After dropping the first two games at Citi Field, the Mets used some clutch hitting and big hits to take the series finale and avoid the season sweep.

As a result, the Mets snapped a three-game losing streak. However, they are still 18 games below .500 with a 44-62 record.

With that, let’s recap everything from the Dodgers series in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

May 18, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; New York Mets left fielder Tyrone Taylor (28) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a run during the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images

3 UP

RED-HOT TAYLOR

Not only is Tyrone Taylor on a heater right now, but he’s probably also turning himself into a pretty valuable trade chip. The veteran outfielder was a spark plug throughout the Dodgers series. He gave the Mets a chance in Saturday’s game with a clutch two-run pinch-hit double. While those runs ultimately proved to be in vain in a close loss, Taylor did play a huge role in Sunday’s win. He hit a three-run bomb in the sixth inning to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 4-3 lead, a lead the Mets never relinquished. Furthermore, since returning from the IL in late June, Taylor has five homers in 18 games with a 1.403 OPS. He could be a tantalizing target for a contender in need of offensive depth and strong outfield defense.

DOING HIS BIT

Sean Manaea held up his end of the bargain on Friday night by delivering a more than solid outing on the mound. He allowed just one run on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts over six innings. In other words, Manaea largely shut down the vaunted Dodgers lineup. While the Mets still lost the game, Manaea’s quality start gave them every chance, and that’s all you can ask out of your starter.

CLOSING IT OUT

Other than Friday night, the bullpen delivered for the Mets over the weekend. While Brooks Raley and A.J. Minter gave the series opener away, others stepped up over the rest of the weekend. It started on Saturday when Daniel Duarte and Huascar Brazobán combined for three scoreless innings to keep the Mets in with a chance. Then, on Sunday, Cionel Pérez provided two scoreless innings of relief in a big spot. That was backed up by Raley, Luke Weaver, and Devin Williams coming together to shut down the Dodgers the rest of the way. No matter what, this bullpen finds a way to come through.

Juan Soto by Berto Carlo

3 DOWN

TIME TO SHUT DOWN?

Maybe it is time for the Mets to put Juan Soto on the shelf for the rest of the year. The superstar outfielder was placed on the IL on Saturday with a left calf strain. It is more severe than the right calf strain he suffered earlier in the season. Given that Soto is expected to miss up to four weeks of action, the Mets should do the sensible thing and shut him down until 2027. With nothing left to play for, it makes no sense to mess around with a guy who has now had two separate calf injuries this year, especially when talking about a player of Soto’s importance.

TIME TO SAY GOODBYE?

If Sunday’s game proves to be Freddy Peralta‘s last in a Mets uniform, then it will be a fitting farewell. In a mirror image of his entire season, Peralta struggled in the series finale. He gave up three runs – two earned – on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts. He also needed a whopping 93 pitches just to get through four innings. With a 4.99 ERA on the year, Peralta’s time with the Mets has been a monumental failure. It might be best for all parties to have a fresh start.

ERROR CITY

It wouldn’t be the 2026 Mets without an error-laden game. With the first two games of the series both being decided by two runs or less, small margins were going to be key. Well, as has been the case this year, the Mets couldn’t get out of their own way in that regard. Take Saturday’s game, for instance. With the game scoreless in the third inning, Brett Batyand Nolan McLean both made critical mistakes, effectively handing the game and series to the Dodgers. Sloppy play continues to doom the Mets.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Use Big Bats To Avoid LA Sweep appeared first on Metsmerized.

Juan Soto left the Mets’ game on Friday due to left calf soreness. After the game, interim manager Andy Green said there’s “some concern” over another IL stint for Soto, who already missed three weeks earlier in the season with left calf soreness.

Juan Soto by Berto Carlo

Latest Mets News

The Mets (43-61) fell to the Dodgers (66-38) 4-2 on Friday night. Sean Manaea pitched well, allowing just one run in six innings, but a late Kyle Tucker two-run homer gave the Dodgers a lead the Mets couldn’t grab.

Clay Holmes spoke to the media and said there’s “not a ton there” right now in terms of extension talks with the Mets.

According to Pat Ragazzo of Athlon Sports, the Mets have been scouting third baseman Teruaki Sato and pitcher Hiroto Saiki of the Hanshin Tigers in Japan.

Mike Tauchman completed his rehab assignment with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies and will continue on with the Syracuse Mets. Tauchman went 3-for-7 with two walks for Binghamton. He has missed the entire season so far after sustaining an injury in spring training.

The Mets’ revenue through the first half of the season was $149 million, slightly up from $147 million from a year ago.

Latest MLB News

MLB.com updated their top 10 prospects for each team following the MLB Draft. Jonah Tong, Jonathan Santucci, and Elian Peña are listed as the Mets’ top three prospects.

Baseball America conducted a study of nearly 700 prospects since 2015, and found that less than seven percent of them since 2015 have produced a bWAR of 5.0 or higher. 43 percent of prospects never reached the major leagues.

Latest on MMO

David Melendi profiled center fielder Luis Robert Jr. as a potential trade candidate.

On This Date in Mets History

1990: The Mets entered the ninth inning against the Phillies 10-3. The Phillies rattled off six runs without recording an out before the Mets caused a double play and a line drive out to barely survive.

Born on This Date: Guillermo Mota (1973), Billy Wagner (1971).

The post Morning Briefing: IL a Possibility for Soto appeared first on Metsmerized.

Sean Manaea has looked great since his velocity returned on May 6. Since then, he has pitched 63 2/3 innings to a 3.82 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. This game, he threw six innings of one-run ball.

