The eighth week of our MLB Power Rankings brings about a number of moves we haven't seen in years.
For the first time since Week 3 of last year's Power Rankings (April 17, 2025), the Rockies are not the last team on our list. Colorado moves up one spot to 29th for the first time in over a year because of the new low the Angels have reached, as they now sit at No. 30 with the worst record in MLB.
Meanwhile, at the top of the list, the Rays continue their rise, peaking at No. 3 this week -- their highest ranking of the season. In fact, this ranking is their highest since the 2023 season, when they started off 13-0 and held the No. 1 spot for 11 weeks before slipping to second in Week 16 (July 20, 2023) and dropping below third every week after that ... until now.
Also new in the top 15: The White Sox, who set the record for most losses in a single season in 2024, have moved up to No. 14. The last time they were ranked that high was Sept. 15, 2022 (Week 23).
Who else cracked the top half of our list -- or fell out of it -- in Week 8?
Our expert panel has ranked every team based on a combination of what we've seen so far and what we already knew going into the 162-game marathon that is a full baseball season. We also asked ESPN MLB experts Jorge Castillo, Bradford Doolittle and Jesse Rogers to weigh in with an observation for all 30 teams.
1. Atlanta Braves
Record: 34-16
Previous ranking: 1
The Braves continue to roll this season but received yet more tough injury news this week when standout DH/catcher Drake Baldwin landed on the injured list with an oblique injury. Baldwin has built on his Rookie of the Year 2025 debut to become one of the NL's top players, boosting his slash line to .303/.389/.543 with 38 RBIs. The news comes at a time when MVP candidate Matt Olson has seen a little bit of a drop over the last week or so. With a huge lead in the NL East, the Braves should be fine, but it might be a good time to catch them if you're an opposing pitcher. -- Doolittle
2. Los Angeles Dodgers
Record: 31-19
Previous ranking: 2
Mookie Betts is back but with some mixed reviews. That's understandable after he missed five weeks with an oblique strain, but the Dodgers could use the dangerous version of him, as their offense has stalled a bit lately -- minus a good night or two against the Angels recently. Since returning, Betts has hits in five of eight games, including a couple of home runs and a double, but he stranded a few baserunners in key spots -- he's 3-for-18 with RISP this season -- and isn't completely locked in. If and when he goes on a run, the Dodgers might, too. -- Rogers
3. Tampa Bay Rays
Record: 33-15
Previous ranking: 5
There's no place like The Trop. After a year as the Yankees' tenants at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the Rays are back at Tropicana Field and thriving in their natural domed habitat. Their 19-5 home record is tops in the majors. They've completed four series sweeps at home, including a three-game sweep of the Yankees, and have outscored opponents 119-85 in St. Petersburg. Their brand of baseball -- a dynamic offense with a dangerous blend of contact, speed and thump -- applies constant pressure on opponents. Then, as always with good Rays teams, there's the top-notch pitching staff. Home sweet home. -- Castillo
4. New York Yankees
Record: 30-20
Previous ranking: 3
The Yankees were recently reminded that you can never have too much starting pitching. For weeks, it was assumed New York would have a surplus of quality starters when Carlos Rodon and Gerrit Cole returned from the IL. That quickly changed.
