ClutchPoints 2026 MLB Power Rankings, Vol. 17: Knicks, Hurricanes wins clear way for baseball

Luka logs his second 50-point game this season

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ClutchPoints 2026 MLB Power Rankings, Vol. 17: Knicks, Hurricanes wins clear way for baseball

Christopher Hennessy, ClutchPoints · ClutchPoints

Mon, Jun 15, 2026 ·

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The New York Knicks are NBA Champions, and the Carolina Hurricanes are Stanley Cup Champions. The World Series is four months away, but the MLB Power Rankings show that a small group of contenders is pulling away from the pack. The New York Yankees keep pushing without Aaron Judge , while the Detroit Tigers finally got Tarik Skubal back .

Where does your team land in the MLB Power Rankings?

#1: Atlanta Braves (-)

The Atlanta Braves keep the top spot even after a 1-4 week. They lost both games to the Chicago White Sox and dropped two of three to the New York Mets , falling to 46-25. That is still good enough for the best record in baseball, but there are some reasons for concern. Bryce Elder had been one of the best pitchers in baseball, but he allowed six runs in four innings on Sunday to lose the set to New York. And now, Spencer Strider is on the IL with an "ailing right elbow." It's the first speed bump of the season for the Braves, with the San Francisco Giants and Milwaukee Brewers coming to town.

#2: Los Angeles Dodgers (-)

The Los Angeles Dodgers took two of three from the Pirates and dropped two of three against the White Sox, moving to 45-27 on the season. Shohei Ohtani missed the first game of the Sox series , citing knee swelling after the Pirates set. But he showed it is nothing to worry about, smoking a homer on the Southside. The Dodgers just keep rolling through the season, getting past some adversity along the way. They host the Tampa Bay Rays and the Baltimore Orioles next.

#3: Milwaukee Brewers (-)

The Milwaukee Brewers slipped up this week, but they don't lose their spot in the MLB Power Rankings. They dropped two of three to the Athletics before taking two of three from the Philadelphia Phillies . They are now five games up in the NL Central and 43-26 on the season. Jackson Chourio has hit his stride, hitting five homers in the six games this week . The entire offense benefited from playing the A's at a Las Vegas minor-league stadium, which led to a lot of homers. The Brewers host the Cleveland Guardians before visiting the Braves.

#4: Tampa Bay Rays (-)

The Rays swept the Boston Red Sox at home before dropping two of three to the Los Angeles Angels on the road. Chandler Simpson has hit the skids, hitting .191 with a .457 OPS in his last 20 games. Without his ability to get on base, he can't use his speed. Simpson has not stolen a base since May 11. The Rays are still stacking some wins and keeping the Yankees at bay, but the AL East race is getting tight. Tampa visits the Dodgers and hosts the Washington Nationals coming up.

#5: New York Yankees (-)

The Yankees swept the Guardians and took two of three from the Toronto Blue Jays , moving to 43-27 on the season. Anthony Volpe knocked in two runs on Sunday, Paul Goldschmidt hit a massive home run on Saturday , and the Bombers have started to figure it out without Aaron Judge. They have a long way to go without their captain, but they're off to a decent start. The Yankees host the White Sox and the Cincinnati Reds this week.

#6: Philadelphia Phillies (+1)

The Philadelphia Phillies are firmly back in the NL playoff race at 38-33. They took two of three from the Blue Jays and dropped two of three to the Brewers, but that's enough in the National League. Kyle Schwarber has been sensational this year, leading baseball with 24 homers and leading the team with a .930 OPS. As their rotation continues to dominate , they just need some offensive pieces behind Schwarber to click. They'll look to pull that off against the Miami Marlins and the New York Mets at home.

