MLB Power Rankings as Yankees Join Top 5 and Mariners, Brewers Climb

When the dust settles on the upcoming week, one month of the 2025 MLB season will officially be in the books, and what could reasonably be dismissed as a small sample size now starts to become more difficult to look past.

That applies to both good and bad starts, as teams that have exceeded expectations start to look like the real deal, and teams that have fallen short of where they were expected to be get closer to hitting the panic button.

All of that to say it's time for another update to our weekly MLB power rankings, and as is generally the case in April and May, it was another week of significant shuffling up and down the rankings.

If your favorite team is not as high as you would like, take a deep breath, relax and remember that none of this actually matters. It's a fun exercise meant to spark some good leaguewide debate across Major League Baseball each week.

These rankings will be updated each and every Monday morning for the next six months. If a team is winning, it will climb. If a team is losing, it will fall.

30. Colorado Rockies (4-17)

Previous Rank: 30
Last Week: 0-3 @ LAD, 1-2 vs. WAS

The Rockies have lost 10 straight series dating back to last season, and it's starting to look like they might give the 2024 White Sox a run for their money in terms of general futility. With top prospects Chase Dollander, Adael Amador and Zac Veen all on the active roster, a youth movement is underway.

29. Chicago White Sox (5-16)

Previous Rank: 29
Last Week: 0-3 vs. ATH, 1-2 @ BOS

Not many teams are in a position to give a Rule 5 pick a shot in the starting rotation, but the White Sox have done it with Shane Smith and been rewarded with a 2.82 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and a .167 opponents' batting average in 22.1 innings over his first four starts. This season will be all about finding individual bright spots like his performance.

28. Minnesota Twins (7-15)

Previous Rank: 28
Last Week: 2-1 vs. NYM, 0-3 @ ATL

After picking up a much-needed series win over the Mets at home, the Twins hit the road and were promptly swept by the Braves, keeping them on the first slide as part of the dreaded "bottom three" of these rankings. Despite respectable surface-level numbers, their bullpen has eight losses and five blown saves through 22 games.

27. Pittsburgh Pirates (8-15)

Previous Rank: 27
Last Week: 3-1 vs. WAS, 0-3 vs. CLE

The Pirates offense showed some signs of life last week, including a season-high 10 runs on Monday, but they were also shut out on Tuesday and Saturday as consistency at the plate continues to be a major issue. Oneil Cruz slugged three home runs last week, and he now has an .839 OPS with five long balls and 10 steals on the year.

26. Miami Marlins (9-12)

Previous Rank: 23
Last Week: 0-3 vs. ARI, 1-2 @ PHI

On paper, it looked like the Marlins might have an all-time bad offense heading into the season, but they actually rank third in the majors with a .260 team batting average while scoring 4.5 runs per game. On the other hand, the pitching staff has been among the worst in baseball with a 5.07 ERA that ranks 27th in the league.

25. St. Louis Cardinals (9-13)

Previous Rank: 24
Last Week: 2-1 vs. HOU, 0-4 @ NYM

Brendan Donovan is having one of the best seasons no one is talking about, hitting .356/.387/.540 and leading the NL with 31 hits in 22 games. However, the offense as a whole continues to be a glaring issue. They were shut out twice last week and managed just nine runs in a four-game sweep at the hands of the Mets.

24. Washington Nationals (9-13)

Previous Rank: 25
Last Week: 1-3 @ PIT, 2-1 @ COL

With MacKenzie Gore and James Wood both looking like legitimate long-term building blocks and Dylan Crews also starting to heat up at the plate, there is plenty of reason to be optimistic about the Nationals going forward. They might not be ready to contend quite yet, but they appear to be in a good position to improve on last year's 71-91 finish.

23. Atlanta Braves (8-13)

Previous Rank: 22
Last Week: 1-2 @ TOR, 3-0 vs. MIN

The Braves recorded their second series win of the season with a three-game sweep of the Twins, though Minnesota is not exactly off to a glowing start this year either. Spencer Strider made his long-awaited return from Tommy John surgery against the Blue Jays on Wednesday, allowing five hits and two earned runs while throwing 97 pitches.

