ClutchPoints 2026 MLB Power Rankings, Vol. 10: Red Sox fire Alex Cora, Mets slide continues

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ClutchPoints 2026 MLB Power Rankings, Vol. 10: Red Sox fire Alex Cora, Mets slide continues

Christopher Hennessy, ClutchPoints · ClutchPoints

Mon, Apr 27, 2026 ·

17 min read

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ClutchPoints 2026 MLB Power Rankings, Vol. 10: Red Sox fire Alex Cora, Mets slide continues appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .

The MLB Power Rankings are back after a tumultuous week in the majors, highlighted by the Boston Red Sox firing Alex Cora . At 11-17, Boston is in last place in the American League East with a murky future ahead. That took some of the heat off the New York Mets , who broke their losing streak but still have not turned things around.

How far do both fall in the latest edition of ClutchPoints' MLB Power Rankings?

#1: Los Angeles Dodgers (-)

The Los Angeles Dodgers keep the top spot in the MLB Power Rankings after a 3-3 week. They dropped two of three to the San Francisco Giants , but bounced back by taking two of three from the blistering hot Chicago Cubs . Shohei Ohtani lost his 53-game on-base streak with a dud of a game on Thursday against San Francisco . But to no one's surprise, he has already started a new three-game stretch. Justin Wrobleski dominated on the hill on Sunday with six scoreless innings, becoming the next star for LA. The Dodgers host the Miami Marlins and visit the St Louis Cardinals this week.

#2: San Diego Padres (-)

The San Diego Padres keep the second spot after taking two of three from the Colorado Rockies and splitting the Mexico City series with the Arizona Diamondbacks . Even in Sunday's loss, Manny Machado dominated, going 2-for-5 with five RBI. It was his first multi-RBI game in two weeks, so it could be a sign of things to come for the Padres. They are 18-9, the third-best record in the league, and face the Cubs and Chicago White Sox at home.

#3: Atlanta Braves (+1)

The Atlanta Braves are the first team to reach 20 wins this season, taking three of four from the Washington Nationals and two of three from the Philadelphia Phillies . The pitching has been spectacular, but ex-All-Star Reynaldo Lopez is headed to the bullpen after a rough start against Philly. Rookie JR Ritchie will take his spot in the rotation after a great first start against Washington. Drake Baldwin and Matt Olson are leading the way offensively, with 25 RBI each. They are big parts of Atlanta's +65 run differential to start the year. They host the Detroit Tigers before hitting the road to face the Rockies.

#4: New York Yankees (+1)

The New York Yankees have the best record in the American League after sweeping the Red Sox and taking two from the Houston Astros . They lost an opportunity for a nine-game winning streak on Sunday, but they are still one of the hottest teams in the league. Jazz Chisholm Jr has finally defrosted, crushing his first homer of the season at Fenway and knocking in four runs on Friday in Houston. Giancarlo Stanton suffered a leg injury , but it was Luis Gil who was sent down for Jasson Dominguez . The Yankees visit the Texas Rangers before coming back home for four games against the Baltimore Orioles .

#5: Milwaukee Brewers (-2)

The Milwaukee Brewers are moving down after dropping two of three to both the Tigers and the Pittsburgh Pirates . They faced both Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes, the first time a team has faced the reigning Cy Young winners on consecutive days. They lost both of those games, including a wild walk-off loss to Detroit after knocking Skubal out of the game. Without Jackson Chourio and Christian Yelich , both on the IL, the offense has struggled. Jacob Misiorowski leads the majors with 51 strikeouts and has a solid 3.31 ERA, which should have fans excited. Milwaukee hosts the Diamondbacks before visiting the Nationals.

#6: Chicago Cubs (+2)

The Cubs are moving up in the MLB Power Rankings, even after dropping two of three to the Dodgers to end the week. They started by sweeping the Phillies in a four-game set, with their winning streak hitting 10 before Saturday's loss to LA. Since the winning streak, Nico Hoerner has been sensational . He has a .315 batting average and .837 OPS in the last 12 games, better than his full-season stats. The contract he just signed is already looking like a bargain at $140 million. The Cubs visit the Padres before hosting the Diamondbacks this week.

