MLB Power Rankings Week 4: Who are the top teams one month in?
We’re nearly a month into the 2026 MLB season, and whereas the No. 1 crew has stood sturdy atop our record, that hasn’t been the case for quite a few playoff hopefuls.
The Mets are making headlines for a 12-game losing streak that lastly ended Wednesday evening, however has dropped them to the backside of standings and all the option to No. 27 on our Week 4 record. But they are not alone in that downfall — the Phillies have the worst run differential in the majors, and the Astros and Red Sox are at the backside of their divisions.
Meanwhile, the Athletics are atop the American League West, the Reds are tied for the fourth-best document in baseball and the Twins are one recreation behind the AL Central-leading Guardians. Who may’ve predicted this 4 weeks in the past?!
What will the month of May convey for these golf equipment? Will they be capable to carry — or change — their momentum?
Our skilled panel has ranked each crew based mostly on a mix of what we have seen up to now and what we already knew going into the 162-game marathon that may be a full baseball season. We additionally requested ESPN MLB consultants Jesse Rogers, Jorge Castillo and Bradford Doolittle to weigh in with an statement for every crew.
Record: 16-8
Preseason rating: 1
While it is tempting to drill down on how inconceivable it’s that Max Muncy is hitting .293 with eight homers and but has simply 9 RBIs, let’s give a few of the Dodgers’ appreciable highlight to the resurgence of Andy Pages. We knew Pages was rather a lot higher than his horrific struggles of final October, when he went 4-for-51 (.078) with zero walks for the champs. But this a lot better? Well, his .439 BABIP up to now strongly means that his .353 common will not maintain up. But he has additionally added greater than 3 mph to his common exit velocity, so there are some actual enhancements. For Dodgers’ opponents, that is simply what they wanted: one extra explosive batting slot to deal with. — Doolittle
Record: 17-8
Preseason rating: 3
The Braves are who we thought they had been final season. They rank second in runs allowed and lead MLB in runs scored regardless of a number of key accidents and Ronald Acuna Jr. getting off to a comparatively sluggish begin. That’s an actual recipe for achievement. With Spencer Strider, Sean Murphy and Ha-Seong Kim slated to return off the injured record quickly, Atlanta seems to be the class of the National League East as soon as once more. — Castillo
Record: 15-9
Preseason rating: 2
The run-it-back Yankees are one of the greatest, if not the greatest, teams in the AL. The beginning rotation is elite — and that is with out Carlos Rodon and Gerrit Cole, who are anticipated to return by early June. Ben Rice leads the majors in OBP, slugging and OPS+. Cody Bellinger is warming up. They have a man named Aaron Judge who has 9 residence runs. Jazz Chisholm Jr., Ryan McMahon and Austin Wells are all struggling and the bullpen is a weak point, however the Yankees have the basis for a deep October run. — Castillo
Record: 16-8
Preseason rating: 4
The Padres have Mason Miller, and different teams do not. At the second, that is by far their greatest aggressive benefit. Miller has gone to a different dimension, or a minimum of his pitches appear to seem magically from one. You shouldn’t cite 162-game paces this early for any participant, particularly not a brief reliever. But we’ll do it anyway, as a result of Miller’s paces is like catching a glimpse of the elegant. He hasn’t been scored on (0.00 ERA, clearly) and, per Fangraphs, his paces are for 56 saves, 190 strikeouts — as a one-inning reliever! — and 14 hits allowed. His fWAR tempo is 6.4, and he is putting out 21.4 batters per 9 innings. It shouldn’t be unreasonable to think about whether or not Miller will get some severe Cy Young chatter. — Doolittle
Record: 15-9
Preseason rating: 10
