MLB power rankings: Dodgers' super rotation assembles before showdown vs. Padres
The results looked a lot like what the Dodgers expected out of this 2025 season.
Their vaunted rotation is almost entirely healthy – rookie Rōki Sasaki is taking the cautious route back from a shoulder impingement – and the results were evident against the dangerous Toronto Blue Jays. Kershaw and Snell picked up wins – Kershaw besting fellow generational star Max Scherzer – while Glasnow left with a lead before the Blue Jays salvaged the final game of the three-game set.
But after many false starts, it's starting to feel like go time for the Dodgers - who moved up four spots to No. 2 in USA TODAY Sports' power rankings.
Perhaps the biggest boost came from Snell, who signed a $182 million contract yet made just two starts before shoulder inflammation shelved him for four months. Well, he's two starts into his return and on Friday struck out 10 Blue Jays in five innings – inspiring visions of his epic second half with San Francisco last year that inspired the Dodgers to open their checkbook for him.
Snell and Glasnow's next starts? That would be next weekend at San Diego, when the West rivals begin a stretch of six games in 10 days against each other; they won't meet again after that.
A look at our updated rankings:
1. Milwaukee Brewers (-)
2. Los Angeles Dodgers (+4)
3. Philadelphia Phillies (+2)
4. Chicago Cubs (-2)
5. Toronto Blue Jays (-2)
6. Detroit Tigers (-2)
7. San Diego Padres (+1)
8. Houston Astros (+1)
9. Boston Red Sox (+1)
10. Seattle Mariners (+1)
11. New York Mets (-4)
12. New York Yankees (-)
13. Cincinnati Reds (-)
14. Cleveland Guardians (+3)
15. Texas Rangers (-1)
16. San Francisco Giants (-1)
17. Miami Marlins (-1)
18. St. Louis Cardinals (-)
19. Kansas City Royals (-)
20. Tampa Bay Rays (-)
21. Minnesota Twins (+2)
22. Los Angeles Angels (-1)
23. Arizona Diamondbacks (-1)
24. Baltimore Orioles (-)
25. Athletics (+1)
26. Atlanta Braves (-1)
27. Pittsburgh Pirates (-)
28. Washington Nationals (-)
29. Chicago White Sox (-)
30. Colorado Rockies (-)
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