The latest MLB power rankings show the Atlanta Braves, Mets, Phillies, and Brewers making significant climbs as the 2026 season progresses. Teams are starting to reveal their true competitive natures after over 50 games played.
Key points
Atlanta Braves lead the MLB power rankings for Week 7
Mets, Phillies, and Brewers also show significant improvement
Teams have played over 50 games in the 2026 season
Power rankings reflect team performance statistics
True contenders are starting to emerge in the league
Atlanta BravesMetsPhilliesBrewers
Video Player Cover
Weâre approaching the point in the 2026 Major League Baseball season where every club has played 50-plus games, the time of year when true contenders begin to emerge. As weâve witnessed in the past week, though, even the best MLB teams can hit a rough patch.
Letâs dive into our latest MLB power rankings, with the statistics used as of Friday, May 15,
The Atlanta Braves became the first team in MLB to win 30 games and theyâll soon be the first to hit a plus-100 run differential. Again, itâs remarkable to see from this club at a time when Ronald Acuna Jr., Sean Murphy, Spencer Schwellenbach, Hurston Waldrep and AJ Smith-Shawver are all on the injured list. Drake Baldwin (.889 OPS) has cooled off a bit, but Matt Olson (1.001 OPS), (.817 OPS) and Michael Harris (.336 OBP) are making up for it with the Braves lineup leading MLB in runs scored (237), batting average (.270) and slugging (.447).
Q&A
Which teams are at the top of the MLB power rankings for Week 7?
The Atlanta Braves, Mets, Phillies, and Brewers are among the top teams in the MLB power rankings for Week 7.
What factors influence the MLB power rankings this week?
The MLB power rankings are influenced by team performance statistics as of May 15, 2026, and the overall competitive landscape of the season.
How many games have MLB teams played by Week 7 of the 2026 season?
By Week 7 of the 2026 season, every MLB team has played over 50 games.
What does the climb in power rankings indicate for MLB teams?
A climb in the power rankings indicates that these MLB teams are emerging as true contenders as the season progresses.
Related Articles
Soccer
Farke tells Leeds he's 'not the right choice' if his ambition is not matched
Daniel Farke says he's not the right choice for Leeds if ambitions don't match.
Sky Sports··1 min read
Tennis·Recap
Caty McNally explains why she and Coco Gauff withdrew from Rome doubles tournament
Caty McNally and Coco Gauff withdraw from the Rome doubles tournament after reaching the quarterfinals.
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports·Preview
Preakness Stakes Guide 2026: Start Time, List of Horses & How to Watch Triple Crown Race
Preakness Stakes 2026: Start Time, Horses & How to Watch
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
NFL
Patriots Branded 2026 'Losers' By CBS Sports Over Brutal Scheduling Quirk
CBS Sports Brands Patriots 'Losers' Over 2026 Schedule Quirk
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
MMA·Preview
UFC Vegas 117 Weigh-in Results: All fighters on point
All fighters on point for UFC Vegas 117: Allen vs. Costa weigh-in results
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports
Manchester Unitedâs Darren Fletcher hits out at Man City over FA Youth Cup Final behaviour
The Chicago Cubsâ 10-game win streak came to an abrupt halt this past week against the Rangers and Braves. It was a miserable week for the Cubs lineup, mustering just a .124/.221/.183 triple-slash line during the five-game skid. A get-right series is looming for Chicago next weekend versus Houston, but for now there are two major challenges against the red-hot White Sox and Brewers. Things may get worse before they get better for the Cubs.
3. Milwaukee Brewers (6)
MLB Power Rankings Week 7
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Milwaukee Brewers showed this past week why they are one of the best MLB teams in 2026. Hosting the Yankees and Padres, Milwaukeeâs lineup put up a .253/.328/.361 triple-slash line with 22 runs scored, but the pitching staff (2.35 ERA and .204 batting average allowed) made that enough. This teamâs pitching depth already makes it dangerous, and the run production should improve as Andrew Vaughn and Jackson Chourio settle in.
4. New York Yankees (1)
MLB Power Rankings Week 7
Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
The New York Yankees were going to run into a cold spell eventually and it came this past week. What made it hurt is ace Max Fried going down with an elbow injury, but the hope is that he avoids a long-term absence. Even if he misses time, Gerrit Cole is on the verge of returning so this will remain an outstanding rotation. What must improve is a Yankees lineup that managed just a .181 batting average in its last five games.
The Los Angeles Dodgers rallied to split the four-game home series with the rival Giants, but thatâs not exactly a ringing endorsement of this ball club. After a 15-4 start to the season, Los Angeles has gone 11-14 with its pitching staff faring well (3.59 ERA) while the lineup (.707 OPS, 15th in MLB) underperforms. This is still clearly one of the best teams in MLB, but Los Angeles is at risk of dropping a series or two on its upcoming nine-game trip versus the Angels, Padres and Brewers.