#7: Detroit Tigers (-1)

The Tigers took two of three from the Brewers to start the week, but dropped two of three to the Cincinnati Reds , falling to 15-14. That is still good enough for the top record in the AL Central, however, so it's not all bad in the Motor City. Tarik Skubal allowed four runs in six innings against the Brewers , an outing that had him spiking water jugs in the dugout. Kevin McGonigle leads MLB with 2.0 bWAR, thanks to a 3-for-5 day with a homer on Saturday. The Tigers can pull away from the AL Central pack with the Braves on the road and the Texas Rangers at home this week.

#8: Seattle Mariners (+1)

The Seattle Mariners are moving up once again in the MLB Power Rankings. They bounced back from a series loss against the Athletics by sweeping the St Louis Cardinals, all without Brendan Donovan . None of their elite offensive pieces are clicking yet, but Seattle is still hanging around .500. They are 14-15 and 1.5 games out of first place in the AL West, and both Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez have OPS's under .700. They have a cupcake schedule coming up, with the Twins on the road and the Royals at home this week.

#9: Toronto Blue Jays (+1)

The Toronto Blue Jays are in a similar spot to their ALCS opponents, sitting at 12-15 after taking two of three from the Los Angeles Angels and the Cleveland Guardians . Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is doing his part, with an incredible .340 batting average and .886 OPS. But the rest of the offense has not lived up to its contact-first approach. On the hill, Dylan Cease has been incredible with a 2.10 ERA in five outings. Even Patrick Corbin has been solid, with a 3.72 ERA in four outings. The Blue Jays have to keep winning with the Red Sox on the road before hosting the Twins for four games.

#10: Cincinnati Reds (+1)

The Reds are in first place in the National League Central with an incredible 18-10 record to start the year. They took two of three from the Tampa Bay Rays and the Tigers, keeping the top spot in the sport's best division so far. Sal Stewart has become an incredible offensive threat , leading baseball with 29 RBI in 28 games so far. The Reds have protected Elly De La Cruz in the lineup, and it has paid off in spades. Can they keep the magic alive in a home series with the Rockies before a road set against the Pirates?

#11: Philadelphia Phillies (-4)

The Phillies are the first team to take a serious step back in the MLB Power Rankings this week. They are tied for the worst record in MLB at 9-19, losing nine of their last 10 games. JT Realmuto hit the injured list, making the offensive sledding even harder. Kyle Schwarber is only hitting for power, with a .195 batting average, but nine homers and a .864 OPS. Last year, the Phillies lost their 19th game on May 25th. This year, it was April 26th, and things are getting away from them. Wins are a necessity with the Giants at home and the Marlins on the road coming up.

#12: Baltimore Orioles (-)

The Baltimore Orioles took two of three from the Royals but dropped two of three to the Red Sox, moving to 13-15. They finally have the old version of Adley Rutschman back, with a 1.020 OPS in 56 plate appearances this year. With Samuel Basallo also mashing the ball, the catchers are pulling their weight. But Gunnar Henderson leads the majors with 42 strikeouts , and Brandon Young is the only starter with an ERA below 4.00. The Orioles are supposed to have an elite young core, but the pieces just aren't clicking at the same time. They host the Astros before a four-game wrap-around series against the Yankees in The Bronx.

#13: Texas Rangers (+2)

The Rangers took two of three from the Pirates and dropped two of three to the Athletics to stay at an even .500 on the season. But because of the slow starts from their division rivals, they are only one game behind the A's for the top spot in the AL West. They have a top-heavy offense, with Josh Jung , Brandon Nimmo , and Corey Seager mashing the ball. But Joc Pederson and Josh Smith have seen their struggles continue into 2026. Wyatt Langford is now on the injured list amid a sluggish start, as well. Jacob deGrom has been incredible, and will match up with Cam Schlittler in a must-watch matchup this week. After a three-game set with the Yankees, the Rangers visit the Tigers for three games.

#14: Cleveland Guardians (-1)

The Guardians are moving down in the MLB Power Rankings after dropping two of three to both the Astros and the Blue Jays. They are now 15-14, tied with the Tigers atop the AL Central. But the Guardians have a pair of aces atop their rotation, with Gavin Williams and Parker Messick dominating on the hill. Williams allowed six runs to the Blue Jays, but the Guardians still won that game. Messick is 3-0 in five starts with an incredible 1.76 ERA, aided by a long no-hitter bid. The Guardians host the Rays before visiting the Athletics this week.

