Current:Home > StocksMLB power rankings: Braves and Mets to sprint for playoff lives in NL wild card race -FundGuru
MLB power rankings: Braves and Mets to sprint for playoff lives in NL wild card race
View
Date:2025-04-14 09:10:45
And then they were even.
The Atlanta Braves and New York Mets, longtime sparring partners in the National League East, suddenly find themselves in a 19-game sprint for their playoff lives. They enter this week all square with 78-65 records and tied for the third and final NL wild-card spot - and on the upswing in USA TODAY Sports' power rankings.
Playoff contention is a birthright for the Braves, who have won six consecutive NL East titles but have all but ceded this year's crown to Philadelphia. But their very playoff lives have been threatened by a nine-game Mets winning streak that briefly vaulted New York into sole possession of the No. 3 slot. Unless either team gets hot and chases down Arizona and/or San Diego, the playoffs won't be big enough for the two of them.
They will meet one more time, Sept. 24-26 at Atlanta.
A look at our updated rankings:
Follow every MLB game: Latest MLB scores, stats, schedules and standings.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (-)
- Jack Flaherty, season-saver: 5-1, 2.61 ERA in seven starts since trade deadline deal.
2. Philadelphia Phillies (-)
- Alec Bohm hits the IL as lineup's dings and dents continue.
3. New York Yankees (+1)
- Nestor Cortes finishes off combined gem with Clarke Schmidt, but not pleased about it.
4. Milwaukee Brewers (-1)
- Club has intriguing potential bullpen add: Top prospect Jacob Misiorowski.
5. Baltimore Orioles (-)
- Adley Rutschman in a 33-for-188 (.176) canyon since late June.
6. Cleveland Guardians (-)
- Batting .230 and been shut out four times in last 20 games.
7. San Diego Padres (+1)
- Manny Machado joins Nate Colbert atop franchise leaderboard with 163rd homer as a Padre.
8. Arizona Diamondbacks (-1)
- Ketel Marte is back after three-week absence with ankle sprain.
9. Houston Astros (+1)
- They went 49-31 with Kyle Tucker shelved with shin fracture.
10. Atlanta Braves (+1)
- Closer Raisel Iglesias hasn't given up an earned run since before the All-Star break.
11. Kansas City Royals (+1)
- They are once again within 2 ½ games of first-place Cleveland.
12. New York Mets (+1)
- Nine-game winning streak team's longest since April 2018.
13. Minnesota Twins (-4)
- Suddenly closer to the fourth-place Tigers – and missing the playoffs – than first-place Cleveland.
14. Chicago Cubs (-)
- Shota Imanaga's combined no-hitter amplifies how great he's been all year.
15. Detroit Tigers (+2)
- Youngest roster in majors now knocking on playoff door.
16. Seattle Mariners (-1)
- Upper management remains convinced that no, this - this! - will be the winter Jerry Dipoto assembles a sentient lineup.
17. Boston Red Sox (-1)
- Still insist they're in it.
18. St. Louis Cardinals
- Masyn Winn in a 4-for-40 slide.
19. San Francisco Giants (-)
- Matt Chapman's extension finally ensures a modicum of continuity.
20. Tampa Bay Rays (-)
- Gonna be touch and go to avoid their first losing season since 2017.
21. Texas Rangers (+2)
- A little too late, but a nice 10-3 stretch, nonetheless.
22. Cincinnati Reds (-)
- Hunter Greene slated to return next week after monthlong absence with elbow injury.
23. Toronto Blue Jays (-2)
- Closer Jordan Romano officially out for the year after elbow impingement.
24. Pittsburgh Pirates (-)
- Billy Cook doubles in first major league at-bat.
25. Washington Nationals (-)
- Trevor Williams set to embark on rehab assignment.
26. Oakland Athletics (-)
- Brent Rooker has 35 homers, and the 100-RBI plateau is next.
27. Los Angeles Angels (-)
- A fellow named Samuel Aldegheri picked up his first major league win.
28. Miami Marlins (-)
- Connor Norby, True Marlin: He has four home runs in his last seven games.
29. Colorado Rockies (-)
- Kyle Freeland posts third quality start in four outings, drops ERA under 5.
30. Chicago White Sox (-)
- The pace: 37-125, a record for losses on any continent.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
veryGood! (5)
prev:'Most Whopper
next:Small twin
Related
- Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
- Road work inspector who leaped to safety during Baltimore bridge collapse to file claim
- Rome Odunze's dad calls out ESPN's Dan Orlovsky on social media with game footage
- A lawsuit challenging a South Dakota abortion rights measure will play out after the election
- Behind on your annual reading goal? Books under 200 pages to read before 2024 ends
- Diddy is 'fighting for his life' amid sex trafficking charges. What does this mean for him?
- Postal Service chief frustrated at criticism, but promises ‘heroic’ effort to deliver mail ballots
- First rioters to breach a police perimeter during Capitol siege are sentenced to prison terms
- Backstage at New York's Jingle Ball with Jimmy Fallon, 'Queer Eye' and Meghan Trainor
- Breece Hall vs. Braelon Allen stats in Week 3: Fantasy football outlook for Jets RBs
Ranking
- All That You Wanted to Know About She’s All That
- Midwest States Struggle to Fund Dam Safety Projects, Even as Federal Aid Hits Historic Highs
- Video shows missing Louisiana girl found by using thermal imaging drone
- Trump Media plummets to new low on the first trading day the former president can sell his shares
- The FTC says 'gamified' online job scams by WhatsApp and text on the rise. What to know.
- Patriots vs. Jets score, highlights: Aaron Rodgers leads New York to blowout win
- Vouchers ease start-up stress for churches seeing demand for more Christian schools
- Elle King Addresses Relationship With Dad Rob Schneider Amid Viral Feud
Recommendation
The Super Bowl could end in a 'three
15 new movies you'll want to stream this fall, from 'Wolfs' to 'Salem's Lot'
The cause of a fire that injured 2 people at a Louisiana chemical plant remains under investigation
Zayn Malik Makes Rare Comment About Incredible Daughter Khai on Her 4th Birthday
Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
Board approves more non-lethal weapons for UCLA police after Israel-Hamas war protests
Whoa! 'Golden Bachelorette' first impression fails, including that runaway horse
Mary Jo Eustace Details Her Most Painful Beauty Procedures