Per Mike Puma of the New York Post, there were thoughts that Jorge Polanco would end his rehab assignment and join the Mets in San Diego on Friday, but he is instead remaining on his rehab assignment. Polanco is thought to be close to joining the Mets and could do so on the next homestand.

Jorge Polanco
Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Latest Mets News

The Mets (28-35) beat the Padres (32-30) 5-0 in the series opener Friday night. Jared Young and Luis Torrens homered in the effort, while Christian Scott led the way on the mound with 5 2/3 scoreless innings.

Sean Manaea spoke to Will Sammon of The Athletic about his recent uptick in velocity and his team-first persona.

Latest MLB News

The Yankees recalled outfield prospect Spencer Jones to take Aaron Judge‘s spot on the roster after Judge landed on the IL.

Latest on MMO

In the latest MMO Weekly, we talk about how the Mets have shown more signs of life lately.

On This Date in Mets History

1986: The 1986 Mets split a doubleheader against the Pirates on this day 40 years ago. The Mets lost Game 1 with Ron Darling on the mound before Roger McDowell and the Mets won in Game 2.

Born on This Date: Alex Carrillo (1997), Joey Lucchesi (1993), Jesús Feliciano (1979), David Lamb (1975), Bud Harrelson (1944), Carl Willey (1931).

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After the Mets went down in order in the top of the first, Scott took the mound. The young righty worked around a leadoff single, keeping the game scoreless through one.

In the top of the second, Jared Young led off with a solo home run that traveled 422 feet. Scott pitched another solid frame in the bottom half of the inning, working around another leadoff single, and the Mets led 1-0 after two.

In the top of the third, Torrens roped a one-out double into the left-center field gap, before advancing on a Carson Benge flyout to center. With two outs, Bo Bichette ripped an RBI triple down the line, extending the Mets’ lead to 2-0.

In the top of the fifth, Brett Baty led off with a single. After an MJ Melendez flyout, Luis Torrens blasted a 413 foot two-run home run to dead center field, extending the Mets’ lead to 4-0.

Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Scott was excellent in his 5 2/3 innings of work, allowing just three hits and zero runs. The start put him in line for his second consecutive, and second career, winning decision. Huascar Brazobán came on to bail Scott out of a first-and-third, two-out jam to keep the score at 4-0 after six innings.

Brazobán stayed on for the bottom of the seventh inning and worked a scoreless frame.

Luke Weaver replaced Brazobán in the bottom of the eight inning with the Mets still leading 4-0. The right-hander worked a scoreless inning, continuing his strong pitching as of late.

In the top of the ninth, A.J. Ewing singled and managed to steal two bases. With two outs, Baty singled, extending the lead to 5-0. The run was scored off of Mason Miller.

A.J. Minter entered in the bottom of the ninth inning, looking to close out a win for the Mets. The veteran left-hander would do just that, working around a Baty error in a scoreless inning.

Player of the Game: Christian Scott

Scott turned in what was potentially his best start as a pro. Although he was unable to get out of the sixth inning, the 26-year-old worked 5 2/3 scoreless innings, with just three hits and two walks, while striking out three. Scott may be the most consistent Mets starter at the moment, with his scoreless outing lowering his ERA to 2.50 across 36 innings.

On Deck

The Mets will resume action on Saturday at 10:10 p.m. EST in the middle contest of the three-game set against the Padres. Nolan McLean will take the mound, looking to steady the ship in what has been a rough period on the mound. The game will stream live on SNY, with radio on WCBS 880, and the Audacy app.

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The Mets avoided the sweep on Wednesday, beating the Mariners after two rough games. Now, they head to southern California to take on a recently-struggling San Diego Padres team who has gone 1-9 in their last 10 games, dropping to a 32-29 record. The Mets are still in the cellar of the NL East and have gone 5-5 in their last 10. For the Mets, this is a good time to catch the Padres, while San Diego is hoping the Mets are their “get right” series.

Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images

Mets Lineup

1. Carson Benge – RF
2. Bo Bichette – SS
3. Juan Soto – LF
4. Jared Young – 1B
5. A.J. Ewing – CF
6. Marcus Semien – 2B
7. Brett Baty – 3B
8. MJ Melendez – DH
9. Luis Torrens – C

Starting Pitcher: Christian Scott

Scott has pitched 30 1/3 innings over seven starts this season with a 2.97 ERA, 3.10 FIP, 1.385 WHIP and a 137 ERA+. He’s been hitting his stride in his last two starts, both against the Marlins, holding them to one run on nine hits and four walks over 10 2/3 innings. He’s also tossed over 90 pitches in his last two starts, the first time this season he’s done it this year. If he’s effective tonight, maybe he can push through six innings. Scott has never faced the Padres, and no one on the Padres has faced Scott in a major league game.

Opposing Lineup

1. Fernando Tatis Jr. – RF
2. Gavin Sheets – DH
3. Manny Machado – 3B
4. Ty France – 1B
5. Jackson Merrill – CF
6. Xander Bogaerts – SS
7. Bryce Johnson – LF
8. Sung-Mun Song – 2B
9. Rodolfo Durán – C

Michael King has made 12 starts (68 innings) this season with a 3.18 ERA, 3.84 FIP, 1.132 WHIP and a 127 ERA+. On May 18, King tossed seven shutout innings against the Dodgers. His season ERA was 2.31 at that point. Since then, King has allowed nine runs on ten hits and five walks over 9 2/3 innings. King had a rough start against the Mets last season, allowing eight runs over three innings on 10 hits, including four home runs.

