MLB Power Rankings: Dodgers, Yankees jump into top 3

1. St. Louis Cardinals (22-9, previous No. 1) –Even with losing two straight games, the Cardinals still have the best record in baseball. Michael Wacha’s five wins are tied for second in the NL. With Adam Wainwright lost for the season, it will be interesting to see how long St. Louis can maintain its dominance.

2. Los Angeles Dodgers (21-10, previous No. 4) –The Dodgers have continued their hot play, winning four straight and eight of their last 10 games, they now have the second-best record in baseball. Adrian Gonzalez leads the league with 29 RBI, while Zack Greinke has the best ERA in the NL at 1.52.

3. New York Yankees (21-12, previous No. 6) –The Yankees have maintained their solid play the last few weeks, as they have won seven of their last ten and their 160 runs scored are the most in the American League. Jacoby Ellsbury’s .341 average is third in the AL, while Mark Teixiera has 11 homers and Alex Rodriguez eight – second and fifth in the AL respectively.

4. Kansas City Royals (20-12, previous No. 5) –Kansas City has topped the Tigers for first place in the AL Central. Their plus-41 run differential is tops in the AL, while Eric Hosmer’s 25 RBI are fourth in the AL, a major reason for their 158 runs scored.

5. New York Mets (20-12, previous No. 7) –New York has played extremely will at home – 13-3 – but are 7-9 on the road, and therefore just 2.5 games up in the NL East. Their pitching is leading the way as besides Bartolo Colon and Matt Harvey, Jonathon Niese has a 1.95 ERA, fourth-best in the NL.

6. Houston Astros (20-12, previous No. 2) –The Astros have cooled off this week, but even so still hold a five-game lead in the AL West. Their plus-20 run differential is the only positive one in the division. They are led by their ace, Dallas Keuchel, who has a 1.39 ERA, the best in all of baseball.

7. Detroit Tigers (19-13, previous No. 3) –It wasn’t the best of weeks for Detroit as its lost two straight and six of its last 10 to fall out of first place in the AL Central. Their offense isn’t as hot as it was to open the year, but closer Joakim Soria’s 11 saves are tied for second in the AL.

8. Minnesota Twins (18-14, previous No. 10) –In another huge surprise to open the year, the Twins have won eight of their last 10 games and are two games out of first in the AL Central. It has been a balanced team-effort during the streak, with closer Glen Perkins earning 11 saves, second-most in the AL.

9. Washington Nationals (18-15, previous No. 13) –Everyone new it was coming, but the Nationals have finally hit their stride, as they have won five in a row and eight of 10. They are now just 2.5 games behind the Mets for first in the AL East. Bryce Harper is swinging a hot bat with his 29 RBI being tied for the most in baseball.

10. San Diego Padres (17-16, previous No. 8) –At one-game over .500, the Padres are in second place in the NL West, but that’s because besides the Dodgers, the division is weak. San Diego’s offense is strong, but their pitching hasn’t been as good – allowing the second-most runs in the National League.

11. Tampa Bay Rays (17-16, previous No. 9) –Tampa Bay is in second place in the AL East, but they received some bad news this past week when it was revealed Alex Cobb will be out for the season, as he needs Tommy John surgery. It’s a huge blow because the thought was he would be able to return this season and lead an already solid rotation.

12. Chicago Cubs (16-15, previous No. 11) –The Cubs have got Jon Lester on the right track and settling in with his new team, but the bad news is the rest of the team isn’t following suit. Chicago has lost seven of its last 10 games, but because of a poor division they sit in second place.

13. Pittsburgh Pirates (16-16, previous No. 16) –There’s no denying the Pirates’ pitching and defense has been outstanding, limiting opponents to a league-low 3.40 runs per game, but the offense will need to hit a little bit more for them to make any kind of run in the NL East.

14. San Francisco Giants (16-16, previous No. 12) –The Giants have won seven of their last 10 games, but are still only at .500 on the year. San Francisco got off to a miserable start to the year and have a lot of ground to make up, as evident by its minus-23 run differential.

15. Toronto Blue Jays (16-17, previous No. 14) –Even though the Blue Jays have scored an MLB-high 5.27 runs per game, they are still one-game under .500 because of a horrid pitching staff. Rookie Devon Travis’ 25 RBI are tied for fourth in the AL.

16. Boston Red Sox (15-17, previous No. 17) –The Red Sox shook things up this past week with the firing of pitching coach Juan Nieves, with the hope a new voice in Carl Willis will change the state of the staff. The team also got Hanley Ramirez (shoulder) back over the weekend, and with the Sox winning two games in a row, they may be on their way back.

17. Atlanta Braves (15-17, previous No. 18) –Atlanta is playing better ball than they did to open the year, and have got a good start from new-comer Shelby Miller. The former St. Louis Cardinal has a 1.60 ERA, the second-best in the NL.

18. Cincinnati Reds (15-17, previous No. 19) –The Reds have dropped three straight and are now 7.5 games behind the Cardinals in the NL Central. Todd Frazier is proving his case as one of the best power hitters in the NL as he’s hit 10 home runs, the second-most in the NL.

19. Los Angeles Angels (15-17, previous No. 22) –Despite being two games below .500 the Angels are in second place in the AL West, five games behind the Astros. They are once again led by Mike Trout, who has a 2.1 WAR, the second-best in the AL.

20. Miami Marlins (15-18, previous No. 20) –Scoring runs doesn’t appear to be an issue for the Marlins, as their offense is one of the better ones in the league. Dee Gordon is pacing the group, hitting .425, the best mark by far in the National League. At 5.5 games out of first, it is too early to rule Miami out of it.

21. Seattle Mariners (14-17, previous No. 23) –Seattle has won three straight games, and just needing pitching to get them back to the top of the AL West. Nelson Cruz’s 14 homers, which leads all of baseball.

22. Baltimore Orioles (14-16, previous No. 15) –Baltimore has lost six of its last 10 games and now in a tie for last in the AL East. Adam Jones continues to rake at the plate, hitting .357, the best in the AL.

23. Arizona Diamondbacks (14-17, previous No. 25) –As has been the case for the past year and a half, Arizona doesn’t have much besides Paul Goldschmidt’s nine home runs and 27 RBI, both in the top five of the NL.

24. Texas Rangers (14-18, previous No. 28) –It was a good week for the Rangers, as they have won seven of their last 10 games, and now trail the first place Astros by six games. Nick Martinez’s 1.47 ERA has been a major reason for the turnaround.

25. Chicago White Sox (12-17, previous No. 29) –The White Sox have won just two games on the road so far this season, with their minus-39 run differential being the worst in the AL.

26. Milwaukee Brewers (12-21, previous No. 30) –If it wasn’t for the Phillies and their minus-61 run differential, the Brewers would have the worst at minus-42.

27. Oakland Athletics (12-22, previous No. 24) –Oakland has lost six straight games and eight of 10. They are struggling in one-run games, as they have won just one of 12.

28. Colorado Rockies (11-17, previous No. 21) –Colorado is really struggling right now, losers of nine in a row and the second-worst run differential in the NL at minus-47. Adding insult to injury, Coors Field was covered in snow late last week.

29. Cleveland Indians (11-19, previous No. 27) –Having a 5-9 record at home isn’t going to go very far, which is why the Indians sit in last place in the AL Central.

30. Philadelphia Phillies (11-22, previous No. 26) –The Phillies have quickly fallen to the basement of the league, averaging just 2.85 runs per game. They don’t appear to turn the corner anytime soon.