ClutchPoints 2026 MLB Power Rankings, Vol. 18: Dodgers back on top

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ClutchPoints 2026 MLB Power Rankings, Vol. 18: Dodgers back on top

Christopher Hennessy, ClutchPoints · ClutchPoints

Mon, Jun 22, 2026 ·

5 min read

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ClutchPoints 2026 MLB Power Rankings, Vol. 18: Dodgers back on top appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .

The 2026 MLB Power Rankings are back after an electric Father's Day Weekend around the league . The Dodgers are back on top of the power rankings for the first time since April, with the Atlanta Braves falling off. How far does the top team in the NL East fall?

Where does your favorite team rank with the season nearly halfway done? Let's find out.

#1: Los Angeles Dodgers (+1)

The Dodgers swept the Tampa Bay Rays before dropping two of three against the Baltimore Orioles , all at home. They have been without Will Smith and Teoscar Hernandez due to injury , but have the most wins in baseball with 49. Shohei Ohtani has had his two worst pitching performances of the season in a row, but still has an ERA below 2.00. He's in the wrong league to win the Cy Young, but he can compete with Cristopher Sanchez and Jacob Misiorowski . The Dodgers visit the Minnesota Twins and the San Diego Padres this week.

#2: Atlanta Braves (-1)

The Braves were swept in a rain-shortened two-game series against the San Francisco Giants to start the week. Even though they bounced back by taking two of three from the Milwaukee Brewers , they have dropped a spot. Drake Baldwin returned from the injured list , hitting a homer in his first game back. But he is just 2-for 22 in five games since returning, which isn't going to be enough from their new offensive star. The Braves visit the Padres and the Giants next.

#3: Milwaukee Brewers (-)

The Brewers took two of three from the Cleveland Guardians before dropping two of three against the Braves. Jackson Chourio has continued his sensational play, with a season OPS of .894 in 41 games. Jacob Misiorowski suffered just his third loss of the season, but only allowed two runs in six innings. Aaron Ashby also picked up his first loss of the year out of the bullpen, allowing a walk-off homer against the Braves' Ozzie Albies . The Brewers are still in good shape atop the NL Central with the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs coming up next.

#4: New York Yankees (+1)

The New York Yankees took two of three from the Chicago White Sox , but dropped two of three to the Reds. Ben Rice was the offensive story of the week, smashing three homers in six games, bringing his season total to 22. Cam Schlittler put together another nice start , and Spencer Jones has held his own in the lineup. While they have an expensive roster, it's the homegrown youngsters making a difference without Aaron Judge . The Yankees visit the Detroit Tigers and the Boston Red Sox next.

#5: Tampa Bay Rays (-1)

The Rays are moving back a spot in the MLB Power Rankings after a dreadful stretch. They were swept by the Dodgers, but did take two of three from the Washington Nationals . They are 3-6 in their last nine games, ceding first place to the Yankees in the process. Chandler Simpson has been dreadful in June, posting a .149 batting average and .333 OPS in 17 games so far. With just two stolen bases in that stretch, his biggest skill has been nuked. The Rays need to get back on track with the Kansas City Royals and Arizona Diamondbacks coming to town.

#6: Philadelphia Phillies (-)

The Philadelphia Phillies had an electric weekend at Citizens Bank Park. On Saturday, Kyle Schwarber hit three homers, and Bryce Harper hit for the first cycle of his career . They followed that up on Sunday with a primetime win over the New York Mets , taking the series. They took two of three from the Miami Marlins before that, so it's another great week for the Phillies. Both Sanchez and Zach Wheeler have been great, pitching the Fightins back into contention. The Phillies visit the Nationals and the Mets next.

#7: San Diego Padres (-)

The Padres had another disastrous week, dropping two of three to the Texas Rangers and the St Louis Cardinals . This season has been defined by the offensive failures of Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. Machado roped three extra-base hits last week, while Tatis racked up an .830 OPS. Even though they lost four games, those are positive things to take for San Diego. Mason Miller has continued to dominate, leading the National League with 20 saves this season. The Padres host the Braves and the Dodgers this week.

