ClutchPoints 2026 MLB Power Rankings, Vol. 8: Disastrous Yankees and Mets skids

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ClutchPoints 2026 MLB Power Rankings, Vol. 8: Disastrous Yankees and Mets skids

Christopher Hennessy, ClutchPoints · ClutchPoints

Mon, Apr 13, 2026 ·

16 min read

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ClutchPoints 2026 MLB Power Rankings, Vol. 8: Disastrous Yankees and Mets skids appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .

The ClutchPoints MLB Power Rankings are back after a bizarre week across the league. With two full weeks in the books, 20 teams are within two games of .500 in either direction. Among those are the New York Mets and New York Yankees, who are falling in the power rankings amid their five-game losing streaks. Who is rising in their places?

#1: Los Angeles Dodgers (-)

There is a lot of change in the MLB Power Rankings this week, but no one is coming close to the top. The Los Angeles Dodgers have an MLB-best 11-4 record after taking two of three from the Toronto Blue Jays and the Texas Rangers . They are getting another excellent start from Shohei Ohtani, who has five home runs on offense and 12 scoreless innings as a pitcher. He will take the mound against the Mets this week before LA hosts the Colorado Rockies .

#2: Philadelphia Phillies (+3)

The Philadelphia Phillies are moving up, but only because few teams are vying for the second spot. They lost both of their series this week, dropping two of three to the San Francisco Giants and the Arizona Diamondbacks . But there are good things for the Phillies to grab onto through 15 games. Justin Crawford has an .897 OPS in 13 games, which is very impressive, and Cristopher Sanchez has been one of the best pitchers in the National League. But results have to follow with the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves coming to town.

#3: Milwaukee Brewers (+3)

The Milwaukee Brewers are in a similar situation, as they lost a series to the Boston Red Sox and were swept by the Washington Nationals . But once again, there are individual performances that hint at improved team results moving forward. Brice Turang leads the way with a 1.058 OPS, and Garrett Mitchell has come back from injury flying, with 13 RBI. At 8-7, this season is far from over for the Crew. They can turn things around with the Toronto Blue Jays at home and the Miami Marlins on the road.

#4: Toronto Blue Jays (-1)

The Blue Jays are moving down amid a dreadful start to the season. They dropped two of three to the Dodgers before meeting the same fate against the Minnesota Twins , moving to 6-9. That is the worst record in the AL East, and the offense is to blame. Kazuma Okamoto has struggled, hitting just .150 in the last five games, and George Springer 's brutal start is on hold with an IL stint. It's been a tough start to their defense of the AL pennant, but there is a long way to go. The Blue Jays visit the Brewers and the Arizona Diamondbacks coming up.

#5: Seattle Mariners (-1)

On Friday, the Seattle Mariners unveiled an Ichiro statue outside of T-Mobile Park . But when they pulled the sheet off the statue, the bat snapped in two pieces. That is a fitting representation of the Mariners' season so far: filled with promise, currently hanging by a thread. They were swept by the Texas Rangers to start the week, but are close to finishing off a four-game sweep over the Astros . Julio Rodriguez 's offense has been a concern, with a .544 OPS and just two extra-base hits. They finish off the four-gamer against Houston on Monday, followed by sets against the San Diego Padres and the Rangers.

#6: San Diego Padres (+4)

The Padres are the first big risers this week in the MLB Power Rankings. They took two of three from the Pittsburgh Pirates before sweeping the Rockies, moving to 10-6 on the season. Nick Pivetta left his most recent start with right elbow stiffness , which is reason for concern. But Randy Vasquez has been sensational so far, posting a 1.02 ERA in three starts so far. There are some improvements to be had on offense, with Fernando Tatis Jr failing to hit a home run yet. They are looking to continue a solid all-around start against the Mariners and the Los Angeles Angels coming up.

#7: New York Yankees (-5)

The New York Yankees beat the Athletics in their first game to move to 8-2. They lost every game after that, moving to 8-7. That includes a sweep by the Tampa Bay Rays in their first AL East series. The pitching has been solid, with great outings by Ryan Weathers and Max Fried being wasted by an anemic offense. The Bombers are 25th in team OPS with a dismal .653 rate 15 games into the season. They are at home against the Kansas City Royals and the Los Angeles Angels this week.

#8: Detroit Tigers (-1)

The Detroit Tigers are among the most concerning contenders at this point in the season. They were swept in a four-game series against the Minnesota Twins, but did sweep the Miami Marlins in a three-game set after. But even that sweep did not get them back to .500, as they are 7-9 so far. The offense outside of 21-year-old Kevin McGonigle continues to be a problem, and one Detroit must address before Tarik Skubal needs a new contract. Coming up, they face the Kansas City Royals and the Red Sox.

#9: Chicago Cubs (-1)

The Chicago Cubs are also below .500, sitting at 7-8 after taking a set from the Rays and dropping a set against the Pirates. Nico Hoerner has been great, leading the team with 10 RBI and a .912 OPS. But some alarm bells are going off around Alex Bregman and Pete Crow-Armstrong , who have combined for five extra-base hits. One of their big offseason acquisitions, Edward Cabrera , has been great, but that does not help the offense. Add in a Cade Horton season-ending injury , and things may get ugly in Chicago. Next up, they visit the Phillies and host the Mets.