The Mets have the following career numbers against King:

• Brett Baty 1-3, HR, K
• Bo Bichette 6-21, 2B, 2 BB, 6 K
• Vidal Bruján 0-1, K
• MJ Melendez 2-6, HR
• Marcus Semien 3-9, 2B, 2 BB, 3 K
• Juan Soto 1-2, BB
• Mark Vientos 0-4, BB, K

Game Notes

• Per the New York Post’s Mike Puma, there had been some discussion that Jorge Polanco would return from his rehab assignment and join the Mets for tonight’s game. Instead, he will remain with Triple-A Syracuse for the time being as he continues to work his way back from a right wrist contusion that landed him on the injured list, as well as Achilles bursitis.
• Manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters that Francisco Alvarez will play back-to-back games tonight and tomorrow during his rehab assignment, and if everything goes to plan, the goal would then be for him to be back with the Mets during their upcoming homestand.

Three Things To Watch For

1. King and Soto. As long as King stays on the Padres, he and the Mets will be linked because of Soto. King was a key piece in the trade that sent Juan Soto to the Yankees. King has flourished in San Diego, and Soto is now in his second year with the Mets. While Soto’s time with the Padres and Yankees was brief, he will forever be connected to King. If tonight’s game was a national broadcast, we would probably hear about the trade multiple times.
2. Bo Bichette? On May 18 and 19, Bichette hit three home runs and went 5-for-10. Over his next seven games, he slashed .250/.250/.250, going 7-for-28 while all of those hits were singles. Over his next six games, Bichette went 1-for-20 with four walks. On Wednesday, though, he went 4-for-4. Taken in total, from May 18 through Wednesday, Bichette is slashing .274/.333/.435. He randomly has these spikes of production. It’s just been an incredibly strange season for Bichette.
3. Jared Young. It’s June 5, and Young is second on the Mets in OPS and OPS+ (if you don’t count Eric Wagaman). Young is slashing .295/.373/.500 with a 146 OPS+ this season. Since returning from the injured list, Young has gone 6-for-24 with a double, two home runs and four walks (.899 OPS). The only blemish in his game has been 10 strikeouts.

Let’s go Mets!

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They will look to win their first road series since the second week of May, this time against the San Diego Padres (32-29). After going 18-7 in the month of April, they have really struggled. The Padres are 13-18 since the start of May, dropping them to third in the NL West.

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

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

PITCHING MATCHUPS

• Friday: Christian Scott (1-0, 2.97 ERA) vs. Michael King (4-4, 3.18 ERA): After 16 big-league starts, Scott finally earned his first career win last Saturday against the Miami Marlins. He would have hoped to pitch deeper into the game, but still qualified for the win after allowing one run over five innings. Scott has performed well as of late, pitching to a 2.63 ERA over his last 24 innings. He is 0-0 with a 2.79 ERA in four road starts this season. King was someone the Mets were linked to during the offseason, but he decided to return to the Padres. He found a lot of early success this season, pitching to a 2.31 ERA over his first 10 starts, but he has struggled recently. King owns a 8.38 ERA over his last 9 2/3 innings, allowing a home run in each of his last two starts.
• Saturday: Nolan McLean (3-4, 4.21 ERA) vs. Griffin Canning (0-4, 7.16 ERA): McLean had a bumpy end to the month of May, the type of stretch he hadn’t yet experienced at this level in his young career. But to his credit, he started to turn things around last Sunday against the Marlins. McLean had to work around some traffic, but managed to only allow one run over five innings. The long ball has really hurt him of late, giving up six over his last 27 innings. The Mets will face Canning for the first time since he left as a free agent after last season. He has struggled in his return from a ruptured Achilles, pitching to a 8.34 ERA over his last five starts. Canning has also been susceptible to the home run, giving up at least one in three consecutive outings.
• Sunday: TBD vs. Randy Vásquez (5-3, 3.31 ERA): Barring a shocking change, the Mets will likely begin Sunday’s game with an opener. Austin Warren and Huascar Brazobán were both used in that role against Seattle. If the Mets use an opener in the series finale, I expect it to be one of them. After one of them, it could be Sean Manaea as the bulk guy, who would be on normal rest. He is coming off his best outing of the season, allowing one run over five innings against the Mariners on Monday. Vásquez has been one of the few consistent arms in the Padres’ rotation. He has allowed three runs or less in nine of his first 12 outings, including four quality starts. Vásquez gave up four runs over 2 1/3 innings in his only career start against the Mets in September last season.

WHAT’S THE STORY?

There was some belief the Mets would get Jorge Polanco back to start this series. That is no longer the case, as he will continue his rehab assignment for the time being. As a result, the pressure will be on the current group to support Juan Soto and the rest of this offense. The Mets are scoring 4.05 runs per game for the season, the eighth-worst mark in baseball. Luckily for them, the Padres are scoring even less. Their 3.85 runs per game is the worst total in baseball. Can either lineup snap out of it this weekend?

PREDICTION

The Mets are 9-18 against teams above .500. Not good. The Padres have lost five straight. Not good. Something has to give. I think the Padres are the better team and will narrowly win two of three, but it could certainly go either way.

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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.

That division through April looks like the real deal. Every single team is above .500 and chock full of talent. The Pirates have finally put together a competent offense behind their rotation, the Reds have finally developed a rotation behind their star-studded infield, the Cubs are mashing with newcomer Alex Bregman, the Brewers are still winning with infield singles, and the Cardinals are … good?

Yeah, the Cardinals are good. Way earlier than anyone anticipated. JJ Wetherholt looks like the steal of the draft at seventh overall, and enters Saturday’s games with a .824 OPS and seven homers through 32 games. Jordan Walker has also finally found his swing. The COVID draft pick was one of the top prospects in baseball, floated around for quite sometime, and in year four has a .308/.373/.583 slashline and 1.9 bWAR. For reference, Walker has never registered a season with positive bWAR.

The NL Central hasn’t been this loaded since 2015.

Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

1. Braves

Life is all about ebbs and flows. Well after a couple seasons of ebbing, the Braves are flowing.

They hold the best record in baseball at 23-10. They hold the best run differential at +63. They’re second to the Dodgers in team OPS (.789), second to the Yankees in homers (45), and second to none in runs scored (185).

The team is also clutch. Last week alone they saw dramatic, comeback wins. Matt Olson clubbed a walk-off two-run dinger against the Tigers in the ninth. Then Friday saw Atlanta claw back from an early 6-0 deficit against Colorado, capped off by a Michael Harris II go-ahead homer in the ninth.

Anyways, it’s May now. This is the last time I’ll play into the “Atlanta is back” card. They’re legit and look like the only team in the NL who can usurp the Dodgers.

2. Yankees

The Yankees are back in full force.

They had an eight-game winning streak stopped Wednesday via a 3-0 loss to the Rangers, but let’s not overreact — they’re 10-2 in their last 12 games.

And it’s all because of Ben Rice. No, really. This isn’t the first time we’ve highlighted the Dartmouth product either, because he’s still putting up AL MVP numbers into May. Entering Saturday, Rice is slashing .330/.441/.728 with 11 homers and 26 RBIs. His .728 slug and 220 OPS+ leads the majors. He’s the protection for Aaron Judge.

Then there’s the pitching. It still leads the majors with a 3.01 ERA without Gerrit Cole or Carlos Rodon, the latter who struck out eight in 5 1/3 Thursday in a rehab outing.

3. Dodgers

A three-game losing streak for the Dodgers? Looks like their reign of dominance is over.

Anways joking aside, it was an okay week for the Dodgers. They dropped a series to the Marlins for the first time since 2018, and left the bases loaded in the ninth Wednesday to drop the series finale 3-2. There’s nothing really new to highlight with the Dodgers.

We could highlight a good and bad for the club. Hyeseong Kim has quietly slashed .302/.375/.411 in 22 games for the club. That’s a positive with Mookie Betts injured. A negative? Kyle Tucker is batting .237 with a .693 OPS.

Imagine if Tucker had signed and performed like that in Queens? Helps when the fans are making TikToks all game.

4. Cubs

Judging the NL Central teams is incredibly hard right now. But the Cubs look like the frontrunner out of the five teams.

Sure, they’re in first right now. But that’s not why. They have the second-best run differential at +36, and have a loaded lineup of proven guys who have won. That’s no knock on the Brewers, but I’ll take a star-studded lineup over the Cleveland Guardians of the National League.

They did lose two of three in LA last weekend following a 10-game win streak, but Chicago has bounced back with three straight wins over the Padres and Diamondbacks. Mostly due to Seiya Suzuki leading the charge. He’s got a .965 OPS and five homers in 19 games. He’s come back from the WBC injury on fire and could earn himself a lot of money in his contract year.

5. Pirates

Pittsburgh had a horrid week. But not bad enough for me to drop them in the power rankings.

The Red Birds came to town and swept Paul Skenes and co. for four games. The pitching allowed 30 runs over the four games, and the offense produced only 18.

Still, there shouldn’t be concern for the offense or the lineup. They currently have six players with OPS+s over 100, including a 131 OPS+ from Bryan Reynolds through April. If that held, it would be the first time since 2018 the Pirates would finish with six above league-average hitters in their lineup. Last season they had just one.

Also can the Pirates get a closer? Dennis Santana was fun for the first couple weeks, but has stumbled as of late. A reliable, big-name reliever would transcend this team. Maybe a guy like David Bednar? Jokes guys, jokes.

6. Cardinals

From 23 to six. Maybe I don’t know ball.

The Cardinals dominated the Pirates last week, going on the road and taking all four games in the series. Wetherholt was the dominating force for the Red Birds, clubbing two homers and one against Skenes. He’s filled in nicely for Brendan Donovan.

Pay attention to St. Louis going forward. They’re a couple years ahead of schedule under Chaim Bloom, and could transform their team with a strong deadline. The young guys are hitting, and Alec Burleson is driving them in.

Also, for fantasy purposes, check to see if Riley O’Brien is on waivers in your league. The 31-year-old closer has a sparkling 1.17 ERA and is 8/8 in save opportunities.

7. Padres

The path is diverging for the Friars.

They sold their club and switched controlling ownership earlier Saturday, which doesn’t mean anything as of now due to the Padres being one of the league’s biggest spenders.

But that has nothing to do with their ranking on this list. Just important Padres news. The club is 19-12. Mason Miller had his scoreless streak snapped but is still perfect in the ninth. The offense, especially Fernando Tatis Jr., has been lackluster. But they still score enough runs to win.

They have the talent to be much higher on this list. And the record to be top-5. But they need Manny Machado (101 OPS+) and Jackson Merrill (67 OPS+) need to be better.

8. Brewers

I might be doing the same with the Brewers as I did with the Blue Jays last season.

I slept on them. Didn’t believe in them. Refused to rank them for awhile. But I’m getting ahead of the curve this season, and will begrudgingly rank them.

In a loaded NL Central, the Brewers are 17-14 and have the best run differential at +43. Their team leads the majors in stolen bases (38), is fifth in OBP in the majors (.338), and they have thumping bats like William Contreras in the middle of the order to drive guys in.

It’s the same formula every year. Get on base, move runners via bunts and stolen bases, and pray a couple guys hit enough homers to drive them in. It’s good enough to get the team on the list and make the playoffs. But I don’t believe it’ll ever be enough to hoist a World Series trophy.

9. Rays

How about another 19-12 team that nobody is paying attention to?

