2026 ClutchPoints MLB Power Rankings, Vol. 9: The Mets are in freefall

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2026 ClutchPoints MLB Power Rankings, Vol. 9: The Mets are in freefall

Christopher Hennessy, ClutchPoints · ClutchPoints

Mon, Apr 20, 2026 ·

16 min read

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2026 ClutchPoints MLB Power Rankings, Vol. 9: The Mets are in freefall appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .

The MLB Power Rankings are back as the New York Mets continue to tumble. Carlos Mendoza is firmly on the hot seat and could be the first manager fired this year as their losing streak hits 11 games.

There is a lot of shakeup in the MLB Power Rankings this week, but things are staying the same at the top.

#1: Los Angeles Dodgers (-)

To the surprise of no one, the Los Angeles Dodgers are holding down the top spot in the MLB Power Rankings. They swept the Mets at home before dropping two of three to the Colorado Rockies , but there is still a game left in that set. On a team full of superstars, Andy Pages has been leading the offense. He has an NL-best 1.060 OPS and leads the majors with a .382 batting average. The Dodgers have the best record in baseball at 15-6. They put that on the line against the San Francisco Giants and the Chicago Cubs this week.

#2: San Diego Padres (+4)

But the Dodgers do not have to look far to find the team nipping at their heels. The San Diego Padres swept the Seattle Mariners and took two of three from the Los Angeles Angels to move to 15-7 on the season. Off the field, the team was sold this week, going for $3.9 billion to private equity billionaire José E. Feliciano . Overall, it is a good week in San Diego, as the team heads into a new era that could see them spend money on players once again. This week, they visit the Rockies for three and head to Mexico City to face the Arizona Diamondbacks for two.

#3: Milwaukee Brewers (-1)

The Milwaukee Brewers took two of three from the Blue Jays and the Marlins, moving to 12-9 on the season. With Jackson Chourio still out due to injury, Brice Turang has driven the offense all season long. He leads the National League with a .437 on-base percentage and is hitting .300. Gary Sanchez has been a revelation off the bench, slugging five homers in 15 games this season. The Brewers have the pieces, and they finally came together for four wins against quality opponents. Now, they face the Detroit Tigers on the road before hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates .

#4: Atlanta Braves (+9)

The Atlanta Braves are the biggest movers in the MLB Power Rankings, jumping up to fourth after taking two from the Marlins and sweeping the Philadelphia Phillies . They were punished in pre-season rankings because their pitching injuries seemed insurmountable. They have surmounted them, getting epic performances out of Bryce Elder , who leads the NL in ERA. And even when Ronald Acuña Jr is not dominating offensively, he makes great defensive plays to win games . The Braves host the Washington Nationals for four before facing the Phillies again.

#5: New York Yankees (+2)

The New York Yankees got back on track this week, splitting four games with the Angels and sweeping the Kansas City Royals . Those are hardly the most impressive series wins, but they needed to rebound from their five-game losing streak. Ben Rice has homered in four straight games , smashing a homer off lefty Cole Ragans on Sunday. Rice has proven that he is more than a platoon player and should be the everyday first baseman moving forward. The Yankees visit the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros for six vital games this week.

#6: Detroit Tigers (+2)

The Tigers swept the Royals and have taken two of three so far against the Red Sox, with a fourth game coming Monday. They are 12-10 now, winning eight of their last nine games to recover from a dreadful start. That is much easier when Tarik Skubal is on the mound, as he has allowed just seven earned runs in five starts so far this year. Also, they signed top prospect Kevin McGonigle to a $150 million extension , locking in the budding star. After Patriots' Day in Boston, they host the Brewers and visit the Cincinnati Reds .

#7: Philadelphia Phillies (-4)

The Phillies should be very grateful that the Mets exist. It is a red alert in Philadelphia right now, dropping two of three to the Cubs and getting swept by the Braves. They are 2-9 in their last 11, and the offense has been dreadful the whole time. Kyle Schwarber (.936) and Bryce Harper (.838) are the only players with an OPS over .750. Jesus Luzardo and Taijuan Walker have been awful as starters as well. They need to turn it around now against the Cubs and the Braves, all on the road.

