Record: 18-21
Previous ranking: 27
The Athletics showed signs of gaining momentum as they won their sixth consecutive game against the Marlins on Saturday with a score of 20-4. This win brought their record to 17-17, which, in the current format, could possibly put them in contention for the last wild-card spot. While it may be premature to think about that, given their past performances, it’s understandable that some A’s fans may still be dreaming of an extraordinary season. However, Oakland has since lost four out of five games and been outscored 47-33. Their upcoming 10-game road trip to Seattle, Houston, and Kansas City may put a damper on hopes of reaching a .500 record, but it’s worth noting that they have played .500 on the road so far this season.
The Rays are facing a difficult situation as they currently have six starting pitchers injured. Over the weekend, there was concern when Ryan Pepiot was hit with a ball traveling at 107.5 mph on his left calf. Fortunately, tests revealed that there is no structural damage. However, due to the injury, Pepiot has been placed on the 15-day injured list as a precaution. Since joining the Rays from the Dodgers in the offseason trade for Tyler Glasnow, Pepiot has been a strong asset to the team’s struggling pitching staff, with a 3.68 ERA and 41 strikeouts in seven starts. While he will now be absent from the lineup, it is a relief that the injury was not more serious.
Record: 26-13
Previous ranking: 3
On Saturday, all attention will be on PNC Park as Paul Skenes, the top choice in the 2023 draft, takes the mound in his first MLB game against the Cubs. At just 21 years old, Skenes was a dominant force at Triple-A, boasting an incredible 0.99 ERA in seven starts. He also recorded an impressive 45 strikeouts in just 27⅓ innings. Many are viewing him as one of the most remarkable pitching prospects to enter the majors in recent years, drawing comparisons to Mark Prior’s college debut. Standing at 6-foot-5, Skenes could have potentially bypassed the minor leagues and gone straight from college to the big leagues, but his time in the minors only raised the anticipation for his highly anticipated debut.Record: 24-13
Previous ranking: 6
Despite Boston’s recent struggles with injuries, there is some positive news about the team’s rotation. Masataka Yoshida, the team’s designated hitter, has joined the injured list due to a left thumb injury and may need surgery. However, the team can look forward to the return of Nick Pivetta, who was activated to start on Wednesday after dealing with an elbow issue, and Brayan Bello, who is on a rehab assignment for a lat injury. Both pitchers will add depth to the rotation, which has been surprisingly successful with the lowest ERA in the league, thanks to their unconventional approach of using fewer fastballs.Record: 25-13
Previous ranking: 4
The White Sox have been indicating their desire to engage in trades since the start of spring training. Therefore, it should not be unexpected that they traded Robbie Grossman to the Rangers on Wednesday in exchange for minor league pitcher Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa. The team recently acquired Tommy Pham and Mike Clevinger, which opened up opportunities for other players to be traded. There are multiple teams who are already not contenders and have made early-May trades, including Chicago. Both the Marlins and White Sox are likely to continue making trades throughout the summer. — Rogers
Record: 22-16
Previous ranking: 8
Matt Olson had not hit a home run in 24 consecutive games after the team’s loss on Sunday. Ronald Acuna Jr. was able to hit a home run on Friday, but it was only his second of the season. Jarred Kelenic has yet to hit a home run. Despite this, Braves fans can find some comfort in knowing that the team’s worst offensive months in 2023 were April and May, before they had a strong finish in the last four games. However, the Braves were surpassed by Philadelphia in the division standings, marking the first time since the third game of 2023 (the only day they were not in first place last season) that they were not in first place. — Schoenfield
Record: 9-28
Previous ranking: 30
The Marlins had a rough start and made the decision to trade Luis Arraez to the Padres for four promising prospects, including outfielder Dillon Head who was the 25th pick in the 2023 draft. This deal also included outfielder Jakob Marsee, first baseman Nathan Martorella, and reliever Woo-Suk Go being sent to Miami. Peter Bendix, the new head of baseball operations for the Marlins, bluntly stated that the team is not expected to make it to the playoffs this year.Record: 20-17
Previous ranking: 7
Edwin Diaz’s longest streak of 26 consecutive saves in the majors was broken on Sunday when Randy Arozarena of the Rays hit a two-out solo home run to tie the game in the ninth inning. The Rays ultimately won in the 10th. This brings Diaz’s total of surrendered home runs to three within his first 14⅔ innings, which matches the amount he allowed during both the 2021 and 2022 seasons, where he pitched a total of 62 innings in each. In 2019, Diaz’s first season with the Mets, he struggled with giving up 15 home runs. Therefore, it will be important to monitor his home run rate to see if it becomes a larger concern.
