We’re more than a week into the regular season, which has given us a good glimpse of notable trends across the league.
While it’s early, there’s still enough of a sample to make some initial observations about where teams currently stand. In our second Power Rankings of the season, we will take a look at how teams have begun their seasons and how excited or concerned we should be.
These rankings, as always, are compiled from MLB.com contributors whose names you can find at the bottom of this (and every) piece, but the words are mine.
Each team is listed with its ranking from our previous poll, conducted just before Opening Day, in parentheses.
1. Dodgers (1)
No surprises here. The Dodgers have won consecutive World Series titles and are off to a hot start in 2026, despite the fact that most of their star hitters are producing well below their career norms.
2. Yankees (4)
It’s been a thoroughly dominant start from the Yankees, whose pitchers have been nothing short of remarkable. The Yankees allowed eight runs in the first seven games of the season, tied with the 2002 Giants and 1993 Braves for the fewest runs allowed by a team in its first seven games of a season in MLB history.
3. Brewers (11)
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice … well, you know the rest of the saying. The Brewers are once again defying their preseason odds by winning seven of their first nine games, while outsourcing their opponents 60 to 32.
4. Braves (13)
Despite all that went wrong before the season even started -- Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach and Ha-Seong Kim all began the season on the injured list and Jurickson Profar was suspended for the entire season for PED use -- the Braves have been one of baseball’s best teams.
5. Mariners (3)
Seattle’s bats haven’t gotten going, but it’s been a different story for M’s pitchers, who have dominated in the early weeks. When both sides of the ball are rolling for Seattle, the Mariners could be a force.
6. Blue Jays (2)
It’s been an inconsistent start for a Blue Jays team that’s been crushed by injuries in the starting rotation (Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber, Cody Ponce and José Berríos are all on the injured list). This team is still plenty talented to weather the storm, but their depth is already being tested.
7. Astros (17)
There was much preseason discussion wondering whether the Astros’ run of dominance was over, but the first few weeks of 2026 suggest otherwise. Houston’s hitters have been baseball’s best offense by pretty much every important measure, and Yordan Alvarez looks better than ever.
8. Phillies (6)
While the offense hasn’t gotten going, the Phillies have to be thrilled with how their pitching staff is shaping up, especially after Andrew Painter’s electric MLB debut. With Zack Wheeler already making multiple rehab starts, his imminent return paints an even rosier picture for one of baseball’s top pitching staffs.
9. Tigers (9)
Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez have been dominant at the top of the rotation and rookie star Kevin McGonigle has hit the ground running to begin his career. The Tigers are hovering around .500, but they have the makings of a really good baseball team.
10. Mets (5)
After scoring 11 runs on Opening Day, the Mets’ offense went into a rut until they scored 10 runs and nine runs in consecutive games in San Francisco on Friday and Saturday. Juan Soto left early from Friday’s game but fortunately, it was only a minor calf strain, and he figures to return in short order.
11. Cubs (8)
It’s been a sluggish start for the Cubbies, but the biggest news is the status of Cade Horton, who left early from Friday’s start after 17 pitches due to right forearm discomfort. Losing the second-year righty for an extended period of time would be a big blow for Chicago.
12. Guardians (19)
What a beginning to Chase DeLauter’s season. The Guardians’ rookie homered twice in his regular-season debut on Opening Day and slugged five homers in his first eight games. Cleveland’s offense still has glaring issues, but DeLauter has helped mask a lot of it with his start.
13. Orioles (10)
After taking the first series of the season against the Twins, the O’s have lost two straight series to the Rangers and Pirates. If there’s one notable development, it’s Adley Rutschman looking like his old self, hitting .333/.440/.524 through seven games.
14. Rangers (16)
The Rangers have gotten great top-end production from Corey Seager, Brandon Nimmo and Evan Carter but struggles from other stars on the roster have led to a middling start. This continues to be one of baseball’s more confounding groups, a team that’s hovered around .500 since winning the 2023 World Series.