22. Tampa Bay Rays (9-13)

Previous Rank: 21
Last Week: 1-2 vs. BOS, 1-3 vs. NYY

The Rays now have an all rookie outfield with speedy Chandler Simpson joining surprise standouts Kameron Misner and Jake Mangum when he made his MLB debut on Saturday. After losing four of their last five series, they might be more and more willing to embrace a youth movement if things don't improve in the coming weeks.

21. Athletics (10-12)

Previous Rank: 26
Last Week: 3-0 @ CWS, 1-2 @ MIL

Tyler Soderstrom launched three more home runs for the Athletics last week, and the former top prospect is now hitting .298/.362/.643 with nine home runs and 19 RBI in 22 games. Outside of Gio Urshela and Max Muncy at the bottom of the lineup, the A's have assembled a formidable offensive attack, and they rank seventh in the majors with a .730 OPS as a team.

20. Kansas City Royals (9-14)

Previous Rank: 17
Last Week: 0-3 @ NYY, 1-3 @ DET

The Royals snapped a six-game losing streak with a win over the Tigers on Sunday, and until things start clicking offensively they will continue to slide down these rankings. They are averaging just 2.9 runs per game and hitting .210 with a .583 OPS as a team, with no regulars aside from Bobby Witt Jr. (.847) and Maikel Garcia (.771) sporting an OPS over .600.

19. Baltimore Orioles (9-12)

Previous Rank: 20
Last Week: 2-1 vs. CLE, 1-2 vs. CIN

How will the Orioles respond to Sunday's 24-2 shellacking at the hands of the Reds? Those lopsided games can sometimes be a major turning point in the season, whether it's in a positive or negative direction. Right now, they simply do not have the offensive firepower to overcome a MLB-worst 5.43 ERA from the pitching staff.

18. Cincinnati Reds (11-11)

Previous Rank: 19
Last Week: 1-2 vs. SEA, 2-1 @ BAL

After going 3-7 through their first 10 games, the Reds have done a nice job turning things around, picking up series wins over the Giants, Pirates and Orioles along the way. Shoutout to backup catcher Austin Wynns, who went 6-for-7 with a home run and six RBI in Sunday's 24-2 blowout win over the Orioles.

17. Houston Astros (10-11)

Previous Rank: 18
Last Week: 1-2 @ STL, 2-1 vs. SD

A series win over the red-hot Padres should give the Astros a solid opportunity to build some momentum after a lackluster start to the year. The AL West is still wide open, and they have yet to get much of anything from Christian Walker and Yainer Diaz offensively, so things could be a lot worse than hovering around the .500 mark.

16. Los Angeles Angels (11-10)

Previous Rank: 9
Last Week: 0-3 @ TEX, 2-1 vs. SF

The Angels scored four or fewer runs in eight straight games prior to Sunday's 5-4 victory over the Giants, including just four runs in three games while getting swept by the Rangers. A healthy Zach Neto should give the offense a major boost, and he went 2-for-9 with a double, a home run and three RBI in his first three games back after missing the first 18 with a shoulder injury.

15. Texas Rangers (13-9)

Previous Rank: 14
Last Week: 3-0 vs. LAA, 1-2 vs. LAD

The Rangers swept the Angels to begin last week, then needed a walk-off victory on Saturday to avoid being on the wrong end of a Dodgers sweep. The return of Wyatt Langford should give the offense a welcome boost, though there are still several hitters not performing up to expectations, including Marcus Semien who ranks 175th among 175 qualified hitters with a .401 OPS.

14. Cleveland Guardians (12-9)

Previous Rank: 13
Last Week: 1-2 @ BAL, 3-0 @ PIT

The Guardians have logged just one quality start through 21 games, though Logan Allen was one out away on Sunday as he allowed five hits and one earned run in 5.2 innings against the Pirates. With inevitable regression from what was an all-time great bullpen a year ago, the starting staff needs to pick up the slack if they are going to contend for a division title.

13. Toronto Blue Jays (12-10)

Previous Rank: 10
Last Week: 2-1 vs. ATL, 1-2 vs. SEA

With two more hits on Sunday, Bo Bichette is now batting .313 with 30 hits in 22 games, though he is still searching for his first home run and has a .396 slugging percentage and .752 OPS as a result. Now that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is locked up long-term, it will be interesting to see how they proceed with Bichette who is set to reach free agency this winter.