The feedback on the trade was mostly positive, but it doesn’t guarantee any standout players and could just bring more struggle for the Marlins. There isn’t much valuable talent to attract other teams, although Jesus Luzardo may be a possibility if he wasn’t currently injured with an elbow issue. – SchoenfieldRecord: 22-16
Previous ranking: 13
Record: 26-12
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 22-17
Previous ranking: 9
Smith
The fact that Cincinnati’s offense is not performing as well as expected is worrisome. Out of all the players, only Elly De La Cruz has an OPS above .800, while recent addition Jeimer Candelario has a batting average of just .206. Both Jonathan India and Spencer Steer are also not meeting expectations with their slugging. While India and Steer are at least getting on base, the rest of the team is struggling in that aspect. Currently, the Reds are ranked 28th in on-base percentage and may soon drop below the low-performing Marlins in this category. Even De La Cruz is in a slump, only batting .136 so far this May.
Last week, Byron Buxton was placed on the 10-day injured list due to swelling in his right knee. In the past, the talented center fielder has struggled with injuries, only playing more than 92 games in a season once in his 10-year career (in 2017). Despite having undergone surgery on the same knee twice, the Twins are optimistic that he will return after the 10-day period. Unfortunately, their other top players have also been sidelined with injuries, but Carlos Correa has since returned. The team’s chances of making it to the postseason largely rely on their players staying healthy.
In addition, the initial rotation has performed exceptionally well that with the return of Taijuan Walker, Spencer Turnbull has been transferred to the relief squad despite having a remarkable 1.67 ERA as a starting pitcher. Turnbull responded to this change by pitching two scoreless innings in relief during Tuesday’s game. — Written by Schoenfield
The Phillies triumphed over the Giants in a four-game series during the weekend while simultaneously the Braves suffered defeat at Dodger Stadium, causing Philadelphia to move into the top spot in the NL East. In the last two years, the Phillies have held the lead for only one day, specifically after the fourth game of the 2022 season. The credit for their recent achievements can be given to Bryce Harper, who had a perfect 3-for-3 record with a grand slam on Tuesday, sending the ball soaring into the right-center field seats. This extends his streak of three consecutive games with a home run. In the past 18 games that Harper has played, the Phillies have recorded an impressive 17 wins, with the star hitting at .333/.481/.667 and accumulating six home runs and 21 RBIs. He continues to improve at his position at first base, with his Statcast metrics being outstanding and ranking in the 93rd percentile for range.
Record: 17-20
Previous ranking: 15
Week 5 | Preseason rankingsRecord: 20-20
Previous ranking: 19
“Our manager, Bob Melvin, addressed the press this week, emphasizing the need for us to improve our performance and clean up our game. We struggled while playing at our home field and Melvin believed that taking our team on the road might be beneficial since our performance hasn’t been up to par. Unfortunately, our play has been extremely poor.” — Gonzalez
After the Dodgers easily defeated the Braves in the first game this season, Atlanta has not only fallen to the fourth spot in our rankings, but also lost their hold on first place in the National League East. They are now three games* behind the Phillies, their division rivals.Record: 15-21
Previous ranking: 23
Record: 19-18
Previous ranking: 11
Here are 10 important facts you should be aware of:
Record: 17-21
Previous ranking: 24
Record: 16-20
Previous ranking: 12
Record: 24-12
Previous ranking: 2
Do you recall when the Mariners planned to reduce their lineup’s strikeout rate during the offseason? Unfortunately, that plan did not come to fruition, as we were aware it would not during spring training. This is because in order to decrease the strikeout rate, the team would need to acquire batters who have strong contact skills. However, the president of baseball operations Jerry DiPoto was unable to achieve this goal over the winter. Surprisingly, the strikeout rate has actually worsened, rather than improved. According to baseball-reference.com, the Mariners are currently striking out an average of 10.38 times per game, which would increase last season’s franchise record by an additional 0.48 strikeouts. At this rate, the team is projected to reach a total of 1,682 strikeouts this year, surpassing the previous record of 1,654 set by the Minnesota team last season.
Unfortunately, the misfortunes continue for the St. Louis team as their catcher Willson Contreras has suffered a fractured left forearm, dealing a major blow to an already struggling team. Prior to the injury, Contreras was leading the team in doubles, home runs, and OPS. While backup Ivan Herrera is competent, he is not able to provide the same level of offensive prowess as Contreras. The loss is especially significant with key players like Paul Goldschmidt struggling. The Cardinals will need someone else to step up and it may require multiple players to ignite their offense.
Marcus Semien, the standout player for the Rangers, is known for always being on the field as a leadoff hitter. From 2019 to 2023, he led the American League in plate appearances for four out of five seasons and is once again at the top of that list. This season, he has been performing at his usual level at the plate, with the only noticeable difference being a slight decrease in walks. However, his defense has been exceptional and he has a strong chance of winning his second Gold Glove award. According to the DEF metric from Fangraphs, which combines various defensive evaluation systems, Semien is currently leading all positions in the majors with a score of 7.6 runs above average. – Doolittle
After facing some significant intraleague opponents, there has been a slight shift in the top five teams of this week’s Power Rankings.
A potential way to evaluate a team’s success is by comparing their payroll and productivity rankings. For the Angels, a quick look at these rankings reflects a team that is struggling to compete. According to Cot’s Contracts, the top five highest-paid players on the Angels this year are Anthony Rendon (currently injured), Mike Trout (also injured), Tyler Anderson (healthy and performing well), Robert Stephenson (out for the season), and Aaron Hicks (released on May 1st). Despite Anderson’s strong performance, he may be a desirable target for trade given his previous success and reasonable contract ( million for this season and the next). Eventually, it may be necessary for the Angels to be more proactive in acquiring assets for the future.
The Giants suffered a sweep in a four-game series in Philadelphia, where they managed to score only 11 runs and their record fell to six games below .500. Upon arriving in Colorado on Tuesday morning, the Giants were ranked 21st in OPS and 23rd in runs per game. Unfortunately, the performances of Jung Hoo Lee, Matt Chapman, and Jorge Soler – their top three offseason signings – have been subpar, along with Mike Yastrzemski and Wilmer Flores.Record: 19-19
Previous ranking: 21
Last week, the Rockies reached a new low in a season full of disappointments as they were swept by the Marlins, a team that was unexpected to dominate. Two of these losses were in walk-off fashion, pushing Colorado even further from the first place spot and bringing their record to 17 games below .500. Despite having completed 11 series, the Rockies have not won a single one this season. This trend is concerning, especially considering their record-breaking 103 losses in 2023 and their current trajectory to exceed it in 2024. The team’s pitching has not been strong, which is to be expected. However, their lack of offensive performance, despite their favorable home field environment, is surprising. The Rockies are ranked 24th in slugging percentage and have only hit 28 home runs, which is one of the lowest in the league. It’s puzzling. – Gonzalez.Record: 18-18
Previous ranking: 18First-month MLB grades »
The Royals’ outfield as a whole has the lowest average, on-base percentage, and OPS, making it a major weakness for the team. It is unknown if Arraez’s presence could have improved these statistics, but it is worth noting that the Royals may be looking to make additions if they continue to perform well. — Doolittle
Record: 18-18
Previous ranking: 25
Record: 21-15
Previous ranking: 14
Record: 22-12
Previous ranking: 1
The Cubs’ starting pitchers had a remarkable streak, although their success did not result in as many victories as it should have in the past week. This does not diminish their accomplishments, however. In the first seven games of May, the rotation had a 0.86 ERA, and they managed to keep their opponents scoreless for four consecutive games while pitching for at least seven innings. However, in Tuesday’s game, rookie Shota Imanaga finally gave up a home run to Jurickson Profar in the eighth inning, resulting in a 1-0 loss. Despite this slight blemish, his ERA is still the best in the MLB at 1.08. – Rogers
On Monday, Walker Buehler made his first appearance in a major league game in almost 23 months. Although he gave up three runs on six hits to the struggling Marlins, his performance showed promise in regards to the speed of his fastball and the movement of his off-speed pitches. Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto have solidified themselves as top-of-the-rotation pitchers. The offense, led by Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, and Freddie Freeman, continues to intimidate with each passing day. The Dodgers have elevated their game, sweeping the Braves and winning 14 out of their last 16 games. With a healthy Buehler on their roster, it almost seems unfair to their opponents.
Our team of experts has evaluated and ordered each baseball team using a mixture of previous knowledge and current performance during the lengthy 162-game season. We have also gathered insights from ESPN’s MLB analysts David Schoenfield, Bradford Doolittle, Jesse Rogers, Alden Gonzalez, and Jorge Castillo for all 30 teams.
General manager A.J. Preller of the Padres is known for his active approach, and he proved it once again by acquiring batting champion Luis Arraez in early May. In exchange for Arraez, Preller traded four prospects to the Marlins. The next day, Arraez debuted with an impressive four hits in a win against the Diamondbacks. Despite facing a limited budget in 2024, Preller has not settled for cheaper options and instead displayed unusual patience in finding top talent. This was evident in his acquisition of starting pitcher Dylan Cease just before the team’s season began in late March, and again when he waited until the second month to add Arraez to the lineup as a designated hitter. With Arraez’s addition, Preller is hopeful that his team will now start performing at their best.Record: 8-28
Previous ranking: 29
Jose Ramirez has had an interesting beginning to his season. On one hand, his power (seven home runs) and RBI numbers (28 in his first 34 games) are good, and his strikeout rate is consistent with his career averages. On the other hand, his batting average is only .245 with a .290 on-base percentage, as he has been walking less and swinging at more pitches outside the strike zone compared to last season. In 2018, Ramirez had an exceptional chase rate, ranking in the top 10%, but it has decreased each season since then, dropping to the top 49% last year and now falling to the top 15% in 2021. While the Cleveland Indians are currently scoring runs thanks to their high average and slugging percentage with runners in scoring position, this is expected to level out and highlight the need for Ramirez to improve his performance. — Written by David SchoenfieldMLB Watchability Index »
On Tuesday, Jose Berrios had the lowest ERA in the majors at 1.44. He had only given up seven runs in 43⅔ innings in his first seven starts. However, things changed when he faced the Phillies. They scored eight runs off of him in 3⅔ innings, causing his ERA to almost double to 2.85. Unfortunately, the Blue Jays lost 10-1 and their offense struggled again as they were held to less than four runs for the 20th time in 36 games. This loss highlighted the importance of the Blue Jays’ pitching staff in preventing the team from falling too far in the standings. In order to avoid a difficult summer, the Blue Jays will need their top players such as Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and others to score more runs.
Record: 19-18
Previous ranking: 16The D-backs went on a stirring run to the World Series in 2023, but they have struggled against quality teams this season. They were swept by the Braves in early April and already have lost series to the Dodgers, Padres, Mariners, Yankees and Cubs. (Arizona’s favorable run differential is mostly the result of beating up on the lowly Rockies.) But a major positive might have occurred Tuesday night, as star outfielder Corbin Carroll, slashing just .203/.297/.250 through his first 145 plate appearances, homered and drove in five runs in a win over the Reds. He believes he has made some necessary tweaks to his swing path. “I feel like my attack angle and vertical bat angle are becoming more where I want them to be and giving me a bigger window for success,” Carroll told The Arizona Republic. — Gonzalez
Record: 17-21
Previous ranking: 20Record: 21-15
Previous ranking: 10
Los Angeles has reclaimed the top spot in our rankings, while Philadelphia now holds the second spot. In the meantime, the Orioles and Yankees remain locked in a battle for first place in their division, with Cleveland close behind in the overall American League standings.
Record: 12-24
Previous ranking: 22Record: 10-29
Previous ranking: 28
Reports of the Royals’ interest in Luis Arraez, prior to him being traded from Miami to San Diego, are noteworthy as it suggests that Kansas City is committed to capitalizing on their successful start. Despite this, the team’s early momentum has faltered due to a string of close defeats and struggles with consistency on offense. These issues can be attributed, in part, to Salvador Perez’s regression to more typical performance levels after his exceptional start.
The win-loss records of pitchers may not carry much weight in the current baseball landscape, but as a whole, Milwaukee’s bullpen has a 14-4 record for the season. They have consistently delivered in high-pressure situations, but can this success be maintained? For instance, Elvis Peguero has a 4-0 record despite a high batting average against of .313 and a 1.69 WHIP. However, the Brewers’ bullpen has performed well overall, led by Bryan Hudson and Hoby Milner. Despite the absence of Devin Williams, they have been able to successfully close out games, showcasing the strength of their pitching strategy even after manager Craig Counsell’s departure.
Josh Hader has faced some challenges since returning to the Houston team. Some of the responsibility falls on him, but the Astros as a whole have also contributed. The team has not performed well enough to take advantage of Hader’s potential. While he has successfully saved three games, he has also allowed runs in three of his four opportunities. In total, Hader has more losses and blown saves than saves, and his ERA is currently over 6. He has already given up as many runs this season as he did in the entire previous season. The Astros have upcoming games against weaker opponents, giving Hader the opportunity to protect more leads. However, it remains to be seen if he will be successful in converting those opportunities.
In Sunday’s game against Toronto, Luis Garcia Jr. performed exceptionally with a 4-for-4 record, including a home run and four RBIs. This helped the Nationals secure a series victory and increased his overall batting average to .337 with 19 RBIs (which has now reached .321 with 20 RBIs). Garcia has displayed impressive skills based on advanced metrics, ranking in the 93rd percentile for hard-hit rate, the 90th for expected batting average, and the 91st for expected slugging. He also has a lower than average strikeout rate. Despite being only 23 years old and not turning 24 until May 16, Garcia has already accumulated over 1,300 plate appearances in the major leagues. He is quickly establishing himself as one of the top-hitting second basemen in the league.
The Tigers had a promising beginning, but faced some challenges on their recent road trip. They were unable to win against the Yankees and lost two out of three games against their division rival, the Guardians. This pushed Detroit five games behind in first place. While starting pitchers Jack Flaherty, Casey Mize, and Reese Olson showed promising performances, the Tigers’ offense struggled, with the exception of scoring 11 runs on Tuesday. Young players Spencer Torkelson and Colt Keith have yet to reach their full potential, with a combined .195/.266/.253 slash line and no home runs in 268 plate appearances this season. Until these players improve, it is unlikely that the Tigers will have a significant breakthrough.Record: 14-23
Previous ranking: 26Bradford Doolittle »
Record: 17-20
Previous ranking: 17
The Baltimore Orioles have the strongest lineup in the American League, which has been causing concern for their competitors. In the last nine games, Baltimore has only allowed their opponents to score three or less runs in eight of them, resulting in seven wins. Corbin Burnes has been performing well with a 2.83 earned run average in seven starts. While Grayson Rodriguez is currently on the injured list, John Means and Kyle Bradish have returned to help the rotation. In his first game back, Means pitched seven scoreless innings. Bradish also had a solid start, only allowing one run against the Yankees in 4⅔ innings. Baltimore’s pitching staff has a 3.30 ERA, ranking them seventh among all teams in the MLB. Craig Kimbrel, the veteran closer, has struggled in his recent appearances, giving up six runs in 2⅓ innings.
The Yankees may have been in trouble after losing top pitcher Gerrit Cole for at least two months before the season began, but their rotation has held strong. His replacement, 25-year-old Luis Gil, has been impressive, including a scoreless outing against the Orioles and limiting the Astros to just one run. Despite a league-leading 24 walks, Gil has a 2.92 ERA in seven starts. Cole, who could return from the injured list by the end of the month, has also made progress in his rehab, throwing off a mound for the first time since March.
