ClutchPoints 2026 MLB Power Rankings, Vol. 12: The mediocre American League

The MLB Power Rankings are back after the New York Yankees lost their first series in over a month. The American League continues to be mediocre from top to bottom. That changes things not only for struggling AL contenders, but for the surging NL powerhouses.

Let’s check out the MLB Power Rankings amid a confounding start for most of the AL.

#1: Atlanta Braves (-)

The Atlanta Braves hold down the top spot in the MLB Power Rankings with a league-best 28-13 record. They lost their first series of the season against the Seattle Mariners to start the week, but bounced back by taking two of three against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Matt Olson is putting together an MVP-caliber start to the season, with an NL-best 1.031 OPS and 36 RBI so far. He crunched his 300th career home run on Monday and has played every game, continuing his Ironman streak. The Braves host the Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox in a big week ahead.

#2: Los Angeles Dodgers (-)

The Dodgers took two of three from the Houston Astros, but dropped two of three to the Braves this week. At 24-16, they are cruising through the early portion of the season. Mookie Betts is coming off the injured list, which will provide a huge boost to the offense. The former MVP has only played eight games this season, spending most of the year on the IL due to an oblique injury. Shohei Ohtani has been one of the best pitchers in the National League, with a 0.97 ERA in six starts, including seven innings of two-run ball against Houston. With Tyler Glasnow on the IL, Ohtani’s pitching just got more important. Next up, the Dodgers host the San Francisco Giants and visit the Los Angeles Angels, with Blake Snell set to make his season debut.

#3: Chicago Cubs (+2)

The Cubs have won 15 consecutive home games after three straight walk-off victories over the Cincinnati Reds during the week. They did drop a set to the Texas Rangers right after, but that was on the road. In the Friendly Confines, the Cubbies are unbeatable, and Pete Crow-Armstrong is a big reason why. In his last 26 games, he has a .272 batting average and a .812 OPS with 13 RBI. The Cubs’ offense will go with Crow-Armstrong, who has been mashing lately. Chicago continues their road trip against the Braves and the Chicago White Sox next.

#4: San Diego Padres (-)

The San Diego Padres took two of three from the Giants and split four games with the St Louis Cardinals, continuing a solid start to the season. They are 24-16, tied atop the NL West with the Dodgers, despite the lack of power from Fernando Tatis Jr. He still does not have a home run in 167 plate appearances this season. Tatis does have a .243 batting average and 15 RBI, so he is not useless at the plate. But the power he is known for is gone, and it has to come back. The Padres did get a Nick Castellanos walk-off homer to finish the weekend, which is a great sign. Next up, San Diego visits the Milwaukee Brewers and the Mariners.

#5: Milwaukee Brewers (+1)

The Brewers split two games with the Cardinals, a shortened series due to a rainout, and swept the Yankees over the weekend. They walked off the Bombers twice, with Brice Turang taking WBC teammate David Bednar deep to clinch the sweep. The Brewers are 3.5 games behind the Cubs for first in the NL Central, but they have to be pleased with the results so far. Jacob Misiorowski threw 10 100-MPH pitches in a row in his Friday start, continuing a dazzling season. The Brewers face the Padres at home and visit the Minnesota Twins coming up.

#6: New York Yankees (-3)

The Yankees take a tumble after the sweep at the hands of the Brewers. The Bombers are 1-8 against teams above .500 this year, although it is very early for that stat. They clinched a second series win over the Rangers earlier in the week, which could boost their over .500 record soon. Spencer Jones struggled offensively in his debut, which anyone would against Misiorowski, but he did pick up an RBI in the second game. Carlos Rodon was wild in his first start of the season, walking five in 4.1 innings. The Yankees face the Baltimore Orioles on the road before heading to Queens for the Subway Series.

#7: Tampa Bay Rays (+7)

The Tampa Bay Rays are the biggest risers in the MLB Power Rankings, moving up seven spots. They have the best record in the American League, leading the Yankees by just one game. They swept the Toronto Blue Jays and took two of three against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway. They have not allowed more than four runs in a game in 14 tries, which has led to 12 wins. Run prevention got the Rays to the 2020 World Series, and they are back at it again. Next up, the Rays visit the Blue Jays and host the Miami Marlins.