In late April, Luis Gil was ineffective and optioned to the minor leagues before landing on the IL. And, last week, Max Fried was placed on the IL with a bone bruise that will sideline him for an unknown number of weeks. Rodon returned days before Fried's injury and Cole will make his season debut Friday against the Rays. The Yankees' rotation is still one of the best in the majors. Cam Schlittler is the early AL Cy Young front-runner. Will Warren and Ryan Weathers can dominate any given night. If Cole and Rodon can approach their previous forms -- and that's not a given -- the Yankees' rotation won't skip a beat. -- Castillo
5. Milwaukee Brewers
Record: 29-18
Previous ranking: 6
Could The Miz win the Cy Young Award? It's looking more and more like Jacob Misiorowski will be in the running after another stellar outing Tuesday against the Cubs. This time he "only" struck out eight without giving up one run over six innings, adding to his magnificent start to this year. Overall, he has struck out 88 hitters in just 57 innings while compiling a minuscule 1.89 ERA. And he has thrown 24â…“ consecutive scoreless innings, the second-longest active streak by a starter in MLB right now. And then there's this: Misiorowski's streak of five straight starts of eight-plus strikeouts and no extra-base hits allowed is the longest such streak since 1893. The Miz is The Man. -- Rogers
6. San Diego Padres
Record: 29-20
Previous ranking: 7
The Padres are the magic act that just keeps tricking the rest of the league -- or maybe they're just that good. Despite down numbers by Fernando Tatis Jr. (zero home runs so far) and Manny Machado, they keep scoring enough to win. But can that continue? They are far and away the best hitting team in the clutch -- a number so exaggerated it's bound to see regression. On the mound, they got a boost from Lucas Giolito, who threw well in his Padres debut Sunday. Overcoming pitching injuries will be a key for San Diego, but if it keeps hitting in the clutch, the team will have staying power. -- Rogers
7. Chicago Cubs
Record: 29-21
Previous ranking: 4
If you think there is some rhyme or reason to hitting with runners in scoring position, look no further than Seiya Suzuki to dispel that notion. With the bases empty, he's hitting .298 this season. That drops to .140 with runners in scoring position. The gap between those numbers is one of the largest among all NL hitters and is frustrating to Cubs fans, considering he's a good hitter who gets reduced to weak outs when RBIs are available to him. But there's no accounting for it. Just one year ago, Suzuki hit .309 with RISP. In 2024, it was .256. The Cubs are hoping a good run -- of driving in runs -- is coming. -- Rogers
8. Philadelphia Phillies
Record: 25-25
Previous ranking: 11
There's no reason to think that interim manager Don Mattingly, respected as he is, has suddenly become the reincarnation of John McGraw, but there is no arguing with the improvement the Phillies have shown since he replaced Rob Thomson. It has been widespread, with hitters and pitchers catching fire at the same time. The Phillies' roster is built on star power and the stars have flourished since Mattingly took over in late April. Since then, Cristopher Sanchez and Zack Wheeler have combined to go 6-0 with a 1.10 ERA, and Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper have teamed to club 17 homers with an OPS over 1.000. These are the Phillies we expected to see. -- Doolittle
9. Cleveland Guardians
Record: 29-22
Previous ranking: 12
In a season partly defined by exciting prospect graduations, the impending one of rookie second baseman Travis Bazzana fits nicely into that narrative. After a feeling-out process during his first few games, Bazzana has taken off the last couple of weeks. His patience at the plate has been there all along, but his average has gone from sub-.200 to nearly .300. In the power department, he has clubbed his first two big league homers. Already, he has become one of three Cleveland rookies that might figure into AL Rookie of the Year balloting, joining Chase DeLauter and Parker Messick. The Guardians may be more reliant on their system than any other organization but when you turn out young players like this, who can blame them? -- Doolittle
10. St. Louis Cardinals
Record: 28-20
Previous ranking: 10
The Cardinals are in a stretch of 12 straight games against division foes that could be a final indicator of whether they will be in the playoff hunt for the entire season or this has just been a good start to a retooling year. They're starting to believe the former is true and might be enough to take back that home-field advantage Busch Stadium provided for so many years. "Tarps off," or rather shirts off, has become a thing in St. Louis, where the team is hovering around .500 this season. The Cardinals have done their damage on the road but that could be changing the longer they're in the race. The league is taking notice. -- Rogers