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Unfortunately, the bullpen was not as strong today. Brooks Raley and A.J. Minter combined to give up three runs in two innings, which sealed the Mets’ fate.

On the offensive side, all of the runs came from solo homers by Luis Robert Jr. and Francisco Alvarez. Robert Jr. now has two home runs in four games since returning from the injured list while Alvarez has looked great in July, slashing .289/.360/.511/.871.

Jared Young also had another strong game, getting two hits. He too is having a strong July, slashing .304/.347/.457/.804.

Unfortunately, Juan Soto left the game with left calf soreness. It is unclear if he will be out an extended period, though interim manager Andy Green stated that he would undergo an MRI.

On Deck

The Mets have a true ace-off on Saturday with Nolan McLean facing Yoshinobu Yamamoto. McLean in July has pitched to a 1.00 ERA and 0.94 WHIP across three starts while going exactly six innings each outing. This has brought McLean down to a 3.34 ERA and 1.09 WHIP on the season. Yamamoto on the season has a 2.78 ERA and 0.88 WHIP.

Game time is 7:10 p.m. ET, and coverage will air on FOX.

The post Mets Fall to Dodgers Despite Sean Manaea’s Strong Outing appeared first on Metsmerized.

Juan Soto is back on the IL.

The Mets put Soto on the 10-day IL with a left calf strain prior to Saturday’s game against the Dodgers. Soto left Friday night’s game in the sixth inning.

Eric Wagaman has been recalled from Triple-A Syracuse as a corresponding move.

Soto hits the IL for the second time this season with a calf injury. The left fielder was putting up MVP numbers in a lost season, slashing .283/.408/.539 with 21 homers in 84 games.

Original Post

Juan Soto was removed midway through the sixth inning of the Mets’ game against the Dodgers on Friday night due to left calf soreness, as the club later announced.

Soto started the game at designated hitter, but the Mets sent a pinch-hitter to the plate when his spot came up for the third time. The move was especially notable because the game was tied.

The star outfielder has been limited to designated-hitter duties recently because of calf discomfort, allowing the Mets to keep his bat in the lineup without requiring him to play the field.

Entering the night, Soto was slashing .283/.408/.539, leading the league in on-base percentage and posting a 161 OPS+, despite not being at full health.

The Mets have scored the fifth-fewest runs in the league, making Soto’s status going forward especially important for a lineup that has already struggled to consistently produce runs and cannot afford to lose its best offensive player for any significant period of time.

The post Juan Soto Placed on 10-Day IL With Left Calf Strain appeared first on Metsmerized.

The Mets’ schedule doesn’t get any easier. They opened the second half of the season against the Phillies and Brewers on the road. Now, they will face the Dodgers and Braves at home. The Mets went 3-3 against the Brewers and Phillies and just dropped the series against the former. They had a real shot at beating Milwaukee in the rubber game, but they couldn’t recover from a key error by Brett Baty in right field. The Mets will try to shake if off against the Dodgers tonight.

We are now 10 days away from the MLB trade deadline. The Mets haven’t dismantled the team yet, and hug watch isn’t fully on yet, but it’s starting to creep in.

Sean Manaea (59) Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Mets Lineup

1. A.J. Ewing – LF
2. Juan Soto – DH
3. Bo Bichette – 3B
4. Francisco Lindor – SS
5. Carson Benge – RF
6. Luis Robert Jr. – CF
7. Jared Young – 1B
8. Marcus Semien – 2B
9. Francisco Alvarez – C

Starting Pitcher: Sean Manaea

Manaea has pitched in 21 games, making seven starts totaling 79 2/3 innings. He has a 4.74 ERA, 4.35 FIP, 1.356 WHIP and an 88 ERA+. July hasn’t been the best for Manaea, as he’s allowed 13 runs (nine earned) over 16 2/3 innings (4.86 ERA, 7.01 FIP). This month, he has struggled to keep the ball in the park, allowing six home runs. Specifically, he’s given up two in each start. This was after three consecutive starts to end June in which he allowed no home runs.

The Dodgers have the following career numbers against Manaea:

• Mookie Betts 10-36, 2 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 3 BB, 5 K
• Alex Call 0-6, 2 BB, 2 K
• Tommy Edman 4-5, 2B, 2 HR
• Freddie Freeman 5-20, HR, BB, 4 K
• Teoscar Hernández 5-18, HR, 2 BB, 4 K
• Max Muncy 2-9, 2 HR, 2 BB, 2 K
• Shohei Ohtani 3-12, 2 BB, 5 K
• Andy Pages 1-5, 2B, 3 K
• Miguel Rojas 3-10, 2B, BB, 2 K
• Kyle Tucker 8-22, 2B, 4 HR, 4 K

Opposing Lineup

1. Shohei Ohtani – DH
2. Andy Pages – CF
3. Tommy Edman – 3B
4. Freddie Freeman – 1B
5. Mookie Betts – SS
6. Miguel Rojas – 2B
7. Kyle Tucker – RF
8. Teoscar Hernández – LF
9. Dalton Rushing – C

Roki Sasaki has made 17 starts totaling 86 2/3 innings with a 4.98 ERA, 5.35 FIP, 1.338 WHIP and an 83 ERA+. He’s coming off of a solid outing against the Yankees in New York where he allowed one unearned run over 5 2/3 innings. In his five starts before that, he allowed 22 earned runs over 23 innings on 25 hits, including nine home runs (8.61 ERA, 8.15 FIP). The only two players on the Mets to face Sasaki previously are Bichette (0-for-1) and Semien (0-for-3).

