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 Online.

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 Online.

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 Online.

After an unusual down year in 2025, the Braves have been imposing to begin the season. They’re 9-5, lead the majors in run differential (+40), and have spawned another promising prospect in Drake Baldwin. They’re back in full force, and despite injury to their rotation, it looks like they’ll be sticking around.

They’re atop the National League East, which appears to be the most talented division in baseball. The Marlins’ young hitters have arrived and are 8-6 without Kyle Stowers in their lineup, plus the Mets and Phillies are hovering around .500 despite undesirable starts. It’s going to be a dog fight between four teams this season, which doesn’t include the Nationals who have their own young superstars in James Wood and CJ Abrams.

It’s business as usual around the rest of the league. The Yankees are still a powerhouse, the Dodgers continue to bully teams, and the American League might be weaker than last season. Oh, and the Pirates are in first place in the NL Central. Weird.

William Navarro-Imagn Images

1. Dodgers

Yeah, they’re still number one.

The Dodgers lead the majors in OPS (.875), homers (25), and slugging (.506) early in the season, and are getting incredible production from Andy Pages. The 25-year-old enters Saturday with a major league-leading .449 batting average and an NL-leading 1.6 bWAR. He also entered Friday’s game with an NL-leading 22 hits, eight of which are extra-base hits.

The rest of the lineup is also flourishing. Freddie Freeman and Kyle Tucker have turned early woes around, the team has survived with Mookie Betts on the 10-day IL, and Max Muncy broke out Friday with a three-homer night. They won five games in a row before dropping Wednesday’s finale to the Blue Jays, and have a healthy +35 run differential.

2. Yankees

Will Ben Rice win the AL MVP? I’m not sure, but if the season ended today he’d have a case.

Rice is third in baseball in OPS, and second in slugging percentage and OBP. He’s been elite while others have not. Aaron Judge has a pedestrian .738 OPS, Trent Grisham hasn’t matched his 2025 form early, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. has struggled mightily, which he attributed to cold weather.

The real engine has been the pitching. The staff hasn’t slowed down after its historic start, and leads the AL with a team 2.50 ERA. The “worst” starter in the four-man rotation has been Will Warren, and he has a 3.07 ERA. Still, they need more offense. The club started 8-1. Now they’re 8-5.

3. Braves

Atlanta’s back! What? Didn’t you read the open?

The club is enjoying a resurgence, mostly due to catcher Baldwin. He’s slashing .328/.391/.621 with a major league-leading 15 homers and 16 RBIs. Matt Olson also hit his groove early, and a .982 OPS with four homers through 14 games.

Along with a strong offense is their MLB-best 2.25 ERA. Bryce Elder has started 2026 with 13 scoreless innings, Reynaldo López has a 1.15 ERA and some bruises in three starts, and Grant Holmes‘s ERA sits at 2.25 through three starts. Chris Sale‘s 3.94 ERA is the highest on the staff.

4. Mets

The Mets seemed to be treading water after losing Juan Soto.

The club took three of four from the Giants, then defeated the Diamondbacks to open a three-game set. Yet, despite initial positive signs from the offense, the Mets have lost three in a row. The offense has scored three runs over their last three games, and hasn’t scored in 17 straight innings.

Still, there isn’t much room for concern. Soto will return eventually, Jorge Polanco‘s Achilles seems fine for now, and the club is still 7-7 despite the offense being non-existent in the beginning of the season. Their pitching has been excellent and is sixth in the majors with a 3.26 ERA. It did take a hit when Clay Holmes left Friday’s game vs. the Athletics with a left hamstring injury, but the righty said post-game he’s optimistic he’ll make his next start.

5. Mariners

The M’s snapped a five-game losing streak with a 9-6 win over the Rangers Friday. Randy Arozarena clubbed a massive two-run homer in the fifth, giving the Mariners a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

The win and offensive outburst was much needed for Seattle. Their offense is going through their early woes, but a 5-9 record can be hard to claw your way back from. The only consistent bats have been trade acquisition Brendan Donovan and the 22-year-old Cole Young. Still, this team is loaded, and once the regulars get going, this team will prosper. There’s no reason for concern.

6. Marlins

The Marlins rebuild might be over.

The fish have started 2026 on the right foot, jumping to an 8-6 record and +11 run differential. They’re getting incredible offensive production from Xavier Edwards (1.016 OPS), Connor Norby (122 OPS+), and Otto Lopez (.836 OPS), plus the new guy Owen Caissie is slugging .583 with 12 runs batted in. The offense is rolling and they don’t even have Stowers healthy.

