Every week MLB teams will be ranked for the rest of the season. Here are the 2023 MLB power rankings for the week of May 15.
1. Tampa Bay Rays
Record: 31-11
Previous Ranking: 1
The Rays had a tough week, dropping a few games to the Orioles and a few games to the Yankees. They have also lost Drew Rasmussen for an extended period of time with an elbow injury.
2. Baltimore Orioles
Record: 26-14
Previous Ranking: 5
The Orioles have been hot. This week, they won both of their series, a series win over the Pirates and a series win over the first place Rays.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
Record: 26-15
Previous Ranking: 3
The Dodgers are riding a hot streak as of late. They have now won 5 straight series, with multiple sweeps in that time span. Watch out for the Dodgers.
4. Atlanta Braves
Record: 25-15
Previous Ranking: 2
Austin Riley has struggled a bit this season. The slack has been picked up by Ronald Acuna, who is having a historic season so far. Spencer Strider is also striking out over 15 batters per 9 innings, on pace for over 300 strikeouts.
5. Texas Rangers
Record: 25-15
Previous Ranking: 4
The Rangers desperately need Jacob DeGrom back, as it would solidify them as one of the most lethal pitching rotations in the league, already with 2 starters with a WAR above 1.0.
6. Toronto Blue Jays
Record: 24-16
Previous Ranking: 7
Bo Bichette has locked down the Blue Jays lineup, ranking among the league’s best in batting average. The 25-year-old has shown tons of growth, with the ability to lead Toronto into the playoffs.
7. New York Yankees
Record: 23-19
Previous Ranking: 11
The Yankees are dangerous. With one of the most high powered offenses in the league, they are a few guys getting hot away from flying up these rankings. Don’t let them get hot.
8. Minnesota Twins
Record: 23-18
Previous Ranking: 10
The Twins have a commanding lead in the AL Central, in which they are the only team with a record above .500. This division does not appear to have much potential to feature a premier 2023 playoff team, with just the division winner getting in.
9. Milwaukee Brewers
Record: 23-17
Previous Ranking: 12
The Brewers have unexpectedly found themselves leading the NL Central, partly due to the fact that the Pirates have fallen apart as of late. They are the favorites to take this division, but only sit a few games ahead.
10. Boston Red Sox
Record: 22-19
Previous Ranking: 6
The Red Sox find themselves ranked 10th in this list, but 4th in their own division. They suffer as a team in the loaded AL East, with such talented teams around them. They will need to play spectacularly through the rest of the year.
11. Arizona Diamondbacks
Record: 23-18
Previous Ranking: 8
The Diamondbacks currently find themselves in 2nd in the NL West in record as well as in run differential. Corbin Carroll has been quite intriguing this year, hitting .283 with over 10 stolen bases already.
12. Houston Astros
Record: 21-19
Previous Ranking: 16
The Astros have won the AL West in each of the last 5 full seasons, finishing 2nd during the shortened 2020 season. They are in danger of finishing out of first place for the first time since 2016, as they sit 4 games out of 1st place today.
13. Pittsburgh Pirates
Record: 22-19
Previous Ranking: 9
The Pirates have absolutely fallen apart. With a 1-9 record over their last 10, they have lost their lead on the division. With each loss, they find themselves closer and closer to the bottom of the division, where many expected them to be in the first place.
14. Seattle Mariners
Record: 20-20
Previous Ranking: 17
Julio Rodriguez will need to improve his play in order to lead this Seattle offense. He has suffered a sophomore slump, as he is hitting near .200, compared to his productive and impressive rookie campaign last year.
15. Philadelphia Phillies
Record: 20-20
Previous Ranking: 21
The Phillies have been limited with their bats but have the potential to grown through the season. They have multiple hitters with tons of experience but are underperforming thus far.
