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

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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

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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.

Numerous teams have seen stars hit the injury list mid-way through May — and as a Mets website, you readers don’t need to be reminded of that.

The Tigers have seen players such as Tarik Skubal, Javier Baez, Kerry Carpenter, and Gleyber Torres go down, the Yankees have seen Max Fried, Jasson Dominguez, and José Caballero join Gerrit Cole on the IL, and then of course, we all know the Mets’ injuries.

But that’s just a small sample size. Every team’s injury list is loaded with major league talent. Ronald Acuña Jr. for the Braves. Jordan Westburg for the Orioles. Garrett Crochet for the Red Sox. Matthew Boyd and Cade Horton for the Cubs. Christian Yelich and Jacob Misiorowski for the Brewers. Really, it’s been bad. And if you have some extra time this weekend, click this link to get the entire list.

It’s even left its mark early on the standings and run differential. Only 10 teams have positive run differentials. Four of them are in the NL Central. A lot of teams are fighting to win games with B-level talent, and it seems whoever gets healthy first will be heading toward October.

Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

1. Braves

The theme of this week is injuries. And the Braves have been rolling despite some serious names on the shelf.

No Acuña. No Spencer Schwellenbach, Sean Murphy, Hurston Waldrep, and AJ Smith-Shawver either. Yet this team continues to roll through the majors with ease.

They entered Saturday as the only team to reach the 30-win mark, and have the best run differential in the league at +92. Last week also saw the Braves dominate two top-10 teams in the majors in the Dodgers and Cubs. They went 4-2 against their most potent threats for a pennant. The offense has been powered by Drake Baldwin and Matt Olson, but let’s give some flowers to Dominic Smith. It’s mid-May and the former Met is slashing .349/.376/.523 with four homers in 94 plate appearances.

2. Yankees

The Yanks got an injury scare on their road trip last week.

Fried was removed in a start in Baltimore, and it looked initially to be a serious injury to his elbow. Fortunately for the club, Fried’s injury was a bone bruise, and the lefty won’t miss serious time.

It’s a sigh of relief for the Yankees, who are getting Carlos Rodon back for a Saturday start against the Mets and Gerrit Cole back sooner than later.

Meanwhile, the aforementioned road trip has been nightmarish for the Yankees. They went 1-5 against the Brewers and struggling Orioles, but had a bounce-back win against the Mets Friday behind Cam Schlittler.

3. Dodgers

Last week was polarizing for the Dodgers.

First, they suffered a four-game losing streak in two series to the Braves and Giants. Then, they recovered and split the series with San Francisco en route to their current three-game winning streak.

The losing streak was the first real dip for the Dodgers, who enter Saturday 27-18 and are top-three in the majors in both OPS and ERA. Mookie Betts also returned Wednesday and promptly homered, offering the Dodgers some hope that Betts has recovered from his oblique injury.

Also yes, we all saw the Edwin Díaz news. Let’s carry on.

4. Cubs

Chicago was another top team that struggled last week.

They were shut out back-to-back games by the Rangers, featuring one game on the opposite side of a dominant Jacob deGrom start.

Then after dropping a series to the Braves, they salvaged the last game of the series and defeated the White Sox Friday 10-5 to get back in the win column.

This team looks like the dominant force in the NL Central and they’re starting to pull away. The offense continues to roll, and the rotation of Shota Imanaga, Edward Cabrera, and Jameson Taillon has been good enough to win them games. This rotation however is missing an ace.

5. Brewers

Remember when the Red Sox received Kyle Harrison from the Giants for Rafael Devers and we all laughed? We’ll, now he’s a Cy Young candidate for the Brewers.

The lefty is carving batters up, pitching to a 2.09 ERA with an 11.2 K/9 and 2.86 FIP through 38 2/3 innings. His 196 ERA+ is better than his teammate Misiorowski, and is a driving force for a Brewers rotation that fuels wins.

Brice Turang has also taken a step forward for the offense this season, posting a .418 OBP and .922 OPS entering Saturday. He’s been the big bopper in the lineup, which is missing Yelich due to injury. Also Gary Sánchez has a .796 OPS. I find that cool.

6. Rays

What a heater Tampa is on.

The Rays are 11-2 in the month of May, propelling them to first in the AL East behind stellar pitching. Nick Martinez and Shane McClanahan lead the roster in bWAR, and are two main factors in the team’s success.

The offense hasn’t produced much, but Jonathan Aranda, Junior Caminero, and Yandy Díaz have provided just enough to win games. It’s early, but with June approaching, this team could push some chips to acquire a bat for an October push. The AL’s weak and they could easily pitch their way to a World Series.

7. Pirates

You know what’s ironic? The Pirates finally put together a top-10 team OPS (7th) in the league and now their pitching has faltered. Yeah, funny.

The lineup has functioned fluidly to start the season and has led Pittsburgh to a 24-21 record. Brandon Lowe and Oneil Cruz have eclipsed double-digit homers before Memorial Day, Ryan O’Hearn has a .832 OPS, and Nick Gonzales is batting .313 with a 109 OPS+.

It should be more than enough to have the Pirates among the best in the NL. But outside Paul Skenes, the rest of the rotation has been average. Bubba Chandler entered Saturday with a 4.62 ERA before being blown up by the Phillies, Carmen Mlodzinski has posted a 4.40 ERA, and Mitch Keller and Braxton Ashcraft‘s ERAs are in the threes. Those last two are good, but not the extravagant numbers we expected from this crew.

8. Cardinals

We’ve highlighted Jordan Walker in previous rankings. But his coming-out party is official.

It’s mid-May and Walker is still dominating. He’s slashing .309/.382/.606 with 13 homers and an NL-leading 188 OPS+. The former first-round pick has charged an offense full of young talent, and has the Cardinals 26-18 entering Saturday.

This is another team that has the offense to roll, but not the rotation to cruise. Outside Michael McGreevy, the entire rotation has ERAs that start with four, and the bullpen has three arms that have already passed the 20-innings-pitched plateau. They need more arms before it collapses in the second half.

9. Mariners

Don’t think I forgot about our injury theme tonight. I was just waiting till we got to the Mariners to resume.

Seattle has had two brutal blows to their lineup this week. Cal Raleigh hit the IL with an oblique injury, leading to the team missing one of the biggest power threats in the game. Brendan Donovan was also scratched from the lineup before the Saturday game against the Padres.

Still, this team is one of the few with a positive run differential and is crawling back to .500. The lineup has gotten a jolt from Luke Raley, who has clubbed 10 homers and posted a .920 OPS through 40 games.

10. Guardians

Cleveland used last week’s series against the Angels to get right.

They swept the Halos, and used the momentum to get above .500 and enter Saturday with a 24-22 record. The pitching is still the winning factor for the Guards, and Parker Messick and Joey Cantillo have been studs in the rotation heading into May.

The offense has been a slog this season, but given enough to have the Guardians in first place. José Ramírez has underperformed to a .727 OPS, but does lead the league with 18 stolen bases. That’s something, right?

Rest of the Field

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

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

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

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Holmes began his start in strong fashion, setting down all three Yankees in a scoreless top of the first inning with two strikeouts, the only blemish coming on catcher’s interference to back-to-back American League MVP Aaron Judge.  The Mets went down in order in the bottom of the inning, leaving the game scoreless after one.

After two strong innings from both Holmes and Schlittler, the Yankees struck first in the top of the third on an RBI double by Cody Bellinger. The scoring did not end there, as a second double, this time driving in two, by Jazz Chisholm Jr. made it 3-0 Yankees in the middle of the third inning. 

After the Mets failed to score in the bottom of the third, the Yankees loaded the bases with two outs for Judge. However, Holmes jammed the slugger, resulting in a lazy flyout, and escaped the inning unscathed.

Holmes was taken out of the game after 4 1/3 innings, his shortest outing of the season. Manager Carlos Mendoza revealed after the game that he suffered a fractured fibula on a line drive off the bat of Spencer Jones, which will keep him out for an extended period of time.

Austin Warren replaced him, and allowed the inherited runner to score to make it 4-0 Yankees.

Warren stayed on for the top of the sixth inning and set the Yankees down in order, lowering his season ERA to 0.71. The Mets came to bat in the bottom of the sixth, where they once again went down in order, mustering just one hit over six innings.

Tobias Myers replaced Warren in the top of the seventh, where the right-hander worked a scoreless inning. In the bottom of the inning, Juan Soto  finally got the Mets on the board when he hit his 250th career home run. A two-out Brett Baty walk knocked Schlittler out of the game, and a Marcus Semien infield single brought the tying run to bat. However, an A.J. Ewing flyout would strand the pair, with the score standing at 4-1 Yankees after seven.

Myers returned for the top of the eighth, where he was once again effective, pitching a second scoreless inning in relief. His season ERA dropped down to 3.25 as a result.

Craig Kimbrel relieved Myers in the top of the ninth, where he was rudely greeted by a Ben Rice solo home run. However, the veteran would limit any further damage, keeping the Yankees’ lead at 5-1.

In the bottom of the inning, Soto lead off with a walk. A Mark Vientos double play would erase the runner, before MJ Melendez tallied a two-out single. Brett Baty singled in Melendez after he took second on defensive indifference. However, a Semien lineout would spoil a rally opportunity for the Mets.

Player of the Game: Juan Soto

Despite going just 1-for-3 with a walk at the plate, Soto was responsible for the only Mets run of the game. His seventh inning home run off of Schlittler was the 250th of his career, becoming the 42nd fastest player in MLB history to reach the milestone. It was Soto’s sixth long ball of the season, and his second in as many days.

On Deck

The Mets will resume action on Saturday at 7:15 p.m. EST in the middle contest of the three-game set against the Yankees. The Mets will use an opener, likely setting up David Peterson for a bulk relief appearance. The game will stream live on FOX, with radio on WCBS 880, and the Audacy app.

The post Mets’ Bats Go Cold in Loss to Yankees appeared first on Metsmerized.

What a time for the New York Mets’ offense to come alive!

The Yankees head to Queens today to take on the Mets, who just swept the Detroit Tigers. Yesterday, five different Mets players hit home runs, and only two players struck out. It’s the best the Mets’ bats have looked in a long time.

The Yankees are 10 games over .500 but have lost six of their last ten. The Mets are seven games under .500 and have won seven of their last 10. Each team has a sub-2 ERA pitcher on the mound tonight!

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Mets Lineup

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

Starting Pitcher: Clay Holmes

Holmes has thrown 48 1/3 innings over eight games with a 1.86 ERA, 3.44 FIP, 1.014 WHIP and a 214 ERA+. He already has 1.9 bWAR this season (last season he had 2.0 bWAR over 33 games). Holmes has also struck out exactly six batters in each of his last three outings. Those 18 batters are a season-high in any three-game stretch for him this season.

The Yankees, who used to employ Holmes as a reliever, have the following career numbers against him:

• Cody Bellinger 1-4, 2B, BB, K
• Jazz Chisholm Jr. 0-2, BB, K
• Paul Goldschmidt 1-8, HR, 4 K
• Trent Grisham 0-0, 3 BB
• Ryan McMahon 1-6, HR, 2 BB
• Amed Rosario 2-8, 3 K
• Max Schuemann 0-1, K

Opposing Lineup

1. Trent Grisham – CF
2. Ben Rice – 1B
3. Aaron Judge – RF
4. Cody Bellinger – LF
5. Jazz Chisholm Jr. – 2B
6. Ryan McMahon – 3B
7. Spencer Jones – DH
8. Anthony Volpe – SS
9. Austin Wells – C

The Mets’ bats face off tonight against one of the best pitchers in the American League. Cam Schlittler has tossed 53 1/3 innings over nine starts with a league-leading 1.35 ERA, 1.65 FIP, 0.806 WHIP and a 312 ERA+. He also leads the league in H/9 at 5.7. This will be the Mets’ first time facing Schlittler, and the only player on the roster who has seen him before is Bichette (1-for-4, 2B, K).

