with 56 RBI. JJ Wetherholt is holding his own at second base. Nobody expected St. Louis to be here. They host the Padres and visit the Royals.
12. Chicago White Sox (38-30)
The White Sox swept the Braves and took two of three from the Dodgers — all without Munetaka Murakami. Rookie Braden Montgomery hit a walk-off homer in his MLB debut. The Sox are suddenly in first place in the AL Central. They visit the Yankees and Tigers this week.
13. Toronto Blue Jays (34-38)
The Blue Jays dropped two of three to both the Phillies and Yankees. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. missed two games with lower-back tightness. Alejandro Kirk is back. If Vladdy misses time, this season could spiral. They visit the Red Sox and Cubs.
14. Athletics (32-38)
The A’s made their Las Vegas debut, taking two of three from both the Brewers and Rockies at the Triple-A park. It was mayhem — a 15-14 loss and a 23-9 loss, but the middle four games were competitive. Jeffrey Springs got hammered in both wild starts. The A’s head back to Sacramento to face the Pirates and Angels.
15. Pittsburgh Pirates (32-32)
The Pirates fell to .500 after losing two of three to the Marlins and Dodgers. Paul Skenes pitched well (two runs in six innings in both starts) but lost both games. The offense is handcuffed without Konnor Griffin and Oneil Cruz. They’ve lost five Skenes starts in a row. They visit the A’s and Rockies.
16. Texas Rangers (35-36)
The Rangers took two of three from the Royals, then dropped two of three to the Red Sox. Jacob deGrom allowed two runs in six innings at Fenway. He’s quietly building a Cy Young case. They host the Twins and Padres.
17. Washington Nationals (37-35)
The Nationals took two of three from both the Giants and Mariners. Daylen Lile has emerged as a key offensive piece behind CJ Abrams and James Wood. He has a .911 OPS in June with nine RBI at age 23. The Nats keep developing. They host the Royals and visit the Rays.
18. Arizona Diamondbacks (34-37)
The D-backs were swept by the Marlins, then took two of three from the Reds. Geraldo Perdomo’s regression (.851 OPS last year, .709 this year) is a major issue. Max Kepler’s suspension isn’t up until later this month. They host the Angels and Twins.
19. Baltimore Orioles (34-39)
The Orioles split with the Mariners and lost two of three to the Padres — all at home. Brandon Young threw seven shutout innings against Seattle. But the rest of the pitching is shaky, and Gunnar Henderson and Pete Alonso aren’t carrying the load. They visit the Mariners and Dodgers.
20. Cincinnati Reds (33-37)
The Reds lost two of three to both the Padres and D-backs. Their 4-12 mark since May 27 is the worst in baseball. Elly De La Cruz, Hunter Greene, and Ke’Bryan Hayes are all on the IL. Rookie Chase Burns has a 2.14 ERA in 15 starts. They host the Mets and visit the Yankees.
21. New York Mets (33-40)
The Mets lost two of three to the Cardinals, then took two of three from the Braves. Juan Soto has hits in four straight games, pushing his OPS to .948. Francisco Lindor is working back from injury. The Mets aren’t dead yet. They visit the Reds and Phillies.
22. Miami Marlins (35-35)
The Marlins swept the D-backs and took two of three from the Pirates. Sandy Alcantara dominated the Pirates. Max Meyer picked up his seventh win. Liam Hicks is riding a six-game hit streak with a .992 OPS in June. The Marlins are stacking wins, but is it enough in the crowded NL? They visit the Phillies and host the Giants.
23. Detroit Tigers (29-42)
Tarik Skubal returned from elbow surgery after just a month, throwing 4.2 innings and allowing two earned runs. The Tigers took two of three from the Twins but dropped both to the Guardians. With one of the worst records in the AL, it’s getting late early. They host the Astros and White Sox.
24. Boston Red Sox (29-40)
The Red Sox were swept by the Rays, then took two of three from the Rangers. Roman Anthony and Garrett Crochet — key pieces from last year’s playoff run — are still hurt. Every win is valuable, but time is running out. They host the Blue Jays and visit the Mariners.
25. Minnesota Twins (33-40)
The Twins lost two of three to the Tigers and took two of three from the Cardinals. Byron Buxton has 22 homers in 61 games, but he’s the only consistent threat. Minnesota insists they won’t trade him, but could someone make a godfather offer? They visit the Rangers and D-backs.
26. Houston Astros (33-40)
The Astros lost two of three to the Angels, then took two of three from the Royals. Hunter Brown returns from injury Tuesday. Jose Altuve is hitting just .192 since returning from injury. Someone has to join Yordan Alvarez and Christian Walker. They host the Tigers and Guardians.
27. Kansas City Royals (29-43)
The Royals lost two of three to both the Rangers and Astros. Bobby Witt Jr. racked up nine hits with an .847 OPS this week — but only one RBI. Nobody else is getting on base. It’s getting late early. They play the Nationals and Cardinals.
28. San Francisco Giants (29-43)
The Giants lost two of three to both the Nationals and Cubs. Youngster Bryce Eldridge makes trading veterans a real possibility. Rafael Devers has turned his season around — .832 OPS and 22 RBI since May 1. Could he be traded again? Wins against the Braves and Marlins could pause that talk.
29. Los Angeles Angels (29-43)
The Angels took two of three from both the Astros and Rays. Jose Siri had a walk-off RBI. Jorge Soriano threw five shutout innings. The Angels haven’t made the playoffs in 11 years, and it doesn’t look like No. 12 is the charm. They face the D-backs and A’s on the road.
30. Colorado Rockies (22-50)
The Rockies scored 23 runs in Las Vegas — the most by any team in a single game this season. Yes, the ballpark played like a launching pad. But this team plays 5,000 feet above sea level every home game. Willi Castro and Hunter Goodman padded their stats. The Rockies visit the Cubs and host the Pirates.
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