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RotoBaller's MLB power rankings for all 30 teams in mid-April. Where does each MLB team stand in our latest power rankings for the 2026 season?
We're just a few weeks into the MLB season, and there are already a slew of surprises that are shaping the league. Some starts aren't so hot, like the ones in Boston and Houston. Others are surprisingly good, such as what's happening in Pittsburgh and Cleveland.
But even with all the surprises, some things never change. The Dodgers look nearly unstoppable, as we've come to expect. But are there others that have a chance at ousting them from the top spot soon?
Let's go ahead and dive into our power rankings and find out who's on the rise.
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No. 30 - Chicago White Sox
At times, it seems like Chicago's offense has what it takes to be incredibly exciting. But it unfortunately hasn't fully come together in the first few weeks. As of Tuesday, it is posting just a 68 wRC+ while the pitching staff has a 4.70 ERA.
You're simply not going to win many games like that. Not that Chicago was expecting much this season, but a shot at surprising the league with a wild-card appearance doesn't look to be in the cards right now.
No. 29 - Colorado Rockies
Finally, not in the bottom spot. The Rockies come in at 29. They're showing a bit of fight, something they didn't do much of last year. The problem is it's coming against the American League, who they're 5-1 against coming into Tuesday's series with the Astros.
Rockies fans have joked that realignment may be the only way they win a division title, but this season is proving that may be a realistic strategy. With the Walton-Penner group (current owners of the Denver Broncos) now having a 40% stake in Rockies ownership, maybe they can push to make realignment a possibility for Colorado.
No. 28 - San Francisco Giants
The start of the season has been nothing but disappointing for San Francisco. It is down at the bottom of the NL West and is posting similar numbers to the Rockies, something no one in the NL West wants to do.
Its ace, Logan Webb, has been very underwhelming to start 2026, posting a 5.25 ERA in four starts. That's not what the Giants need and not what Webb expects. He's got the stuff to turn it around, but San Francisco has a lot of issues outside of Webb that need to be corrected for it to be competitive.
No. 27 - Washington Nationals
At the very least, Nationals games have been exciting to watch this year because it's pretty much offense everywhere. Their 117 wRC+ ranks fourth in the majors (as of Tuesday), but their pitching staff's 6.21 ERA is the second-highest in the league.
That's ultimately going to hold them back, especially with a pitching staff that doesn't have many dominant threats. At any rate, they'll be great entertainment at the plate, especially whenever James Wood and CJ Abrams step into the box.
CJ Abrams gets the @Nationals started 💥 pic.twitter.com/MCx5sYu8tE
— MLB (@MLB) April 13, 2026
No. 26 - Los Angeles Angels
The Angels find themselves in the midst of a very clustered AL West, where pretty much everyone is posting the same record. That's a good early season boost for a team that wasn't exactly expected to compete, but is it going to be able to stay in the race throughout the season?
The Angels are the opposite of the Rockies in that they are not enjoying their interleague matchups; they just want to focus on AL teams. They'll get one on Monday as they start a four-game series against the suddenly struggling Yankees.
No. 25 - Athletics
Same as the Angels, the A's are in the midst of a real tight AL West. And while they have plenty of questions regarding their roster, they're pretty excited about the idea of seeing New York teams on their schedule.
They won five straight games against the Yankees and Mets before dropping the series opener to the Rangers on Tuesday. If they can replicate this type of success against non-New York teams, then they may be able to fight for a wild-card spot.
No. 24 - Minnesota Twins
It's been a surprising start for the Twins, who find themselves tied for first in the AL Central standings as of Tuesday. That's thanks to an offense performing above league average, giving them a chance in any game they're playing.
That's important with a pitching staff that, outside of Joe Ryan and Taj Bradley, has been a bit underwhelming. The offense will have to keep it up to give Minnesota a chance at surprising the AL Central this year.
