MLB power rankings for the end of May
Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón reacts after the last out against Los Angeles Angels during the second inning of a game Tuesday in Anaheim, Calif. Credit: AP/Kevork Djansezian
1. Phillies: The defending NL East champs were an MLB-best 23-7 over their last 30 games, and since mid-May, Ranger Suarez (1.37 ERA), Zack Wheeler (2.16) and Jesus Luzardo (2.25) have led the way.
2. Yankees: Max Fried stayed unbeaten (7-0, 1.29 ERA) through his first 11 starts and Carlos Rodon went 3-0 with a 1.47 ERA in May.
3. Tigers: Javy Baez is making his terrible contract (6 yrs/$140M) look a little less terrible lately, hitting .278 with six homers, 29 RBIs and a .769 OPS.
4. Mets: Had MLB’s top record (18-10) against teams at .500 or better, but overachieving rotation showed cracks the past month with 3.72 ERA (16th overall).
5. Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani’s rehab should put him back on a mound around the All-Star break while his plate dominance remains on schedule (20 HRs, 1.042 OPS).
6. Cubs: Pete Crow-Armstrong has the NL’s top fWAR (3.1), combining stellar CF defense with 15 HRs, 16 stolen bases and the second-most RBIs (50) in MLB.
7. Padres: Michael King (2.59 ERA) going on the IL with shoulder inflammation is an ominous sign for second-place Padres.
8. Giants: Camilo Doval is back as the Giants closer after an 18-inning scoreless streak, trimming his ERA to 1.16, for MLB’s best bullpen (2.48 ERA).
9. Mariners: Cal Raleigh’s 19th HR broke a tie with Roy Campanella (1955) for most by a primary-position catcher in season’s first 53 games.
10. Cardinals: St. Louis has been a shocker, riding a 21-9 surge and the fourth-best run-differential (plus-45) in MLB.
11. Atlanta: Plenty of ground to make up in NL East, but the return of Ronald Acuna Jr. — who homered on first pitch he saw in 362 days — is going to help.
12. Twins: Kody Clemens, son of the Rocket, is hitting .304 with five homers, 12 RBIs and a 1.087 OPS in his 22 games since being acquired from the Phillies.
13. Astros: Houston had the best BA (.276) and OBP (.337) in the AL during May with Yordan Alvarez expected back for June.
14. Guardians: Jose Ramirez carried a 21-game hitting streak into May’s final weekend, batting .393 with four HRs, 12 RBIs and a 1.100 OPS over that stretch.
15. Diamondbacks: The $210 million ace Corbin Burnes has a 1.64 ERA over his last six starts, striking out 40 over 38 1/3 innings.
16. Royals: Newly-promoted lefty Noah Cameron has a 1.05 ERA in his first four starts, pitching at least 6 1/3 innings in each of them.
17. Rays: Speedy Chandler Simpson was third in MLB with 19 stolen bases, but needed only 35 games. Luis Robert has 21 in 51 games; Bobby Witt 20 in 57.
18. Blue Jays: Ernie Clement became only the second Blue Jays player to have five RBIs in the same inning, joining Edwin Encarnacion (2013).
19. Red Sox: Over an 8-12 skid, Red Sox Nation is clamoring for top prospect Roman Anthony, who was hitting .309 with a .954 OPS at Triple-A Worcester.
20. Brewers: Brandon Woodruff, who missed last season due to shoulder surgery, is on target for an early June return.
21. Reds: Demoted closer Alexis Diaz, a 2023 All-Star, had a 12.00 ERA in six MLB appearances before being traded to the Dodgers.
22. Rangers: Since hiring Bret Boone as hitting coach on May 5, Rangers are dead-last in OPS (.626) and batting average (.206).
23. Angels: Mike Trout was expected to return by June 1. He was hitting .179 with a .726 OPS before being sidelined the past month with a bone bruise.
24. Athletics: Luis Severino whiffed Jose Altuve for his 1,000th career strikeout, and has a 3.89 ERA in 12 starts, tied for the most in the majors (through May 30).
25. Nationals: MacKenzie Gore became first MLB pitcher to get to 100 Ks this season, joining Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg as the only Nats to do so.
26. Marlins: Rookie second baseman Ronny Simon, who waited seven years for his April debut, left a game teary-eyed after making three costly errors in span of four innings.
27. Pirates: Paul Skenes, the subject of (wishful) trade speculation for the rudderless Pirates, is 4-5 with a 2.15 ERA, though his 9.2 K/9 is a bit lighter than a year ago (11.5).
28. Orioles: The last-place Orioles were 4-10 after the May 17 firing of manager Brandon Hyde, and their minus-97 run-differential this season is third-worst in MLB.
29. White Sox: Former Mets prospect Mike Vasil, Rule 5 draft casualty, had a 2.10 ERA in 17 appearances, including three scoreless innings (5 Ks) at Citi Field.
30. Rockies: The rotation’s 6.62 ERA, which ranks dead-last in the majors, was nearly a full run higher than the next-worst Marlins (5.71).
(Note: All stats before Friday's games)
David Lennon is an award-winning columnist, a voter for baseball's Hall of Fame and has covered six no-hitters, including two perfect games.
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