12. Boston Red Sox (12-11)

Previous Rank: 15
Last Week: 2-1 @ TB, 2-1 vs. CWS

After going 7-for-20 with two home runs last week, Trevor Story is now hitting .318/.348/.518 with five home runs and 14 RBI, making a strong early case for AL Comeback Player of the Year honors. Meanwhile, the team also rebounded nicely from a 2-5 week with series wins over the Rays and White Sox to push back toward the top 10.

11. Arizona Diamondbacks (13-9)

Previous Rank: 11
Last Week: 3-0 @ MIA, 1-2 @ CHC

Eight years after going No. 7 overall in the 2017 draft, Pavin Smith is laying the foundation of a breakout season for the D-backs, hitting .382/.485/.691 with eight doubles, three home runs and some eye-opening batted-ball metrics. With a rock solid rotation and strong back end of the bullpen to go along with what is once again a potent offense, the pieces are there for this to be a top-tier contender.

10. Seattle Mariners (12-10)

Previous Rank: 16
Last Week: 2-1 @ CIN, 2-1 @ TOR

The Mariners have won four consecutive series since starting the year with a 3-7 record, including a 4-2 start to their current nine-game road trip. With four home runs last week, Cal Raleigh is now tied with Tyler Soderstrom for the MLB lead with nine on the year. He has done a lot of the heavy lifting offensively with Julio Rodríguez (.188 BA, .675 OPS) off to another glacial start at the plate.

9. Detroit Tigers (13-9)

Previous Rank: 7
Last Week: 1-2 @ MIL, 3-1 vs. KC

Spencer Torkelson continues to be one of the feel-good stories of the 2025 season, and after adding two home runs and 10 RBI to his season total last week, he is now batting .288/.392/.638 with seven home runs and 21 RBI through 22 games. With 12 players currently on the MLB injured list, they have done an admirable job navigating the absence of several key pieces.

8. Milwaukee Brewers (12-10)

Previous Rank: 12
Last Week: 2-1 vs. DET, 2-1 vs. ATH

The Brewers are 12-6 with a plus-43 run differential since getting outscored 47-15 during an 0-4 start to the season, and a big four-game series on the road against the Giants give them an opportunity to continue climbing these rankings. Caleb Durbin was acquired in the deal that sent Devin Williams to the Yankees during the offseason, and he took over as the team's starting third baseman on Friday after he was called up from Triple-A.

7. San Francisco Giants (14-8)

Previous Rank: 3
Last Week: 2-2 @ PHI, 1-2 @ LAA

The Giants dropped two of three to the Angels over the weekend, but that was just their second series loss of the season. Thanks to a handful of offensive outbursts, they are one of only six teams with a run differential of plus-30 or better, and they are averaging just over 5.0 runs per game. Their record is even more impressive considering they have played 19 of 22 games against teams that are above .500.

6. New York Mets (15-7)

Previous Rank: 6
Last Week: 1-2 @ MIN, 4-0 vs STL

A walk-off loss to the Twins on Wednesday marked the first time all season the Mets have lost consecutive games, but they responded by taking four straight from the Cardinals. A pitching staff that was pointed to as a weakness by many heading into the season currently leads the majors with a 2.35 ERA, while Pete Alonso might be NL MVP if the season ended today thanks to a .346/.453/.718 line that includes six home runs, 24 RBI and more walks (14) than strikeouts (12).

5. Chicago Cubs (14-10)

Previous Rank: 4
Last Week: 1-2 @ SD, 2-1 vs. ARI

The Cubs last 15 games have been against the Padres, Rangers, Dodgers, Padres again and Diamondbacks, and they managed to go 9-6 during that grueling stretch. Things don't get any easier this week as they welcome the Dodgers and Phillies to town, but they have proven up to the task of facing top-tier competition to this point. With rookie Matt Shaw optioned to the minors last week, Jon Berti, Gage Workman and Vidal Bruján will be tasked with manning the hot corner for the time being.