16. Los Angeles Angels
Record: 21-20
Previous Ranking: 14
The Angels have one of the best statistical pitching staffs in the league, led by Shohei Ohtani. While the ERA isn’t great, that is bound to come down, as they rank second in the league in exit velocity allowed, at 87.7 MPH.
17. Chicago Cubs
Record: 19-21
Previous Ranking: 13
The Cubs have been surprisingly good this year. Their pitching has allowed the lowest HardHit% (33.8%) and the lowest average exit velocity (87.4 MPH), according to Baseball Savant.
18. New York Mets
Record: 20-21
Previous Ranking: 18
Justin Verlander looked to be in peak form this week as he secured his first win as a Met. He fired 7 innings of two hit baseball, allowing 1 earned run and striking out 7 Reds batters. Much needed for the Mets.
19. San Diego Padres
Record: 19-22
Previous Ranking: 15
The Padres could go down as one of the biggest “what ifs” in recent history. They have some ridiculous talent, but have continuously fallen short, falling even further behind this year.
20. Cincinnati Reds
Record: 18-22
Previous Ranking: 23
The Reds find themselves within striking range of the NL Central, only a few games behind the leader. With some exciting prospects in Triple-A, the Reds have potential to make a push.
21. Miami Marlins
Record: 20-21
Previous Ranking: 22
This week saw the debut of the 9th ranked prospect in baseball, 20-year-old RHP, Eury Perez. The prospect didn’t disappoint, as he would strike out 7 batters in 4.66 innings, allowing only 2 runs.
22. Cleveland Guardians
Record: 19-21
Previous Ranking: 19
The Guardians have one of the best farm systems in the MLB. They feature one prospect already in the MLB, Tanner Bibee. Along with Bibee, they have 5 other top 100 prospects that are expected to make their debuts in 2023.
23. San Francisco Giants
Record: 17-23
Previous Ranking: 20
Just two seasons ago, the Giants led the entire MLB in wins with 107 regular season wins. Fast forward to today and the Giants look like they are on the brink of a complete rebuild, needing to add to their 2 top 100 prospects.
24. Detroit Tigers
Record: 18-21
Previous Ranking: 24
The Tigers find themselves in a weird spot this year. They have a few top 100 ranked prospects, but only one of them seems ready to make his debut this year, that being RHP Wilmer Flores. With him in Double-A, his odds of debuting aren’t even very high.
25. Washington Nationals
Record: 17-23
Previous Ranking: 26
The Nationals farm system is loaded, featuring 5 prospects in the top 100 in the MLB. These prospects are led by the 20-year-old outfielder, James Wood, who currently sits in High-A.
26. Colorado Rockies
Record: 17-24
Previous Ranking: 25
The Rockies find themselves in one of the worst spots in the MLB. They don’t have the top end talent to compete now, and they don’t have many Major League ready prospects that create a difference in the organization.
27. Chicago White Sox
Record: 14-28
Previous Ranking: 27
The White Sox will join the Padres as a big time “what if” story. They continuously have had the talent to go far but have never been able to put it together. Dylan Cease and Lance Lynn have not lived up to expectations.
28. St. Louis Cardinals
Record: 16-25
Previous Ranking: 28
The Cardinals have the talent to be ranked much higher on this list, but they are struggling in every facet of their game this season. They currently sit 10 games under .500 and in last place in the NL Central.
29. Kansas City Royals
Record: 12-30
Previous Ranking: 29
Salvador Perez is off to a good start, with his best batting average since 2020. The slugger has added 8 home runs, as he looks to bounce back from his pedestrian 2022 season.
30. Oakland Athletics
Record: 9-33
Previous Ranking: 30
The Athletics have far and away been the worst team in the league. Their offense has struggled to barrel baseballs, as they rank 2nd to last in the MLB in HardHit%, with a measly 33.3%.
Check out our MLB page for more updates like MLB Power Rankings May 15!
You can “Like” The Game Haus on Facebook and “Follow” us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from other great TGH writers along with Zach!
“From Our Haus to Yours”