#8: Seattle Mariners (-)

The Mariners took two of three from the Braves, but responded by dropping two of three to the White Sox. They are 19-22, but are only 2.5 games out of first place in the AL West. They got Brendan Donovan back from the injured list, but he went 1-for-10 in his first two games back. Cal Raleigh has been dreadful this year, riding a 0-for-32 streak that has dropped his OPS all the way to .573. Just months after a second-place MVP finish, there are few hitters worse this year than Raleigh. The Mariners’ offense needs to turn it around against the Houston Astros on the road and the Padres at home.

#9: Texas Rangers (+2)

The Rangers are moving up in the MLB Power Rankings after an impressive series win over the Cubs at home. They did drop two of three to the Yankees to start the week, but with the mediocrity across the AL, they are moving up. Corey Seager has a .193 batting average and a .679 OPS this year, which is brutal for a player of his caliber. The Rangers can get moving up the standings if the two-time World Series MVP picks it up, which could come soon. They face the Arizona Diamondbacks at home before visiting the Astros.

#10: Toronto Blue Jays (-1)

Injuries are the story for the Blue Jays so far this season. Trey Yesavage has finally returned from the injured list, making his long-awaited debut after an elite playoff performance. With Max Scherzer and Cody Ponce on the IL, Yesavage had to step up. He has, with a ridiculous 0.68 ERA in three starts so far this year. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Ernie Clement have been solid offensively, but it has not led to a ton of wins. The results have to start pouring in against the Rays at home and the Detroit Tigers on the road.

#11: Detroit Tigers (-4)

The Tigers are tumbling in the MLB Power Rankings thanks to a pitching injury that cannot be understated. Tarik Skubal could be out for months after undergoing left elbow surgery to remove loose bodies. As his free agency approaches, the return date could be interesting to watch. Then, Framber Valdez got slapped around by the Red Sox and suspended for throwing at Trevor Story. They avoided a winless week with a Sunday win over the Kansas City Royals. The Tigers face the Mets on the road and the Blue Jays at home this week.

#12: Pittsburgh Pirates (-)

The Pittsburgh Pirates took two of three from the Diamondbacks before dropping two of three against the Giants. Paul Skenes dominated the Snakes on Wednesday, allowing just two hits in eight innings. The Buccos won that game 1-0 thanks to the first of two straight first-inning bombs for Brandon Lowe. Konnor Griffin has started to turn it around, with a .333 batting average and .982 OPS in his last 12 games. Improved offense helps bring them closer to the postseason than they have been in the past. The Pirates host the Colorado Rockies and the Philadelphia Phillies coming up.

#13: Cincinnati Reds (-3)

The Reds are falling in the rankings this week, as their one-run magic has finally caught up to them. They lost three straight by walk-off against the Cubs on their way to a four-game sweep, but followed it up by taking two of three from the Astros. Elly De La Cruz had a brutal defensive play that cost the Reds a game in Chicago, but his offense makes up for it. He has an .875 OPS and 10 homers so far, tied for the team lead with Sal Stewart. The Reds need wins with the Washington Nationals coming to town before they visit the Cleveland Guardians.

#14: Philadelphia Phillies (+1)

The Phillies have been great under Don Mattingly, with a 10-3 record since Rob Thomson was fired. That has brought them to 19-22 on the season, second in the NL East but way behind the high-flying Braves. They took two of three from the Athletics and the Colorado Rockies this week, moving up in the rankings. Bryce Harper left Saturday’s game with migraines, but came back Sunday to smash a homer in the 6-0 win. The Flyers and 76ers were swept this week, but the Phillies have finally turned it around. They can get to .500 this week with a road trip to face the Red Sox and the Pirates.