#7: San Diego Padres (+2)

The San Diego Padres have bounced back from the gutter, taking two of three from the Orioles and the Reds. They are 37-33, good enough for second in the NL West. Fernando Tatis Jr is playing second base due to injuries, but he did stroke his second homer of the season on Wednesday, a walk-off. Mason Miller continues to dominate out of the bullpen, and Lucas Giolito put together a nice start against Cincy. Maybe the Padres have already hit rock bottom, with the St Louis Cardinals and the Texas Rangers coming up.

#8: Cleveland Guardians (-2)

The Guardians were swept by the Yankees to start the week, but did take both games against the Tigers over the weekend. That included knocking Skubal out of his return start in the fifth inning. But now, they will be without their superstar. Jose Ramirez has been placed on the injured list with a hamate bone fracture , which could cost him significant time. Angel Martinez and Chase DeLauter left the same game with injuries, but they have avoided the IL. The Guardians start their run without Ramirez against the Brewers and the Houston Astros on the road.

#9: Seattle Mariners (-1)

The Seattle Mariners split four games with the Orioles and dropped two of three to the Nationals, falling to 37-36. That is still enough to be atop the dreadful AL West by just one game. They are still without Cal Raleigh and Brandon Donovan, so they can't afford poor pitching performances. Bryan Woo allowed seven runs in his start against the Orioles , costing them a series win. The Mariners are holding serve without some offensive stars, but there is still reason for concern. They host the Orioles and Red Sox this week.

#10: Chicago Cubs (-)

The Chicago Cubs secured their first series win since May 7 when they took two of three from the San Francisco Giants over the weekend. They could not finish off the sweep without Seiya Suzuki due to injury , but they are two games over .500 and should be alive in the race again. Michael Busch has returned to action and stroked a huge three-run homer against the Giants on Friday. With Busch back, their offense should take a step forward in the summer months. The Cubs host the Colorado Rockies and the Blue Jays coming up.

#11: St Louis Cardinals (+1)

The Cardinals took two of three from the Mets, but dropped two of three to the Minnesota Twins over the weekend. They are seven games over .500 and firmly in the race no one thought they would be anywhere near. The offense continues to be powered by Jordan Walker , who leads baseball with 56 RBI. JJ Wetherholt is holding his own at the plate and playing great defense at second base, which has the Cardinals in a great spot. They host the Padres and visit the Kansas City Royals coming up.

#12: Chicago White Sox (+3)

The White Sox just keep rising in the MLB Power Rankings, as they are now in first place in the AL Central. Without Munetaka Murakami , they swept a two-game set against the Braves and took two of three from the Dodgers. This portion of their schedule easily could have sent them tumbling back to Earth, but it did the exact opposite. Braden Montgomery made his MLB debut this week, hitting a walk-off homer against Atlanta in his first game. The White Sox visit the Yankees and the Tigers this week

#13: Toronto Blue Jays (-2)

The Blue Jays just can't get the ball rolling downhill this year. They dropped two of three to both the Phillies and the Yankees, falling to 34-38 on the season, ten games behind the first-place Yanks. On top of that, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. missed the final two games against New York with lower-back tightness. Alejandro Kirk is back, which is huge for the lineup. But if Guerrero misses any time, this season could spiral out of control. The Blue Jays visit the Red Sox and the Cubs in a huge week ahead.

#14: Athletics (+2)

The Athletics made their Las Vegas debut this week, taking two of three from the Brewers and the Rockies in their future home city. The games were played at Las Vegas Ballpark, the home of the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators, the A's affiliate. The first game was a 15-14 loss , and the final game was a 23-9 loss, but the middle four were all reasonable scores. Jeffrey Springs pitched in both of those wild games, allowing 11 earned runs in nine innings across the two starts. The Athletics head back to Sacramento to face the Pirates and the Angels.