Pinch-hitting stats in April aren’t precisely the go-to web page for followers, however they inform a narrative for the Cubs, who rank fifth in scoring in MLB. Through 24 video games, Cubs pinch hitters have already got 1 / 4 of the at-bats they did all of final season — and it is not as a result of the crew does not have a bunch of fine hitters. It’s the reverse, actually. Manager Craig Counsell has a lot religion in his bench that he can discover favorable platoon matchups at any time when he wishes. It has led to some enormous hits off the bench, together with a three-run residence run from catcher Carson Kelly to assist beat the Mets on Saturday after which a pinch-hit RBI double by Michael Conforto to do the similar Sunday. Chicago has a deep lineup. — Rogers
Record: 16-9
Preseason rating: 16
Cincinnati’s bullpen has been nothing wanting superb, resulting in one of the greatest stats of the first month: The Reds are 6-0 in one run video games, together with 3-0 in additional innings. They’re additionally 8-3 in opposition to plus .500 teams and 9-3 on the street. There’s more likely to be some regression, however they’ve earned these wins due to the greatest clutch pitching in the recreation regardless of an OPS at the plate that ranks simply above the Mets for worst in MLB. Pitching is the identify of the recreation for Cincinnati, and gamers comparable to Connor Phillips, Brock Burke, Graham Ashcraft and Pierce Johnson are getting it carried out. — Rogers
Record: 13-10
Preseason rating: 9
Not not like final April, the story of the Brewers up to now is their accidents. They are taking part in with out Jackson Chourio, Christian Yelich, Quinn Priester and Andrew Vaughn, amongst others. It has put a pressure on their depth, however virtually no crew is extra geared up to play — and win — shorthanded than Milwaukee. Jake Bauers (5 residence runs) has stepped up. So have pitchers Chad Patrick and Grant Anderson. With Trevor Megill getting hit rather a lot and Abner Uribe slightly, the Brewers will want different contributors — a minimum of till the injured gamers return. Chourio is not far off. — Rogers
Record: 13-12
Preseason rating: 7
At current, 21-year-old rookie Kevin McGonigle leads all AL place gamers in bWAR. Take that Aaron Judge and Bobby Witt Jr. McGonigle has been the full package deal up to now, however what’s such a pleasure to look at is his veteran-like grind at the plate. He’s ultra-patient, however when he swings, he makes contact and has plus extra-base capability when that contact is made. That’s the full package deal. Over the final couple of offseasons, the narrative round the Tigers is that they could want an injection of star energy into an in any other case deep and regular roster to take that subsequent step. But if we had totally realized how good McGonigle was going to be, we would have higher understood Detroit’s want to do that organically. — Doolittle
Record: 14-10
Preseason rating: 8
So, are the Pirates for actual? They assume so — even claiming that previous good begins have been “fluky” in comparison with this season. You can have a look at the glass as half full: Paul Skenes hasn’t been dominant and but the crew is over .500. Or, you possibly can see regression coming at the plate: Are gamers comparable to Oneil Cruz, Brandon Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn going to maintain their OPS round .900 all season lengthy? Probably not. Cruz is perhaps the key, even when Lowe and O’Hearn present that regression. Cruz has the ability set to dominate at the plate and on the bases. As he goes, so may the Pirates. Where this crew goes this 12 months shall be enjoyable to look at. — Rogers
Record: 14-12
Preseason rating: 13
Chase DeLauter has cooled after his blistering begin, however the sky stays the restrict for the child from West Virginia. The 24-year-old has overcome an avalanche of accidents throughout his developmental years, and his presence on the Guardians, who are higher than we thought (as all the time), has added some character to the make-up of a roster that may appear a bit faceless past no-brainer Hall of Famer Jose Ramirez.