Taj Bradley ends his night with strikeout No. 10 🔥 pic.twitter.com/lKCJ0GdXHn
— MLB (@MLB) April 8, 2026
No. 23 - St. Louis Cardinals
It's impossible to ignore just how good Jordan Walker has been to start this season for the Cardinals. The former No. 1 prospect in St. Louis' system, Walker has blasted eight homers for a 219 wRC+ on the short season, giving Cards fans hope they can compete in an expected down season.
But the rest of the Cardinals need to pick it up. Even with Walker's dominance, the offense is hitting for just a 94 wRC+, and the pitching staff is posting a 5.15 ERA, third worst in the league. It's leading to wins right now, but negative regression looks set to hit the Cardinals soon.
No. 22 - Boston Red Sox
It's been a bit worrisome in Boston. The Red Sox got out to a terrible start, and it's gotten them in contention for the worst record in the majors. If not for a decent week against Milwaukee and St. Louis, it would be a full-blown panic out at Fenway.
Hitting has been the main issue for Boston as it is posting just a 92 wRC+, a touch above the Rockies and Giants. For Boston to get out of the hole it has dug itself into, it'll need the offense to perform anywhere close to league average.
No. 21 - Arizona Diamondbacks
After a slow start, it looks like Arizona may have started to get some things figured out. It has won five of its last seven games and finds itself aiming for a wild-card spot.
But how much of that is luck? The offense still is slacking, posting the fifth-worst wRC+ in the league at 85. A lack of power is influencing that, so a lot can change if Arizona figures out how to hit the longball a little better.
No. 20 - Texas Rangers
Rangers fans may be fine if they never have to see Max Muncy again, especially after Friday night. His trio of homers ruined Corey Seager's return to Dodger Stadium, in which he hit a homer as well. But even after all that, the Rangers still find themselves near the top of the AL West standings.
That's thanks to strong pitching from the Rangers pitching staff yet again. It's becoming a common theme these past couple of seasons where pitching is continually strong. But Texas's offense needs to step it up. If it can do that, then it may be able to upset Houston and Seattle for the AL West title at the end of the season.
No. 19 - Baltimore Orioles
Is this the week that gets the Orioles going? After an underwhelming start, they are beginning to look like the team that they aimed to be in the offseason. The offense has been a top-5 lineup, posting a 113 wRC+. That's always going to give you a shot to win.
But the big improvement over the past week plus has been pitching. They're starting to hold their opponents to three or fewer runs a lot more often. Pair that with an above-average lineup, and you're going to start rattling off wins. Baltimore looks to be set to start making a run soon.
No. 18 - Houston Astros
There may be no more interesting team in the league than the Astros. The offense is upper echelon, posting a 131 wRC+, which is just behind the Dodgers for the league lead. But the pitching has been abysmal, posting a league-worst 6.50 ERA as of Tuesday.
To make matters worse, the injuries keep piling up and making things tougher for the Astros. The rotation is barely holding on. They're going to need to be their absolute best if Houston wants any chance of turning this bad start around anytime soon.
No. 17 - Tampa Bay Rays
A big series win against the Yankees over the weekend has helped to get the Rays on the right track. They've been a bit streaky to start the season, but they seem to be finding a groove.
Chandler Simpson is putting together a solid start to his second MLB season, posting a 166 wRC+ so far. Yandy Diaz has been smoking hot out of the gates with a 192 wRC+. Both are helping to make the Rays an early threat in the AL East this season.
A leadoff blast for Yandy Díaz! pic.twitter.com/wRyMO6sTWd
— MLB (@MLB) March 30, 2026
No. 16 - Kansas City Royals
It's starting to look like the Royals are becoming absolutely dominant on the mound. Coming into Sunday's action against the White Sox, they had held teams to two runs or fewer in six of their previous eight games. Good luck winning against any team that's limiting you to just two runs.
At the same time, the Royals offense is struggling just as much as their pitching staff has been succeeding. They've scored two or fewer runs in each of their last five games before Sunday. One of these eventually has to change, and Royals fans are hoping it's the offense showing power before the pitching starts giving in.