11. Seattle Mariners
Record: 24-27
Previous ranking: 9
The Mariners, needing infield help, called up top prospect Colt Emerson on Sunday nearly two months after signing him to an eight-year, $95 million contract extension. The next day, he had his first major league hit -- a three-run home run to help Seattle to a win over the White Sox. Seattle made the decision to call him after placing Brendan Donovan on the IL with a left groin strain. The 20-year-old Emerson became the franchise's youngest player to debut since Felix Hernandez in August 2005. Though he is considered the Mariners' shortstop of the future, Emerson will primarily play third base with Donovan out as the Mariners seek an offensive boost with Cal Raleigh also sidelined. -- Castillo
12. Pittsburgh Pirates
Record: 25-24
Previous ranking: 8
It wasn't the best of weeks on the mound for the Pirates, who saw Paul Skenes give up five runs, Mitch Keller give up six, Bubba Chandler another four and another four for Braxton Ashcraft. This, pitching, is the strength of a Pittsburgh team still finding its offensive identity. After a hot start, the Pirates have come back to the pack and will need the starting staff to find its legs again to stay in the playoff hunt. Otherwise, dropping below .500 is a real possibility. -- Rogers
13. Arizona Diamondbacks
Record: 25-23
Previous ranking: 17
Maybe Tuesday's walk-off homer against the Giants will propel Ketel Marte, who has been just OK so far this season. There are signs he's getting there this month, though, as he has four multihit games over the last week, including a three-hit night Wednesday that saw him leave the yard. Marte is starting to catch up to fastballs again, although he's still hitting about 100 points less on them than a year ago. His biggest problem is his chase rate -- it's the highest of his career. As that comes down, his numbers should go up. -- Rogers
14. Chicago White Sox
Record: 25-24
Previous ranking: 23
The longer the White Sox hang in the playoff race, the more they might have an Andrew Benintendi problem. The 31-year-old has looked old beyond his years, with 14th percentile bat speed, per Statcast, and a spike in strikeout rate. The defense and baserunning metrics that once provided a solid floor for his value have also cratered, and at some point, his role as a fifth outfielder/DH against righties becomes an obvious upgrade opportunity for general manager Chris Getz.
The complication: Benintendi still has another season and a half to go on the five-year, $75 million contract he signed before the 2023 season. Can the White Sox accept that this is a sunk cost when the time comes? The answer might have real ramifications on the AL playoff race when it comes to the overachieving White Sox. -- Doolittle
15. Cincinnati Reds
Record: 26-24
Previous ranking: 14
Cincinnati's bullpen has imploded. Once a strength of the team, its ERA is hovering around 5.00, which puts the Reds near the bottom of the league. No one is immune. Tejay Antone's return to the majors has been a nice storyline but he posted an 8.00 ERA last week while Connor Phillips and Graham Ashcraft also gave up runs in meaningful spots. Cincinnati's starting staff isn't helping all that much either, outside of Chase Burns. Nick Lodolo and Brady Singer also had rough weeks to go along with those relievers. It has caused the team to plummet in the standings. -- Rogers
16. Athletics
Record: 25-24
Previous ranking: 13
Nick Kurtz played in his 162nd career game Sunday and the numbers were astounding. Through his first full season's worth of games, the first baseman slashed .284/.398/.581 with 44 home runs, 115 RBIs, 34 doubles and 107 walks. He became just the third left-handed hitter, joining Ted Williams and Juan Soto, with at least 30 home runs, 100 RBIs and 100 walks through 162 career games since RBIs became an official stat in 1920. Good company. The 2025 AL Rookie of the Year appears on his way to more hardware in the future. -- Castillo
17. Texas Rangers
Record: 24-25
Previous ranking: 15
