MLB Power Rankings: Yankees and Dodgers Rise, Red Sox Tumble, Major Shakeup
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The two hottest teams in baseball at the midway point of May are the Minnesota Twins and the St. Louis Cardinals — just like everyone predicted.
More news: Former Athletics, Astros World Series Champion Outfielder Announces Sudden Retirement From MLB
The Twins enter their weekend series against the Milwaukee Brewers having won 11 straight games. Their last loss came on May 2.
The Cardinals, on the other hand, had their nine-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday. They've still won 10 of their last 11.
Elsewhere around the league, the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers have continued to impress, especially on the offensive side of things. The Yankees have scored double digit runs in four of their last eight games, while the Dodgers have scored eight or more runs in four of their last eight games.
More news: Yankees Sign Former Giants, Reds Starting Pitcher in Exciting Free Agent Move
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 14: Aaron Judge #99 and Oswald Peraza #18 of the New York Yankees celebrate after beating the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 14, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 14: Aaron Judge #99 and Oswald Peraza #18 of the New York Yankees celebrate after beating the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 14, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.Here's the seventh edition of Newsweek Sports' MLB Power Rankings, with the same American League Central team holding their spot at the top.
MLB Power Rankings Week 7
1. Detroit Tigers (29-15)
2. Los Angeles Dodgers (29-15)
3. New York Mets (28-16)
4. New York Yankees (25-18)
5. San Diego Padres (27-15)
6. San Francisco Giants (25-19)
7. Chicago Cubs (25-19)
8. Philadelphia Phillies (25-18)
9. Cleveland Guardians (25-18)
10. Kansas City Royals (25-20)
11. Seattle Mariners (23-19)
12. Arizona Diamondbacks (23-21)
13. St. Louis Cardinals (24-20)
14. Minnesota Twins (24-20)
15. Houston Astros (22-21)
16. Texas Rangers (24-21)
17. Boston Red Sox (22-23)
18. Atlanta Braves (22-22)
19. Cincinnati Reds (21-24)
20. Milwaukee Brewers (21-23)
21. Athletics (22-22)
22. Toronto Blue Jays (21-22)
23. Tampa Bay Rays (20-23)
24. Washington Nationals (18-27)
25. Los Angeles Angels (17-25)
26. Baltimore Orioles (15-27)
27. Miami Marlins (16-26)
28. Pittsburgh Pirates (15-29)
29. Chicago White Sox (14-30)
30. Colorado Rockies (7-36)
Biggest Risers
Minnesota Twins (+7)
Baseball's hottest team, the Twins are riding an 11-game winning streak. Their 2.76 team ERA in the month of May ranks third in the league. Their 1.10 team WHIP ranks first.
St. Louis Cardinals (+5)
The second-hottest team in MLB, the Cardinals have won 10 of 11 games, including series wins over the Mets and Phillies and series sweeps over the Pirates and Nationals.
Biggest Fallers
Cincinnati Reds (-5)
The month of May has not been kind to the Reds, who have lost nine of their last 12 games. Their last series win was a sweep against the Colorado Rockies from April 25-27.
Milwaukee Brewers (-5)
The Brewers have been streaky this month, losing the first three games, winning the next three and then losing the three after that. They're starting to fall behind the Cubs and Cardinals in the NL Central.
Boston Red Sox (-4)
At times, the Red Sox look like one of baseball's best teams. At other times, they look like no match for baseball's best teams. In their most recent series — a sweep at the hands of the Tigers — it was the latter.