No. 15 - Chicago Cubs
The Cubs were dealt bad news this week as it was announced that starting pitcher Cade Horton would miss the rest of the season with a UCL injury that requires season-ending surgery. With the caliber of pitcher that Horton is, that's usually a death knell for a pitching staff.
But the rest of Chicago's staff has actually been performing pretty well, posting a 3.99 ERA coming into Tuesday. But the offense's 98 wRC+ is holding it back. If it can fix that underwhelming part of its performance, then it'll be able to compete for the NL Central title.
No. 14 - Detroit Tigers
The Tigers come into this week looking completely league average. Their offense's 102 wRC+ is just a touch above average, while their pitching staff's 3.66 ERA is keeping them in games. Sitting right around .500, that's just about what they should be with these types of stats.
But after last season, there's certainly a bit more to be desired in Detroit. League average isn't going to cut it with their expectations, especially in such an important year regarding Tarik Skubal's future with the team. Detroit fans are hoping there's a strong run in them here pretty shortly to help show they can be the dominant team they were for most of the regular season last year.
No. 13 - Seattle Mariners
It hasn't been the best start to the season for the Mariners, especially on the offensive end, but their pitching staff's 2.95 ERA is keeping them in nearly every game they play.
Emerson Hancock and Bryan Woo have been spectacular for Seattle, both posting ERAs of 2.04 or better. In fact, it's been the normal leaders, Luis Castillo and Logan Gilbert, who have struggled on the mound for the Mariners.
That's bound to change for the veterans. But they need the offense to kick it into gear, too, with the AL West all currently clustered together.
No. 12 - Miami Marlins
At the beginning of the season, every Marlins fan would have signed up for a team that is both top 10 in wRC+ and team ERA. That's exactly where they're at (as of Sunday), and they're near the top of a very competitive NL East.
Expecting them to stay there all season may be a bit ambitious, but there's potentially something cooking in Miami this year. This week was tough, but if they're able to snag a series win in Atlanta this week, then they'll show themselves they have what it takes to be able to compete this year.
Fly me to the moon 🌙 pic.twitter.com/vHJtK0PRNb
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) April 14, 2026
No. 11 - Cincinnati Reds
It may not exactly be a surprising start for Cincinnati, but anyone who sees it is currently second in the NL Central is likely to turn their heads and do a double-take. The Reds made some moves this offseason to try to make a run, and they're at least starting well.
But there may be some concerning metrics to consider here. Their offense is hitting for just a 75 wRC+, second-worst in the league. Their pitching staff has a decent 4.03 ERA, but that's paired with a 4.73 xFIP. Negative regression is coming for the pitching staff, and if the offense can't get it turned around, then it's going to be that much tougher for the Reds to string together wins.
No. 10 - New York Mets
It may not be time to panic yet in Queens, but we're getting kind of closer. After getting swept by the A's, they have a tough week ahead of them as they're on the road to face the Dodgers before flying to Chicago to face the Cubs.
So far this season, both the hitting and pitching have been relatively close to league average. That's not terrible at all, but their fans are expecting more with the money they spend on their roster. And after losing five straight games, being told you're still league average isn't going to appease anyone.
No. 9 - Philadelphia Phillies
There's a lot of talent here, but that's not helping them a ton early on in the season. After beating the Cubs on Monday, the Phillies are now 3-5 over their last eight games. If not for their success over the last few seasons, there may be some real reason to panic here.
The offense is lackluster, hitting for just a 99 wRC+. The pitching has been underwhelming as well, with a 4.34 ERA. But that's paired with a 2.95 xFIP. Maybe there's positive regression coming for the pitching, but if the hitting doesn't turn around, then Philadelphia may be looking rather average sooner than later.
No. 8 - Toronto Blue Jays
Another team that's struggling right now, but gets somewhat of a pass due to its recent history, Toronto is just 3-9 after sweeping the A's to start the season. That's not what we're expecting out of last year's AL champs, who looked more than poised to contend again this season.
Even worse for Toronto was the news it got delivered on Sunday when slugger George Springer was placed on the 10-day IL with a toe fracture. For an offense that's only hitting at a league-average level, that's going to be a big blow. The Blue Jays need to find a way to pick things up and stack up some wins fast before things really get worrisome.