#10: Baltimore Orioles (+1)

A lot of attention around the Baltimore Orioles before the season went to Pete Alonso , and for good reason. But Gunnar Henderson wants everyone to remember who the superstar on this team is, smashing four home runs and picking up six RBI in six games this week. The Orioles swept the Chicago White Sox and took two of three from the San Francisco Giants, moving to 8-7 on the young season. They host the Diamondbacks before visiting the Cleveland Guardians for four key games.

#11: New York Mets (-2)

The Mets dropped two of three to the Diamondbacks before getting swept by the Athletics, falling to 7-9 on the season. Juan Soto is on the injured list, putting the offensive pressure firmly on Fransico Lindor. But the shortstop has not lived up to that, with a .188 batting average and a .572 OPS on the season. Add in some defensive gaffes, and there is reason to be concerned about New York's superstar . They head west for two tough tests now, visiting the Dodgers and the Cubs amid this losing skid.

#12: Cincinnati Reds (+2)

The Cincinnati Reds split four games with the Marlins and dropped two of three against the Angels, moving to 9-7 on the season. Sal Stewart and Elly De La Cruz continue to bash the ball, combining for 20 RBI, but the rest of their offense has not been great. That includes Ke'Bryan Hayes, who has a dreadful .079 batting average through 14 games. With Hunter Greene out, the pitching staff has held its own. But the Reds need to hit this week against the Giants and Twins.

#13: Atlanta Braves (+3)

The Atlanta Braves are the only team in MLB to have not lost a series so far this season. They took two of three from the Angels and the Guardians, moving to 10-6 on the season. They beat the brakes off the Guardians on Sunday Night Baseball, winning 13-1 behind a great start from Chris Sale . His career resurgence is continuing in Atlanta, with eight runs allowed in four starts so far this year. With injuries to their young pitchers, Sale needed to pick up the rotation , and he did that on Sunday. Atlanta hosts the Marlins before visiting the Phillies.

#14: Texas Rangers (-1)

The Rangers swept the Mariners, but dropped two of three to the Dodgers to finish the week 8-7. They are tied with the Athletics for the best record in the AL West through two weeks. Brandon Nimmo was brought in to improve the team's defense, but he currently leads the squad with a 1.033 OPS and seven extra-base hits. Jacob deGrom twirled a gem on Sunday, allowing one run in six innings to avoid a sweep. They'll look to ride that momentum on the road against the Athletics and Mariners.

#15: Cleveland Guardians (-)

The midpoint of the MLB Power Rankings remains with the Guardians after Sunday's embarrassing loss to the Braves. They dropped that set after taking two of three from the Royals. Jose Ramirez made franchise history, playing in his 1,620th game , the most in Cleveland history. He signed a new contract in the offseason, all but guaranteeing that he will end his career with the club as well. With the veteran and new superstar Chase DeLauter , they have put together a great offense. They'll bring that to St Louis to face the Cardinals before hosting the Orioles for four games.

#16: Arizona Diamondbacks (+1)

The Diamondbacks are moving up after taking two of three from both the Mets and the Phillies on the road. They are 9-7 while three of their key offensive pieces hold an OPS under .600. Ketel Marte , Geraldo Perdomo , and Nolan Arenado have all struggled to start the season, but Corbin Carroll and 22-year-old Jose Fernandez have carried the offense . The Snakes have not made the playoffs since their NL pennant in 2023, but they have a chance if this offense all clicks at the same time. They finish their road trip in Baltimore before hosting the Blue Jays.

#17: Houston Astros (-5)

The Astros have been disastrous to start the season, going 0-6 last week to fall to 6-10 on the season. They were swept by the Rockies and have lost their first three games to the Mariners. If they cannot salvage the series with a win on Monday, they will stand alone with the worst record in the American League. Yordan Alvarez and Cam Smith have been carrying the offense, but it has not been enough to win games this week. After finishing the Mariners set, they host the Rockies and the Cardinals.

#18: Miami Marlins (+1)

The Marlins split a series with the Reds and were swept by the Tigers, falling to 8-8 on the season. Still, this is a solid start for the Fish, who sit just two games behind the Braves for the NL East lead. Sandy Alcantara had his first shaky start, allowing seven earned runs in six innings against the Tigers. Prior to that, he had allowed two earned runs in 24.1 innings across three starts. If the Marlins get Cy Young-caliber Alcantara, they can make a run this year. They visit the Braves and host the Brewers this week.

#19: Pittsburgh Pirates (+4)

The Pirates had high expectations coming into the season, and they are finally meeting them this year. They are 9-6 after dropping two of three to the Padres and taking two of three from the Cubs. Oneil Cruz has been the engine for the offense , slugging five home runs and posting a 1.044 OPS. New addition Ryan O'Hearn has been great as well, with a .333 batting average. The Pirates have Paul Skenes on the hill to start a series with the Nationals on Monday, followed by a set with the Rays.