Game Notes

• Mike Tauchman‘s rehab assignment is being transferred to Triple-A Syracuse. The left-handed hitting outfielder tore the meniscus in his left knee during spring training and has slashed .241/.450/.310 over 10 games and 40 plate appearances during his rehab assignment thus far.
• Clay Holmes told reporters that there hasn’t been “a ton there” in extension talks with the Mets leading up to the August 3 trade deadline. The veteran right-hander completed his first rehab start for Syracuse on Thursday and allowed two earned runs across 2 1/3 innings as he works his way back from a fractured right fibula he suffered on May 15.

Three Things To Watch For

1. RISP. Until the Mets have a breakout day at the plate with runners in scoring position, we have to talk about it. The Mets have been putrid with RISP over their last nine games, going 7-for-68. On Wednesday, they went 1-for-7. Against the Brewers, the Mets went a combined 3-for-21. Just absolutely brutal.
2. Marcus Semien. Semien went 0-for-9 in his first two games back from the injured list. Since then, he has gone 2-for-7 with a HR and a walk. Not lighting the world on fire, but so much better than his first two games back. In those first two games back, he had five strikeouts. Since then, he has one.
3. A.J. Ewing. Ewing went 2-for-5 with a double on Wednesday, his second game with two hits in his last four. Ewing has a 2.2 bWAR and is slashing .274/.345/.426 with a 114 OPS+. His 2.2 bWAR is second on the team behind Soto (2.6) and ahead of Benge (1.8). Over on Statcast, Ewing is not lighting up any of the batting stats, but outside of striking out often, he’s not bombing either. He is dominating in other ways, though. His arm strength is in the 91st percentile, range in the 83rd and spring speed is in the 95th.

Let’s go Mets!

The post Game Chat: Dodgers vs. Mets, 7:10 PM appeared first on Metsmerized.

Let’s take a look at some notes ahead of the three pitching matchups this weekend.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

PITCHING MATCHUPS

• Friday: Roki Sasaki (3-5, 4.98 ERA) vs. Sean Manaea (2-5, 4.74 ERA): Sasaki’s time in MLB has been far from smooth-sailing. After an up-and-down rookie season in 2025, he has experienced similar inconsistencies this year. Sasaki has four quality starts across 19 outings, an improvement from his one quality start last season. The negative? He has three starts with at least six runs allowed. Sasaki is very hit or miss. While Manaea’s return to the Mets’ rotation has been positive overall, he is coming off a disappointing outing in which he gave up four runs on seven hits over 4 2/3 innings against the Phillies last Saturday. It was his shortest outing since June 24. Manaea last faced the Dodgers in Game 6 of the 2024 NLCS.
• Saturday: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (10-6, 2.78 ERA) vs. Nolan McLean (7-6, 3.34 ERA): Yamamoto has backed up his heroics from the 2025 World Series this year. Among qualified starters in the National League, he currently owns the ninth-best ERA. Yamamoto is coming off his first career complete game against the New York Yankees last Sunday, striking out seven. He has pitched to a 2.63 ERA in two career starts against the Mets. McLean has put a strong run together after a handful of poor outings earlier in the year. Over his last four starts, McLean is 3-1 with a 0.75 ERA. Back to his best. He has thrown six innings or more in six-straight starts.
• Sunday: Emmet Sheehan (4-7, 5.13 ERA) vs. Freddy Peralta (5-9, 5.01 ERA): Sheehan has been a beneficiary of the injuries in the Dodgers’ rotation. He has been a part of the staff since Opening Day, yet he has failed to capitalize. Over his last five starts, Sheehan is 1-3 with a 6.17 ERA. He gave up a season-high six runs against the Phillies last Monday. Peralta’s time with the Mets is nearing the end. With him set to become a free agent in the offseason, it’s all but confirmed he will be dealt at the trade deadline. Peralta has had an underwhelming season, pitching to a 6.56 ERA over his last 60 1/3 innings. His last quality start came all the way back on June 3.

WHAT’S THE STORY?

Edwin Díaz‘s return to Queens would have been the headline, but it seems as if he won’t be activated until at least the start of next week. Instead, let’s focus on the other marquee player with ties to the Mets, Kyle Tucker. The outfielder has had a disappointing season, slashing .236/.329/.360 with seven home runs, 48 RBIs and a 92 OPS+. Tucker’s struggles would be getting more attention if he played for any other team. But since the Dodgers are as good as they are, it goes largely unnoticed. We will never know how things would have turned out if Tucker signed with the Mets. But, as of now, it seems as if they dodged a bullet by not signing him.

PREDICTIONS

The Dodgers are missing a fair amount of key players through injury, especially in the rotation. That won’t matter this weekend. They are the deepest team in baseball and that will be put on display. The Dodgers will take two of three at Citi Field.

The post Series Preview: Mets Host League-Best Dodgers appeared first on Metsmerized.

But with Judge hurt in the AL, a new name has emerged as a favorite for the 2026 adaptation.

Ben Rice has dominated the majors this season. And sure, we’ve highlighted the first baseman numerous times through the power rankings on Metsmerized.com. But it’s June. This is officially “for real” territory.

Rice enters Saturday with 21 homers and a 1.005 OPS. He’s slugging .613. The production has been necessary for a club that is missing their best bat and trying to stave off the Rays, who are three games behind them in the standings. And Friday’s homer off Rice’s bat in the second blew the game open for the Yankees in their 5-0 win against the Reds.

Right now Rice is only second to Yordan Alvarez in OPS, homers, RBIs, and walks. Yet, despite being marginally worse than his AL counterpart, it feels as if what Rice is doing has that MVP factor. Maybe it’s just because the Yankees are in a race for the AL East.

Carchietta-Imagn Images

1. Dodgers

It seems like the Dodgers just spawn major league talent.