The Tampa Bay Rays are just an unstoppable force right now. Back on April 21, they lost consecutive games to Cincinnati to fall to 12-11. Since April 22, Tampa Bay has the best record in baseball at 16-3. Pitching is doing the heavy lifting, with a 1.84 ERA across the last 171 innings pitched that is nearly a full run better than the second-best team (2.76 ERA, Brewers). With the Rays facing the Marlins and Orioles up next, we could be looking at a team that is 16-plus games above .500 before its trip to Yankee Stadium (May 22-24).
For all of the money invested into the San Diego Padres lineup, itâs been a massive letdown. Fernando Tatis Jr. (.288 slugging) isnât hitting for any power this year, Manny Machado is having a career-worst season at the plate (.190/.287/.340) and San Diego has gotten nothing from Ramon Laureano (.091/.231/.182) and Xander Bogaerts (.209/.277/.372) this month. Despite all of that, San Diego entered the weekend with a 25-18 mark and thatâs with a rotation that has delivered the fourth-fewest quality starts (nine) in MLB.
Since his rough start on Opening Day, Paul Skenes boasts a 1.09 ERA with a 31.3 percent strikeout rate, a 0.53 WHIP and a .124 batting average allowed in eight starts. Heâs well on his way to winning the NL Cy Young Award once more. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Pirates rotation will have Jared Jones back in it soon and the lineup is getting plenty from Oneil Cruz (.805 OPS), Brandon Lowe (.878 OPS) and Nick Gonzalez (.380 OBP). Even with some regression from the Pirates lineup (fourth-most runs scored), this team is clearly ready to contend for a playoff spot.
Hitting the injured list is probably the best move for Cal Raleigh and the Seattle Mariners. He was never returning to the absurd first-half numbers we saw in 2025, but heâs also a better hitter than what weâve seen this year (.560 OPS). Fortunately for Seattle, it has an incredible six-man rotation to carry it and the lineup could still deliver above-average run production without Raleigh available.
The Philadelphia Phillies are tied for the second-best record in baseball this month at 9-4. Pitching (3.29 ERA) has been excellent, with Zack Wheeler returning closer to form and Andrew Painter coming off an excellent start. The Phillies lineup still isnât doing enough (.246/.290/.418) to suggest this team is all the way back to form, but what matters is flipping the season around from 9-19 to 21-23 in a three-week span.
Even if the St. Louis Cardinals donât make the playoffs this season, 2026 will be viewed as a massive success. JJ Wetherholt (.364 OBP) already looks like one of the best second basemen in baseball, Jordan Walker (.945 OPS) is emerging as a star, and the combo of Alec Burleson (.791 OPS) and Ivan Herrera (.805 OPS) looks like long-term fixtures in the Cardinals lineup. We have less positivity regarding St. Louisâ pitching, but itâs the bright spots from the hitters that matter.
After falling below the .500 line near the end of April, the Cleveland Guardians have started to find some stability. It certainly helps to face a few of the worst MLB teams, but playoff hopefuls have to get victories wherever they can get them. What weâre excited about moving forward is seeing further improvements from Clevelandâs pitching staff with the help of Patrick Bailey.
13. Sacramento Athletics (16)
MLB Power Rankings Week 7
Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images
The Sacramento Athletics blew their chance at a home series victory over St. Louis, prolonging the fight to stay above the .500 line. The good news is that the Athletics lineup has been great in May (.778 OPS, fourth in MLB) and thatâs made up for some predictably awful pitching (4.71 ERA, 24th in MLB). Two winnable sets against the Giants and Angels could provide the Aâs with some momentum before a tougher stretch in their schedule.
The good news is that the Texas Rangers have won consecutive series, making up some ground after two rough showings against the Yankees. It could get even better from here. A weekend series against the Astros pitching staff is a gift for the Rangers lineup, as is the trip right after to Coors Field. If everything goes well, Texas could win five consecutive series.
The hot start to the season feels so long ago now for the Cincinnati Reds. Unfortunately, it also felt inevitable given how top-heavy the Reds lineup was. In May, the Reds lineup ranks 12th in runs scored (57) and 18th in OBP (.308). Those are adequate numbers, but they arenât nearly enough to overcome a pitching staff (6.06 ERA) that is performing like it is at Coors Field.
Credit: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The spiral continues for the Detroit Tigers. Tarik Skubal isnât returning anytime soon and his club has the second-worst record in baseball (5-13) since April 24. It should come as no surprise that pitching (4.68 ERA) is a major issue for the Tigers. On the bright side, Riley Greene (.917 OPS) and Kevin McGonigle (.833 OPS) are keeping the Tigers lineup afloat.