The one concern has been the pitching. Ironic, right? Sandy Alcantara has pitched to a vintage 0.74 ERA, but Janson Junk has the next best ERA at 3.09. The bullpen has also been abysmal. Every arm in the ‘pen has an ERA+ under 100 outside Andrew Nardi.

7. Guardians

José Ramírez has been uncharacteristically bad to start the year. He’s slashing .151/.250/.264 and only one homer through the first two weeks, leaving the offensive load to younger names.

Chase DeLauter has been the main cog, but other guys like offseason signee Rhys Hoskins have fit perfectly so far. Hoskins doesn’t have a homer yet, but his five doubles have been more than enough and he’s second on the team in OPS+.

The offense has started slow. But the Guardians have always won from great pitching, and it’s been no different in 2026. Gavin Williams, Parker Messick, and Joey Cantillo have been fantastic, so much so that it’s distracted from the sinking bullpen that’s normally among the best in baseball. But like the other teams ahead of the Guardians, I’ll say it’s early. Baseball is a marathon and I doubt Cade Smith will finish as one of the worst relievers in baseball.

8. Phillies

It’s been a poor start for the reigning NL East champs.

Their team .662 OPS is 21st in baseball, and outside a series with the Nationals, they’ve been manhandled in the first two weeks. They dropped a series to the Rangers and Giants, plus dropped Friday’s game to the Diamondbacks 5-4.

The offensive production from their infield may be the worst in baseball. Bryson Stott (.443 OPS) and Alec Bohm (.505 OPS) have been non-existent, and make up the middle of the Philadelphia order. Trea Turner also has been mediocre, and is slugging just .327 with 13 strikeouts in 13 games.

The one bright spot has been Cristopher Sanchez. He’ll be on NL Cy Young watch the whole season, and has a 1.65 ERA and 12.7 K/9 in 16 1/3 homerless innings.

9. Blue Jays

It’s never a great week when you get swept by the White Sox. No matter what part of the season you’re in.

But the Blue Jays sandwiched a series sweep with the Sox between a loss to the Rockies and two more to the Dodgers to suffer an early six-game losing streak. It was an offense that might have dropped them off the list if not for it being April, but it seems like the reigning AL champions have bounced back.

They survived the series finale against the Dodgers, then beat down on the Twins Friday 10-4 to get back to 6-7. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has put up an early .863 OPS, plus Kevin Gausman and Dylan Cease both have ERAs under three and are tied in the AL for the most strikeouts (26).

The only serious issue early for the Jays has been health. Both Addison Barger and Alejandro Kirk have hit the 10-day IL, Anthony Santander is nowhere to be found, and the five crucial arms started the season on the shelf. Cody Ponce was supposed to fill time with Trey Yesavage, José Berríos, and Shane Bieber all hurt, but now he’s on the 60-day IL and most likely will miss the remainder of the season. Yeah, not great.

10. Astros

Some might ask why a team that’s 6-8 and has a -2 run differential is on this list. Especially coming off a failed season in 2025.

Well, it’s because the Astros have quietly been one of the best offenses in baseball. Only two teams have OPSs over .800. That would be the Dodgers and Houston. The results are mostly due to Yordan Alvarez being healthy, and the full-time DH has a ridiculous .516 OBP and .750 slug through his first two weeks. Christian Walker has also hit his stride after a forgettable 2025, and is OPSing .994 with three homers as of Saturday.

Of course, not enough can be said about Cam Smith. The rookie got a cup of coffee last season, but has flourished in the first two weeks. He’s slashing .250/.357/.479 with three homers in 14 games, and is making the decision to trade Tucker look better every day.

Rest of the Field

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

Previous Rankings: W1 | OD

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JJ Wetherholt has looked comfortable with St. Louis so far, taking his walks and holding second base defensively for a young and upcoming Cardinals team. Konnor Griffin signed a 9-year, $140 million extension at 19 and then promptly hit an RBI double in his first major league at-bat Friday, signaling a beacon of hope offensively for a Pittsburgh team already loaded with pitching.

Then of course there’s Chase DeLauter. MLB Pipeline’s No. 43 prospect has already clubbed five homers in seven games, putting up a .923 slugging percentage through 27 plate appearances. Safe to say he’s scorching hot, and could be another offensive weapon for Cleveland.

