Full Breakdown
Early-Season MLB Power Rankings Highlight Shifting Fortunes
5/13/2026, 9:05:44 AM
Team and Rotation Rankings Overview
The Athletic lifted Boston Red Sox to No. 17 after a 12-19 start and a 5-4 May; Texas Rangers sit at No. 16 (19-21). FanSided placed Chicago Cubs at No. 2 overall (27-14). Bleacher Report ranked Los Angeles Dodgers’ rotation No. 2 behind the Yankees, citing 23 quality starts, Ohtani’s 0.97 ERA and Yamamoto’s 3.09 ERA.
Position-Specific Rankings
Ben Rice (Yankees) leads first base in OPS. Xavier Edwards (Marlins) leads second base, and JJ Wetherholt (Cardinals) is among the top three HR hitters. Shea Langeliers (Athletics) tops catchers in HR, hits and OPS; Hunter Goodman (Rockies) ties for second in HR.
Official Statements & Responses
The Athletic said the Red Sox’s rise shows the AL is largely below .500, opening a wild-card path. FanSided called the Cubs ‘class of the Central’ but flagged a need for another starter. Bleacher Report called the Dodgers’ rotation ‘an embarrassment of riches’ poised for a three-peat. Each outlet uses its own ranking formula, so the team order varies and no single MLB-official ranking exists.
Criticism & Opposition
Chad Jennings highlighted Brayan Bello’s 7.44 ERA as a rotation risk. FanSided warned the Cubs lack reliable starters despite a low ERA. The Rangers depend on Wyatt Langford and Corey Seager’s health. Bleacher Report noted the Dodgers still trail the Yankees in rotation rankings.
Why It Matters
The Red Sox and Cubs climbs make them playoff candidates, while the Rangers’ mid-tier position shows early-season schedule volatility. Dodgers’ rotation strength fuels three-peat speculation, yet the Yankees’ edge tempers expectations. Position-specific leaders could shift divisional power balances as the season progresses.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Garrett Crochet is playing catch again, and when he returns from the IL, he could replace Brayan Bello (7.44 ERA) in a rotation that has four other starters with ERAs below 3.60,” — Chad Jennings, Red Sox reporter
- “Like a lot of other underperforming teams in the American League, the Red Sox can take comfort in looking at the standings to see that the vast majority of the AL is below .500. Get the rotation together and get a few bats going, and they can be right back in the wild card free-for-all.” — Chad Jennings, Red Sox reporter
- “One of the inherent benefits of the Dodgers' six-man rotation is that guys can pitch a bit deeper into games. And en route to an MLB-best 23 quality starts, Los Angeles is the only team that has already had at least nine cases of a starting pitcher throwing at least 100 pitches. However, Shohei Ohtani has only needed 100 pitches once in his season-opening streak of six consecutive quality starts. Whether he'll pitch enough innings for an ERA title is questionable at best, but his 0.97 ERA is ridiculously good.” — Kerry Miller, Bleacher Report
- “One of the inherent benefits of the Dodgers' six-man rotation is that guys can pitch a bit deeper into games. And en route to an MLB-best 23 quality starts, Los Angeles is the only team that has already had at least nine cases of a starting pitcher throwing at least 100 pitches. However, Shohei Ohtani has only needed 100 pitches once in his season-opening streak of six consecutive quality starts. Whether he'll pitch enough innings for an ERA title is questionable at best, but his 0.97 ERA is ridiculously good.” — Kerry Miller, Bleacher Report