#8: Chicago Cubs (+1)

The Cubs are moving up in the MLB Power Rankings after taking two of three from the Phillies and sweeping the Mets. They got solid teams at the right time, taking care of business against two reeling squads. Nico Hoerner has been the key to the offense , leading the majors with 21 RBI, including the game-winner on Sunday. Pete Crow-Armstrong and Alex Bregman have not gotten hot yet, and the Cubs are still over .500. The recipe is there for a great season in the Windy City. They face the Phillies for four games at home before visiting the Dodgers for three.

#9: Seattle Mariners (-4)

The Mariners are one of two American League teams tumbling down the power rankings in late April. They were swept by the Padres before taking two of three from the Texas Rangers , moving to 10-13 on the season. Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez both had excellent seasons last year, propelling them to the ALCS. This year, Rodriguez has a .592 OPS, and Raleigh has a .511 OPS with just two home runs. Sometimes, it is as simple as the stars not shining bright enough. That's the case for the Mariners as they host the Athletics and visit the St Louis Cardinals this week.

#10: Toronto Blue Jays (-6)

The Blue Jays are also headed in reverse, losing two of three to the Brewers and the Arizona Diamondbacks. They are now 8-13, tied for last in the American League East. It is not the pitching, as Dylan Cease has a 1.74 ERA in his first four starts for the club. Kevin Gausman has been great as well, with 35 strikeouts to just six walks. Their contact-first approach has worked on an individual level, with five everyday players hitting over .270. But it has not turned into wins. The Blue Jays have to turn it around against the Angels and Cleveland Guardians on the road. Could their offensive outburst from Sunday's win over the D-Backs push them forward?

#11: Cincinnati Reds (+1)

The Reds are undefeated in one-run games and extra-inning games, which has propelled them to a 14-8 record. They took two of three from the San Francisco Giants and swept the Minnesota Twins to continue their hot start. Sal Stewart has continued mashing the ball, leading the team with seven homers, 19 RBI, and a .978 OPS. Their starting pitching, outside of Chase Burns , has not been great. But banking wins at this point of the campaign is important. The Reds visit the Tampa Bay Rays and host the Tigers this week.

#12: Baltimore Orioles (-2)

The Baltimore Orioles dropped two of three to the Diamondbacks and three of four to the Guardians, falling to 10-12. It was not the offense, as they scored 31 runs in those seven games. That should be enough to win more than twice, but their pitching let them down in every way. It was bullpen pitcher Tyler Wells in extras on Wednesday, starter Trevor Rogers on Sunday, and the questions are rising again. Pete Alonso 's .207 batting average, Gunnar Henderson 's .204 mark, and Adley Rustchman's IL stint are not helping either. The Orioles need to turn it around now against the slumping Royals and dreadful Red Sox.

#13: Cleveland Guardians (+2)

The Guardians dropped two of three to the Cardinals, but are moving up in the MLB Power Rankings because of their series win over the Orioles . Those three wins got them to 13-10, a half-game above the Tigers in the AL Central. Jose Ramirez is continuing his Hall-of-Fame career, pushing for his first 40-homer, 40-steal season. He has six homers and an MLB-best 10 steals. That is a 42-homer, 70-steal pace. The Guardians host the Astros before visiting the Blue Jays, coming up.

#14: Arizona Diamondbacks (+2)

The Diamondbacks are also moving up after taking two of three from the Orioles and the Blue Jays. Corbin Carroll is off to a great start, with 16 RBI and a .990 OPS, the best on the team. They have survived slow starts from Geraldo Perdomo and Nolan Arenado in part because of 21-year-old Jose Fernandez, who is hitting .300 in 17 games. They host the Chicago White Sox for three before heading to Mexico City for a two-game set against the Padres.