The Rays have hung around the Yankees for first in the AL East. A team that most, if not none, had better than the Orioles, Red Sox, and Blue Jays. They’re winning behind strong pitching (what’s new), and right now Nick Martinez is pitching to a 1.70 ERA through six starts. His career ERA before joining the Rays from the Reds was 4.16.

Along with Martinez is a healthy Shane McClanahan (3.10 ERA) and Drew Rasmussen (2.64 ERA). The rotation is back in full swing, and a lot of their arms could dominate in a playoff setting. We’ll just have to see if Junior Caminero, Yandy Díaz, and Jonathan Aranda is enough at the plate.

10. Rangers

Texas had a scare last week.

It looked like Brandon Nimmo had gotten injured in a game versus the Yankees, but after being pulled with a hamstring issue, the outfielder eventually jumped back in the lineup.

Losing Nimmo would have been disastrous for the Rangers. Despite registering a .690 OPS over his last 10 games, he leads the Rangers with a 150 OPS+ and is one of the main reasons they jumped out to a hot start.

The Rangers entered Saturday with a 16-16 record. Not great. But they’re second in the division and have a +9 run differential to lead the AL West.

Their pitching is also strong in name. MacKenzie Gore and Nathan Eovaldi have struggled to begin the year, but both have too much raw talent to register ERAs north of four. If they can get one of those guys to take a leap forward, it would help Jacob deGrom at the top with his 2.01 ERA.

Rest of the Field

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

Previous Rankings: W4 | W3 | W2 | W1 | OD

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

The Japanese slugger was the most sought-after foreign free agent, then statistics came out that he couldn’t hit velocity, and he had to settle for a two-year, $34 million contract with the White Sox. Well, Murakami is proving just about everyone wrong, and currently is tied with Yordan Alvarez for the major league lead in homers with 11. Oh, and he’s batting .273 with seven homers against fastballs.

It’s fun to highlight White Sox players, because they’ve often been at the bottom of these lists. Might as well mention Everson Pereira while we’re on the South Side too. The former Yankee prospect has a .908 OPS with a .357 OBP and three homers in 49 at-bats.

Other news around the league? The Phillies asked the Mets to politely hold their beer. Philadelphia enters Saturday on a 10-game losing streak, dropping to 8-18 on the season while being outscored 69-26 during the stretch. Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber have played like MVPs, but the remainder of the lineup has come up short. The Cubs have also been a benefactor of the Mets and Phillies struggles, as eight of the 22 combined losses between the two NL East rivals have come at the hands of the Cubbies.

Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

1. Dodgers

Are the Dodgers mortal? It sure looks like it over their last seven games.

In the last seven games, LA has gone 2-7 against the likes of the Giants, Rockies, and Cubs. Only one of the loses came against Chicago, with the meat of the stretch coming against two lesser rivals.

There’s still no reason to drop the Dodgers or panic. The club got an excellent performance Thursday from Tyler Glasnow, who punched out nine Giants over eight scoreless innings. The real culprit for their poor stretch is their lack of offense. The club has scored only eight runs over their last four games. Andy Pages has considerably cooled off during this seven-game blip, slashing just .120/.185/.160.

2. Braves

Atlanta is building its case as a World Series contender for 2026.

Did they have the talent to do it? Yeah, obviously. But injuries and underperformance has kept this club from Dodger-level good since 2023. Fast forward to now, and the Braves have built themselves a comfortable lead in the NL East before May.

They’re 9-1 in their last 10 games, which includes four wins over the floundering Phillies. Matt Olson has been the sparkplug for this offseason, and has seven homers, a .944 OPS, and a major league leading 11 doubles in 27 games. Then of course is the pitching, which continues to limit runs and enters Saturday tied for first in the majors in ERA (3.11). Oh, and here’s your weekly reminder that this is all without Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach.

3. Yankees

There was a reason I didn’t drop the Yankees too far last week. They have the talent, and will be OK.

Well since that decision, the Yanks have rattled off a seven-game winning streak, including a three-game sweep of the Red Sox in Boston.

So how have the Yankees dominated this past week. Easy. Pitching and Ben Rice. The lefty slugger from Massachusetts homered in four consecutive games dating back to last week, and has also slugged five homers in last eight games. I’m not joking, if the season ended today, Rice would be the American League MVP. He’s slashing .316/.450/.747 with nine homers and 20 RBIs. Rice is also second in the majors in slugging, OBP, OPS, fourth in homers, and 14th in batting average.

Then there’s the starting rotation. It dominated in Boston. Luis Gil pitched 6 1/3 scoreless Wednesday, Max Fried pitched eight scoreless innings with nine strikeouts Thursday, and Cam Schlittler allowed one run over eight innings Saturday. Entering Saturday, the Yankees are tied for the lead in ERA (3.11) in MLB.

4. Cubs

The Cubs might be ranked fourth, but they’re playing like the best team in baseball right now.

Chicago has ripped off a 10-game win streak, catapulting them to the top of the NL Central. Sure, nine of those ten wins have come against the Mets and Phillies, but it’s still a massive accomplishment. They even backed up the performance with a comeback win over the Dodgers Friday night, which saw Alex Bregman and Dansby Swanson club later homers to win 6-4.

During this stretch the offense has been torrential. They’re averaging 7.2 runs per game, and producing despite Pete Crow-Armstrong and Michael Busch being invisible. The rotation has also held up during this streak. Edward Cabrera and Shota Imanaga continue to shove and have ERAs under three, plus Javier Assad has looked good in his last two outings, allowing just one run in 6 2/3 combined innings.

5. Pirates

Did everyone see that Oneil Cruz homer off the top of the foul pole in Texas? If not, I give you permission to leave this article.

