MLB Power Rankings: Dodgers Plummet as New Teams Occupy Top and Bottom Spots

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 15: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers on deck during the first inning against the Washington Nationals on Jackie Robinson Day at Dodger Stadium on April 15, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. The Dodgers have lost the top spot in this week’s Power Rankings.

Another week of the Major League Baseball season brings another week of Power Rankings.

Last week’s top team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, dropped in this week’s edition after a rough week that saw them go 2-4 with a series loss to the National League West rival San Diego Padres. On the opposite end of the rankings, a new team took the spot as the league’s bottom-dweller, following a winless week of baseball mixed with multiple unfortunate injuries.

The New York Yankees lead the way in this week’s edition of Newsweek’s Power Rankings, but they aren’t even the hottest team in New York. Here’s the full rankings and team records entering Wednesday’s slate of games:

1. New York Yankees (12-6)
2. Atlanta Braves (11-5)
3. Baltimore Orioles (11-6)
4. Cleveland Guardians (12-5)
5. Los Angeles Dodgers (12-8)
6. Kansas City Royals (11-6)
7. Milwaukee Brewers (10-6)
8. Texas Rangers (9-9)
9. Chicago Cubs (10-7)
10. Pittsburgh Pirates (11-7)
11. San Diego Padres (11-9)
12. Cincinnati Reds (9-8)
13. Philadelphia Phillies (10-8)
14. Arizona Diamondbacks (9-9)
15. Boston Red Sox (9-9)
16. Detroit Tigers (10-7)
17. Tampa Bay Rays (10-8)
18. New York Mets (9-8)
19. Toronto Blue Jays (10-8)
20. Los Angeles Angels (8-9)
21. Houston Astros (6-13)
22. St. Louis Cardinals (9-9)
23. Seattle Mariners (8-10)
24. San Francisco Giants (7-11)
25. Minnesota Twins (6-10)
26. Washington Nationals (7-10)
27. Oakland Athletics (7-11)
28. Colorado Rockies (4-14)
29. Miami Marlins (4-14)
30. Chicago White Sox (2-14)

Biggest Risers

Royals (+8): The Royals enjoyed a 4-2 week, and are led by Bobby Witt Jr., who will be an American League MVP candidate for the next decade in Kansas City. He’s slashing .314/.368/.657 this season with four home runs, six doubles and three triples.

Mets (+8): The Mets opened the season 0-5 and were almost no-hit in their sixth game. Then, they went on a run. The Mets have enjoyed a 5-1 week, including a series win over the Atlanta Braves, to catapult them up these rankings.

Padres (+7): The Padres went 5-1 this past week, including series wins over the Cubs and Dodgers. They’ve already clinched a series win over the Brewers, too, after winning the first two games of the series. They’re playing inspired baseball under new manager Mike Shildt. The Dylan Cease trade has been a smashing success thus far, too.

Biggest Fallers

Red Sox (-9): The Red Sox went 2-5 this week, including a series sweep at the hands of their division rival Orioles. The power-hitting Tyler O’Neill also got hurt colliding into their superstar third baseman Rafael Devers on a fly ball to left field. Not good.

Astros (-7): The Astros have an entire rotation on the injured list, which isn’t helping their cause. Pitching is by far their biggest issue, which contributed to their 2-5 week. It hasn’t been pretty for a team that has reached the ALCS in seven straight seasons.

Dodgers (-4): The Dodgers built one of the best teams money can buy, but their bottom of the lineup has hurt them, as has a rash of pitcher injuries. The team is hoping to help the former of those issues with the call-up of top prospect Andy Pages, who got a hit in his first MLB at-bat on Tuesday.

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