The young guys are rolling. And so is the rest of the majors. The Dodgers and Yankees are still elite, the Marlins look like a team that could fight their way into a regular top-10 team through seven games, and the Braves have also jumped to a 6-2 record with a healthy core.

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

1. Dodgers

The Dodgers started the 2026 season in classic fashion. They swept the Diamondbacks to open the year 3-0, lost a series to the Guardians thanks to DeLauter going nuclear, and then bounced back with by slaughtering the Nationals 13-6.

They’ve done all this despite slow starts from Mookie Betts, Will Smith, and Freddie Freeman. The pitching has been the leading factor for the club, with Roki Sasaki proving doubters wrong in his first start and Shohei Ohtani struck out six in six scoreless innings to start his season.

2. Yankees

The Bombers are poised to have another dominant season. But right now, it’s not because of the bats.

The pitching staff was historic in the first week of the season for the Yankees. They allowed just three runs over their first five games, matching the record set by the 1943 Cardinals, and through seven games have allowed just eight runs. Max Fried and Cam Schlittler haven’t allowed an earned run through two starts, and Will Warren has a 2.70 ERA and nine strikeouts in 10 innings.

This is not to say the offense has been lagging behind either. Ben Rice looks like another Brian Cashman gem, and Giancarlo Stanton has begun the season on a tear with three extra-base hits in 25 plate appearances.

3. Mariners

The M’s have started the season exchanging wins and loses, but there’s no cause for panic.

They ran into the Guardians for a four-game set to begin the year, resulting in an even split down the middle. Then they hosted the Yankees at home, where they dropped the final two games to lose the series.

Julio Rodriguez is having his usual slow start, batting just .100 coming into Saturday. Cal Raleigh has also fallen back to earth to begin 2026, and has already gotten a mental day off in the first week of the season. He’s still looking for his first homer, and has struck out 16 times in 29 at-bats. Both these two superstars will find their groove, and this team should dominate the American League West.

4. Blue Jays

The Jays’ new pieces in 2026 have clicked.

Jesús Sánchez and Kazuma Okamoto have both hit in their new homes, registering OPS+’s over 120 and combining for three homers. They’ve fit nicely with guys in Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Andrés Giménez, and the offense has averaged over four runs a game.

The pitching has been hit or miss. Jeff Hoffman has blown a couple saves already, but neither led to losses and he still has a sparkling 1.93 ERA. The rest of the bullpen has been rough, and holds four seperate players with ERAs over 10.

The Jays also got some unfortunate news Saturday. Alejandro Kirk was placed on the 10-day injured list with a fractured left thumb, resulting in the Jays losing a key piece of their offense.

5. Mets

The Mets’ 2026 season started out bumpy.

The offense exploded for 11 runs Opening Day against Paul Skenes, but then went on to score 14 runs over their next six games. Guys like Bo Bichette and Marcus Semien haven’t hit yet, but showed signs of progression Friday. Francisco Lindor also has mitigated his usual slow starts by walking an NL-leading 10 times.

It also helps that the pitching has been reliable. Nolan McLean, Clay Holmes, and Kodai Senga have been a strong 1-2-3, and the bullpen hasn’t faltered for Carlos Mendoza.

The only thing looming over the Mets right now is Juan Soto‘s calf. He was pulled in the first inning Friday and is getting an MRI to see how serious the injury is.

6. Phillies

Will Brandon Marsh win the NL MVP? Probably not, but he’s playing like one in March.

And the Phillies have needed it, because their offense has been stale. Bryce Harper is slashing .179/.258/.429, Trea Turner has a .646 OPS, and Alec Bohm and Bryson Stott have both registered OPS+’s under 70.

The backbone early has been their elite pitching. Cristopher Sanchez has a 0.79 ERA through two starts, Andrew Painter struck out eight over 5 1/3 in his major league debut, and Aaron Nola has 16 strikeouts in 11 1/3 innings.

7. Guardians

Cleveland might have developed another superstar.

DeLauter was called up to begin the season, and he’s already mashing. The lefty has five homers in seven games, and is OPS’ing 1.293. He’s been a life preserver for the lineup which is struggling right now, as José Ramírez and Steven Kwan haven’t hit through the first week.

The starting rotation is also being leaned on early in the season. Gavin Williams has a 2.25 ERA through two starts, 25-year-old Parker Messick threw six scoreless to begin the season, and Joey Cantillo has punched out 11 over nine innings.

8. Braves

The Braves are healthy. And that should scare the league.