The injury bug inflicted the other Texas team this week when Corey Seager (back) was placed on the IL and MacKenzie Gore left his start Monday after one inning because of muscle tightness in his back. The good news is the Rangers hope Gore can make his next start Sunday against the Angels. The bad news is the Rangers' offense, scuffling again this season, can't afford to lose a player of Seager's caliber. Seager is having a down year -- he's batting .179 with a 90 OPS+ in 42 games -- but his track record suggests it'll be a matter of time before he reverses course. He needs to be on the field to do that, though. -- Castillo
18. Toronto Blue Jays
Record: 22-27
Previous ranking: 19
The Blue Jays finally got some good injury news Monday when Max Scherzer threw a bullpen without any pain. Scherzer has been on the IL with forearm and ankle injuries since late April. The three-time Cy Young Award winner said he expects to build up from there and come off the IL sooner than expected. With Shane Bieber's recovery going slowly and Jose Berrios undergoing elbow surgery this week, the Blue Jays could use the rotation depth. When Scherzer does return, Toronto will need better than the 9.64 ERA he recorded in five starts before going on the IL. -- Castillo
19. New York Mets
Record: 21-28
Previous ranking: 27
The Mets' play has ticked up over the past couple of weeks, primarily due to an offense that seems to have improved with the new outfield iteration, a group that some days may consist of three rookies -- A.J. Ewing, Carson Benge and Nick Morabito, a configuration that slots Juan Soto at DH. The pitching hasn't been quite as sharp and the outlook for that group has been dinged big time with the loss of Clay Holmes, who suffered a broken leg after being struck by a line drive. The Mets' rotation ERA is middle of the pack despite Holmes' 2.39 mark. Other than him, Mets starters have put up an ERA over 4.50 that would rank in the bottom five in baseball. Not good for a team trying to climb out of a deep hole in the NL East. -- Doolittle
20. Boston Red Sox
Record: 22-27
Previous ranking: 22
The Red Sox are hovering around .500 under interim manager Chad Tracy, which is encouraging given they were 10-17 under Alex Cora and are still without their best hitter (Roman Anthony) and best pitcher (Garrett Crochet). Neither is close to a return. Crochet threw off a mound for the first time last week since going on the IL with a shoulder injury April 29. Anthony, out since May 5 with a sprained ligament under his right ring finger, suffered a setback swinging a bat Monday. The Red Sox can tread water without them, but they'll need both players healthy and contributing to make a real run. -- Castillo
21. Washington Nationals
Record: 25-25
Previous ranking: 24
Two things about baseball's best hidden secret -- the dynamic offense of the Washington Nationals -- remain true. The Nats have baseball's youngest group of hitters by average age (24.9, more than a half-year younger than second-place St. Louis) and no team has scored more runs. It's been amazing to see. Perhaps the avatar for what their attack has become was provided May 19, when Washington's top hitter, James Wood, lashed an inside-the-park grand slam off the Mets' Nolan McLean. The Nationals probably don't have the pitching to truly make a push this season, but don't let that keep you from watching what has become one of the most fun teams in baseball. -- Doolittle
22. Miami Marlins
Record: 22-28
Previous ranking: 20
The Marlins' offense has hovered around league average in scoring despite one of the lowest team home run totals in the majors. Certainly an MLB-high 60 stolen bases helps, as does the production of three standouts -- Liam Hicks, Xavier Edwards and NL batting leader Otto Lopez. But just think where Miami's attack would be if the club's primary power threats, players like Kyle Stowers (one homer), Agustin Ramirez (two homers, now in the minors) and Owen Caissie (three homers), had hit or exceeded their projections. Finding that out might be the Marlins' biggest near-term project if there is to be any hope of scratching back into the fringes of playoff contention. -- Doolittle
23. Detroit Tigers
Record: 20-30
Previous ranking: 16
The Tigers got good news on the possible earlier-than-expected return of ace Tarik Skubal. But if the goal was to hang tough until Skubal could get back on the mound, they've fallen well short of that objective. Skubal's IL stint began retroactively May 1, and since then, the Tigers have posted baseball's worst record (4-14). It's great that Skubal might be back soon. But if they don't pick up the pace, the question for both him and the team then becomes whether or not Detroit has managed to squander its season during his absence. -- Doolittle
24. Minnesota Twins
Record: 23-27
Previous ranking: 25