#15: Texas Rangers (-1)

The Rangers represent the mid-point in the MLB Power Rankings, which is appropriate considering their 11-11 record. Brandon Nimmo is not the reason for their continued mediocrity, as he leads the AL with 28 hits and has a .908 OPS. Corey Seager , on the other hand, has just a .200 batting average and has struck out a team-high 23 times. Their pitching has regressed, as Nathan Eovaldi and Mackenzie Gore have struggled. The Rangers have the pieces, but they are 92-92 since the beginning of last season. They have to break out of this malaise this week against the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Athletics, with both series coming at home.

#16: New York Mets (-5)

Here are the Mets, falling a total of seven spots throughout their losing streak. Juan Soto has not played during the losing streak, but is eligible to come off the injured list whenever his calf strain allows. That is the good news. The bad news starts with Francisco Lindor , who has struggled offensively, with a .600 OPS, and defensively with mind-numbing mistakes. Brett Baty has struggled at first base , Bo Bichette has a .217 batting average, and Carson Benge is borderline unplayable with a .435 OPS. No one will be surprised if they have a new manager on Tuesday when they face the Twins. They host the Rockies after that.

#17: Pittsburgh Pirates (+2)

The Pirates continue to quietly impress, splitting four with the Nationals and taking two of three from the Rays, moving to 13-9. They are one of seven National League teams with 13 wins, which is a great start considering their poor past. Brandon Lowe has been a clutch addition, with seven homers, 18 RBI, and a .975 OPS, and Oneil Cruz has nine steals, leading the NL. Paul Skenes pitched four shutout innings on Saturday before the rain interrupted that outing. The Pirates visit the Rangers and the Brewers this week.

#18: Houston Astros (-1)

The Astros are another team that should be grateful the Mets exist, as they are 8-15, second-worst in the American League. There are positives, as Christian Walker has bounced back from his poor 2025 season, Yordan Alvarez leads baseball with 10 homers, and Jose Altuve has a .298 batting average. But injuries have crushed their depth, with Joey Loperfido , Jeremy Peña , Tatsuya Imai , and ace Hunter Brown all on the shelf . Plenty of time to go for Houston, who can get hot if they can get healthy. The Astros visit the Guardians before hosting the Yankees this week.

#19: Miami Marlins (-1)

The Marlins are 10-12 after losing two of three to the Athletics and the Brewers this week. A great start for the Fish has fallen into a below .500 record despite some great performances. In Sunday's win, Liam Hicks knocked in his 19th run, which leads the team. With Hicks and Agustin Ramirez on the roster, the Marlins have a stacked catcher position, especially offensively. Owen Caissie got a hit in all three games against the Brewers, continuing a strong rookie season. The Marlins host the Cardinals and visit the Giants this week.

#20: Boston Red Sox (-)

Things are bad for the Red Sox, as their Sunday loss to the Tigers dropped them to 8-13 on the season. They may have a Garrett Crochet problem, as the ace was knocked around in his second consecutive start. After allowing 10 runs in 1.2 innings against the Twins on Monday, he gave up five runs in five innings on Sunday. He has a dreadful 7.88 ERA and a -0.8 bWAR in four starts this year. Without their ace, this Red Sox team has no chance. After Patriots' Day, they host the Yankees for three before visiting the Orioles.

#21: Tampa Bay Rays (+3)

The Rays are moving up in the MLB Power Rankings after sweeping the White Sox and dropping two of three against the Pirates. They have dominated on the base paths, stealing a base in each of the last 10 games. Chandler Simpson has been leading the way there, leading the AL with 28 hits and leading the team with seven steals. They host the Reds and the Twins this week, starting that stretch a half-game behind the Yankees for the AL East lead.

#22: Los Angeles Angels (-)

The Angels split four with the Yankees before dropping two of three to the Padres back out west. Mike Trout dominated the Bombers, becoming the first road player to hit a homer in four straight games at Yankee Stadium. Jorge Soler had his suspension reduced from seven games to four, which is now over. Put that together, and the offense should keep getting better. The Angels are also mourning the loss of franchise legend Garret Anderson , who passed away at 53 years old on Thursday. They host the Blue Jays before visiting the Royals this week.

