Featured in this week’s MLB Power Rankings, the Braves take over the top spot, Mason Miller keeps dominating in historic fashion, Cal Raleigh looks like himself again, and the Red Sox, Phillies, and Mets are all varying degrees of disaster as the calendar prepares to flip to May.
As a reminder, this article is a combination of current performance and long-term outlook.
Note: Rankings are from the morning of Monday, April 27
Fantasy baseball streaming starting pitchers and arsenal changes for Payton Tolle, Zack Wheeler, more
Eric Samulski lists his favorite streaming starts of the week and discusses some key pitch mix changes.
Say hello to our new No. 1 team. After taking two out of three against the reeling Phillies over the weekend, the Braves are the first team in MLB to reach 20 wins this season. Atlanta also leads the majors in runs scored despite Ronald Acuña Jr. not playing his best so far. Michael Harris II is certainly doing his part to pick up the slack.
Michael Harris II stays hot He gives the @Braves the lead! pic.twitter.com/SY9k1odQel
The Dodgers sliding down to No. 2 is more of a statement on the Braves than anything else. Los Angeles ended the Cubs’ 10-game winning streak while outscoring them 18-4 between Saturday and Sunday. Shohei Ohtani slugged his first homer since April 12 as part of Sunday’s victory. Even the best player in the world struggles every now and again.
The Yankees won eight straight before dropping Sunday’s series finale to the Astros. Cam Schlittler continues to look the part of an ace, posting a 1.77 ERA with a ridiculous 41/4 K/BB ratio in 35 2/3 innings across his six starts. Things are looking good here, especially as Gerrit Cole and Carlos Ródon inch ever closer to returning.
Mason Miller is now the owner of the longest scoreless streak in franchise history, moving past Cla Meredith. That it happened in Mexico City — in a series where the Padres and Diamondbacks combined for 29 runs in two games — makes it all the more impressive.
Mason Miller closes out the ballgame and extends his scoreless innings streak to 34.2 #MexicoCitySeries https://t.co/nIhPE81rzP pic.twitter.com/xuIqgNUXKv
Miller is 6 2/3 innings behind Gregg Olson (1989-1990) for the longest scoreless streak by a reliever all-time. Who are we to doubt him at this point?
Despite losing back-to-back games to the Dodgers, the Cubs make a huge leap this week after their 10-game winning streak. Seiya Suzuki homered in three straight games during the streak, and boasts a strong .305/.414/.525 batting line in 16 games since getting a late start on the season due to a sprained right knee.
If you drafted Sal Stewart in your fantasy baseball league, you are probably doing really well. The 22-year-old rookie leads the majors with 29 RBI, to go along with nine homers, seven steals, and a .291/.385/.602 batting line. The company he finds himself in is pretty special.
Some wondered how Junior Caminero would fare from a power perspective trading in hitter-friendly Steinbrenner Field for a return to The Trop this season. Looks pretty good to me.
450 FEET Junior Caminero sent this over the batter's eye pic.twitter.com/RqU8yF4q0x
After mashing 45 homers last year, Caminero has eight through 27 games this season. Perhaps most encouraging, he’s striking out less often and showing more patience at the plate. Positive signs of growth there.
Konnor Griffin hasn’t gone gangbusters on the league to begin his MLB tenure, but he notched back-to-back multi-hit games over the weekend, including his first major league homer on his 20th birthday.
KONNOR GRIFFIN 20TH BIRTHDAY | 20TH MLB GAME 1ST MLB HOMER pic.twitter.com/TKk2f28IIo
The Tigers are sputtering a bit, but the same can’t be said for Spencer Torkelson. He’s now homered in five straight games to tie the franchise record.