#15: Pittsburgh Pirates (-2)

The Pirates are an even .500 after dropping two of three to the Miami Marlins and the Dodgers. Paul Skenes put together two solid starts, allowing two runs in six innings against both Miami and LA. But the Pirates lost both of those games as their offense started to struggle. With Konnor Griffin and Oneil Cruz both on the shelf , the Buccos are handcuffed offensively for the time being. They have lost five Skenes starts in a row, which isn't going to keep them in the playoff race. The Pirates visit the Athletics and the Rockies, two stadiums that should kickstart the offense.

#16: Texas Rangers (-2)

The Rangers took two of three from the Royals and dropped two of three to the Red Sox, continuing their back-and-forth stretch. They are 35-36 after finishing last year exactly 81-81, which was not enough to make the playoffs. Jacob deGrom continued his solid season, allowing two runs in six innings at Fenway. With no clear-cut AL Cy Young favorite, maybe deGrom can cap a Cooperstown resume with a third award. The Rangers host the Twins and the Padres this week.

#17: Washington Nationals (+2)

The Nationals keep rising in the MLB Power Rankings, taking two of three from the Giants and the Mariners to move to 37-35. They are another team that was written off before the season, and they are flying past expectations. Daylen Lile has emerged as the third key offensive player behind CJ Abrams and James Wood. Lile has a .911 OPS in June with nine RBI and is just 23 years old. The Nationals keep developing players, and it will one day lead them to another successful run. They host the Royals and visit the Rays this week.

#18: Arizona Diamondbacks (-1)

The Arizona Diamondbacks were swept by the Marlins, but responded by taking two of three from the Reds. Geraldo Perdomo 's regression from last season is a big reason for the team's decline this year. After an .851 OPS last year, he has just a .709 mark this year. But a two-run homer on Sunday propelled them to a win and could set him on the right course. They have signed Max Kepler, but his suspension is not up until later in the month. Maybe he can help unlock their offense this summer. The Diamondbacks host the Angels and the Twins in an interleague-filled week.

#19: Baltimore Orioles (-1)

The Orioles split four games with the Mariners and dropped two of three to the Padres, all at home, last week. That puts Baltimore at 34-39 on the season, 10.5 games behind the Yankees. Brandon Young has done great things for their rotation, throwing seven shutout innings against Seattle. But the rest of the pitching is not good enough, and Pete Alonso and Gunnar Henderson are not pulling their weight . The Orioles continue to fall short of expectations, and a big West Coast trip is coming up. They visit the Mariners and the Dodgers out west this week.

#20: Cincinnati Reds (-)

Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Reds started the season with so much promise, but they have completely collapsed. They dropped two of three to the Padres and the Diamondbacks, falling to 33-37 on the season. That is the worst record in the NL Central, and their 4-12 mark since May 27 is the worst in baseball. Elly De La Cruz, Hunter Greene, and Ke'Bryan Hayes remain on the injured list , impacting all three facets of the game. One positive is Chase Burns , who has a 2.14 ERA in 15 starts this season. They host the Mets and visit the Yankees this week.

#21: New York Mets (+1)

The Mets dropped two of three to the Cardinals, but followed that up by taking two of three from the Braves. Even at seven games below .500, the Amazins still have a chance to get back in this race. Juan Soto has two hits in four consecutive games, moving his season OPS to .948. Francisco Lindor is working his way back from injury, too , so maybe they aren't dead. The Blue and Orange teams in New York have a propensity to come back, so the Mets aren't going to say die. They visit the Reds and the Phillies coming up.

#22: Miami Marlins (+3)

The Marlins had a big week in the MLB Power Rankings, sweeping the Diamondbacks and taking two of three from the Pirates to get back to .500. Sandy Alcantara dominated the Pirates, boosted by two RBI each from Liam Hicks and Owen Caissie to start that series. Max Meyer picked up his seventh win of the season to cap the set. They have a new star in Hicks, who is riding a six-game hitting streak and has a .992 OPS in June. The Marlins are putting together a strong, young squad and stacking wins. But will it be enough in the crowded National League? They visit the Phillies and host the Giants coming up this week.