Seriously though, it’s could finally be the Cruz breakout season that fantasy experts have been waiting for. The lefty is slashing .271/.333/.542 with eight homers and five doubles. The slugging number in that slashline is the most important. The power was always going to be there for the 6’7 Cruz, the question was if he could translate it into in-game power. There were glimpses of it in 2024 when Cruz slugged .449, but April has been promising for the potential breakout candidate.

Of course there’s also the pitching. It’s the backbone of this team. It’s shockingly registered the third-lowest ERA (3.32) in the majors, and has led the Pirates to a 15-11 record and +26 run differential. There’s obviously the big names like Paul Skenes and Mitch Keller, but a breakout arm in the rotation has been Braxton Ashcraft. The 26-year-old has pitched to a 2.43 ERA in five starts, and is striking out 9.7 batters per nine.

6. Padres

San Diego was one of baseball’s hottest teams last week.

They swept a four-game series on the road against the Rockies, came home to sweep the Mariners to claim Eddie Vedder, then traveled to Anaheim to take a three-game series against the Angels.

Overall, the stretch saw the Padres go 9-1 in 10 games. Then earlier this week they won two of three against the Rockies at home. This run of course is aided by timely hitting and one of the best bullpens the sport has ever seen. Mason Miller is working on a 12 1/3 scoreless streak this season, and a 33 2/3 consecutive scoreless streak dating back to August 6 of last season. Another name everyone should learn is Bradgley Rodriguez. The righty has a 0.73 ERA in 12 1/3 innings and wears glasses. The latter makes him cool.

7. Rangers

Texas has been steady this season. They’re 13-13, have a +8 run differential, and are second in a weak AL West.

So why are they so high on this list? Well, the pitching has been elite. Coming into Saturday, they have the eighth-lowest ERA in the majors (3.86), propped up by a vintage Jacob deGrom (2.13 ERA) and young Kumar Rocker (3.48 ERA).

The offense has been middling, and took a hit two days ago when the Rangers placed Wyatt Langford on the 10-day IL with a flexor strain. At least Josh Jung seems to have found his stroke. The third baseman, who was a crucial piece for Texas during their 2023 World Series run, has an .877 OPS through 23 games.

8. Diamondbacks

The Snakes have jumped out to a 14-11 start. And it’s because of their… pitching?

Yeah, the rotation has held up a slow offensive start for the D-backs. Through their first five starts in the rotation, Eduardo Rodríguez has a 2.89 ERA, Michael Soroka has a 2.60 ERA, and Zac Gallen has a 3.51 ERA.

Yet, despite these stellar performances, the Diamondbacks have the 20th-lowest ERA in the majors. And outside Corbin Carroll, Ildemaro Vargas, and Geraldo Perdomo, the entire D-backs lineup is flopping around. In fact most of them have OPS+’s under 100. Still, there’s hope for many D-backs hitters to bounce back and power this team toward a wild-card spot. Especially Ketel Marte, who has a .694 OPS through his first 24 games.

9. Brewers

Brandon Woodruff this. Jacob Misiorowski that. How about Chad Patrick?

The 27-year-old has a 2.35 ERA in 23 innings, and leads a strong rotation in ERA. The aforementioned two starters have also been great. Woodruff has a 3.77 ERA in his comeback year, and Misiorowski leads starters with a 14.2 K/9 and has a 3.04 ERA.

Outside the pitching, the offense has mustered enough runs. Brice Turang has a .900 OPS entering Saturday and Garrett Mitchell has put up a more than respectable .804. Just imagine what the lineup will look like when Christian Yelich returns from the 10-day IL.

10. Twins

Well, the Twins have lost six of their last seven. That’s what I get for slotting them at five last week.

They got swept by the Reds, dropped a series to the Mets, and lost Friday 6-2 to the Rays. So why are they still here?

The lineup is strong, especially when this healthy. We always talk about Royce Lewis and his potential, Byron Buxton as a superstar when on the field, but let’s give some flowers to Ryan Jeffers. The catcher is one of the most underrated catchers in baseball, and has a .889 OPS entering Saturday. He’s had an OPS+ above 100 dating back to 2023, and hit a clutch grand slam Thursday in a loss to the Mets.

The major question mark will be the rotation. Joe Ryan allowed seven earned runs Thrusday to the Mets, but is usually among the best in the AL. Mick Abel is on the IL right now, but when he was pitching, he was striking out 10.2 batters per nine to go with his 3.98 ERA.

Rest of the Field

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

Previous Rankings: W3 | W2 | W1 | OD

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

The Mets and Yankees both struggled mightily last week, costing the Bombers a few spots on the top 10 and the Mets to fall off the list. The Amazins’ have dropped nine games in a row after starting 7-4 and fundamentally look like one of the worst teams in baseball. And the Yankees got swept by the Rays, split a series with the Angels, and survived the Royals Friday with a late homer from Ryan McMahon.

It’s been rough for two teams projected to be among the best in their leagues. But they’re not the only “power houses” struggling. The Mariners and Astros are both 8-13 after positive starts, the Phillies are 8-11 and are on a three-game losing streak, and the Tigers are 10-10 despite a positive run differential.

Instead, it’s been teams that were supposed to be bottom feeders dominating early. The Twins through three weeks especially have been undeniably good. So much so I put them on the list. The Angels have also been right there with Minnesota, surging thanks to a renaissance from Mike Trout in the Bronx last week.

All this is the long way of saying the list has gone through another metamorphosis. And will continue to throughout the first month or so of the season. Remember last year when the Braves were regulars in the top-10 till May?

Also, before we get into the list, I want to personally attribute a portion of this article to Garret Anderson. The all-time great passed away at 53 Friday, shocking the baseball world. On the field, Anderson holds the Angels franchise record for games played (2,013), total bases (3,743), extra-base hits (796), doubles (489), grand slams (8), and RBIs (1,292). Anderson was also a crucial piece for the Halos in 2002, helping the club win its first and only World Series. He passed away from a heart attack and is survived by his wife and three children.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

1. Dodgers

We all knew the Dodgers were going to be insanely good. But it’s April 18, and the club still hasn’t lost to a National League team.