#8: Cleveland Guardians (-)

The Guardians dropped two of three to the Brewers and the Astros this week, falling to 41-37 on the season. That puts them back in first place in the AL Central after a miserable week for the White Sox. They are without Jose Ramirez and Chase DeLauter , but former top pick Travis Bazzana has stepped up . In these six games, Bazzana went 9-for-21 with three homers, seven RBI, and six runs scored. If he keeps that up once one of Ramirez or DeLauter returns, they could be on another incredible summer run. The Guardians visit the White Sox before hosting the Seattle Mariners this week.

#9: Chicago Cubs (+1)

The Cubs are stacking some wins again, taking two of three from the Colorado Rockies and splitting two with the Toronto Blue Jays . Pete Crow-Armstrong is on one of the greatest heaters of all time, according to OptaStats. "There have been over 5 million total 18-game spans by players in MLB's modern era. In none of them did a player have as many hits, doubles, triples, homers & steals as the Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong over his last 18 games: 34 hits, 5 doubles, 2 triples. 9 home runs, 6 stolen bases."

Crow-Armstrong leads the non-Ohtani division with 4.6 bWAR, leading the Cubs back from the depths lately. They are 40-37, holding down the final NL Wild Card spot, as the halfway point nears. They visit the Mets and the Brewers coming up.

#10: Seattle Mariners (-1)

The Mariners finish out the top-10 of the MLB Power Rankings after taking two of three from the Orioles and dropping two of three to the Red Sox. They are still atop the AL West, but that should not be satisfactory. Cal Raleigh returned from the injured list , going 3-for-18 in the six-game sample. His offensive ineptitude cost them games early, but he could not capitalize on his 2-RBI day on Tuesday. The Mariners need Raleigh to drive the offense on the road against the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Guardians.

#11: Toronto Blue Jays (+2)

The Blue Jays are moving up after sweeping the Red Sox and splitting two games with the Cubs. They went to Fenway to take those three games from Boston, capped by Brandon Valenzuela's ninth-inning double . A concern arose in Chicago, however, as Kevin Gausman was crushed for eight first-inning runs in the first game. One game below .500, it's time for the Blue Jays to hit the gas. But does this team have the ability to do that? They look to prove they are against the Houston Astros and the Rangers at home.

#12: St Louis Cardinals (-1)

The Cardinals took two of three from the Padres, but dropped two of three to the Royals, falling to 41-34 on the season. They are led by rookie JJ Wetherholt, who smashed two homers in Sunday's win over Kansas City . The second baseman has an incredible .798 OPS and has played strong defense to go along with it. Dustin May had one of the best pitching performances of the year, hurling a complete-game shutout against the Padres. The Cardinals continue to defy expectations and have the Diamondbacks and Marlins coming to town.

#13: Chicago White Sox (-1)

The White Sox's magic carpet ride hit its first speed bump in a while this week. They dropped two of three to the Yankees and were swept by the Detroit Tigers, falling to 39-37 on the season. Braeden Montgomery has slowed down, managing just five hits in his last eight games. Without Munetaka Murakami , they need both Montgomerys, the unrelated Braeden and Colson , to dominate offensively. The White Sox host the Guardians and Royals this week, looking to get back on track.

#14: Texas Rangers (+2)

The Rangers were swept by the Twins to start the week, but bounced back by taking two of three from the Padres. In the AL West, their 37-40 record has them firmly in the race. In one of the games they won, Jacob deGrom had his worst start of the season. He allowed six earned runs in six innings against San Diego, which ballooned his ERA to 3.59. The AL Cy Young race is wide open, but that start won't help. Texas needs him with Nathan Eovaldi and Jack Leiter both scratched from starts recently. The Rangers visit the Marlins and the Blue Jays this week.