Athletics (-4)
The Athletics offense has been impressive, with a team OPS of .745 that ranks eighth in MLB. Their pitching has been the opposite, with a team ERA of 6.56 that ranks 29th in MLB, only ahead of the Rockies.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
31 minutes ago
Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. has The Seventy Percent Solution
NEW YORK -- Jazz Chisholm Jr. has The Seventy Percent Solution. While most athletes talk about the urge to give 100% or even 110%, the New York Yankees infielder thinks his success since returning from the injured list has been caused by limiting intensity. 'Just go at 70%. That's what's been working for me,' he said Friday night after his three-run, go-ahead homer in the first inning and four RBIs sparked the Yankees over the Boston Red Sox 9-6 in the opening meeting this year of the AL East rivals. 'Play at 70%: defense, offense, running, everything. Stay healthy. You don't overswing. You don't swing and miss as much, and you're a great player at 70%.' Chisholm is hitting .500 (8 for 16) with two homers, six RBIs and three steals in four games since returning Tuesday from a strained right oblique, an April 29 injury that caused him to miss 28 games. 'He's squaring balls up. He's got so much talent and power, and he doesn't have to go reach for it," manager Aaron Boone said. 'That kind of wiry thing he's got inside him, he doesn't have to work too hard to generate it. So nice and easy is always good for Jazz." Chisholm raised his season average this week from .181 to .223. 'He's a game-changer,' Yankees captain Aaron Judge said. 'When you step out there in Yankee Stadium, the adrenaline is going to be flowing. It's really just about slowing everything down and just take a nice, easy approach.' Solving the mindset issue was credited by Chisholm to assistant hitting coach Pat Roessler. 'Like my coach Six said, he said: `At 70% you're one of the best out there'. At 100%, I might be dog crap,' Chisholm explained, referring to Roessler by the coach's nickname. Chisholm prepared for a rehab stint at Double-A Somerset last weekend by joining coaches to review video of his minor league days. 'I've really heard that, all my life, is that I need to tone down on the way I play, because it's really over — it's electric, but you can be electric while being controlled at the same time," Chisholm said. "My 70% running is probably faster than a lot of guys in the league, too. So if at 70% I'm hitting balls 108, 109 (mph), playing great defense and out running and having stolen bases. I think that's where I should stay at." He also mentioned a NASCAR analogy. 'It's super challenging for me because only thing I knew was like how to go fast,' Chisholm said. 'Basically I was Ricky Bobby growing up.' Chisholm had three hits, including an RBI single in the second, and stole two bases in three tries — the third was originally called safe but overturned in a video review. Anthony Volpe hit a two-run homer in the first off Walker Buehler, boosting the lead to 7-0. 'In his mind it might be 70%, but I think what everyone in the clubhouse loves and respects about him is that it looks like every night he's playing with his hair on fire and over 100%,' Volpe said. Following Oswaldo Cabrera's broken left ankle and the return of DJ LeMahieu from a calf strain, the Yankees moved Chisholm back to third base from second. He was a middle infielder for the Miami Marlins from 2020-22, was moved to center field from 2023-24, then inserted at third when the Yankees acquired him in a trade last July 27. Chisholm is happy at any of the infield positions. He just doesn't want an outfield return. 'I'm comfortable anywhere where there's dirt,' he said. 'Once the ball is on the ground, I'm going to catch it. That's all I worry about. In the air is a little shaky. It gets a little scary out there.' Chisholm said Game 5 of last year's World Series is a constant reminder. The Yankees led 5-0 the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth inning and were eliminated with a 7-6 defeat. 'We not only want to win the division but we want to in every category. We want to be the best team in MLB,' he said. 'That's why we're out here trying to win the World Series. We already went there last year and we thought we had it and we didn't have it. So this year we're going to make sure we have it.'
CBS News
37 minutes ago
- CBS News
Brent Rooker delivers go-ahead hit as Athletics beat Orioles 5-4
Jacob Wilson had three hits and two RBIs, Brent Rooker drove in the tiebreaking run and the Athletics beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-4 on Friday night. Mason Miller got the last five outs to get his 13th save as the Athletics got back-to-back wins for the first time since May 4-5 and ended the Orioles' six-game win streak. Miller struck out two after coming in with one out and the bases loaded in the eighth inning. He then struck out Adley Rutschman looking on three pitches to begin the ninth before walking Ramón Laureano on a full count. Ryan O'Hearn flied out to left and Ramón Urías hit a comebacker to end it. Dylan Carlson hit his third homer — a two-run shot in the second off JP Sears to give Baltimore the lead. Jackson Holliday doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ramón Laureano to make it 3-0 in the third. The Athletics scored four runs to take the lead in the bottom of the third against Dean Kremer. Lawrence Butler drove in the first run with his 20th double, Wilson had a two-run single, and Tyler Soderstrom put the A's ahead with a run-scoring grounder. Holliday hit his eighth homer — a solo shot leading off the fifth — to tie it. He finished a triple shy of the cycle. Butler, Wilson and Rooker had three straight singles in the bottom of the fifth to give the Athletics a 5-4 lead. Sears (5-5) gave up four runs and four hits in five innings. Kremer (5-6) allowed five runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. Denzel Clarke left the game after he crashed into the wall in center running full speed to make a catch in the fifth for the A's. Key moment Miller struck out pinch-hitter Heston Kjerstad on three pitches with the bases loaded in the eighth and Holliday on a four-seamer that hit 103.1 mph. Key stat The Athletics have a 5.79 team ERA — the worst in the majors — and the Orioles' 5.10 is the third-worst. Up next Orioles RHP Charlie Morton (2-7, 6.20) starts Saturday against Athletics RHP Luis Severino (1-5, 4.54).