Ryan Ward is the most recent version of “who is that? And what is he doing?” prospect for Los Angeles. The 28-year-old has appeared in 16 games this season for the Dodgers, and is already slugging .513 with three homers.

Ward has impressed in a small sample size. And had a massive at-bat in the Dodgers’ comeback win Friday over the Orioles, where he drew a four-pitch walk against Ryan Helsley.

Production from Ward and the staples of this back-to-back championship roster resulted in a four-game winning streak entering Saturday. The Dodgers swept the Rays then defeated the O’s Friday night. The club is rolling and on the precipice of hitting the 50-win plateau before July.

2. Yankees

Who needs Judge?

Seriously, the Yankees are rolling. Like Sisyphus’s boulder down the hill.

The club is 8-2 in their last 10 games. They have an AL-best +123 run differential. An AL best 46-win mark.

Everything is clicking for the Bronx Bombers. As highlighted earlier, Rice is having an MVP season and carrying the offense with help from Cody Bellinger. But Cam Schlittler developing into an AL Cy Young candidate has evolved an already stacked rotation.

Schlittler enters Saturday with an AL-best 1.71 ERA, 2.12 FIP, 247 ERA+, 6.3 H/9, and 95 IP. He’s coming off six scoreless innings Friday against the Reds where he punched out 13. Yeesh.

3. Braves

Atlanta hit their first speed bump of the season last week.

They lost a series to the last-place Mets, then dropped two to the Giants. Overall, the club is just 2-6 in their last eight games.

A lot of the struggles have been players regressing to their mean. Bryce Elder had a sparkling low two ERA before allowing six earned runs to the Mets. The Ronald Acuña Jr.-less offense has averaged 3.12 runs over the eight-game stretch.

There’s still no concern for a team that looks poised to make a run at a 2026 NL Pennant. Atlanta still holds a healthy 7.5 game lead over the Phillies and the lineup has been rejuvenated with Drake Baldwin returning from the IL. Chalk it up to a bad week.

4. Brewers

Jacob Misiorowski could be in the midst of the greatest pitching season of all time. Seriously.

The Miz set another record in Friday’s start against the Braves, throwing 47 pitches of at least 101 miles per hour in a loss. The righty allowed two earned runs, struck out seven, and his ERA actually rose to 1.45. Still a major league best.

He’s been a buzz saw. And if you’re picking names out of a hat for who you want to start a postseason game, you’re praying his name is on the piece of paper.

Jackson Chourio has also been spectacular. Maybe because he plays in Milwaukee Chourio doesn’t get proper admiration, but the future top-prospect has a .918 OPS and 10 homers in just 39 games played.

5. Rays

Last week wasn’t pretty for Tampa Bay.

They dropped a series to the Angels in Anaheim, then were swept by the Dodgers in Los Angeles. I think the Rays are sick of LA.

Still, the club was such a force in May that they’re holding on to a 42-30 record. If they played .500 ball the rest of the season they’d finish with 87 wins and most likely a playoff berth.

But can this team tread water? They have the talent to. But their outfield offense continues to hinder them. Jake Fraley leads their outfield with a .690 OPS and he’s on the 10-day IL right now. The next highest is Chandler Simpson with his .600 OPS. Trading for a couple of league-average bats would transform this team.

6. Mariners

The last couple rankings we’ve been making the patience case with the M’s. Well, it’s time to act for Seattle.

Julio Rodriguez returned to the lineup after missing the past couple games with hamstring spasms. Cal Raleigh returned a couple days ago after missing a full month with an oblique injury. Getting both those catalysts back in the lineup should result in the team exploding offensively.

Which, by the way, is exactly what Seattle needs. The club enters Saturday 20th in the league in OPS. 17th in runs scored. It’s a stark contrast from the team that finished 9th in runs and 10th in OPS in 2025

Barring future injury, June 20 could be the inflection point of the Mariners season. They’re 39-38, hold a half-game lead for first over the .500 Athletics, and are getting their guns back. Buckle up.

7. Cubs

Chicago is starting to stabilize.

A 6-2 stretch last week helped the Cubs to a 40-36 record. Two series against the Rockies will help with that.

Pete Crow-Armstrong slashing .538/.567/1.154 over his last seven games will also help win games. His homer Thursday was a driving force in the Cubs 8-6 win over the Rockies, and helped raise his NL-leading bWAR to 4.6.

Ben Brown has also been instrumental for this team. He’s got a sparkling 1.85 ERA and has made eight starts since being inserted into the rotation. We’ll see if he and the ragtag team of names making starts for this club can sustain a winning pace.

8. Cardinals

Have you heard of the 15-year-old phenom prospect Blaze Jordan? Well, he’s actually 23 now. And he’s producing for the Cardinals.

In eight games, Jordan has an .856 OPS. He drove in two runs for the Cardinals Friday in their 6-5 loss to the Royals. Just another young bat producing for the Cardinals.

Still, St. Louis stumbled last week. They dropped three games. Their record sits at 40-34, respectable, but now have the Cubs in their rear view mirror. The pitching continues to be a problem, which gave up 26 runs in the last three games.

At least the rotation is starting to produce. Dustin May, Andre Pallante, and Michael McGreevy have ERAs that start with three. Baby steps.

9. Phillies

Philadelphia’s turnaround is quite impressive. They’re 40-35 despite suffering a 10-game losing streak earlier in the season.

Don Mattingly is now 31-16 as interim manager. And despite the recent two-game skid they enter Saturday with, the Phillies hold the second wild card.

It’s too bad Ohtani is in the NL now. At least for Kyle Schwarber‘s sake. The DH could have won the MVP award last season, and is already on pace to finish in second place again.