DeLauter can hit, and at the same time as his common has dipped, he nonetheless has walked greater than he has struck out and has flashed loads of energy. Best of all, although, is the walk-up tune — John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” It’s one of these songs that the crowd retains singing effectively after the walk-up snippet of it stops taking part in. Soon, the nationwide baseball viewers goes to need to change into acquainted with DeLauter. — Doolittle
Record: 12-12
Preseason rating: 11
How a lot is New York regretting buying and selling Brandon Nimmo to Texas? The Mets’ loss is the Rangers’ achieve as Nimmo has wanted little time to regulate to his new environment. Perhaps he is the offensive spark the crew has been searching for since profitable the World Series in 2023. Maybe that is a bit dramatic, however the wanted increase is not, as the Rangers have been offensively challenged over the previous couple of years — a few of that attributable to the park they play in. It hasn’t stopped Nimmo, although, who has an OPS north of .900. Sending Marcus Semien to the Mets for him seems to be like a house run for Texas president of baseball operations Chris Young. — Rogers
Record: 14-10
Preseason rating: 19
The Diamondbacks have prevented getting buried in the NL West regardless of an offense that has suffered too many accidents and underperformances. On the latter entrance, you possibly can zero in on Arizona’s veteran-laden infield the place Ketel Marte, Geraldo Perdomo and Nolan Arenado all have OPS+ figures effectively under 100, which is the common. The Diamondbacks have subsisted by profitable their fair proportion of an uncommon variety of shut video games. And not all the information has been unhealthy for the offense. Corbin Carroll is in MVP type, and Ildemaro Vargas has been a revelation. But they want extra from the gamers they had been relying on or the dominators of the West will put some actual distance between themselves and the Snakes. — Doolittle
Record: 11-15
Preseason rating: 6
Quick, who leads the Mariners in residence runs after 4 weeks? Not Cal Raleigh. Not Julio Rodriguez. No, it is not Randy Arozarena or newcomer Brendan Donovan both. It’s proper fielder Luke Raley, who has 5 in 72 at-bats up to now after hitting 4 in 183 final 12 months. His present tempo is extra consistent with the 22 homers he hit in 2024. The Mariners have usually been inconsistent at the plate whereas taking part in in a pitcher-friendly ballpark, so if Raley can sustain his tempo, he could possibly be an added bonus to a lineup that ought to present much more in the coming months. He and Donovan have been Seattle’s greatest hitters up to now. — Rogers
Record: 13-11
Preseason rating: 15
The Rays have overcome their payroll drawback to compete over the years by establishing top-tier pitching staffs. So far this 12 months, although, the offense has lugged the pitching employees to .500 territory. Tampa Bay ranks as a bottom-five crew in the majors in ERA and FIP. The offense, in the meantime, has 5 regulars with an OPS+ of 105 or greater, as Yandy Diaz leads the manner and Chandler Simpson wreaks havoc from the leadoff spot. — Castillo
Record: 12-13
Preseason rating: 12
Baltimore invested $155 million in Pete Alonso to provide energy in the center of its lineup behind Gunnar Henderson. That hasn’t occurred but. Alonso has three residence runs and a .372 slugging proportion by 25 video games. Those numbers are alarming for a slugger whose profession lows over a full season are 34 residence runs and a .459 slugging proportion. One metric to notice: Alonso’s bat pace is right down to a median of 73.7 mph from 75.3 mph final season. — Castillo
Record: 10-14
Preseason rating: 17
Around this time a 12 months in the past, the Blue Jays had been .500 and remained there till the finish of May earlier than happening an sudden run that led to Game 7 of the World Series. So it is too early to depend them out. But even the greatest teams can abdomen solely so many accidents, and Toronto is being examined. Here’s an incomplete record of gamers presently sidelined: George Springer, Alejandro Kirk, Addison Barger, Anthony Santander, Trey Yesavage, José Berríos, Cody Ponce and Bowden Francis. Ponce and Francis are out for the season. Santander will not return till September at the earliest, if in any respect. The others will trickle again over the subsequent weeks and months. For now, Toronto should keep afloat whereas shorthanded. — Castillo
Record: 14-10
Preseason rating: 26
