Sure, the Los Angeles Dodgers are unbeaten in five games and the New York Yankees can’t stop hitting home runs, but let’s pause to consider what the San Diego Padres have pulled off.
It’s not even April, and they’ve already clinched the season series against the Atlanta Braves – and cracked the top five in USA TODAY Sports’ first power rankings installment.
Oh, it probably won’t matter, but it’s worth pondering that the most significant feat of this opening weekend was the Padres sweeping four games against Atlanta, marking six consecutive victories over them at Petco Park, dating to their wild-card steamrolling during last year’s playoffs.
Perhaps you might remember that: The Braves, New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks all had to wait until hurricane-delayed Games 161 and 162 were played to determine the final NL playoff spots. Sure, most tiebreakers don’t come into play, but with the Padres and Braves very likely slotting in wild-card spots this year, it’s not entirely meaningless.
Of greater note, San Diego’s throttling of Atlanta might at least force observers to recalibrate their expectations for both teams, with the Padres perhaps providing resistance to the Dodgers in the West, while the Braves are already a pace behind what should be an excellent three-team race in the East.
Then again, 158 games remain for both.
A look at our updated rankings:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
- Just wait ’til Mookie Betts is back at fighting weight.
2. New York Yankees
- You might say they, uh, torpedoed Brewers pitching.
3. Philadelphia Phillies
- Jesús Luzardo wins first start as Phillie.
4. San Diego Padres
- Bullpen allowed one earned run in 16 innings.
5. Baltimore Orioles
- Blasted 10 homers in four games against Toronto.
6. Texas Rangers
- Jack Leiter did enough to win first start; can Kumar Rocker follow suit?
7. Arizona Diamondbacks
- Next time, just start the guy you just gave $210 million.
8. New York Mets
- Oh, they’ll hit soon enough.
9. Houston Astros
- Spencer Arrighetti picks up where he left off after strong 2024 finish.
10. Detroit Tigers
- They’re definitely done with the Dodgers.
11. Boston Red Sox
- Rafael Devers doing anything but designated hitting: 0 for 16 with 12 strikeouts.
12. Atlanta Braves
- Ah yes, three games at the Dodgers should wash that 0-4 start right away.
13. Cincinnati Reds
- It’d be a shame if relief woes sank an otherwise solid and charismatic roster.
14. Chicago Cubs
- Relief acquisition Eli Morgan has given up six runs in 3 ⅔ innings.
15. Seattle Mariners
- After four-run opening day explosion, they score two, zero and two runs against A’s.
16. Cleveland Guardians
- Jose Ramírez’s wrist is barking a little bit.
17. Kansas City Royals
- Tough opening series ends on grim note when pitch strikes Jonathan India in face.
18. Tampa Bay Rays
- They embrace the great outdoors with two wins over Rockies, including walk-off homer.
19. San Francisco Giants
- Maybe this Old Guys Rule rotation will work out.
20. St. Louis Cardinals
- So far, their ‘reset’ has resulted in a perfect record.
21. Toronto Blue Jays
- The Max Scherzer thumb saga already getting painful.
22. Washington Nationals
- Dylan Crews hitless in 11 at-bats, with eight strikeouts.
23. Minnesota Twins
- Top prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez with a three-hit night in Class AAA opener.
24. Milwaukee Brewers
- We feel confident in saying they will not see the New York Yankees again this year.
25. Los Angeles Angels
- Tim Anderson gets a nice welcome in return to Chicago’s Southside.
26. Athletics (Sacramento)
- Their Yolo County Era begins this week.
27. Miami Marlins
- Griff Conine hits game-tying homer on night his dad is inducted into club Hall of Fame.
28. Pittsburgh Pirates
- First three losses all walk-offs. So they’re coming close.
29. Colorado Rockies
- Chase Dollander watch: Strikes out five in four innings of first Class AAA start.
30. Chicago White Sox
- Clip and save this for posterity: Their 1.00 ERA leads the major leagues
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