Schwarber is slashing .245/.361/.558 with a major league-leading 25 homers. This team would have been lost if he left in free agency.

Also, this has nothing to do with the Phillies’ season, but Schwarber is such an interesting case for the Hall of Fame. The 33-year-old is sitting on 365 career homers. If his season ended today, Schwarber would only need to average 33 homers over the last four years of his contract to hit the 500 mark. He’s averaged 46.75 in a season in a Phillies uniform.

10. White Sox

The White Sox ran into a bit of a reality check last week against the Yankees.

They salvaged the series, but got bullied the first two games. Their ace Davis Martin got whalloped for nine earned runs across 3 1/3 innings.

Outside the Andrew Benintendi grand slam in the final game of the series, there weren’t a lot of positives for the team facing off against the AL’s best. But, the White Sox are still a top-10 team in baseball and are currently tied for first in the Central with the Guardians.

It’s also an incredibly exciting time to be a White Sox fan. Outside the complete 180 this season has been from 2025, all the young bats are producing. They’re 10th in the majors in OPS, 12th in runs, and will be getting Munetaka Murakami back in the near future.

Plus, the subpar rotation could get a jolt as soon as this season. Top prospects Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith are both in Triple-A, and could contribute for a club trying to make the postseason for the first time since 2021.

Rest of the Field

11. Pirates
12. Guardians
13. Nationals
14. Diamondbacks
15. Marlins
16. Padres
17. Athletics
18. Blue Jays
19. Mets
20. Rangers
21. Orioles
22. Twins
23. Astros
24. Tigers
25. Red Sox
26. Reds
27. Giants
28. Royals
29. Angels
30. Rockies

Previous Rankings: W11 | W10 |  W8 | W7 | W6 | W5 | W4 | W3 | W2 | W1 | OD

The post 2026 MLB Power Rankings: Week 12 Update appeared first on Metsmerized.

The fish ripped off a six-game win streak last week, securing a .500 record for the first time since April 24. The streak started with impressive wins over the first-place Tampa Bay Rays, then they beat up on equal opponents in the Diamondbacks and Pirates.

Miami is certainly an interesting team to watch as the league approaches the mid-summer classic. They have the talent in the rotation to make some noise, especially with Sandy Alcantara turning a corner. The righty has twirled three consecutive quality starts, all of which he’s gone at least seven innings.

Otto Lopez has been a game-changer too offensively. The 27-year-old’s .342 batting average leads the league entering Saturday, and more impressively, he’s paired it with a .482 slug. Lopez’s development has been crucial for this Marlin’s lineup, which has lacked consistency over the past decade. He joins Liam Hicks and Xavier Edwards as player development success stories under Peter Bendix.

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

1. Dodgers

The injuries keep piling up in the 2026 season.

Shohei Ohtani was removed from Thursday’s game in Pittsburgh with left knee inflammation, adding another high-level name to the league’s laundry list of injured stars. Fortunately for the Dodgers, Ohtani hasn’t avoided the IL, but was left out of Friday’s lineup against the White Sox as a precaution.

Losing Ohtani would be disastrous for the Dodgers and the league. The two-way superstar currently leads the National League with a .964 OPS, 170 OPS+, and has clubbed 13 homers with a .304/.421/.543 slashline. The right-hander was also dominating on the mound, pitching to a 1.06 ERA with a 9.7 K/9 in 67 2/3 innings.

2. Braves

Friday saw another star for the Braves hit the shelf.

Spencer Strider was pulled from his start against the Mets after allowing seven earned runs in three innings, with news later breaking of an apparent right elbow injury.

It’s a major blow to a team that’s in first place and trying to get ready for a playoff push after missing out on the dance in 2025. Yet, despite the constant injuries, the team keeps stacking wins. They’re 45-24. Bench pieces in Dominic Smith, Mauricio Dubon, and Jorge Mateo have all been above league-average bats. And the pitching staff leads all of baseball with a 3.27 ERA.

3. Brewers

Jacob Misiorowski is pure filth.

The kid had one of the most dominant starts in major league history Friday, allowing just one hit while punching out 15 Phillies in a nine-inning performance. It lowered his ERA to a league-best 1.34, adding another star to his resume for the 2026 Cy Young.

His step forward has been critical in the Brewers’ success in 2026. He, alongside Kyle Harrison, has led the Brewers’ pitching to the fourth-best ERA in the majors, and given the lineup a chance to win every night.

And that’s not taking anything away from the lineup. It has serious thump this season. Jake Bauers has quietly had an All-Star season, clubbing 13 homers with a .278/.378/.527 slashline. Brice Turang has also unlocked power in his swing, clubbing 10 homers in 64 games.

4. Yankees

Bringing back Cody Bellinger will be remembered for all-time if the Yankees win the division this year.

With Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton on the IL right now, the lefty bat has been an integral piece in the lineup. Bellinger is slugging .519 over his last seven games, helping fellow lefty Ben Rice with the unfair role of keeping pace with the Rays for the division entering the end of June.

It wasn’t guaranteed that he’d be back. But without him, this Yankees lineup would look abysmal.

5. Mariners

A 37-34 record shouldn’t impress anyone. But the Mariners are finding ways to win with a whole lot going wrong right now.

Cal Raleigh is out. Andres Munoz has had a rollercoaster season and currently holds a 5.18 ERA. The rotation has underperformed to its standards as of June 13. Yet the club has been treading water at the top of a struggling division.

The 2026 season is rounding out like last season’s for the M’s. They’re doing enough to stay in the race, and if they get healthy in the second half, we could see another run at the pennant. Dominic Canzone has helped tremendously, clubbing 10 homers with a .909 OPS in 62 games.