No. 7 - Cleveland Guardians
If you simply remove Sunday night's beatdown in Atlanta, it's been a very strong run for the Guardians pitching staff. It has allowed just two runs or fewer in six of its last 10 games. That's a very, very easy way to rack up wins.
Well, fine, it's not exactly "easy" to hold teams to that few runs, but it's almost always going to guarantee wins. With a 3.99 ERA and a 3.77 xFIP, the numbers are fairly true. If the pitching keeps up, then Cleveland can keep shaking things up in the AL Central.
No. 6 - Pittsburgh Pirates
Perhaps the biggest surprise so far this season is the Pittsburgh Pirates. MLB fans may be skeptical seeing them this high up, while Pirates fans may be living in a world of ecstasy.
But there's a lot that's real here, at least so far. Most notably, the pitching has been spectacular, posting a 3.34 ERA. On the hitting side, Oneil Cruz is looking every bit the superstar he was promised to be, posting a 194 wRC+.
HR number 🖐 and extends his hit streak to 1️⃣1️⃣ games! https://t.co/dcsH5MZIub pic.twitter.com/MCfBIkVGKs
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 12, 2026
If Cruz can keep being a spectacular offensive driver, and Pittsburgh's pitching staff can stay dominant, then there may be a big shakeup in the NL Central on deck.
No. 5 - Milwaukee Brewers
Last season's best regular-season team is starting to hit a bit of a rough patch. After starting 8-2, Milwaukee has now lost five straight games as it heads into a series against Toronto. That's mainly been because of a lack of offense, which is disappointing since offense was a strength for it last season.
The Brewers very easily can turn things around, like we know they can, but you never like to see a losing streak happen in the way it's happened. But a tough week lies ahead of them with Toronto and Miami on deck.
No. 4 - San Diego Padres
April has been fantastic for the Padres. Their slow start is now long gone and forgotten about as they've gone 9-2 after securing a four-game sweep over the Rockies this weekend.
While the offense has been a little subpar, the pitching has been fantastic. With a 3.41 ERA to go along with a 3.51 xFIP, the numbers are true. San Diego is looking like a team that should make some noise with a wild-card spot. If the offense can turn things up a few notches, then there's a chance it could fight L.A. for the NL West division title.
No. 3 - New York Yankees
The Yankees come in at No. 3 on our rankings, and that admittedly may be a bit gracious after their disastrous week. New York had lost five straight games before pulling off a walk-off win against the Angels on Monday night.
The failures are almost all on the offensive side. The pitching has generally been really good, while the offense has been the underwhelming part, hitting for just a 95 wRC+ before Monday night's 11-run outburst. That obviously has to change, and putting together a run of double-digit outputs is a great way to put a five-game losing streak to bed.
No. 2- Atlanta Braves
Atlanta had a lot of ambitions to have a very solid comeback season, but no one would have blamed it for starting slow, given the injuries that had happened to the pitching staff. That hasn't mattered whatsoever to the Braves, though, as they have come out of the gates on fire.
Their pitching staff has posted a 2.86 ERA, the best in the league. Add in the injuries factor, and that's all the more impressive. Catcher Drake Baldwin has also been fantastic both behind and at the plate, hitting for a 156 wRC+.
The Braves needed to make a statement out of the gates, and they are doing just that. When the staff gets healthy, then we will be looking at a potential National League champion here.
No. 1 - Los Angeles Dodgers
Our top seed is yet again the Dodgers. There's barely a weakness on this roster, at least right now, and that's not going to be fantastic news for anyone who's set to face them.
Friday night was a memorable one for Max Muncy, who smashed three homers, including a walk-off shot. He's helping drive L.A.'s offense alongside Andy Pages, who's hitting for a ridiculous 230 wRC+. He's a huge reason the Dodgers are crushing everyone in their way as they remain our top seed in our rankings.
Andy Pages, you are unreal. pic.twitter.com/oRYScOj1py
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 14, 2026
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