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MLB power rankings: As NL West battle heats up, Fernando Tatis Jr. has Padres taking over No. 1 spot

jesse yomtov, usa today
·3 min read
17

While their NL West rivals battled it out over the weekend, the San Diego Padres built up a nine-game winning streak to take the division lead and the No. 1 spot in this week's MLB power rankings.

Fernando Tatis Jr. had an incredible week, going 15-for-27 with five homers and 14 RBI in seven games against the Giants, Rockies and Mariners. The Dodgers swept the Giants in San Francisco to knock the previous division leaders down to third place.

The Padres will certainly be tested in the coming weeks with series against the Brewers, Astros, Cubs and Mets, while the Dodgers and Giants get another shot at each other with a four-game set this weekend.

Fernando Tatis Jr. celebrates in the dugout after a grand slam against the Mariners on Sunday.
Fernando Tatis Jr. celebrates in the dugout after a grand slam against the Mariners on Sunday.

Here's how USA TODAY Sports' seven-person panel voted this week:

1. San Diego Padres (+5)

  • Slam Diego takes first place in NL West after nine-game winning streak.

2. Los Angeles Dodgers (+1)

  • Sweep over Giants gave Dodgers seven straight wins.

3. Boston Red Sox (-2)

  • Tough few weeks ahead with seven vs. Astros and three vs. Yankees.

4. Tampa Bay Rays (+8)

  • Riding MLB-best 10-game winning streak, second longest in franchise history.

5. New York Yankees (+4)

  • Corey Kluber's no-hitter was club's first since David Cone's 1999 perfect game.

6. San Francisco Giants (+1)

  • Scott Kazmir, 37, makes first big league appearance since 2016.

7. Chicago White Sox (-5)

  • Andew Vaughn finding power with three homers in May – after none in April.

8. Oakland Athletics (-3)

  • Mark Canha had a .995 OPS in first 20 games of May.

9. Houston Astros (-5)

  • Jose Urquidy (3.22 ERA in 8 starts) building on success he had his first two years.

10. St. Louis Cardinals (-2)

11. Cleveland (–)

  • Amed Rosario is batting .372 over his last 11 games after hitting .189 in his first 28 games this season.

12. Toronto Blue Jays (-2)

  • Relief corp ranks third in the AL with a 3.34 ERA.

13. New York Mets (–)

14. Chicago Cubs (+5)

  • Javy Baez has been looking more like himself in recent weeks.

15. Milwaukee Brewers (-1)

16. Atlanta Braves (–)

  • Austin Riley's red-hot week: .462 BA, six homers, 11 RBI.

17. Philadelphia Phillies (-2)

  • Bryce Harper mired in a weeklong slump (2-for-25 with 13 strikeouts).

18. Cincinnati Reds (-1)

19. Miami Marlins (+1)

  • Yimi Garcia converted eight of his first nine save opportunities of the year.

20. Kansas City Royals (+1)

  • Carlos Santana (.399 OBP, 35 BB in 44 G) is doing exactly what Royals signed him to do.

21. Washington Nationals (+1)

22. Seattle Mariners (-4)

  • Hovering around the Mendoza Line, Seattle has MLB's worst batting average.

23. Los Angeles Angels (+1)

  • Lefty Tony Watson (2.25 ERA, 0.94 WHIP in 17 games) was a great add late in spring training.

24. Arizona Diamondbacks (-1)

  • Ketel Marte returns after monthlong stint on the injured list.

25. Texas Rangers (+1)

  • Adolis Garcia (14 HR in 38 games) taking the AL West by storm.

26. Pittsburgh Pirates (+1)

27. Detroit Tigers (+3)

  • Former Rookie of the Year Michael Fulmer has been sharp: 3.23 ERA, 29 K through 30 2/3 innings.

28. Colorado Rockies (+1)

  • Rookie Jordan Sheffield (1.84 ERA in 15 games) has been great in relief.

29. Baltimore Orioles (-1)

  • Among MLB's RBI leaders, Trey Mancini had 21 in first 16 games of May.

30. Minnesota Twins (-5)

  • Kenta Maeda lands on the iinjured list with a right adductor strain.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB power rankings: Padres new No. 1 as NL West standings heat up