#20: Boston Red Sox (-2)

Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Red Sox are falling again in the MLB Power Rankings despite winning their first series of the season. They took two of three from both the Brewers and the Cardinals, moving to 6-9 on the season. But the concern around Roman Anthony's defense still looms over the club, as his throws from left field have guys flying around third base to score. His offense is not making up for it either, with just three extra-base hits in 14 games. They look to start moving up in the rankings against the Twins and the Tigers this week.

#21: Kansas City Royals (-1)

The Royals are 7-9 after dropping a set to the Guardians and splitting four games with the White Sox. Ever since he slept in, Carter Jensen has been one of the best hitters in baseball with a .308 batting average and 1.049 OPS. If that is what wakes up their star prospect, then that one game would have been worth it. Cole Ragans left his most recent start early, so Royals fans will be monitoring his thumb injury , although he says he will make his next start. Kansas City faces the Tigers and the Yankees on the road.

#22: Los Angeles Angels (-)

The Angels dropped two of three to the Braves and took two of three from the Reds, moving to 8-8 on the season. Jose Siriano has been the best pitcher in baseball so far, allowing just one run in 27 innings across four starts. He leads the majors with 31 strikeouts, punching out 10 each in his two starts this past week. The Halos visit the Yankees for four before hosting the Padres.

#23: Athletics (+3)

After a brutal start, the Athletics went to New York and came out with five wins. Nick Kurtz hit his first home run of the season on Sunday for the only run of their 1-0 win. That clinched a sweep of the Mets, which followed a series win over the Yankees. They broke out with 11 runs on Saturday, proving their offense may be waking up. They'll put that to the test at home against the Rangers and the White Sox.

#24: Tampa Bay Rays (+1)

The Rays dropped two of three to the Cubs, but bounced back over .500 with a three-game sweep of the Yankees. C handler Simpson was the star of that final series , racking up five hits and scoring three runs in the three games. Simpson is simply too fast for baseball, beating out routine grounders and double plays. He has improved his offense and defense, making that speed even more valuable. Could they return to their playoff form with their pesky play? It'll have to continue against the White Sox and Pirates this week.

#25: San Fransico Giants (-4)

The Giants took a series from the Phillies, but then dropped a three-game set to the Orioles, falling to 6-10 on the season. They are one of two teams in the NL with ten losses, joining the Rockies in that futile stat. The Tony Vitello experiment got off to a bumpy start, and the offense is to blame. They are 27th in team OPS with a dismal .645 rate, and new addition Harrison Bader has been dreadful, with a .338 OPS. The Giants visit the Reds and Nationals this week, looking to turn things around.

#26: St Louis Cardinals (-2)

The Cardinals had low expectations coming into this year, and they have slightly exceeded them so far. They took two of three from the Nationals and dropped two of three against the Red Sox, moving to 8-7 on the season. Jordan Walker has finally broken out , leading the NL with a .745 slugging percentage thanks to an MLB-best seven home runs. JJ Wetherholdt has been great defensively, and Michael McGreevy has been the unsung pitching hero. The Cardinals have the Guardians at home before visiting the Astros.

#27: Minnesota Twins (+3)

The Twins were in the final spot of the MLB Power Rankings last week and responded by sweeping the Tigers and taking two of three from the Blue Jays. They are now 9-7, good enough for the best record in the AL Central. There is still not a lot of talent on the Twins, but they have rightfully broken out of the basement. It's been unsuspecting stars so far, with Josh Bell leading the way with 12 RBIs and Ryan Jeffers hovering above an .800 OPS. They host the Red Sox and the Reds coming up.

#28: Washington Nationals (-)

The Nationals are 7-8 after dropping two of three to the Cardinals and sweeping the Brewers. They are led by CJ Abrams , who has 16 RBI and a .969 OPS. After a rough season on both sides of the ball last year, Abrams is finally becoming the star Washington needs to break out of this rebuild. On the mound, Foster Griffin has allowed just three runs in 15.1 innings, trying to fill the hole Mackenzie Gore left in the rotation. Can the Nats keep it rolling against the Pirates and the Giants this week?

#29: Colorado Rockies (-)

The Rockies are still staying out of the basement with their 6-10 record because they swept the Astros to start the week. They followed that up by getting swept in a four-game series against the Padres . Mickey Moniak and TJ Rumfeld continue to hit, which has raised the floor of the Rockies from the pits of 2025. Tomoyuki Sugano has also been great, posting a 2.16 ERA through his first three starts in Colorado. They visit the Astros again before hosting the Dodgers coming up.

#30: Chicago White Sox (-3)

Finally, the White Sox are in the basement of the MLB Power Rankings with a 6-10 record. They were swept by the Orioles before splitting four games with the Royals this week. Munetaka Murakami has slowed down, now holding 22 strikeouts in 65 plate appearances. Five of the pitchers who have started multiple games have an ERA of 3.60 or below, including 26-year-old Sean Burke . Things are still looking up on the South Side, but it was a tough week for them. They look to turn it around this week against the Rays and the Athletics.

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