They swept the Mets last week behind dominant performances from Justin Wrobleski and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, then went to Colorado to play a snow game with the Rockies Friday. And yes, they won that game 7-1.

The usual suspects are dominating again, but I want to point out Dalton Rushing. The 25-year-old has scorched the baseball to begin the season, slashing .529/.556/1.353 with four homers in 17 at-bats. Yeah, you read that right. Four homers in 17 at-bats.

2. Braves

Atlanta is back in full force.

The club has started 13-7 in their first 20 games, getting production from their entire roster. Everyone in their lineup outside Michael Harris II has an OPS+ above 100. The pitching rotation features five arms with ERA+’s over 120, including Bryce Elder who leads the NL with a 0.77 ERA. The bullpen has four arms with ERAs in the ones. Oh they also lead baseball with a +53 run differential.

It’s been an incredible start for a team trying to bounce back from an injury-riddled 2025. And they’re still waiting for Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach to come back.

3. Pirates

Is placing the Pirates all the way to three aggressive? Yeah. But they have the firepower to stay.

Everybody knows about the treachorous staff the Pirates throw at the league, but the offense has finally clicked for Pittsburgh. The additions of Brandon Lowe (184 OPS+) and Ryan O’Hearn (149 OPS+) have infused runs into this lineup, Bryan Reynolds has bounced back from a mediocre 2025 with an .810 OPS, and Oneil Cruz is finally blossoming into a superstar with a .313/.382/.588 slashline, six homers, and nine stolen bases.

The offense has been steady. And the pitching staff led by Paul Skenes can carry this team through the ineviatable offense woes they go through later in the season.

4. Yankees

The media has been hyperfixated on the Mets. But the Yankees have been equally as bad.

They dropped a series to the Athletics at home, were swept by the Rays on the road, then returned to the Bronx to split a series with the Angels. All and all, they went 2-7 and endured a five game losing streak.

Still, the club stays this high on the list due to their underlying numbers. They’re 11-9 and are the only team in the AL East with a positive run differential. Max Fried and Cam Schlittler are carrying a despondent offense, which is really being carried by Ben Rice (1.205 OPS) and Aaron Judge (.929 OPS).

5. Twins

Minnesota? The Twins?

Yeah, in case you weren’t paying attention, the Twins are among the best teams in baseball right now. Trevor Larnach and company last weekend swept the Red Sox out of Minneapolis, including a game where they walloped Garrett Crochet for 10 earned runs.

It’s been a fun start for the Twins. And the decision to keep Joe Ryan may lead to a fun summer. The rotation is strong behind Ryan, which features a ressurgent Taj Bradley (1.25 ERA) and righty Mick Abel (3.98 ERA), who was one of the returns for closer Jhoan Duran.

6. Padres

Mason Miller. Korn. What else do you need?

Seriously, have you seen what Miller is doing. The flamethrower hasnt’ allowed a run in 9 1/3 innings, has a 22.2 K/9, and a -1.45 FIP. If the season ended today he would be the NL Cy Young winner.

Miller has spearheaded the best bullpen in baseball. Behind him are David Morgan, Bradgley Rodriguez, and Wandy Peralta, all who have ERAs under two. It’s been a winning formula for San Diego the past two seasons, and with the offense still finding its groove, the ‘pen has been the backbone for this 13-7 San Diego team.

7. Rangers

Jacob deGrom has a 2.21 ERA. Brandon Nimmo has a .313/.396/.538 slashline with four homers. The Mets must be good!

All joking aside, Nimmo and the pitching staff has led the Rangers out of the basement of the AL West. They’re 11-9, have a +17 run differential, and could make a run toward the division if their rotation stays healthy.

The Rangers have the fifth best team ERA in baseball (3.38), 12th best team OPS (.714), and seventh most homers (23). That’ll play.

8. Diamondbacks

Is Corbin Carroll the most underrated player in major league baseball?

I’m serious. With all the Shohei Ohtani hype around baseball, it’s easy to forget about the other superstars in the league. Carroll has quietly put up a .308/.395/.585 slashline with two homers, six doubles, and a major league leading three triples. He might win an MVP one day.

Him and José Fernández (122 OPS+) are carrying a cold D-Backs offense right now, which is getting bailed out Eduardo Rodríguez (1.96 ERA) and Michael Soroka (2.78 ERA).

9. Cubs

Chicago might be the hottest team in baseball right now.

They’ve scored 10 or more runs in three straight games, leading to a series win over the Phillies on the road and a win Friday over the Mets. Despite being in last in the NL Central, they have the best run differential among their rivals and second best expected record.

Nico Hoerner has been the biggest surprise this early season. He spent the offseason trying to improve his power output, which has led to three homers and a .973 OPS in 19 games. Hoerner has only clubbed seven homers the past two seasons. His career high was 10 in 2022.

10. Guardians

Cleveland has been trading wins and losses in the early season. Mostly due to their struggling ‘pen.

Coming into Saturday, the bullpen’s 5.55 ERA is 25th in baseball. It’s blown numerous leads already, including Friday where Shawn Armstrong and Erik Sabrowski blew a six scoreless inning outing from Tanner Bibee.

Fortunately for the Guardians, the offense and starting pitching has done enough to mitigate. José Ramírez is breaking out of a early, short slump and Angel Martínez has a 122 OPS+. Daniel Schneemann has also done a fantastic job, putting up video game numbers early (.313/.353/.563).

Rest of the Field

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

Previous Rankings: W2 | W1 | OD

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

Baseball began Wednesday night with the Yankees defeating the Giants 7-0, kicking off an exciting 2026 season. The Dodgers still have a target on their heads coming off back-to-back World Series rings, and will look to be the first team to three-peat since the Yankees from 1998-2000.

Meanwhile, the other 29 teams will look to dethrone the champs, especially in the National League, which features a loaded resume of teams. The Mets, Phillies, and injury riddled Braves will compete for an NL East title, the Reds bolstered their roster by re-signing Eugenio Suarez to battle the Cubs and Brewers for the NL Central, and the Giants will have a full season of Rafael Devers to try and keep up with the Padres and Dodgers, who have mainly fought for the NL West the past two seasons.

Will anyone knock the Dodgers off? Probably not. They spent another offseason reloading their roster with All-Stars, signing Edwin Díaz away from the Mets and winning the arms race for Kyle Tucker. But if anyone in the NL can’t end their season prematurely, maybe the Yankees and Aaron Judge can in the American League.

Still, it’s too early to be talking about October. It’s March. And I know you all missed these absolutely, positively correct power rankings every week. This season, every article will include a link to the old power rankings at the bottom of the article. Let’s kick off 2026 with a fresh top-10.

Juan Soto
Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

1. Dodgers

Until they’re dethroned, the champs are No. 1.

The Dodgers loaded up again to go for a third consecutive World Series. They signed the best closer in Díaz after their bullpen was suspect in the playoffs, and poached Tucker away from the Cubs, Yankees, and Mets in free agency to shore up their offensive hole in the outfield.

They’re incredibly talented, but also banged up. This, funnily enough, might be the only time they sit in first on the power rankings. Their strategy of coasting to a playoff spot, then attacking with a healthy roster in October has worked the last two seasons.

That being said, there are some questions surrounding the Dodgers. Is Mookie Betts going to bounce back from a .732 OPS in 2025? What does Freddie Freeman offer in his age-36 season? And can the rotation provide enough to survive a strong division that holds the Giants and Padres?

2. Blue Jays

I won’t lie. I incorrectly slept on the Blue Jays the entire 2025 season. I won’t make the same mistake twice.

This roster is loaded, and the front office bolstered it in the offseason. The Jays inked Kazuma Okamoto to a four-year, $60 million contract in the offseason, shoring up third base with a righty that OPS’d 1.014 with the Yomiuri Giants last season in Japan. They also signed power-throwing Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million deal to lead a strong rotation already headlined by Kevin Gausman and rookie Trey Yesavage.

The Jays are ready to make a push at another pennant. And with power in their lineup and rotation, they’re positioned to win a tough division that features the Yankees, Orioles, and Red Sox.

3. Mariners

Seattle quietly had an impressive offseason. They traded for Brendan Donovan from the Cardinals, a gap-to-gap lefty bat who will fit nicely in T-Mobile Park.

They also signed Josh Naylor, who they acquired at last year’s deadline, to play first again, spacing out their big right-handed bats in Julio Rodriguez and Randy Arozarena. The lineup is intimidating, even after losing Suarez and Jorge Polanco in free agency.

Of course, the talk of the roster is their loaded pitching. The lineup features four arms that could win the Cy Young. Take your pick against Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, Bryce Miller, or Luis Castillo, it most likely won’t end well. Then there’s the bullpen, which is anchored by the most underrated closer in the game: Andrés Muñoz. The flamethrower put up a 1.73 ERA and 38 saves in 62 1/3 innings, and has a cohort of strong options behind him in Matt Brash, Jose A. Ferrer, and Gabe Speier.

4. Phillies

Philadelphia is running it back with the same core for 2026. Which isn’t necessarily bad.

The club won 96 games last year and took home the NL East. They also re-signed Kyle Schwarber, who clubbed 56 homers last season and drove in 132 runs. So what is there to complain about?

The fan base will say this core hasn’t done anything since 2022. And that’s fair. But they did add Adolis García, who could return to his 2023 form, and will insert Justin Crawford into their lineup at center, the son of former major leaguer Carl Crawford who batted .334 with 49 stolen bases in Triple-A last season.

Additions were also made in the bullpen. Philadelphia signed Brad Keller, acquired Jonathan Bowlan from the Phillies, and will get a full season from Jhoan Duran and José Alvarado, the later who was suspended in 2025 for steroids. It has the potential to be the best ‘pen in the sport.

Pair that with a starting rotation that’s led by Cristopher Sanchez and Jesús Luzardo, and you’re in business. This team is good. World Series level good. Oh, and did I mention they’ll be adding Zack Wheeler and Andrew Painter at some point this season?

5. Yankees

The Bombers are poised to make a run at their 28th World Series title.

They’re the favorites again to win the AL, and it’s for a good reason. Judge is the best right-handed hitter of all-time (argue with a wall), and he’s backed up by household names in Cody Bellinger, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Giancarlo Stanton.

The narrative is the same as always with the Yanks. Health. Will Stanton play this season? Can Chisholm stay on the field? Can Bellinger and Trent Grisham play, and repeat their phenomenal 2025 seasons? If they can, they’ll push for the AL East title.

Pitching health will also be a storyline this season. Gerrit Cole is returning from Tommy John at 35, yet was sitting at 96 miles per hour Tuesday. If he can return, Cole has the juice to compete for a Cy Young. Luis Gil‘s return will also be massive for the Yankees, and give them much-needed depth. It’s reported the Yankees will begin the season with a four-man rotation, but a rotation that sends Max Fried and Cam Schlittler out will be fine to begin the first two weeks of the season.

6. Mets

The narrative of the Mets’ offseason was that they got worse. I disagree.

The lineup lost Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo, yes. But they added Polanco, Bo Bichette, and Luis Robert Jr. It’s deeper, and contact-oriented. Emphasis on contact-oriented. Too often last season, Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto would get on base, then jog back to the dugout after consecutive strikeouts to end the inning. It’s completely rethought. And they removed two players in their top four who swung and missed a lot.

Also, remember the rotation is set to be healthy in 2026, and features a true ace in Freddy Peralta. That takes pressure off rookie Nolan McLean to pitch like a No. 1, allows David Peterson to slot into the third spot and hopefully return to his 3.06 first-half ERA, and Kodai Senga to be a No. 4 starter with No. 1 stuff. It’s all in front of them.

Plus if it doesn’t work out, the rotation has depth. Sean Manaea is waiting in the wings, Tobias Myers has the potential to be a back-end guy, and Jonah Tong and Jack Wenninger are close to being major league starters. Last season, the rotation faltered. 2026 won’t see the same issue.

The fate of the season truly hangs on the bullpen. Is Devin Williams still among the best closers in baseball? Or did New York break him? And what are they going to get out of Luke Weaver? If one of those two arms don’t produce, this team’s in trouble.

7. Cubs

Give Chicago credit. The ownership has been blasted due to missing the playoffs since 2018 (COVID doesn’t count), and they added this offseason after an NLDS appearance in 2025.

The big signing was Alex Bregman. He’ll man third base and is coming off his third All-Star appearance in 2025, where he clubbed 18 homers and OPS’d .821 in 111 games with the Red Sox. Combine that with a loaded offense featuring Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, Nico Hoerner, and Michael Busch, and the Cubs are positioned to score more runs than in 2025 (793).

Don’t sleep on the rotation either. They traded for Edward Cabrera from the Marlins, who has always had the stuff to develop into a top-of-the-rotation arm. And even if he doesn’t, the rotation is top-heavy with Cade Horton, Shota Imanaga, and Matthew Boyd.

8. Red Sox

Boston has made moves the last couple of offseasons to build a championship team. Now, they’re ready to push for a pennant.

The young core of Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, and Ceddanne Rafaela will be the cog that turns the wheel for the Red Sox, and veteran bats of Trevor Story, Jarren Duran, and Willson Contreras will carry the weight.

The rotation will also limit runs, headlined by Cy Young candidate Garrett Crochet and young-budding star Brayan Bello, and finished by veteran additions in Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez. They’re talented, but find themselves in the toughest division in baseball.

9. Giants

San Francisco had a weird 2025. They went 81-81 despite a threatening roster, and missed the playoffs with an experienced manager in Bob Melvin.

I’m willing to bet on the 2026 Giants being a playoff-caliber team. The lineup is dangerous with Devers, Matt Chapman, Willy Adames, and Heliot Ramos, plus the additions of Harrison Bader and Luis Arraez should help lengthen it.

The rotation also is playoff caliber. Logan Webb is never talked about despite consistently pitching like an ace, and Robbie Ray made 32 starts last season and pitched to a 3.65 ERA. Round that out with Tyler Mahle and Adrian Houser, and this team has the arms to compete with the top teams in the West.

The bullpen is a little suspect compared to the All-Star names on the Padres and Dodgers 40-man rosters. Ryan Walker registered a 4.11 ERA last season and will be the closer heading into 2026. Plus, the Giants should do themselves a favor and call up Bryce Eldridge.

10. Royals

Kansas City finalizes the first top-10 of 2026. And it’s not hard to love them.

They’re led by the best shortstop in baseball in Bobby Witt Jr., and rounded out by other impressive infielders in Maikel Garcia and Vinnie Pasquantino.

It’s a scary top-three in the lineup. But the 4-6 are just as strong. Salvador Perez is coming off another 30-homer season, Jac Caglianone slashed .304/.448/.522 in spring, and Jonathan India provides a solid floor. Add in Carter Jensen as well, the Royals’ exciting top prospect.

The rotation also has a great floor. Seth Lugo looks to bounce back after an average 4.15 ERA and Cole Ragans is only one year removed from looking like an ace. The bullpen will also hold leads, primarily due to Carlos Estévez and Nick Mears, who was acquired from Milwaukee.

Rest of the Field

11. Padres
12. Orioles
13. Guardians
14. Braves
15. Tigers
16. Brewers
17. Astros
18. Rangers
19. Reds
20. Diamondbacks
21. Rays
22. Athletics
23. Pirates
24. Marlins
25. Nationals
26. Twins
27. Cardinals
28. Angels
29. White Sox
30. Rockies

The post 2026 MLB Power Rankings: Opening Weekend appeared first on Metsmerized.

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The Friars have reportedly agreed to deals with former Met Griffin Canning and former Phillie Nick Castellanos. The Canning deal was first reported Friday night by the Devine Sports Gospel, and confirmed this morning by Robert Murray who stated the deal would be official once Canning passed a physical. Murray also reported that Castellanos and the Padres had agreed to a deal Saturday morning, with San Diego paying the league minimum. The right-handed bat had a tumultuous ending with the city of Philadelphia, first being told not to report to camp, then being released due to various clubhouse issues in 2025 which Castellanos touched on in an Instagram post. With the addition of Castellanos and Canning, the Padres have surpassed their 40-man roster and will have to make a corresponding move.

Castellanos’s best season with the Phillies came in 2023, where he slashed .272/.311/.431 with 29 homers and an 111 OPS+. He never recorded an OPS at .800 during his time in Philadelphia, and struggled last season to a .694 OPS and -0.8 bWAR. Meanwhile, Canning was in the midst of a resurgent year in 2025 before tearing his achilles in a start in June against the Braves. The righty registered a 3.77 ERA in 16 starts with the Mets and allowing less than a home run per start (0.9).

The post Padres Sign Griffin Canning, Nick Castellanos appeared first on Metsmerized.