Early in his career, the rhetoric about Royce Lewis was always framed in a "if he could just stay healthy" context. Mostly, he couldn't -- but when he did play, he put up enormous per-game numbers that, prorated for a full season, would have landed him in MVP territory. But starting in 2024, performance became as much an issue for Lewis as health, and this season his numbers have bottomed out to the tune of a 51 OPS+ in 119 plate appearances. Now 27 years old, the former No. 1 overall pick was optioned to Triple-A earlier this week. Suffice it to say, this was not how it was supposed to go. -- Doolittle
25. Baltimore Orioles
Record: 21-29
Previous ranking: 21
Baltimore's rotation is again the issue this season. Orioles starters ranked 28th in ERA (5.11), 26th in FIP (4.72) and 25th in strikeout rate (20%) with the sixth-highest walk rate (9.9%). Kyle Bradish, in his first full season since undergoing Tommy John surgery, leads the group with a 4.13 ERA. Shane Baz has a 4.87 ERA after being acquired over the winter and signed to a $68 million extension. Trevor Rogers, the team's ace last season with a 1.81 ERA, has a 6.87 ERA and assumed the blame after giving up eight runs (seven earned) across 3â…” innings against the Rays on Monday. Underperformance across the lineup is a concern, particularly with shortstop Gunnar Henderson, but the rotation's shortcomings have fueled another disappointing start. -- Castillo
26. Kansas City Royals
Record: 20-30
Previous ranking: 18
The Royals have run hot and cold all season, with the cold stretches outweighing the hot stretches in frequency and severity. The inconsistency of the offense shows up in the majors' most stark divide between home and road performance. The Royals rank eighth in home scoring but are dead last on the road by a wide margin. Royals hitters rank last in road average, slugging and OPS, and 29th in OBP. That is how a team that has stayed above breakeven at home has managed to go just 7-17 thus far on the road. -- Doolittle
27. Houston Astros
Record: 20-31
Previous ranking: 26
The Astros took two more body blows over the last week when second baseman Jose Altuve (oblique) and right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. (shoulder) were placed on the IL. Even with shortstop Jeremy Pena coming off the IL on Monday after missing five weeks with a hamstring strain, Houston's IL runs 13 players deep. The group, along with Altuve and McCullers, includes Hunter Brown, Josh Hader, Carlos Correa, Yainer Diaz, Joey Loperfido, Cristian Javier and Taylor Trammell. The AL's mediocrity means the Astros are still within striking distance of a wild-card spot, but the injuries will make staying there difficult. -- Castillo
28. San Francisco Giants
Record: 20-30
Previous ranking: 28
The hole keeps getting deeper for the Giants, who gave up four runs in the bottom of the ninth in Arizona on Tuesday. Despite notching the loss, Caleb Kilian has been a decent find for San Francisco. After not pitching in the majors last season, he has settled in with the Giants, compiling a 2.53 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 21â…“ innings. He has added about 3 mph on his fastball since he was last seen and he's having more success with it than ever. Batters are hitting just .152 off it compared with .235 in 2024. But, unfortunately for Giants fans, he didn't get the job done Tuesday. -- Rogers
29. Colorado Rockies
Record: 19-31
Previous ranking: 30
The Rockies hit just a single home run over a six-game span last week that included a bunch of home games at hitter-friendly Coors Field. It's not necessarily the homer park many believe -- Coors Field is more of a doubles and triples stadium -- but no matter where the games are played, one home run just isn't going to get it done. Hunter Goodman was the lone Colorado player to jog around the bases as he and Mickey Moniak are the only two players on the team doing much slugging. The Rockies need more at the plate. -- Rogers
30. Los Angeles Angels
Record: 17-33
Previous ranking: 29
The Angels, despite refusing to commit to a full rebuild after 10 consecutive losing seasons, settled into the worst record in the majors after the Dodgers throttled them in a three-game sweep in Anaheim over the weekend. The Dodgers outscored their bumbling neighbors 31-3, and the most action the Angels saw was a fan wrangling a wild opossum in the upper deck during Sunday's series finale. On Monday, Athletics right-hander J.T. Ginn took a no-hitter in the ninth inning against the Angels, but they avoided further embarrassment when Adam Frazier hit a leadoff single and Zach Neto followed with a walk-off home run in a 2-1 win. The momentum was fleeting, though. The A's won the next night 14-6. -- Castillo