#23: Detroit Tigers (-2)

The Tigers got the big boost they thought they needed, with Tarik Skubal returning from his elbow surgery after just a month . He threw 4.2 innings against the Guardians on Saturday, allowing two earned runs and throwing 80 pitches. As he continues to ramp up, the trade talks will get louder. The Tigers took two of three from the Twins but dropped both games to the Guardians to fall to 29-42. With one of the worst records in the American League, it's getting late early in the Motor City. They try to turn that around against the Astros and the White Sox this week.

#24: Boston Red Sox (-1)

The Red Sox were swept by the Rays, but took two of three from the Rangers at Fenway to bounce back. They are still 29-40 on the season and well out of the Wild Card race. Roman Anthony and Garrett Crochet, the two biggest reasons for last year's playoff berth, are still hurt. Any wins they can get without those players are valuable, but they are running out of time. The Red Sox host the Blue Jays and visit the Mariners this week, with wins a necessity.

#25: Minnesota Twins (-1)

The Twins dropped two of three from the Tigers and took two of three from the Cardinals, moving to 33-40. Byron Buxton has been incredible this year, smashing 22 home runs in 61 games. But outside of him, Minnesota does not have the offensive firepower to compete with the best teams. When Buxton plays, he is one of the better centerfielders in the game. Minnesota insists they are not trading him, but could someone make a godfather offer? The Twins visit the Rangers and the Diamondbacks coming up.

#26: Houston Astros (-)

The Astros dropped two of three to the Angels, but took two of three against the Royals, moving to 33-40. Hunter Brown is set to return from injury on Tuesday , which will be a huge boost to their rotation. Since returning from injury, Jose Altuve has continued to struggle offensively. He has a .192 batting average and a .699 OPS in the eight games since his return. Someone has to join Yordan Alvarez and Christian Walker in the lineup, and that could be Altuve. The Astros host the Tigers and the Guardians this week.

#27: Kansas City Royals (-)

The Royals keep reeling, dropping two of three to both the Rangers and the Astros last week. Bobby Witt Jr. ended up missing no time at all after last week's injury scare , and continued his AL MVP case. Witt racked up nine hits and an .847 OPS this week, but managed only one RBI. With no one else getting on base, the Royals are struggling even during hot Witt stretches. It's getting late early for the Royals, who are 29-43 and play the Nationals and Cardinals this week.

#28: San Francisco Giants (-)

The Giants are still stuck toward the bottom of the MLB Power Rankings after dropping two of three to the Nationals and Cubs. They are 29-43, way out of the NL Wild Card race and firmly in the trade deadline sellers conversation. Youngsters, like Bryce Eldridge, make trading veterans a possibility . Firmly entrenched in the deadline talks is Rafael Devers , who has turned his season around. Since May 1, the first baseman has an .832 OPS and 22 RBI in 41 games. After last June's stunner, could Devers be on the trade market again? Wins against the Braves and the Marlins this week could pause that conversation.

#29: Los Angeles Angels (-)

The Angels are also 29-43 after taking two of three from both the Astros and the Rays. Jose Siri picked up a walk-off RBI, Jorge Soriano put together another strong start with five shutout innings against the Rays, and Denzer Guzman had a 3-RBI day. The Angels have not made the playoffs in 11 years, and it doesn't look like the 12th time will be the charm. It'll be another summer of mock trades involving the Halos players. They face the Diamondbacks and the Athletics on the road this week.

#30: Colorado Rockies (-)

The Rockies have the best offensive game of the 2026 season on their resume. They scored 23 runs in Vegas against the Athletics , the most by any team in a single game this year. Is there an asterisk because of the bomber's paradise that the stadium turned out to be? Sure, but this team also plays every single home game 5,000 feet above sea level. So good for Willi Castro , Hunter Goodman , and all of the Rockies who padded their stats on Sunday. They'll need it when the season is said and done. The Rockies visit the Cubs and host the Pirates this week.

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