#15: Arizona Diamondbacks (-1)

The Diamondbacks represent the midpoint of the power rankings to end April after dropping a series to the White Sox and splitting two games with the Padres . Ildemaro Vargas has been a revelation, leading the National League with a 1.104 OPS thanks to his 14 extra-base hits. A career journeyman, Vargas started his career with Arizona, spent time with four other franchises between stints, and rejoined the Snakes in 2025. The expected stars are still not mashing the ball, but Vargas and Jose Fernandez are keeping Arizona afloat. They are back in the States for road sets against the Brewers and the Cubs this week.

#16: Pittsburgh Pirates (+1)

The Pirates are moving up again after dropping two of three to the Rangers and taking two from the Brewers. Paul Skenes has started an incredible Cy Young defense, taking a perfect game into the seventh on Friday and dropping his ERA to 2.48. Offensively, Konnor Griffin is going through growing pains with a .602 OPS. He could be sent back to AAA to regain his confidence, but the Buccos may also try to have him swing through it in front of the fired-up PNC Park crowd. The Pirates host the Cardinals for four games and the Reds for three coming up.

#17: Miami Marlins (+2)

The Marlins took two of three from the Cardinals and dropped two of three to the Giants, falling to 13-15 on the year. Xavier Edwards has been great, leading the NL with a .425 OPS, largely thanks to a .343 batting average. But the starting pitching has been an issue, with Eury Perez and Sandy Alcantara both putting together sluggish starts. Starting depth was always a concern for the Fish , and that has come to roost in April. They visit the Dodgers before hosting the Phillies for four games in Miami.

#18: Tampa Bay Rays (+3)

The Rays dropped the first two games of their series with the Reds before salvaging the series in Game 3. They took that momentum into a sweep of the Twins, moving to 16-11 on the season. Junior Caminero has found his homer swing, mashing two against Minnesota on Friday to bring his season total to eight. Nick Martinez has been a great addition to the rotation, with a 2.10 ERA in five starts so far. The Rays visit the Guardians before hosting the Giants this week.

#19: New York Mets (-3)

The Mets broke their losing streak at 12, taking the final two games against the Twins at Citi Field. They had a winning streak, but did get a Francisco Lindor calf injury that dampened the mood. They had the opportunity against the Rockies at home, but lost all three games to fall to 9-19 . The Red Sox's firings have distracted some from the Mets' disaster, but that cannot last much longer. Since returning from injury, Juan Soto is 3-for-15 with no extra-base hits, which is not helping. They host the Nationals and visit the Angels, in desperate need of wins this week.

#20: Athletics (+4)

The Athletics are atop the AL West at 15-13 after taking two of three from the Mariners and the Rangers. After a 1-5 start, they have played to a 103-win pace in a 22-game sample. Nick Kurtz has come alive, Shea Langeliers leads the team with a .923 OPS, and Jeffrey Springs has been leading the rotation. The Athletics are still being hurt by their poor start, but they'll keep flying up the MLB Power Rankings with these results. They host the Royals and Guardians for three games each this week.

#21: Houston Astros (-3)

The Astros are tumbling down the power rankings after taking two of three from the Guardians and dropping two to the Yankees. Jose Altuve has been dreadful this year, throwing a key ball away at second base against New York and posting a .772 OPS. Yordan Alvarez leads the majors in homers, batting average , on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS. But it has not been enough to lift Houston out of the pits. The Astros are seven games under .500 with the Orioles and Red Sox coming up on the road.

#22: Boston Red Sox (-2)

The Red Sox are the headliner this week, firing manager Alex Cora and five other coaches after an 11-17 start. They won Cora's last game at the helm 17-1, which is an odd send-off for a manager. But make no mistake, this is Craig Breslow 's team now. The much-maligned lead executive pitched this move to ownership, likely saving his job in the process. But as an anonymous Red Sox alum told Rod Bradford of WEEI, "It's like s***ing your pants and changing your shirt." They visit the Blue Jays before Chad Tracy's Fenway debut against the Astros.

