Here are my latest MLB power rankings:
1. Detroit Tigers (57-34, No. 2 last week): The more things change, the more they stay the same. MLB took the All-Star starter vote away from fans for more than a decade after ballot-stuffing in Cincinnati led to seven Reds starting in 1957. It wasn’t quite that bad, but how does Javier Báez end up starting for the American League in the outfield?
2. Los Angeles Dodgers (56-35, No. 1): The big event of the week for the Dodgers was Clayton Kershaw becoming the 20th pitcher to ever reach 3,000 strikeouts. While nowhere near vintage Kershaw, he has made nine starts and is 4-0 with a 3.43 ERA. Oh, and it looks like Blake Snell is about ready to go on a rehab assignment, which could mean a return to the Dodgers’ rotation shortly after the All-Star break.
3. Houston Astros (55-35, No. 3): Memo to Orioles GM Mike Elias: Framber Valdez and Hunter Brown are a combined 19-7 with a 2.42 ERA across 219 innings with 241 strikeouts and a 1.02 WHIP.
4. Chicago Cubs (54-36, No. 4): Pete-Crow Armstrong and Kyle Tucker will be starters for the National League in the All-Star Game, but no spot as a starter or reserve for Seiya Suzuki? He’s leading the bigs in RBIs with 77.
5. Philadelphia Phillies (53-37, No. 8): Some great starting pitching by Ranger Suárez, Cristopher Sanchez and of course Zack Wheeler has the Phillies flying high. But they need three things to have a shot at a World Series: a healthy Aaron Nola in the last six weeks of the season, Bryce Harper staying healthy and resembling Bryce Harper and a closer. But president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski always seems to underrate ninth-inning arms.
6. New York Mets (52-39, No. 7): The Mets posted a big 4-2 week after going 3-13 in their previous 16. They should get Kodai Senga back in the rotation next weekend in Kansas City. Juan Soto has earned his pay of late. He’s hitting .353/.450/.784 with seven homers since June 21.
7. Toronto Blue Jays (52-38, No. 11): Their current winning streak of eight is their longest such streak since 2022. Seven straight weeks of .500 or better (30-14) has propelled them into first place in the American League East.
8. Milwaukee Brewers (50-40, No. 6): I read something the other day that second baseman Brice Turang has been club’s MVP in the first half. He’s hitting .279/.351/.368 and has scored 55 runs in 87 games. He has a 3.0 WAR, according to Baseball Reference, which means he has a solid chance at a five-win season.
9. Tampa Bay Rays (49-41, No. 5): The Rays just had their first sub-.500 week in a while, and it came against the Athletics and Twins. They had made a charge in the previous six weeks behind a 27-11 run. A tough road trip continues with three in Detroit and four at Fenway before the All-Star break.
10. New York Yankees (49-41, No. 9): Bad week (1-6) and worse yet, Clarke Schmidt is out for the rest of this season and likely all of 2026 with a torn UCL requiring Tommy John surgery. While it’s not a major alarm, is Carlos Rodón hitting a wall? He has allowed 13 earned runs and five homers in his last 27 innings across his past five starts. That’s a 4.33 ERA and 1.37 WHIP. Cam Schlittler will likely be called up to replace Schmidt. Counting on Marcus Stroman? Oy vey.
11. Seattle Mariners (48-42, No. 15)
12. San Francisco Giants (49-42, No. 12)
13. San Diego Padres (48-41, No. 13)
14. Cincinnati Reds (46-44, No. 14)
15. Boston Red Sox (46-45, No. 16)
16. St. Louis Cardinals (48-43, No. 10)
17. Texas Rangers (44-46, No. 17)
18. Minnesota Twins (43-47, No. 23)
19. Arizona Diamondbacks (44-46, No. 20)
20. Los Angeles Angels (43-46, No. 19)
21. Kansas City Royals (43-48, No. 22)
22. Baltimore Orioles (40-49, No. 24)
23. Miami Marlins (40-48, No. 25)
24. Atlanta Braves (39-50, No. 18)
25. Cleveland Guardians (40-48, No. 21)
26. Pittsburgh Pirates (38-53, No. 26)
27. Athletics (37-55, No. 27)
28. Washington Nationals (37-53, No. 28)
29. Chicago White Sox (30-60, No. 29)
30. Colorado Rockies (21-69, No. 30)