The club has gone 6-2 in their first eight games, powered by Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies, Drake Baldwin, Dominic Smith, and Mauricio Dubón, who all have OPSs over .900.

Chris Sale is also already in midseason form, pitching to a 0.75 ERA over two starts and leading a Braves rotation that has survived despite numerous injuries. The bullpen also looks like the best in the sport, with just four earned runs allowed in 28 1/3 innings.

9. Cubs

Chicago has started slowly, and continues to deal with injury.

Seiya Suzuki is still out due to his injury in the WBC, and the club had Cade Horton pulled with right forearm tightness Friday. Not great.

Still, they have the glue to survive and the talent to win. Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ have been carrying the freight for a lineup trying to find their swing, and Alex Bregman broke out of a funk with a couple homers against Washington.

We’ll see how the rotation holds up. Edward Cabrera was lights out in his debut and struck out five over six scoreless innings, and Matthew Boyd struck out 10 over 5 2/3 innings after a rough debut.

10. Orioles

Baltimore’s record isn’t at .500 to start the year, but there have been positive signs.

Adley Rutschman is slashing .294/.429/.529 to start the season, hopefully putting worrisome thoughts about the type of player he is to bed. Pete Alonso has also fit in nicely, homering off Jacob deGrom in the first series of the year.

Trevor Rogers is also repeating his bounce back 2025. The lefty has registered a 1.38 ERA in two starts, and has provided Birdland with a reliable ace, something the club hasn’t had since Corbin Burnes.

Rest of the Field

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

Previous Rankings: OD

The post 2026 MLB Powering Rankings: Week 1 appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

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

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Bellinger entered the offseason as one of the most sought-after bats on the market. After a pair of short-term “prove-it” deals with the Cubs and Yankees, he has finally landed the long-term contract he and agent Scott Boras have been seeking.

The deal includes a $20 million signing bonus and opt-outs after the second and third seasons, per Passan. Nightengale adds that those opt-outs would shift back one year if a lockout occurs.

From a fit standpoint, the fit makes sense. Bellinger’s left-handed swing is tailor-made for Yankee Stadium’s short porch in right field, and his ability to play both the outfield and first base gives the Yankees valuable flexibility.

So, what does this mean for the Mets?

It was no secret that David Stearns and the Mets front office were monitoring Bellinger’s market. Reports have linked the Mets to Bellinger several times and he was viewed as a potential option to rotate through the outfield and possibly replace Pete Alonso at first base.

How aggressive the Mets truly were is unclear. But recent roster moves help explain why they ultimately stayed on the sidelines. According to The Athletic’s Will Sammon, the Mets believe their position-player group is already set after acquiring Luis Robert Jr. on Tuesday, and league sources do not expect them to pursue another big-money bat.

With Robert now in the mix and Carson Benge waiting in the wings, Sammon reported that the Mets are comfortable with their internal left-field options, including Tyrone Taylor, Brett Baty, and Benge, with David Stearns leaving the door open for Benge to compete for a roster spot this spring.

Ultimately, committing five years to a player entering his age-31 season was a risk the Mets chose to let the Yankees take.

With Bellinger off the board, one of the final major dominoes has fallen. The only player still remaining in MLB Trade Rumors’ Top 10 free agents is Framber Valdez, while the highest-ranked hitter left is Eugenio Suárez at No. 20 overall.

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Weaver started the 2025 season exceptionally well. Through the end of May, he posted a 1.05 ERA, 0.70 WHIP, 3.10 FIP, and an astonishing 98.6% strand rate. That remarkable strand rate helped him record eight saves and six holds, despite striking out only 8.44 batters per nine innings. In early June, he suffered a strained hamstring. After the injury, the rest of his season saw him post a 5.31 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 4.42 FIP with a 63.5% LOB%. Notably, Weaver returned from the injury after just 17 days on the IL, despite an initial diagnosis of four to six weeks. In his first five innings back, he gave up four home runs (he allowed 10 all season) and eight earned runs for a 13.50 ERA. After a blown save against the Mets (on a Jeff McNeil two-run home run), he was given four days off. Those appearances aside, Weaver had a 2.73 ERA in 59 2/3 innings, which is more like the pitcher he was expected to be.