#15: Pittsburgh Pirates (-)

The Pirates remain at .500 after taking two of three from the Athletics and dropping two of three to the Rockies. Their week was highlighted by the second win against the A's, which was a 12-3 victory boosted by Ryan O'Hearn's six RBIs. O'Hearn joined the team on a two-year contract to boost the offense, which he has done. Once they add Konnor Griffin back to the lineup , they can really turn it up a level. But still, they have lost seven consecutive Paul Skenes starts, even though his ERA is 2.86. The Pirates host the Mariners and the Reds this week.

#16: Athletics (-2)

The Athletics dropped two of three to the Pirates and split four games with the Los Angeles Angels , falling to 38-40. That is just 1.5 games back of the division lead, but they have not proven they can actually win those games. The pitching is not strong enough, even with the All-Star seasons Shea Langeliers and Nick Kurtz are having. Kurtz leads all of baseball with 61 RBI, 72 walks, and a .439 on-base percentage, holding any sophomore slump talk at bay. The Athletics hit the road to face the Giants and the Angels.

#17: Baltimore Orioles (+2)

The Orioles dropped two of three to the Mariners, but bounced back by taking two of three from the Dodgers. They scored 12 runs on Sunday, with three RBI from Pete Alonso and four from Colton Cowser to boost some stats. Alonso has been sensational in June, with a 1.006 OPS and 16 RBI in 19 games. While the team is on life support, their biggest addition has been solid this year. He will have to keep that up with Adley Rutschman on the injured list . If there is any way to acquire pitching before the deadline, Baltimore has to do it. The Orioles face the Angels on the road and the Nationals at home this week.

#18: Cincinnati Reds (+2)

The Reds took two of three from both the Mets and Yankees, moving to 37-39. Winning those games, considering the injuries in their lineup, is an incredible feat for Cincinnati. Elly De La Cruz is starting a rehab assignment , as is Hunter Greene . But that ignores the importance of Chase Burns , who shut down the Yankees on Sunday to secure the series win. Burns is 9-1 with a 2.00 ERA this season. Cincy hosts the Brewers and visits the Pirates in a massive week coming up.

#19: Washington Nationals (-2)

The Nationals took two of three from the Royals and dropped two of three to the Rays, falling to 40-38 on the season. Whether they can maintain their .500 pace remains to be seen, but Washington has laid the foundation for a successful future. If they trade away CJ Abrams and James Wood at the deadline, though, that foundation will crack. The Nationals have to keep adding to this core, as the NL East powers are getting older. This is a stepping stone season, and there is no reason to go backwards now. They host the Phillies and visit the Orioles this week, looking to stay above water.

#20: Arizona Diamondbacks (-2)

The Diamondbacks took two of three from the Angels, but dropped two of three against the Twins to fall to 39-38. Corbin Carroll is having a sensational season, leading MLB with nine triples. He's looking to take the National League triple crown for a fourth consecutive season, a product of his incredible speed and Arizona's ballpark. On the downside, Zac Gallen has been brutal this year. After a bad contract year last season, he took the qualifying offer to try again. With a 6.10 ERA in 16 starts this year, he's been even worse. The Diamondbacks visit the Cardinals and the Rays this week.

#21: Miami Marlins (+1)

The Marlins are moving up in the MLB Power Rankings again with a 40-38 record after sweeping the Giants . Max Meyer continued his strong season, throwing five innings on Saturday against San Francisco . With an 8-0 with a 2.80 ERA, he is one of the unsung heroes of the NL Wild Card race. Offensively, Liam Hicks was placed on the injured list, putting a speed bump in his breakout season. The Fish host the Rangers and visit the Cardinals this week.

#22: Detroit Tigers (+1)

The Tigers cannot figure out what they want to be. Are they one of the worst teams in baseball that lost two of three to the Astros? Or are they a spunky AL Wild Card contender that swept the White Sox? At 11 games under .500, the former is much more likely. In his second start off the injured list, Tarik Skubal went 5.2 innings, allowing three runs to Chicago . It's not his Cy Young form, but a healthy Skubal is better than no Skubal at all. The Tigers host the Yankees and the Astros in a big week ahead.