6. Rays

Tampa is starting to free-fall.

The club has just six wins since May 24. But their May was so incredibly ridiculous that they’re 40-26 and tied for first with the Yankees entering June 13.

The Rays need offense. And fast. Jonathan Aranda, Junior Caminero, and Yandy Díaz are the only players with positive OPS+s. And as a result, the club hasn’t been able to consistently win like they were earlier in the year.

But hey, at least Nikita Kucherov won the Hart Trophy?

7. Cardinals

In a division with talented teams, the Cardinals continue to pace with the best.

The club is 37-30 and went into New York last week to take a series from the Mets. JJ Wetherholt and Jordan Walker continue to provide offense for the club that struggled last season.

Alec Burleson also dominated last week, clubbing three homers against the Mets in their series win. The first baseman also homered Friday against the Twins, racking four consecutive games with a homer.

8. Cubs

Chicago saved their week with a couple of wins against the Rockies and Giants. But the team continues to nose-dive.

The team was once upon a time up there with the Dodgers. But now they’re 36-34. They’re going to need their offense to carry them, as all the injuries to their pitching staff have led to Colin Rea and Javier Assad getting starts.

9. White Sox

The White Sox? Yeah, the South Siders have finally gotten the respect they deserve.

The club is in first place in the AL Central. Their lineup has been dangerous with Munetaka Murakami and Miguel Vargas. Their staff has been led by Davis Martin, who is currently pitching to a 2.41 ERA. Yeah, go look up Davis Martin.

But seriously, with a weak division and a whole lot of youth, this club needs to be taken seriously. Especially with the recent call-up of Colson Montgomery, who clubbed a walk-off homer in his major league debut.

10. Phillies

Welcome back, Philadelphia.

The Phillies have clawed their way back into the top-10, but still have a lot of work to do.

They’re 28-13 under Don Mattingly. Bryce Harper is back to playing like an MVP. And Cristopher Sanchez has a 1.54 ERA after his dominant stretch without allowing a run.

The problem with this club remains the same. The supporting cast has been unbearable. If they can get anything out of Alec Bohm or Bryson Stott, this club can take off. We’ll see.

Rest of the Field

11. Pirates
12. Guardians
13. Rangers
14. Padres
15. Marlins
16. Diamondbacks
17. Nationals
18. Blue Jays
19. Mets
20. Athletics
21. Orioles
22. Red Sox
23. Reds
24. Astros
25. Angels
26. Tigers
27. Twins
28. Royals
29. Giants
30. Rockies

Previous Rankings: W8 | W7 | W6 | W5 | W4 | W3 | W2 | W1 | OD

The post 2026 MLB Power Rankings: Week 11 Update appeared first on Metsmerized.

It’s June and the usual suspects are cementing their names as among pennant chasers. The Dodgers, Braves, Yankees, and Brewers are all at the top of

the league again.

There are some newbies coming into their own as well. The Pirates are competitive as of the first week of June. And the White Sox would host a playoff game if the season ended today.

The pool of teams has been fun. We’ll see what changes over the course of the season heading toward the trade deadline.

1. Dodgers

Sometimes all it takes is one run.

Friday night saw Freddie Freeman blast a solo shot in the ninth, taking down the cross-town Angels to secure a 41st win for the Dodgers.

It kept the Dodgers rolling, who I might say, are on an absolute heater right now. They’ve only lost five games dating back to May 13, and have built a 7.5 game lead over the second-place Diamondbacks. They lead the majors in run differential (+134), OPS (.783), and ERA (3.03). The juggernaut continues to decimate the league.

2. Braves

Atlanta’s been knocked to number two on this list. But that says more about the Dodgers finally playing to their potential.

The Braves have done nothing wrong. They continue to rack up wins despite injuries. The club has a major league-leading 43 wins, has only lost multiple games in a row three times this season, and is pacing its way to its fifth NL East crown this decade.

With All-Star balloting also open, it’s also likely to see a cohort of Braves on the NL roster. Matt Olson has 17 homers and an .896 OPS, Drake Baldwin has a .303/.389/.543 slashline with 13 homers despite being out for almost a month now, and even Michael Harris II has bounced back to a .853 OPS this season.

3. Yankees

The Bombers got brutal news this week.

Aaron Judge is hitting the IL for four to six weeks with a fractured right rib. The 34-year-old looked poised to win his fourth MVP, holding a .907 OPS with 17 homers.

We’ll see if the Yankees can tread water without Judge. So far they’ve lost three of their last four games, and were unable to claw back in Friday’s 5-3 loss to Boston. Luckily for the Yanks, their schedule in June is manageable for the Judge-less roster. They face off against the Red Sox, Twins, White Sox, Blue Jays, Tigers, and Nationals for the majority of the month.

4. Brewers

Despite a slew of injuries, the Brew Crew keep pulling wins out of their back pocket.

The club is 38-23, holds +91 run differential, and has the best one-two punch in the league with Jacob Misiorowski and … Kyle Harrison?

Yep, the lefty who was traded for Rafael Devers to the Red Sox was actually an ace. Just turns out it took him going to the Brewers to unlock it. He’s pitching to a 1.57 ERA, 2.47 FIP, and is striking out 11.5 batters per nine.

Yeah. He’s nasty.

The lineup is also doing what it always does. Scoring runs off contributions through small ball. It’s also getting some serious thump from Jake Bauers, who leads the team with 10 homers and is posting an .858 OPS through Saturday. Jackson Chourio is also heating up, and is slugging .808 over his last seven games.