4. Philadelphia Phillies (13-9)

Previous Rank: 5
Last Week: 2-2 vs. SF, 2-1 vs. MIA

The Phillies got two wins, three holds and three saves in three chances last week from a bullpen that ranks 29th in the majors with a 5.81 ERA on the year, and that could be a major step in the right direction toward sorting out the biggest weakness on the roster. On the offensive side, Bryson Stott is 10-for-34 with a .342 on-base percentage since moving into the leadoff spot in the batting order.

3. New York Yankees (14-8)

Previous Rank: 8
Last Week: 3-0 vs. KC, 3-1 @ TB

Aaron Judge (12-for-26, 2B, HR, 5 RBI) and Paul Goldschmidt (10-for-27, 2B, RBI) are both swinging a hot bat for the Yankees, while complementary players like Ben Rice and Trent Grisham are also making an impact. Meanwhile, the bullpen has done a great job propping up the rotation with a 3.32 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 11.1 K/9 and nine saves in 10 chances.

2. San Diego Padres (16-6)

Previous Rank: 1
Last Week: 2-1 vs. CHC, 1-2 @ HOU

A weekend series loss to the Padres was enough to make their stay in the No. 1 spot short-lived, but it's shaping up to be quite the battle for NL West supremacy with the rival Dodgers. The bullpen has been electric (1.51 ERA, 10/11 SV), the rotation has been rock solid even without Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove and Fernando Tatis Jr. (94 PA, .358/.436/.691, 8 HR, 7 SB) looks like a MVP candidate leading an offense that averages 4.4 runs per game.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (16-7)

Previous Rank: 2
Last Week: 3-0 vs. COL, 2-1 @ TEX

The Dodgers crashed back to earth following an 8-0 start with three straight series losses, but they moved back into the No. 1 spot with a pair of series wins last week. With 12 pitchers currently on the MLB injured list, it speaks to their tremendous depth and Dave Roberts' ability to manage a pitching staff that they rank seventh in the league with a 3.55 ERA and lead the majors with 222 strikeouts.

Complete Rankings

1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. San Diego Padres
3. New York Yankees
4. Philadelphia Phillies
5. Chicago Cubs
6. New York Mets
7. San Francisco Giants
8. Milwaukee Brewers
9. Detroit Tigers
10. Seattle Mariners
11. Arizona Diamondbacks
12. Boston Red Sox
13. Toronto Blue Jays
14. Cleveland Guardians
15. Texas Rangers
16. Los Angeles Angels
17. Houston Astros
18. Cincinnati Reds
19. Baltimore Orioles
20. Kansas City Royals
21. Athletics
22. Tampa Bay Rays
23. Atlanta Braves
24. Washington Nationals
25. St. Louis Cardinals
26. Miami Marlins
27. Pittsburgh Pirates
28. Minnesota Twins
29. Chicago White Sox
30. Colorado Rockies

Hitter of the Week: Austin Hays, Cincinnati Reds

Stats: 12-for-28, 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 7 R

An All-Star as recently as 2023 with the Orioles, Hays looked like one of the best bargain signings of the offseason when he joined the Reds on a one-year, $5 million deal, and he has delivered in the early going. The 29-year-old has always crushed left-handed pitching, but all three of his home runs last week came against righties.

Pitcher of the Week: Jake Irvin, Washington Nationals

Stats: 2 GS, 2 W, 13.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 15 K

Irvin had a quietly effective 2024 season, chewing through 187.2 innings while posting a 4.41 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over 33 starts. The 28-year-old twirled a pair of quality starts last week, including 6.1 innings of three-hit, two-run ball at Coors Field on Sunday. Over five starts this season, he has a 3.68 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 27 strikeouts in 29.1 innings.

Rookie of the Week: Logan Henderson, Milwaukee Brewers

Stats: 1 GS, W, 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K

The Brewers have always done a nice job finding quality pitching outside of Day 1 of the MLB draft, including Brandon Woodruff (11th round, 2014) and Corbin Burnes (fourth round, 2016), and Henderson might be the latest success story. The 23-year-old was a fourth-round pick in 2021 out of McLennan Community College in Texas, and he logged a quality start against the Athletics in his MLB debut on Sunday.