The Cardinals have defied expectations in the standings over the first 4 weeks, however is it sustainable? They rank in the backside 5 in ERA, and that even features a goose egg from nearer Riley O’Brien. He’s one motive the Cardinals are above .500, as he has blown simply one save in seven possibilities. And whereas the crew ERA is not something to write down residence about, the Cardinals have been superb in high-leverage moments, rating in the top 5 in clutch pitching, in keeping with FanGraphs. Those moments are what matter most, and whether or not or not it’s at the plate or on the mound, the Cardinals have been a nice shock to their followers up to now. — Rogers
Record: 8-16
Preseason rating: 5
One of the Phillies’ supposed strengths this season, even with out Zack Wheeler to start the 12 months, was their beginning rotation. Instead, Philadelphia ranks close to the backside of the majors in starter ERA. Cristopher Sanchez, the reigning NL Cy Young runner-up, is the solely starter performing to expectations. Wheeler is scheduled to return Saturday in opposition to the Braves, however the Phillies want Jesus Luzardo (6.91 ERA), Aaron Nola (5.06 ERA) and Andrew Painter (4.42 ERA) to enhance to reverse course. — Castillo
Record: 12-12
Preseason rating: 14
The Twins are … exhausting to learn. They’ve performed strong, just-better-than-average baseball and definitely exceeded preseason expectations in the early going. But whenever you have a look at the supply of the shock, it will get slightly murky. One factor we will say for positive is that the rotation has been superb, with Taj Bradley rising as one of the breakout pitchers in baseball up to now. Can the Twins stick with it? Maybe not, however in a league that has a low bar for rivalry, the actual query is perhaps whether or not Minnesota can grasp shut sufficient lengthy sufficient that it discourages ideas of subtracting at the commerce deadline, particularly when pondering a potential Joe Ryan commerce. It’ll be on the Twins from right here to validate their strong starting. — Doolittle
Record: 13-12
Preseason rating: 22
As it seems, catcher Shez Langeliers is perhaps the greatest hitter on the A’s. At least he has been in April. There has seemingly been a special greatest hitter each month going again over the previous couple of years. Remember Lawrence Butler‘s popping out get together? How about Brent Rooker, Tyler Soderstrom and Jacob Wilson? All are off to slower begins this season. And whereas 2025 AL Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz is taking his walks and getting on base, he has been a little bit of a three-true-outcomes man up to now. The level is, if the A’s may ever get the complete group hitting for an prolonged time period, they could possibly be actually harmful. But we knew that already. — Rogers
Record: 9-15
Preseason rating: 20
Boston’s lack of power shouldn’t be an entire shock — it was a priority going into the season. Garrett Crochet carrying a 7.88 ERA by 5 begins, nevertheless, is a special matter. The reigning AL Cy Young Award runner-up has allowed 21 earned runs in 4 outings since starting his season with six scoreless frames on Opening Day. He allowed 5 runs over 5 innings in opposition to the Tigers on Sunday after surrendering 11 runs (10 earned) in 1⅔ innings in opposition to the Twins final week. With Sonny Gray on the IL, Brayan Bello additionally scuffling and an offense with out a lot punch, the Red Sox want Crochet to seek out his footing. — Castillo
Record: 12-13
Preseason rating: 21
Miami’s rebuild is seemingly taking the subsequent step. The Marlins had been one of baseball’s surprises final season, going 78-83 and taking part in spoiler. This season, taking part in themselves into the postseason is believable. Xavier Edwards, Otto Lopez and Liam Hicks have been three of the greatest hitters in baseball to this point. Kyle Stowers made his season debut Sunday. Sandy Alcantara has proven flashes of his Cy Young type. Eury Perez has the stuff to dominate. The gamers to compete for a wild-card spot are there. — Castillo
Record: 12-14
Preseason rating: 25
Can there be another takeaway from the Angels’ April than Mike Trout‘s begin to the season? He’s amongst the recreation’s offensive leaders once more, each in residence runs and OPS after placing on a present at Yankee Stadium final weekend. His walk-to-strikeout ratio — higher than 1-to-1 — is additional spectacular contemplating it was about 2-to-1 in reverse final season. Trout seems to be like he has that proverbial additional bounce in his step, each at the plate and in heart subject. For a minimum of the first 4 weeks, he seems to be to be his classic self once more. — Rogers
Record: 10-16
Preseason rating: 24