5. Rays

The past couple weeks I’ve given the Rays the respect they deserve. But I warned caution and cited last season’s June.

Well, even my clock is right twice a day. The Rays are 3-8 in their last 11 games. Including being swept by the Orioles in Baltimore, who were struggling to string together consistency.

Still, the Rays are 37-23 and are 1.5 games up on the Yankees for first in the AL East. There’s more than enough time to plug the holes. The offense has been hoisted by Junior Caminero, Jonathan Aranda, and Yandy Díaz. When those three don’t hit, Tampa loses.

The Rays have an interesting decision to make come July. Do they believe in this core? Because if so, they need to seriously tape this lineup. And even get a fifth starter. Nick Martinez has been good, but he imploded and allowed six earned runs in his last start against the Tigers.

6. Mariners

Eight-game winning streaks always play. Especially when missing Cal Raleigh in the lineup.

Seattle rode the streak to first in the AL West, and is finally starting to pull away in the division. Julio Rodríguez has caught fire after his annual slow start, and has done enough to win ball games behind a supporting staff of Randy Arozarena, Luke Raley, and Dominic Canzone.

This club, like most in the league, needs to start getting their fighters back. Brendan Donovan glued immediately, but hasn’t played since May 15. The aforementioned Raleigh hit the shelf after struggling in the first couple months of the season. And J.P. Crawford just hit the shelf after taking a pitch off his right hand from Framber Valdez.

7. Pirates

I’m starting this train early. Can the Pirates trade for Aroldis Chapman? The lefty closer is essentially on a one-year deal, and is mowing down hitters on the 27-win Red Sox.

It would reunite the lefty with the city of Pittsburgh, and give the 34-30 Pirates a legitimate closer in the ‘pen. The team is finally competitive and getting consistent offense. Imagine what Chapman would do for this roster.

Gregory Soto has pitched to a 2.86 ERA. And Evan Sisk to a 1.37 ERA. But the rest of the bullpen has been a hot mess.

8. Guardians

How about the man from Down Under?

Travis Bazzana has jolted the Guardians lineup, providing the lineup with another consistent bat. He’s slashing .288/.371/.472 and has 14 extra base hits in 34 games. The Aussie has been a must in this lineup filled with the inconsistencies of Kyle Manzardo and Chase DeLauter.

The pitching also continues to shove, mostly behind Gavin Williams and Parker Messick. The bullpen has also bounced back from a slow start, and has been rejuvenated by Colin Holderman.

9. Cubs

Remember earlier in the article when I mentioned the Dodgers have only lost five games since May 15? Well, the Cubs have only won six games since May 9. Yeah.

This club looked like a favorite to win the pennant earlier in the year. They held the best offense and run differential in the league at one point. They went on two separate 10-game winning streaks. Now, they’re just 33-31.

The rotation is the culprit for this team. It was already a question mark heading into the season, and injuries to Matthew Boyd and Cade Horton didn’t help. But the entire staff holds negative bWARs. Colin Rea leads the staff with a 4.59 ERA.

Of course a lot of the losses can be attributed to injury. And they’re still in wild-card contention. But even the Titanic didn’t sink this fast.

10. Cardinals

A 6-9 record over the last 15 doesn’t excite anyone. But if the season ended today, the Cardinals would finish as the top wild card in the NL.

Does that mean they’re playoff ready? I don’t know. But like most teams in the third wild-card era, they might be forced into premature buying. The club is young, has legitimate talent with JJ Wetherholt and Jordan Walker, and one big trade could position the club for a chance at the pennant.

They could also sell. Riley O’Brien would be a coveted closer come the July deadline. Same with JoJo Romero. Chaim Bloom has decisions to make.

Rest of the Field

11. Rangers
12. Phillies
13. Diamondbacks
14. Padres
15. White Sox
16. Nationals
17. Orioles
18. Reds
19. Athletics
20. Mets
21. Blue Jays
22. Twins
23. Red Sox
24. Marlins
25. Tigers
26. Astros
27. Royals
28. Angels
29. Giants
30. Rockies

Previous Rankings: W8 | W7 | W6 | W5 | W4 | W3 | W2 | W1 | OD

The post 2026 MLB Power Rankings: Week 10 Update appeared first on Metsmerized.

The club has jumped to a 25-26 record, going 16-7 under their new skipper to put Philadelphia back in the playoff hunt. Sánchez has been an important cog in the machine, and is currently trying to make history for the Phillies.

After pitching eight scoreless innings Friday against Cleveland, Sánchez has increased his scoreless innings streak to 37 2/3 innings. He’s chasing Grover Alexander for the Phillies’ record of 41 innings.

Anways, let’s get into the rankings.

Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

1. Braves

As Sal Licata would say, “The NL East is over!!!”

But seriously, no joke, the Braves are running away with the division before the beginning of June. Last week the club went 5-2 and widened their lead over the Phillies to 10.5 games.

They’re 36-16 and hold a +105 run differential. Both first in the majors. They’re also getting healthier, despite the recent thumb injury to Ronald Acuña Jr.  In fact, through May 23, the only series they’ve lost this season is to the Seattle Mariners.

2. Dodgers

The Dodgers were never “flopping around” per se. But they’ve corrected the wild-card pace they were on and are back to dominating baseball.

They’re 7-3 in their last 10 games, are back in front of the Padres for first in the west by half a game, and recently got Mookie Betts back from his IL stint.

This team is positioned to separate from the rest of the pack. They still need more out of Kyle Tucker, who has put up a modest .740 OPS after signing his mega deal.

3. Yankees

Last week was the first test for the Yankees in division.

They hosted the Blue Jays for four games and promptly split the series. No issue. But Friday saw the first-place Rays come to town and rally for four runs in the eighth to knock off the Yankees.