#23: Kansas City Royals (+2)

The Royals entered the week with the worst record in baseball and dropped two of three to the Orioles to start it. Bobby Witt Jr said they were motivated by the booing in KC, so they proved it with a sweep of the Angels. Lane Thomas smashed a three-run homer to walk off the Halos on Sunday, moving to 11-17 on the season. Witt held his own as well, hitting .333 with a 1.017 OPS in the last six games. The Royals look to keep it up on the road against the Athletics and Mariners.

#24: St Louis Cardinals (-1)

The Cardinals are 14-13, but they are in last place in the NL Central. They dropped two of three to the Marlins and were swept by the Mariners, which did not help things. Through the losing, Nathan Church has turned into an offensive star . He has a .406 batting average and a 1.257 OPS in his last nine games. That has bumped his OPS from .546 to .818, which is third on the team. The Cardinals weren't expected to be good, but they have an opportunity to prove us wrong. They visit the Pirates for four games before hosting the Dodgers.

#25: Los Angeles Angels (-3)

The Angels dropped two of three to the Blue Jays and were swept by the Royals, falling to 12-17 on the season. Mike Trout is still mashing baseballs, leading the Halos with a .961 OPS and leading the AL with 26 runs scored. But Jose Soriano has been the story , allowing just one run in 37.2 innings across six starts. He leads baseball with a 2.7 bWAR, five wins, a 0.24 ERA, and 4.3 hits allowed per nine innings. Soriano has a massive AL Cy Young lead and will pitch Game 2 against the White Sox on Tuesday. Then, the Halos face the Mets in Anaheim for three games.

#26: San Francisco Giants (+1)

The Giants are finally moving up in the MLB Power Rankings after taking two of three from the Dodgers and the Marlins. Harrison Bader's awful start, .115/.145/.192, has led to an injured list stint, Rafael Devers has a .536 OPS, and Logan Webb 's ERA is nearing 5.00. But in their solid week, Casey Schmitt smashed two homers and posted a .947 OPS in five games. The Giants have to start winning now to catch up to the Dodgers and Padres. They hit the road to face the Phillies and the Rays this week.

#27: Chicago White Sox (+1)

The White Sox took two of three from the Diamondbacks, but dropped two of three from the Nationals, falling to 11-17. Munetaka Murakami has been exactly as advertised , in both good and bad ways. He leads baseball with 11 homers, but also leads the American League with 41 strikeouts. It all comes out to a .935 OPS, and his defense has gotten better at first base as well. Rookie Noah Schultz has a 3.52 ERA in 15.1 innings across three starts, which is promising moving forward. The White Sox host the Angels and visit the Padres this week.

#28: Colorado Rockies (+2)

The Rockies are moving out of the basement once again after dropping a series to the Padres and sweeping the Mets on the road. Chase Dollander shut out the Mets on Sunday , throwing seven innings and allowing just five hits. It was the 24-year-old's first start of the season after six great relief appearances. Hunter Goodman hit a two-run homer off Kodai Senga to lift the offense and support Dollander. The Rockies finish their road trip with three games against the Reds before hosting the Braves for three.

#29: Washington Nationals (-)

The Nationals dropped three of four to the Braves before taking two of three from the White Sox, moving to 13-16 on the season. James Wood and CJ Abrams are the focal points once again. Wood leads the NL with 28 walks and 10 homers , and leads MLB with 44 strikeouts. So more of the same from him. Abrams has an .897 OPS and has played better defense this year. Washington also has a speed demon breaking onto the scene, as Nasim Nuñez leads the majors with 13 steals. The Nationals will keep developing pieces against the Mets on the road and the Brewers at home.

#30: Minnesota Twins (-4)

If the 2026 Twins were compared to a mythical story, it would be Icarus. They flew too close to the sun with the now-infamous " things that come in dozens" tweet after beating the Mets . They have lost every game they've played since. The Twins handed the Mets their 12th straight loss, promptly lost that series, and then were swept by the Rays. They were not supposed to be good this year, and that plan may finally be coming to fruition. They did peak at 12-11, and no one can take that away from them. They host the Mariners and Blue Jays next.

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