MLB Power Rankings – May 24th Update

The big picture of the 2022 MLB season is starting to come into focus. With just over six weeks’ worth of games behind us, we have enough baseball under our belts to see which teams and players are rising to the occasion and which ones will struggle.

Only one team rises or falls as much as four spots in this week’s top 5 power rankings, but we have a chance at the top for a second straight week and more than enough trends for die-hard baseball fans to sink their teeth into.

Let’s get to it.

5. San Diego Padres (LW: 8)

The Padres boast the second-best record in the National League after sweeping the Giants in San Francisco over the weekend

The Padres look to challenge the Dodgers for the National League West crown once Fernando Tatis Jr. returns to the fold. That’s a bold statement so early in the season, but I’m sticking with it.

I’m confident saying that, even if Manny Machado (MLB-best 3.5 fWAR and .374 batting average, NL-best 1.065 OPS) cools off his MVP pace.

4. Houston Astros (LW: 3)

Justin Verlander is the favorite for Comeback Player of the Year—and maybe for the American League Cy Young trophy, as well.

The Astros’ ace leads the majors in ERA (1.22), WHIP (0.72), and even wins (6), for the voters who are still into that sort of thing.

He’s also sporting an incredible MLB-high 95.7% strand rate of runners on base, which is bound to drop at some point and temper his dominance. For now, enjoy the renaissance.

3. New York Mets (LW: 4)

Of the eight Mets with the most plate appearances, seven have an OPS+ above 110, meaning they’ve all been at least 10% above average.

Even if the rotation falters a bit while dealing with the absences of Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer, the Mets’ deep lineup should help New York stay on top of a National League East division that looks otherwise uninspiring.

2. New York Yankees (LW: 1)

Aaron Judge is a legitimate AL MVP contender despite Shohei Ohtani a.k.a Showtime’s and Mike Trout’s overall excellence.

Judge is right on the edge of being on pace for the first 60-home run season since the steroid era; and there’s nothing fluky to indicate he can’t do it if he stays healthy.

The Yankees’ pitching staff is leading the league in FIP (3.16), with a deep rotation containing no starters and an ERA above 3.50, an amazing feat considering they have to regularly navigate Yankee Stadium’s hitter-friendly dimensions.

Their fall out of the top spot could be a short one.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (LW: 2)

The Dodgers are back in the top spot after a one-week demotion. This was after reeling off a seven-game winning streak that was snapped in extra innings this past Sunday. With the league’s best ERA (2.80) and highest-scoring offense at 5.4 runs per game, it’s hard to deny the Dodgers the top spot this week.

Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman are doing what they have to do, each ranking in the top 15 of fWAR.

The bullpen has been excellent as Evan Phillips, Alex Vesia and Phil Bickford have stepped up to more prominent roles. The NL West is arguably the toughest division in the league this year, but it’s hard to bet against the Dodgers emerging from the pack.