Game Notes

• Jared Young is beginning his rehab assignment with Single-A St. Lucie tonight after being placed on the 15-day injured list with a meniscus tear in his right knee on April 15.
• The Yankees are 7-13 in their last 20 games at Citi Field and haven’t won a series there since 2018.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Recent Call-ups. What a first week for A.J. Ewing! In his first three major league games, he has gone 3-for-9 with a triple, home run, stolen base and three walks (.538) while scoring four runs. The Mets have won every game he’s played in so far. The Yankees called up Spencer Jones last week, and he has gone 1-for-12 over his first five games with three walks. Before getting his call-up, Jones had 11 home runs in 33 games at Triple A (.258/.366/.592). The story of today’s game are the two sub-2 ERA pitchers. The story of the weekend, though, could be Ewing and Jones.
2. Home Runs. The Mets slugged five home runs yesterday, bringing them to 36 on the season. They are now 25th in the majors in that stat. Going into play yesterday, they were basically in last, hanging out with the Milwaukee Brewers and the San Francisco Giants. The Mets’ roster is constructed to get moderate pop from just about everyone. That’s tough to do without Francisco Lindor, Francisco Alvarez, Jorge Polanco, Ronny Mauricio and Luis Robert Jr. Yesterday showed that the baby Mets (Vientos, Baty) and the rookies, plus Juan Soto, can put on a show.
3. Marcus Semien. Semien got off to a slow start this season. Through his first 19 games, he slashed .194/.257/.269. In the 24 games since, he is slashing .253/.309/.368 with five stolen bases and two home runs. He’s not lighting the world on fire, but his last 24 games are much closer to what he has done in recent years (.230/.305/.364 in 2025, .237/.308/.391 in 2024).

Let’s go Mets!

The post Game Chat: Yankees vs. Mets, 7:15 PM appeared first on Metsmerized.

Maybe… Maybe not… The Mets swept a three-game series from the Detroit Tigers, their first sweep since August of 2025. They came from behind in all three wins, something the team has struggled with since the start of last season. Could this week be a turning point?

The Mets will look to continue their positive run against the New York Yankees (27-17), who own the fourth-best record in all of baseball. They have lost five of their last six games, however, most recently dropping a series against the Baltimore Orioles. It should be an entertaining matchup.

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

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

PITCHING MATCHUPS

• Friday: Cam Schlittler (5-1, 1.35 ERA) vs. Clay Holmes (4-3, 1.86 ERA): Schlittler is one of, if not the most intriguing up-and-coming starter in the game. He is 6’6″ with fastball velocity that can rise above 100 mph. That’s a nightmare combination for most opposing hitters. Schlittler’s 1.35 ERA is the best mark among qualified pitchers in the American League. He has given up one earned run or less in seven of his first nine starts. Holmes’ stuff is not as flashy as Schlittler’s, but he has provided a similar level of production. He has allowed two earned runs or less in all eight of his starts this season. In three starts at home, he is 1-1 with a 1.47 ERA over 18 1/3 innings. Holmes will make his first career appearance against the Yankees Friday.
• Saturday: Carlos Rodón (0-0, 6.23 ERA) vs. TBD: Rodón will make his second start of the season after beginning the year on the injured list following offseason elbow surgery. His first outing wasn’t pretty: three earned runs on two hits and five walks in 4 1/3 innings against the Milwaukee Brewers last Sunday. Rodón is 3-1 with 3.48 ERA in four career starts against the Mets. This is David Peterson‘s spot in the rotation. However, using an opener before going to the lefty in bulk relief has been a successful strategy as of late. Over his last 16 innings in that role, Peterson has only given up three earned runs. As a starter, he is 0-4 with a 8.10 ERA. As a reliever, he is 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA. That’s a stark difference. For the time being, expect Peterson to remain in that role.
• Sunday: Ryan Weathers (2-2, 3.00 ERA) vs. Freddy Peralta (3-3, 3.10 ERA): The Yankees took a flyer on Weathers, acquiring him for the Miami Marlins in January. The expectation was that he would begin the season as a starter, but once guys returned from injury, he would move into the bullpen. But with Gerrit Cole still working his way back and now Max Fried potentially going on the injured list, the situation has changed. Weathers owns a 1.88 ERA over his last 24 innings. Peralta has pitched well for most of this season. The only missing piece was providing a bit more length. Peralta has done a better job of that recently, throwing six innings in two of his last three starts. Peralta is 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA in one career start against the Yankees.

WHAT’S THE STORY?

A lot of attention will be on Juan Soto and how he performs this weekend. In six games against his former team last season, the superstar outfielder slashed .238/.385/.429 with one home run and three RBIs. Soto will probably see very few good pitches to hit as a result of the Mets missing a handful of big bats in their lineup. Can he make the Yankees pay when they make a mistake in the middle of the zone? That will not only be key for Soto’s success, but the team as a whole.

PREDICTION

Since 2018, the Yankees are 7-13 against the Mets at Citi Field. Will that trend continue? Can Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing make a big impact in their first Subway Series? I think the Mets have started to turn the corner and will win two of three against their crosstown rivals.

The post Series Preview: Mets Face Big Test in Subway Series 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

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