#15: Cleveland Guardians (-2)

The Guardians are moving down in the power rankings after dropping a series to the Minnesota Twins. They are 21-21 on the season, which is good enough for first place in the AL Central. With Skubal out, they have taken the inside track to a division title once again. But Jose Ramirez needs to step up, as his .222 batting average and a .745 OPS are not going to get it done. Chase DeLauter continues to dominate, with a 1.123 OPS in eight games to start May. They also traded for Patrick Bailey from the Giants, sending Bo Naylor to AAA amid a brutal start. The Guardians host the Los Angeles Angels and the Reds in a key week ahead.

#16: Athletics  (+3)

The Athletics are holding down the top spot in the AL West thanks to a series win over the Orioles. Shea Langeliers missed a few games for the best reason, as his wife gave birth to their first child. When he came back, he continued his electric start to the season. He leads the American League with a .336 batting average and is 5-for-15 with four RBI since returning from paternity leave. The Athletics have gotten better pitching of late, namely Aaron Civale’s 2.59 ERA, which has helped them to a 21-19 record. They host the Cardinals and the Giants this week, looking to take a significant division lead.

#17: Arizona Diamondbacks (-)

The Diamondbacks are 19-20 on the season after dropping a set to the Pirates and taking two from the Mets. They have made a significant move in the outfield that shows their commitment to turning this season around. Alek Thomas has been DFA’ed, and top prospect Ryan Waldschmidt was called up in his place. In three games, Waldschmidt has three hits and three RBI in eight plate appearances. Could a new face power the Snakes to a winning streak? They have two in a row in the bank with the Rangers and Rockies awaiting on a road trip.

#18: Baltimore Orioles (-2)

The Orioles have the worst run differential in the American League with a brutal -41 mark. That was made worse when they dropped a set to the Athletics to finish the week. They did take two of three from the Miami Marlins to start the week. The pitching has been dreadful to start the season, as no one with two or more starts has an ERA below 4.09. On top of that, Cade Povich has hit the injured list with an elbow injury. The Orioles host the Yankees before visiting the Nationals for three games each.

#19: St Louis Cardinals (+1)

The Cardinals split a two-game set with the Brewers and split a four-game set with the Padres, staying six games over .500. If there was one team you could write off in the NL Central coming into the season, it was the Redbirds. But they keep banking wins and will not go away in baseball’s best division. Jordan Walker has continued his bounce-back season, smashing his 11th homer of the season on Sunday. He had 11 homers in the last two seasons combined. The Cardinals visit the Athletics before hosting the Royals this week.

#20: Kansas City Royals (+1)

It was a brutal start to the season for the Royals, but they have won 12 of their last 18 games to sit at 19-22 on the season. They split four games with the Guardians before taking a set from the Tigers to get to that mark. Since they’ve turned the season around, Maikel Garcia has been great. In his last 14 games, Garcia is hitting .321 and has a .912 OPS. As Vinnie Pasquantino continues to struggle, Garcia has been a great second fiddle to Bobby Witt Jr. The Royals look to keep it up against the White Sox and the Cardinals on the road.

#21: Miami Marlins (-3)

The Marlins’ hot start feels like a long time ago, as they are 19-22 and 11-17 since their 8-5 start. They have some solid pieces, but the pitching has not been good enough to keep up a playoff pace. When Sandy Alcantara put together six innings of two-run ball against the Nationals, they won. But when he allowed seven runs in 4.1 innings against the Orioles, it was a different story. Liam Hicks has been the offensive star no one expected, with a .308 batting average and a .928 OPS. The Marlins visit the Twins and the Rays this week.

#22: Boston Red Sox (+2)

The Red Sox have started to stack some wins under interim manager Chad Tracy. They are 17-23 after sweeping the Tigers and dropping two of three to the Rays. The offense came alive in Detroit, beating up Valdez on their way to 19 runs in three games. Roman Anthony hit the injured list with a wrist/hand injury, Garrett Crochet is there already, and Willson Contreras left Sunday’s game after getting hit in the hand. So no one is planning the Duck Boat parades, but maybe things are looking up. The Red Sox host the Phillies and visit the Braves this week.

