MLB Power Rankings Week 7: Cubs Take Over, Braves Stay Dangerous, and the National League Runs the Show

Last blog’s top 10 was: 1. Braves, 2. Cubs, 3. Yankees, 4. Dodgers, 5. Padres, 6. Pirates, 7. Reds, 8. Brewers, 9. Guardians, 10. Marlins. The league has shifted again. The Cubs, Braves, and Yankees are all 26-12, but Chicago gets the top spot this week because the Cubs are scorching hot, just completed a four-game sweep of Cincinnati, and extended their home winning streak to 15 straight games. The Braves remain one of the most complete teams in baseball, the Yankees are carrying a weak American League, and the NL continues to look deeper, tougher, and more complete across the board.

10. Milwaukee Brewers, 19-16 — Last Ranking: #8

The Brewers hang onto the final spot because they are still above .500 in a brutal NL Central. They drop from eighth to tenth, but they stay in because they have survived injuries and still remain competitive. MLB.com had Milwaukee eighth in its May 3 rankings, and CBS had them tenth this week, which fits where they belong right now: good enough to stay in, but no longer safely in the middle of the top 10.

9. Cincinnati Reds, 20-18 — Last Ranking: #7

Cincinnati drops two spots after getting swept by the Cubs, but the Reds are still 20-18 and remain part of the loaded NL Central conversation. Their record keeps them in the top 10 for now, but the gap between them and the elite teams is widening fast. CBS noted the Reds had lost four of five, and the Cubs’ four-game sweep only made that slide feel more real.

8. Pittsburgh Pirates, 21-17 — Last Ranking: #6

The Pirates slide from sixth to eighth, but they are still in the top 10 because they continue to play winning baseball in the deepest division in the sport. Pittsburgh is 21-17, and MLB.com pointed out that the Pirates have both real offensive pop and a strong pitching profile, even while being stuck in a brutal NL Central race.

7. St. Louis Cardinals, 22-15 — Last Ranking: Not Ranked

The Cardinals are the new team in the top 10, replacing one of the weaker fringe teams from last week. At 22-15, they have the record to justify it, and MLB.com had them ninth after they swept Pittsburgh and took two of three from the Dodgers. In a National League that keeps flexing its depth, St. Louis has earned its way into the conversation.

6. Tampa Bay Rays, 25-12 — Last Ranking: Not Ranked

The Rays are the other new arrival, and they are the biggest American League riser outside of the Yankees. Tampa Bay is 25-12, just behind the Yankees in the AL East, and both MLB.com and CBS highlighted their surge, with CBS noting they had won nine of ten and owned one of the best records in baseball. The AL may be weak overall, but Tampa Bay has absolutely forced its way into the top 10.

5. San Diego Padres, 22-15 — Last Ranking: #5

The Padres stay right where they were. They are not as hot as the Cubs, Braves, Yankees, or Dodgers, but they are steady, talented, and still sitting at 22-15 in a strong NL West. San Diego also just took a series from the Giants, another sign that they are continuing to handle business even when they are not dominating headlines.

4. Los Angeles Dodgers, 23-14 — Last Ranking: #4

The Dodgers remain fourth. That feels low for a team this talented, but the recent stretch has not matched their reputation. MLB.com had them third on May 3 but noted they had lost four straight before salvaging a series finale, while CBS pointed out they had won only six of their last 15. The Dodgers are still elite, but right now, they are chasing the top three.

3. New York Yankees, 26-12 — Last Ranking: #3

The Yankees stay third and remain the clear class of the American League. At 26-12, they have the same record as the Cubs and Braves, and CBS ranked them second while MLB.com also had them second earlier this week. The lineup has been explosive, the pitching staff has been elite, and even with injuries piling up, the Yankees keep winning. In a weak AL, they are the team carrying the league.

2. Atlanta Braves, 26-12 — Last Ranking: #1

The Braves drop one spot, but this is not a fall-off. Atlanta is still 26-12, still loaded, and still one of the most complete teams in baseball. CBS made the case that the Braves have been the best team in the sport, citing their elite offense, top-tier pitching, and massive run production. The only reason they are second here is because the Cubs are the hotter team right now.

1. Chicago Cubs, 26-12 — Last Ranking: #2

The Cubs take over the top spot. Chicago is 26-12, tied with Atlanta and New York for the best record in baseball, but the recent form gives them the edge. They completed a four-game sweep of Cincinnati and extended their home winning streak to 15 games, while CBS noted they had won 15 of 18 and had not lost at home since April 11. Right now, the Cubs are the hottest team in baseball and deserve to be ranked No. 1.

Who Stayed in the Top 10

The Cubs, Braves, Yankees, Dodgers, Padres, Pirates, Reds, and Brewers all stay in the top 10. The Cubs rise to No. 1 because they are the hottest team in baseball. Atlanta stays elite because the roster is too complete to drop far. The Yankees remain the best team in the AL. The Dodgers and Padres are still firmly in the contender tier. The Pirates, Reds, and Brewers stay in because the NL Central is simply too strong to ignore.

Who Dropped Out

The Guardians fall out despite sitting at 20-19 and leading the AL Central. That says more about the American League than it does about Cleveland — they are competitive, but not dominant, and their record does not stack up against the NL teams ahead of them. The Marlins also drop out at 17-21. Miami was hanging around earlier, but the record has slipped below .500 and the National League has too many better options right now.

Who Jumped In

The Rays and Cardinals are the two new teams. Tampa Bay has stormed into the picture at 25-12 and looks like the only AL team close to the Yankees right now. St. Louis enters at 22-15 because they have stacked wins in a loaded NL Central and backed it up against quality opponents.

The biggest theme of Week 7 is simple: the National League is stacked, and the American League is weak outside of the Yankees and Rays. The Cubs, Braves, Dodgers, Padres, Cardinals, Pirates, Reds, and Brewers all give the NL serious depth. Meanwhile, the Yankees are rolling, the Rays are surging, and everyone else in the AL is trying to prove they belong.