#23: Minnesota Twins (+2)

The Twins stacked up some wins this week, and they are firmly in the race. They took two of three from the Diamondbacks and swept the Rangers, moving to 38-41. Between the mediocrity of the AL Central and the expanded Wild Card, the Twins can't be written off. Byron Buxton has played himself into trade rumors , with 24 homers and 40 RBI on the season. After last year's fire sale, no one is going to be off the table in the rumor mill. But will the Twins trade Buxton or make a Wild Card push? They host the Dodgers and the Rockies this week.

#24: New York Mets (-3)

The Mets cannot get the car into gear, losing two of three to the Reds and the Phillies. Juan Soto continues to have a solid season, but it's about the only positive thing that can be said. Francisco Lindor is starting his injury rehab , but the team is nine games under .500, so it may be too late. Freddy Peralta had another miserable start, ramping up trade rumors once again. If the Mets trade him, they have to recoup some of what they gave up in the winter. They host the Cubs and the Phillies this week, hoping to put trade rumors to bed.

#25: Houston Astros (+1)

The Astros are moving up a spot in the MLB Power Rankings after taking sets from the Tigers and the Guardians. They are still five games below .500, but that does not matter as much in the AL West. Hunter Brown returned from the injured list, allowing one run in 5.2 innings against Detroit. After nearly three months on the shelf, Brown is back to lead the rotation. If the Astros are going to mount a standings comeback, it'll be on the backs of Brown and Yordan Alvarez . Houston visits the Blue Jays and the Tigers this week.

#26: Boston Red Sox (-2)

The Red Sox were swept by the Blue Jays at home, falling a season-low 14-games under .500. They did take the following series in Seattle, moving to 31-44, but they are still 14.5 games behind the Yankees in the AL East. Through all that dysfunction, their two big offseason acquisitions have been great. Willson Contreras has a .903 OPS, and Ranger Suarez leads the staff with a 2.93 ERA. But things are not going well, and the Red Sox will be sellers at the trade deadline . They visit the Rockies and host the Yankees for four games.

#27: Kansas City Royals (-)

The Royals are nine games out of first place in the AL Central with a dreadful 32-46 record. They dropped two of three to the Nationals, but bounced back to take a set from the Cardinals over the weekend. Bobby Witt Jr. missed the final two games of the Cardinals series , but he has not been placed on the injured list yet. His knee injury is the "best-case scenario, " according to reports. The Royals visit the Rays and the White Sox, needing wins to stay a part of this season.

#28: San Francisco Giants (-)

The Giants swept a two-game set against the Braves, but were swept by the Marlins to end the week. They cannot stack wins, but they are stacking trade deadline rumors. Willy Adames , Matt Chapman , Luis Arraez , Rafael Devers , and Robbie Ray have all been in the rumor mill so far. Devers waved off a pinch-runner in the ninth inning on Sunday , continuing an odd career of doing whatever he wants. The vibes around the Giants are bad, and the record reflects that. The Giants are 31-46 with the Athletics and the Braves coming to town.

#29: Los Angeles Angels (-)

The Angels have the worst record in the American League at 32-47. They dropped two of three to the Diamondbacks and took two of three from the Athletics to reach that mark. Mike Trout joins the bevy of players on the injured list, pausing his comeback campaign at 74 games. Zach Neto has been solid this year, posting a .784 OPS that will make him attractive at the trade deadline. That's the conversation once again in Anaheim as the Orioles and the Athletics come to town.

#30: Colorado Rockies (-)

The Rockies stay in the final spot of the MLB Power Rankings with a league-worst 30-48 record. They dropped two of three to the Cubs and took two of three from the Pirates this week, so it wasn't a dreadful performance. TJ Rumfield and Hunter Goodman are having great seasons, but it just does not matter because of their depth. The Rockies are going nowhere fast, and they're stuck in the basement for another week. They host the Red Sox and visit the Twins this week.

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