15. Pirates (21)
The Pirates reeled off five straight wins last week and promoted No. 1 prospect Konnor Griffin for Friday’s home opener. For the first time in years, the vibes are strong around a Pirates team that suddenly has the star power to push for a playoff spot.
16. Marlins (24)
Sandy Alcantara’s return to dominance and the Marlins’ surprisingly good offense has Miami off to one of its best starts in years. After finishing last season on a hot stretch and in the playoff mix, the Marlins are once again proving that they may be in contention yet again.
17. Royals (14)
The Royals’ rotation looks like a real strength with Cole Ragans healthy, and the offense is middle of the pack so far despite a tough start for Bobby Witt Jr. When he gets going, the Royals could be a formidable club.
18. Red Sox (7)
A 2-7 start is less than ideal for a Red Sox team trying to win an ultra competitive AL East division. It’s early, but you can already feel the unrest about the Red Sox being five games back of the Yankees in early April.
19. Padres (12)
The trio of Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill collectively combined for one home run before Sunday's win in Boston, when Machado and Merrill each homered. Perhaps, that will help break them out their season-long rut so far.
20. Reds (20)
The Reds own baseball's sixth-best ERA (3.25), which has helped mask the fact that their offense is tied for last in runs scored (26). Sal Stewart, however, has been fantastic with a 1.167 OPS in nine games.
21. D-backs (15)
Of the Big Three in the lineup, only Corbin Caroll has been producing so far, while Ketel Marte and Geraldo Perdomo have struggled. That mostly explains why the D-backs have struggled to get going, although Marte did have a multi-hit game on Sunday, including a walk-off extra-innings double.
22. Giants (18)
The Giants took two of three games in their only road series of the season so far in San Diego, but have been a tough watch at home, losing six of seven games against the Yankees and Mets in San Francisco. Unfortunately, things don’t get any easier with the Phillies coming to town on Monday.
23. Cardinals (25)
Even after trading several key players over the offseason to begin a retooling period, the Cardinals look like a much more competitive club than expected. JJ Wetherholt is more than holding his own and the long-awaited Jordan Walker breakout might be here.
24. Rays (23)
Following nine straight road games to begin the season, the Rays will play their home opener on Monday at Tropicana Field for the first time since 2024. Perhaps, a return to normalcy and some home cooking will get the Rays out of an early-season funk.
25. Angels (27)
Mike Trout looks more like Mike Trout, although the Angels' star left Sunday's game after being hit by a pitch on his left hand. Zach Neto is a budding superstar shortstop and Jo Adell is something of a defensive human highlight reel. Angels’ ace José Soriano also hasn’t allowed a run in his first two starts. The Angels likely won’t end baseball’s longest playoff drought this season, but they’ve been more exciting than expected.
26. Athletics (22)
What was supposed to be one of baseball’s top offenses has struggled so far. This won’t last forever, though, and Shea Langeliers is on the fast track for a 40-homer season.
27. Twins (28)
It could be a long year in Minneapolis, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t fun developments to follow. Look no further than Tristian Gray, who went from pondering retirement to hitting his first career grand slam.
28. Nationals (29)
In the truest example of “You Can’t Predict Baseball,” Joey Wiemer reached base in his first 10 plate appearance of the season, making him the second player to do that in the last 106 years. A long rebuilding phase might be ahead, but the Nationals have been highly competitive so far this season.
29. White Sox (26)
Munetaka Murakami homered in each of his first three games and has four homers through his first nine games. It’s been a tough start for the White Sox, but Murakami’s power has been fun to watch.
30. Rockies (30)
After losing 119 games in 2025, the Rockies are off to a 3-6 start this season. Hang in there, Rockies fans.
Voters: Dan Cichalski, Theo DeRosa, Daniel Feldman, Rick Gold, Jared Greenspan, Thomas Harrigan, Will Leitch, Brent Maguire, Brian Murphy, Arturo Pardavila, Shanthi Sepe-Chepuru, David Venn, Zac Vierra