#23: Houston Astros (-1)

The Astros’ awful start continued this week, dropping sets to the Dodgers and the Reds to fall in the MLB Power Rankings. They lost Carlos Correa for the season, have been without Jeremy Peña since April 11, and Yordan Alvarez trade rumors are flying. The Astros missed the playoffs last year, and their chances to make this year’s postseason are tanking quickly. They host the Mariners for four games and the Rangers for three in a make-or-break week in South Texas.

#24: New York Mets (-1)

The Mets are still 10 games under .500 after taking two of three from the Rockies and dropping two of three against the Diamondbacks. Juan Soto has been moved to the lead-off spot in the lineup, which makes sense for someone who usually has a high on-base percentage. But in those six games, he has a .095 batting average and a .200 on-base percentage. The Carlos Mendoza Hot Seat Meter was turned down before the road trip. But with the Tigers and Yankees coming to Queens, that could get turned right back up.

#25: Chicago White Sox (-)

There is some excitement around the White Sox for the first time since 2021. Everyone is focused on Munetaka Murakami, and for good reasons. But homegrown Colson Montgomery is becoming a star and could be one for a long time on the Southside. He has 10 homers, 28 RBI, and an .806 OPS in 40 games this season. He was a star for the White Sox in 71 games last year, and has kept that up this season. The 19-21 White Sox host the Royals and the Cubs, looking to peak above .500 this week.

#26: Los Angeles Angels (-)

The Angels are tied for the worst record in the American League at 16-25 on the season. They are 5-13 in their last 18 games, the worst mark in the bigs since April 19. Jose Soriano picked up his MLB-best sixth win on Sunday against the Blue Jays, their lone win against Toronto. He was on the hill on Monday in their lone loss against the White Sox, however. The other eight pitchers who have started a game for the Halos have combined for six wins. The Angels have a tough road ahead with the Guardians on the road and the Dodgers at home.

#27: Colorado Rockies (-)

The Rockies dropped two of three against the Mets and the Phillies, falling to 16-25 on the season. They are playing a much more respectable brand of baseball this year, but they don’t have the talent to compete with the top teams in the National League. They signed Jordan Romano, who was cut by the Angels, in the hopes of bolstering the bullpen. Hunter Goodman has 10 homers on the season, and Mickey Moniak has been great offensively. The lack of depth crushed them this week, and that will continue throughout the year. The Rockies visit the Pirates and host the Diamondbacks coming up.

#28: San Francisco Giants (-)

The Giants picked up some wins, which should have them moving up in the MLB Power Rankings. But they made a trade that is so confounding, they could not be moved up. They traded Patrick Bailey, one of the top defensive catchers in the game, to the Guardians for a left-handed pitching prospect and a competitive balance pick in the upcoming draft. Buster Posey, who paid big money for Rafael Devers, Willy Adames, and Matt Chapman, made a rebuilding trade just to get offense from the catcher position. At 16-24, nothing has gone right for the Giants. They have to make that trade look smart against the Dodgers and Athletics on the road.

#29: Washington Nationals (-)

The Nationals took two of three from the Twins and dropped two of three to the Marlins, moving to 19-22 on the season. One of their wins over Minnesota was a 15-2 triumph, thanks to five RBI from CJ Abrams and a solid start from Miles Mikolas. Development is the stated goal of the season for the Nationals, which has happened so far. 22-year-old third baseman Brady House had three RBI that day and has moved his OPS from .574 last year to .673 this year. The Nationals visit the Reds and host the Orioles coming up.

#30: Minnesota Twins (-)

The Twins lost a series to the Nationals and took a series from the Guardians, moving to 18-23. Simeon Woods-Richardson may not be long for the rotation, as he has allowed at least five runs in five of his last six starts. But the good news is Byron Buxton, who has continued to crush offensively and stay healthy. The centerfielder has an .868 OPS and 21 RBI in 38 games so far this season. The Twins host the Marlins and the Brewers this week.

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