Division play will be an emphasis for New York (AL) this season. We all remember their first-place tie and incredible finish at the end of 2025 with the Jays, but they went 5-8 against Toronto to lose the tiebreaker.

Well. The Yankees have quietly gone 10-11 in May and have lost five of their last seven. Yet despite trailing the Rays for the division right now, the club is first in the league in homers (74), third in OPS (.754), and fourth in ERA (3.30). They’re undeniably one of the best teams in baseball. They just have to win the important games.

4. Rays

Tampa Bay could easily be number one on this list. Hell, they’ve been the best team in baseball in May.

The club is 22-4 dating back to April 22. They’ve propelled themselves to first in the division after starting 12-11. And more impressively, they’ve done it against division rivals in the Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Orioles.

This team has proven it’s better than most of their competition in the division. They’re fifth in the league in ERA (3.54), tied for sixth in OPS (.725), and their +42 run differential is the second best in the AL.

Nick Martinez also continues to pitch like a Cy Young candidate. The right-hander scattered nine hits against the Yankees Friday and allowed just one earned run. His ERA is down to 1.51 through his first 10 starts.

A reason why the Rays aren’t higher on the list? I point back to last May and June of 2025. The club went 33-22 and had one of the best records in baseball. Then they nosedived. I’d like to see this club be consistent before knocking off the big dogs.

5. Brewers

Last week was almost perfect for Milwaukee.

They took two of three from the Twins, then obliterated their division foe Cubs in a three-game sweep. The Brew Crew outscored Chicago 19-5 in the three-game series, jumped them for first in the division, and then followed that up with a 5-1 win over the Dodgers Friday.

The regular-season warriors are back at it again. They’re 30-18, have a +79 run differential, and hold the league’s second-best ERA at 3.12. Christian Yelich also returned May 12 and has clubbed two homers in his last six games. This club is always exponentially better when Yelich is driving the ball in the lineup.

6. Cubs

What a rollercoaster ride it’s been for the Cubs this season.

They’ve had two 10-game winning streaks. But it’s been negated by their current six-game losing streak. And also their current stretch where they’re 2-10 in their last 12.

Their offense is always going to be the driving force. But when it’s not, the pitching hasn’t held up. They only scored five runs in three games against the Brewers. Their pitching folded in their series to the White Sox and allowed 22 runs in three games on the road.

The injuries have been awful. But this offense is so loaded one would expect it to find consistency soon. Everyone has an OPS+ above 100 except for Dansby Swanson, and even he’s clubbed seven homers this season.

7. Guardians

Everything is going right for Cleveland right now. Friday’s 1-0 win was an encapsulation of it.

The club got shut out over eight innings by Sanchez. The offense was dead. But then facing Jhoan Duran, Kyle Manzardo smoked a solo homer and the Guards’ pitching shut out the Phillies.

Cleveland’s riding a seven-game winning streak. Their pitching has allowed just 16 runs over their last seven games. Two of those series include facing strong lineups in the Reds and Phillies.

Brayan Rocchio‘s coming-out party has been a key factor in the team’s success as well. The 25-year-old has a 126 OPS+ through 51 games and a .376 OBP. That’ll play.

8. Pirates

A 2-5 week wasn’t ideal for Pittsburgh. Giving up 38 runs over those five losses also wasn’t ideal.

The pitching has faltered a little in May. And the club has fallen into last in the NL Central because of it. But the club is still 26-25 and holds a positive run differential of +22.

The one weakness of this team has been the bullpen. They’re 18th in the league in ERA (4.21) and have let a lot of games get away. Gregory Soto has been fantastic with his 2.31 ERA, but has been unreliable or abysmal. This club could really use some bullpen arms at the deadline. Or even David Bednar who they traded last deadline.

9. Cardinals

St. Louis continues to be the epitome of consistent.

They haven’t had a losing streak of more than three games. They’ve sprinkled in two winning streaks of five games plus. It’s a well-run ball club. Chaim Bloom has seriously turned this team around, and keeping Oli Marmol as the manager continues to pay dividends.

The youth movement also continues to provide. JJ Wetherholt has an OPS+ of 123, Jordan Walker‘s is 165, and Iván Herrera‘s is at 136. Heck, even the 95 OPS+ from Masyn Winn is acceptable.

The club is among the best six teams in the National League. They could really use starting rotation help if they want to push for higher aspirations this season. Dustin May, Matthew Liberatore, and Andre Pallante all have ERAs and FIPS around four.

10. Padres

San Diego is a conundrum.

Their offense is putrid. Seriously putrid. Only Gavin Sheets and Miguel Andujar have OPS+’s above league average. Jackson Merrill has an OPS of .595. Fernando Tatis Jr. has an OPS of .594 with only one homer.

Yet their pitching keeps them in games. It’s been their foundation. It’s been so good the team’s record is 30-20 and has the club only half a game back of the Dodgers.

This team has the star power and potential to be up there with the Yankees, Braves, and Dodgers. But something needs to change. Pitching doesn’t stay this good the whole season.

Rest of the Field

11. Mariners
12. Diamondbacks
13. Phillies
14. Rangers
15. Athletics
16. Reds
17. White Sox
18. Blue Jays
19. Nationals
20. Twins
21. Marlins
22. Mets
23. Red Sox
24. Royals
25. Tigers
26. Astros
27. Orioles
28. Rockies
29. Giants
30. Angels

Previous Rankings: W7 | W6 | W5 | W4 | W3 | W2 | W1 | OD

The post 2026 MLB Power Rankings: Week Eight Update appeared first on Metsmerized.