Remember when the Astros may pitch higher than most? Those days are slipping away as they’ve the highest ERA in baseball. Mike Burrows has an ERA that begins with 6. So does Lance McCullers. And so does Ryan Weiss. Starting to get the image? There are extra 6.00 ERAs than 3s or 4s. That’s an issue for a employees taking part in with out Hunter Brown. At least Spencer Arrighetti is off to a pleasant begin, however we have not even addressed the bullpen but. It’s additionally unhealthy. At least Houston is ideal in save alternatives, however that is little comfort when the crew is getting so beat up earlier than the ninth inning. — Rogers
Record: 11-13
Preseason rating: 27
The Giants’ lack of collective energy is troubling. It’s not like anybody thought they’d lead the majors in homers, however we’re nearing the finish of April and San Francisco’s crew chief in homers is Willy Adames with three. The Giants have simply 14 dingers total. When you add the indisputable fact that that is an unathletic crew with simply 5 stolen bases, the finish result’s an offense that simply does not rating sufficient to win persistently. There is rather a lot the Giants could possibly be doing higher, however it begins with that easy goal: Their top energy hitters — Matt Chapman, Adames and, particularly, Rafael Devers — want to begin making the ball go far. — Doolittle
Record: 11-14
Preseason rating: 28
The Nationals rank close to the backside of the majors in pitching employees ERA and FIP. Run prevention is a matter. Run manufacturing, nevertheless, shouldn’t be. Washington is third in runs per recreation, seventh in OPS and tied for eighth in wRC+. James Wood, nonetheless simply 23 years previous, has reverted to his 2025 pre-All-Star-break type with an .893 OPS and 7 residence runs. CJ Abrams, nonetheless simply 25, is fulfilling his potential with a 190 OPS+. Joey Wiemer, Jorbit Vivas, Daylen Lile and Jose Tena have been well-above-average hitters. The Nationals are a median pitching employees away from making some noise. — Castillo
Record: 8-16
Preseason rating: 18
The Mets’ dropping streak comes right down to their offense turning into a catastrophe with out Juan Soto. They ranked final in batting common, on-base proportion, slugging proportion and OPS throughout their 12-game dropping streak earlier than Soto was activated Wednesday. Their 48 wRC+ over that span was a distant thirtieth behind the Royals’ 72. The manufacturing was worse with runners on base. Losing Soto would’ve wounded any offense, however the Mets went comatose. They’ll hope they will flip that round with Soto again in the lineup. — Castillo
Record: 8-17
Preseason rating: 23
When a crew is stringing collectively losses as Kansas City has been of late, it tends to be an all-systems failure — you possibly can level at nearly any side of the crew. For the Royals, although, there’s one factor that stands out: an virtually pathological incapacity to hit with runners in scoring place. The Royals have not hit effectively as a bunch total, however the failings with males on base have been staggering — a sub-.200 common that ranks final in baseball. Earlier this season, there was a stat going round about how Bobby Witt Jr. had reached based mostly greater than 20 instances however scored simply as soon as. How does that occur? It occurs due to an entire absence of clutch hitting. — Doolittle
Record: 9-15
Preseason rating: 29
As the White Sox proceed to slowly rise from the lowest of factors, some issues have labored and others have not. The total trajectory stays good, even when some in Chicago develop impatient. But one choice the White Sox nailed was the signing of Munetaka Murakami, who has dispelled any questions on whether or not his energy bat would transition effectively from Japan. If you are still questioning, try the 9 homers already on his ledger and discover the video of him hitting one over the batter’s eye in Sacramento. The White Sox will return to relevance with every good choice they make. Signing Murakami was an excellent one. — Doolittle
Record: 10-15
Preseason rating: 30
Suffice to say, the 2025 Rockies, losers of 119 video games, had been a membership with none strengths. The 2026 Rockies nonetheless aren’t nice, however they have been aggressive and have one clear power: the bullpen. The Rockies personal a top-10 bullpen ERA, and that is unadjusted, which means there is no adjustment for Coors Field in that rating. The new regime’s experimental initiatives appear to have paid off with this unit specifically, with Chase Dollander and Antonio Senzatela excelling in multi-inning roles. It’ll take a very long time to untangle the mess inherited by president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta and normal supervisor Josh Byrnes, however a minimum of there’s some development rising. — Doolittle