#23: St. Louis Cardinals (+3)

The Cardinals were written off to start the season, but they have been steady risers in the MLB Power Rankings. They are 13-8 after taking two of three from the Guardians and sweeping the Astros in three close games. All five NL Central teams are over .500, and that includes the Red Birds. Jordan Walker continues to break out, racking up seven hits, including his eighth home run. If Walker and JJ Wetherholt can continue driving the offense, maybe they can make a run. They visit the Marlins before hosting the Mariners in what should be a tough week.

#24: Athletics (-1)

The Athletics' offense has finally come to life, scoring 28 runs in seven games this season. But they went 3-4 against the Rangers and the White Sox, falling to 11-11 on the season. That is good enough for a tie for the AL West lead, but they are not following the path to success that was laid out in the offseason. The offense has another gear, and they have to find it soon. The Athletics hit the road to face the Mariners and the Rangers in a key AL West week.

#25: Kansas City Royals (-4)

The Royals take a tumble thanks to their 7-15 record, tied with the Mets for the worst in all of MLB. They were swept by the Tigers and the Yankees this week, now holding a seven-game losing streak. Bobby Witt Jr. has an incredible .362 on-base percentage, but has only scored four times. That embodies their issues this year, as the depth behind Witt has not hit like they did in 2024. Vinnie Pasquantino hit a homer on Friday, just his second of the season. The Royals look to snap the skid against the Orioles and Angels, all at home.

#26: Minnesota Twins (+1)

The Twins are rising again after taking a series from the Red Sox. They ended the week by getting swept by the Reds, which drops their record to 11-11. Taj Bradley has been sensational, allowing just five earned runs in five starts with a 3-0 record. Joe Ryan has been great as well, and Josh Bell continues to push the offense forward. They face the Mets at Citi Field for three games, which should be an interesting atmosphere. Then, they head south to face the Rays.

#27: San Francisco Giants (-2)

The Giants are falling again in the MLB Power Rankings, as the Tony Vitello experiment continues to get weird. They dropped two of three to the Reds before taking two of three against the Nationals, moving to 9-13. In the Reds series, Vitello did not challenge an out that TJ Friedl clearly dropped in left field, creating another viral moment that did not go his way. On the field, Rafael Devers has just four extra-base hits in 22 games this season . It's getting ugly, and the Dodgers are coming to town before the Marlins visit for three.

#28: Chicago White Sox (-)

To the bottom three of the MLB Power Rankings, where we find the White Sox once again. They are 8-14 after getting swept by the Rays and taking two of three from the Athletics. They have not been able to string together wins this year, but Chicago is playing a respectable brand of baseball. Naperville, Illinois, native Noah Schultz made his first two starts for his boyhood team, allowing four runs in 9.1 innings so far. He is another prospect that the Southsiders are waiting on to truly take the leap. Next up, they visit the Diamondbacks and host the Nationals.

#29: Washington Nationals (-)

The Nationals split four games with the Pirates before dropping a set with the Giants, moving to 10-12 on the season. Blake Butera's hiring was sold to fans as a move to develop young players. That has worked so far, as CJ Abrams has jumped from a .748 OPS last year to a 1.029 this year. James Wood has seven homers of his own, but does lead the majors with 35 strikeouts. So that issue still persists, but progress is being made in the nation's capital. The Nats host the Braves for four games before visiting the White Sox.

#30: Colorado Rockies (-)

Rounding out the MLB Power Rankings is the Colorado Rockies, who own a 9-13 record so far this year. They dropped two of three to the Astros and have taken two of three from the Dodgers so far, with one game remaining. The Rockies are also playing better baseball than they were a year ago, but they still don't have the talent to compete with much of the National League in a big sample. That is proven by their rotation, which has Michael Lorenzen leading the league in hits allowed and Kyle Freeland on the shelf after a strong start. The Rockies finish their season with the Dodgers before hosting the Padres and visiting the Mets.

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