When digging in a little deeper into Weaver’s 2025, a number of points are important to mention. The first is that prior to injury, Weaver’s fastball velocity was 94.4 mph (down from 2024, where he sat at 95.8) with 19.3 inches of IVB (induced vertical break) and 7.0 inches of HB (horizontal break). His Stuff+ grade on the fastball was 102 (100 is league average), even with the reduced velocity. Weaver’s changeup sat at 87.1 mph and featured 14.1 inches of HB and -7.1 VAA, creating strong separation (VAA is vertical approach angle and measures how much a ball drops, with closer to zero being bad for offspeed pitches). His Stuff+ grade varies on the site, but was a 95 on Fangraphs. What made Weaver elite was his control; he had a 107 Location+ prior to injury, which, combined with his change-up that induces chase, made him very successful.

Post-injury, the fastball velocity ticked back up to 95.5 mph. However, its IVB dropped to 18.8 inches, and HB fell to 6.7 inches, meaning whatever gains Weaver saw in velocity were negated by his lesser movement. Additionally, his overall Pitch+ went down from 105 to 95. This was the result of poor location. His zone rate on the fastball dropped from 58% to 53.4% and his whiff rate fell from 26.3% to 23.1%. Weaver’s changeup also lost some of its effectiveness. After returning from the IL, the changeup also had an uptick in velocity and averaged 88.6 mph with slightly less vertical -6.9 VAA. His zone rate on the changeup also dropped from 41.7% to 37.6% and his Stuff+ number dropped from 95 to 88. However, those numbers were deeply impacted by his stretch from June 20 to July 4. His Location+ in those five innings was 89. After his four-day reset, his Location+ was 96 the rest of the year, down from before the injury, but not as poor as during that stretch directly after the injury.

Despite these mid-season struggles, Weaver’s underlying numbers in 2025 were stronger than in 2024. His xERA went from 3.31 to 2.96, his walk rate went down from 7.9% in ‘24 to 7.6% in ‘25, his opponent xBA went down from .200 to .195, and his chase rate went up from 31.9% to 32.8% in 2025. Specifically, his fastball rated better in 2025. The average exit velocity dropped from 92.5 in ’24 to 90.8 average in ’25, and his opponent xSLG went from .395 in 2024 to. .375 in 2025. However, despite the weaker contact surrendered, Weaver saw worse results against the fastball. He had a .424 opponent SLG in 2025 and a .333 opponent SLG against the fastball in 2024. With better batted ball fortune, Weaver should see better results in 2026.

Weaver is projected to replace Reed Garrett as the “jack-of-all-trades” reliever for the Mets, handling the closing duties, the setup role, multi-inning appearances, and situations with inherited runners. Weaver is uniquely equipped to handle such a wide range of tasks. Over the last two seasons, he’s thrown 148.2 innings (third most among relievers), pitched on back-to-back days 18 times, and thrown more than an inning 46 times, demonstrating durability and versatility.

When looking at the bullpen, the combination of Weaver and Williams will make $73 million total. The two are projected to have a 1.7 fWAR in 2026 (although subject to change when the signing is official), the same as Edwin Díaz is projected for 2026. Ultimately, this is a sound signing and should allow the Mets to explore a trade for one of San Diego’s many relievers as well as continue to search for a front-end starting pitcher and a big bat. At his best, Weaver is a strike-thrower with quality stuff and elite control, making him one of the more effective relievers in the game.

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Position: RP B/T: R/R
Age: 32 (08/21/1993)
2025 Traditional Stats: 64 G, 17 GF, 21 HLD, 8 SV, 4 BS, 64.2 IP, 4-4, 3.62 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 72 SO, 20 BB
2025 Advanced Stats: 113 ERA+, 27.5% SO%, 7.6% BB%, 2.96 xERA, 3.89 FIP, 4.12 xFIP, -0.8 bWAR, 0.5 fWAR

RUNDOWN

After his remarkable 2024 campaign where he emerged as one of baseball’s most dominant closers, Weaver found himself in more of a setup role after the Yankees traded for closer Devin Williams. The Yankees expected Williams and Weaver to be a dynamic one-two punch at the back of their bullpen, but by the end of the season, both players had earned and lost the closer job.

Weaver’s season started strong. Through the end of May, he posted a 1.05 ERA, 0.70 WHIP, 3.10 FIP, and 98.6% LOB%. This helped him accumulate eight saves, six holds and only one blown save. Then, on June 1, he strained his hamstring. The rest of the year, he posted a 5.31 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 4.42 FIP and 63.5% LOB%. He still accumulated 15 holds with only three blown saves in those 39 innings pitched.