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Jacob Wilson has 3 hits, 2 RBIs, Brent Rooker has tiebreaking RBI as Athletics beat Orioles 5-4
Athletics outfielder Denzel Clarke collides into the wall after making the catch during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles Friday, June 6, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis) Baltimore Orioles' Jackson Holliday celebrates in the dugout after a solo home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics Friday, June 6, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis) Baltimore Orioles pitcher Dean Kremer throws to the Athletics during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, June 6, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis) Athletics pitcher JP Sears throws during the third inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Friday, June 6, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis) Athletics' Brent Rooker gives a thumbs up to the dugout after hitting a double during the third inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles Friday, June 6, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis) Athletics' Brent Rooker gives a thumbs up to the dugout after hitting a double during the third inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles Friday, June 6, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis) Athletics outfielder Denzel Clarke collides into the wall after making the catch during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles Friday, June 6, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis) Baltimore Orioles' Jackson Holliday celebrates in the dugout after a solo home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics Friday, June 6, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis) Baltimore Orioles pitcher Dean Kremer throws to the Athletics during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, June 6, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis) Athletics pitcher JP Sears throws during the third inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Friday, June 6, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis) Athletics' Brent Rooker gives a thumbs up to the dugout after hitting a double during the third inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles Friday, June 6, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis) WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Jacob Wilson had three hits and two RBIs, Brent Rooker drove in the tiebreaking run and the Athletics beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-4 on Friday night. Mason Miller got the last five outs to get his 13th save as the Athletics got back-to-back wins for the first time since May 4-5 and ended the Orioles' six-game win streak. Advertisement Miller struck out two after coming in with one out and the bases loaded in the eighth inning. He then struck out Adley Rutschman looking on three pitches to begin the ninth before walking Ramón Laureano on a full count. Ryan O'Hearn flied out to left and Ramón Urías hit a comebacker to end it. Dylan Carlson hit his third homer — a two-run shot in the second off JP Sears to give Baltimore the lead. Jackson Holliday doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ramón Laureano to make it 3-0 in the third. The Athletics scored four runs to take the lead in the bottom of the third against Dean Kremer. Lawrence Butler drove in the first run with his 20th double, Wilson had a two-run single, and Tyler Soderstrom put the A's ahead with a run-scoring grounder. Holliday hit his eighth homer — a solo shot leading off the fifth — to tie it. He finished a triple shy of the cycle. Advertisement Butler, Wilson and Rooker had three straight singles in the bottom of the fifth to give the Athletics a 5-4 lead. Sears (5-5) gave up four runs and four hits in five innings. Kremer (5-6) allowed five runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. Denzel Clarke left the game after he crashed into the wall in center running full speed to make a catch in the fifth for the A's. Key moment Miller struck out pinch-hitter Heston Kjerstad on three pitches with the bases loaded in the eighth and Holliday on a four-seamer that hit 103.1 mph. Key stat The Athletics have a 5.79 team ERA — the worst in the majors — and the Orioles' 5.10 is the third-worst. Up next Orioles RHP Charlie Morton (2-7, 6.20) starts Saturday against Athletics RHP Luis Severino (1-5, 4.54). ___ AP MLB:
