MLB Announces Team Power Rankings: Surprise Team Takes No. 2 Spot From Dodgers, NL East Team Earns First Appearance, Cubs Drop 5 Spots
The Atlanta Braves retained the No. 1 spot in the latest MLB power rankings. The Braves have been in remarkable form this season with a 36-18 record, and they currently lead MLB in batting average and slugging percentage while also carrying the league's lowest team ERA.
They also lead the majors with 18 comeback victories behind a lineup featuring Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson, and Austin Riley. Atlanta's offense ranks among the league leaders in home runs and runs scored, while the pitching staff continues to consistently limit opponents.
The surprise team in the rankings is the Tampa Bay Rays, who continued their rise after another dominant week. The Rays improved to 34-16 and now hold the best record in the American League.
Tampa Bay has overtaken the Los Angeles Dodgers for the No. 2 spot in several rankings. The starting rotation owns a league-best 2.88 ERA, with Rays starters allowing more than three runs only once over the past 27 games.
The Braves reign and the Phillies crack the top 10 in this week's Team Power Rankings!
— MLB (@MLB) May 25, 2026
(MLB x @PolymarketSport) pic.twitter.com/erPcyDlX4I
Despite injuries to Jake Fraley and Jonny DeLuca, Tampa Bay has continued winning series and maintained its advantage over the New York Yankees in the AL East. The Dodgers slipped slightly in some polls but still remain firmly among baseball's elite teams.
Injuries have forced Los Angeles to rely heavily on its pitching staff, particularly the bullpen. Despite those setbacks, the Dodgers recently put together a historic 38-inning scoreless streak from their relievers, one of the longest such stretches in franchise history. Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman continue to anchor the offense, while the pitching staff keeps Los Angeles competitive on a nightly basis.
The Milwaukee Brewers remain among the National League's top teams despite a difficult weekend against the Dodgers. Meanwhile, the San Diego Padres have maintained their top-five ranking behind one of baseball's most effective pitching staffs.
The New York Yankees received a major boost with Gerrit Cole's return. Cole threw six shutout innings in his season debut after missing significant time since the 2024 World Series. The Cleveland Guardians climbed into the elite tier after one of their strongest stretches of the season. Cleveland won 11 of its last 13 games and opened a comfortable lead in the AL Central.
The Guardians entered the week with a 30-22 record and had outscored opponents 228-205 this season. Thhe Chicago Cubs experienced one of the sharpest drops in the rankings after losing 12 of their last 14 games. Chicago's offense collapsed during that stretch, and the club struggled badly with runners in scoring position.
The Cubs entered the slump as one of the National League's highest-scoring teams, but the lineup cooled dramatically over the past two weeks. Pitching inconsistencies also contributed to the decline, causing Chicago to fall several spots across national rankings.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Phillies made their first appearance on the list this week, rounding out the top 10 in the latest MLB power rankings.
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This story was originally published May 25, 2026 at 3:48 PM.