The Arizona Diamondbacks rolled into May feeling pretty good about their 16-14 record. May hasnât been kind to Arizona. The run production from the Diamondbacks lineup (38 runs scored, second-fewest in MLB) has been ugly and itâs a shame because Arizonaâs bullpen (1.99 ERA) has been lights out. Perhaps Arizona can get things back on track, especially since itâs closing out the month against the Rockies and Giants.
18. Chicago White Sox (22)
MLB Power Rankings Week 7
Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Itâs impossible to ignore the Chicago White Soxâs success at this point. The five-game win streak this week highlighted how good Chicagoâs pitching has been early this season, with Anthony Kay now the latest to have success. If Miguel Vargas (.840 OPS), Colson Montgomery (.831 OPS) and Munetaka Murakami (.904 OPS) can just maintain their power strokes, maybe a .500 record is within the realm of possibility.
Pitching clearly wonât be a strength for the Washington Nationals anytime soon, but it doesnât need to be when you have a lineup that produces at a top-five level. Weâll be curious to see if the new regime is able to acquire a viable starter this summer because everything the coaching staff is doing with the hitters bodes well for player development across the board.
20. Baltimore Orioles (19)
MLB Power Rankings Week 7
(Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
Perhaps taking down the Yankees sparks something for the Baltimore Orioles and they get back on track. Granted, we thought that might be the case a week ago after they beat the Marlins and then it got followed up by an ugly home series versus the Aâs. The talent on the Orioles roster is clearly there and it would be a major step forward if they can come out of this six-game road stand against Washington and Tampa Bay with a winning record.
One step forward, two steps back for the Kansas City Royals. It certainly doesnât help to lose Cole Ragans because the Royals lineup (181 runs scored, 22nd in MLB) really canât carry much weight for this team. Itâs only made worse because of the Royals bullpen (4.64 ERA), which canât seem to consistently preserve leads and keep games close.
At least the Toronto Blue Jays took the Rays to extra innings twice this week. Outside of that, though, itâs mostly been constant ups and downs for the Blue Jays. Addison Barger is back on the injured list again, Jose Berrios had a setback and Max Scherzer isnât returning to the mound anytime soon. The reigning AL champs donât look like a playoff threat.
The New York Mets are 7-3 in their last 10 games. Itâs been a two-week stretch headlined by great pitching (2.73 ERA) with a bullpen (.209 batting average allowed) that is finding its rhythm all the while Carson Benge and Mark Vientos are heating up at the plate. New York dug itself into a deep hole, but itâs at least making some progress in climbing out of it.
With Mick Abel, Pablo Lopez and Taj Bradley on the injured list, the Minnesota Twins are somehow staying competitive. There are some bright spots right now, including Byron Buxton (1.136 OPS in May) and Brooks Lee (.298 batting average). Whatâs also standing out is how Minnesota is getting such impressive results out of Bailey Ober (3.46 ERA) and Connor Prielipp (3.32 ERA) as of late.
Robby Snelling makes his MLB debut and immediately hits the injured list with a UCL sprain. This happens at the same time as Eury Perez (11.6 percent walk rate) having major command issues and Sandy Alcantara (6.21 ERA in last six starts) showing further signs of regression. With the pitching staff starting to spiral down, Miami seems destined to slip further below .500.
Through 43 games this season, the Boston Red Sox lineup ranks 23rd in OBP (.313), 28th in runs scored (161) and 29th in slugging (.354). Itâs Wilyer Abreu (.860 OPS), Ceddanne Rafaela (.762 OPS), Willson Contreras (.822 OPS) and nothing else at this point. Thereâs a favorable stretch upcoming in the Red Sox schedule, but nothing weâve seen in the last two months suggests this club can take advantage of it.
Weâll focus on the positive for the San Francisco Giants. Rafael Devers (.356/.412/.667) is finally getting back into form this month and second baseman Luis Arraez is performing like an All-Star. There have also been some recent improvements at the plate from Willy Adames and Heliot Ramos. Even still, it feels like San Francisco is destined to be a below-average team for the rest of the 2026 season.
Well, the Colorado Rockies were at least watchable for a little while. The team wasnât particularly good before when it swept the Mets to improve to 13-16, but itâs been a rough watch ever since. What at least makes this situation better than last year are the bright spots in the lineup (TJ Rumfield, Hunter Goodman and Troy Johnston).
29. Houston Astros (29)
MLB Power Rankings Week 7
Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Tatsuya Imai was atrocious in his return to the mound for the Houston Astros. Unsurprisingly, this pitching staff still has the worst ERA (5.59) and WHIP (1.58) in baseball. The Astros lineup (.230 batting average) has also cooled off in May, which just makes the rotation giving up five-plus runs per game feel even more daunting every night.
Photo by Kevin M. Cox/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Angels have been the worst team in MLB since April 18. In that stretch, all 29 other clubs have won at least eight games, with a majority of them having double-digit victories. By comparison, Los Angeles is 5-18. Kurt Suzuki is going to be a one-and-done skipper.