Before the injury, Weaver’s fastball sat at 94.4 mph with 19.3 inches of IVB and 7.0 inches of HB. His changeup, at 87.1 mph, featured 14.1 inches of HB and -7.1 VAA, creating strong separation. Post-injury, the fastball velocity ticked up to 95.5 mph. However, its IVB dropped to 18.8 inches and HB fell to 6.7 inches. His zone rate on the fastball dropped from 58% to 53.4%. His whiff rate fell from 26.3% to 23.1%. His changeup lost bite at 88.6 mph with less effective -6.9 VAA and a worse spin profile. His zone rate dropped from 41.7% to 37.6%. His cutter effectiveness did improve in the second half, though, and he began leaning on it more down the stretch. It hovered between 11-12% usage compared to 8.7% before the injury. He also pretty much completely dropped his slider after his injury. This drop in command and effectiveness overall led to a surge in home runs. His HR/9 jumped from 0.70 to 1.85.

Weaver may have been rushed back from injury before he was ready, which could explain his struggles in the second half. That said, there’s still plenty to like in Weaver’s profile. His first-half performance demonstrated legitimate closer ability. Many of his underlying skills were present, even when he was compromised. With a full healthy offseason to rebuild lower-body strength and restore his mechanics, the first-half version of Weaver isn’t out of reach.

CONTRACT

MLB Trade Rumors predicts a two-year deal totaling $18 million for Weaver. As a former starter before joining the Yankees, Weaver lacks the track record of more established relievers, but his progress over the last two years should make teams optimistic that he can be a strong back-end arm for the next few years.

RECOMMENDATION: CHECK IN WITH

For the Mets, Weaver represents a buy-low opportunity as a right-handed setup complement to AJ Minter. His first-half performance demonstrated closer-quality stuff. Pairing him with Minter in the seventh and eighth innings creates a formidable late-inning setup duo.

Weaver also would provide insurance if Edwin Díaz were to sign elsewhere. The Mets shouldn’t count on him as their primary closer given second-half struggles. However, his 2024 track record shows he can handle ninth-inning duties if needed. A healthy offseason to address the hamstring could unlock the dominant version of Luke Weaver.

The post Free Agent Profile: Luke Weaver, RP appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

ALDS action continued on Tuesday, with the Mariners and Yankees both coming away with big wins.

The Mariners scraped together an 8‑4 win over the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday to take a 2-1 series lead. Logan Gilbert allowed just one run over six innings and Jack Flaherty could not make it through four for Detroit. Cal Raleigh, Eugenio Suarez and J.P. Crawford each swatted a home run for Seattle.

The Yankees rallied for a 9‑6 win over the Blue Jays. They stayed alive in the series, still down 2-1. Trailing 6‑3 in the fourth, Aaron Judge launched a three-run homer off the foul pole to tie the game. An inning later, Jazz Chisholm Jr. added a solo homer to put New York ahead, and the Yankees never looked back.

All four division series are in action Wednesday.

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Latest Mets News

Right-handed reliever Wander Suero has elected free agency, per his MiLB.com transaction page. The 34-year-old was claimed off waivers by the Mets in September but never appeared in a major league game for the club.

Latest MLB News

Per MLB.com’s Tim Stebbins, Guardians players David Fry and Nick Enright are both set to undergo surgeries. Fry, 29, will have procedures to repair a deviated septum and fractured nose after being struck in the face by a 99 mph fastball from Tarik Skubal in September. Enright, 28, who previously overcame cancer, is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery in the coming weeks.

According to MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart, both Astros GM Dana Brown and manager Joe Espada are under contract through 2026 and will return next season, ending speculation about their futures.

Latest on MMO

Mathew Brownstein interviews former Mets and Yankees reliever Adam Ottavino.

Allison Waxman looks at projected Mets arbitration salaries for 2026.

On This Date in Mets History

1973: Following a hard slide into second base, a fight breaks out between Pete Rose and Bud Harrelson. The tension stems from Harrelson’s postgame remark after Jon Matlack’s two-hit shutout in Game 2, when he said that Matlack “made the Big Red Machine look like me hitting today.” The comment angered Rose and the Reds, leading to the confrontation.

Also, Rusty Staub becomes the first Met to have a multi-homer game in the postseason.

2000: Bobby Jones throws a one-hit shutout to send the Mets to the NLCS.

2022: Jacob deGrom strikes out eight batters over six innings in his final start with the Mets.

Born on This Date: Colin Holderman (1995).

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