MLB Power Rankings: Harper and Schwarber fuel Phillies rise, Marlins feasting in June

Featured in this week’s MLB Power Rankings, Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber have a game for the ages, Paul Goldschmidt is defying age, the Marlins are stepping up, and a host of big names are set to return from the injured list.

As a reminder, this article is a combination of current performance and long-term outlook.

One programming note before we get started: I’ll be on vacation next week, so Dave Shovein will be providing his insight and analysis.

Let’s get started!

▶ Check out Matthew Pouliot’s latest Top 300 ROS update for fantasy baseball!

Rankings are from the morning of Monday, June 22

1) Atlanta Braves

Last week: 1

In a potential playoff preview, the Braves took two out of three from the Brewers over the weekend. They handed Jacob Misiorowski his first loss since April 19 on Friday before Ozzie Albies played the role of hero on Saturday.

2) Los Angeles Dodgers

Last week: 2

The Dodgers have lost consecutive games for the first time since May 12. Obviously there’s no reason for panic here, but the club might have to make a decision about Emmett Sheehan soon. After giving up six runs in a lopsided loss to the Orioles on Sunday, Sheehan’s ERA sits at 5.32 for the year.

3) Milwaukee Brewers

Last week: 3

After missing nearly two months following a procedure to drain a cyst from his right shoulder, Brandon Woodruff is set to rejoin the Brewers’ rotation on Monday against the Reds. This likely means Shane Drohan going back to the bullpen, especially with Robert Gasser back on the scene.

4) New York Yankees

Last week: 4

Paul Goldschmidt’s return to the Yankees didn’t garner much in the way of headlines this offseason, which was understandable given how he performed last year, but he’s recaptured some of his old magic this season. The 38-year-old has already surpassed his home run total from last year and his .896 OPS is his highest since his MVP season in 2022.

I couldn’t finish this Yankees section without showing Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart of the NBA Champion New York Knicks throwing out the first pitch last week. These guys are the best buddy comedy going right now.

5) Philadelphia Phillies ⬆️

Last week: 8

Having a player hit for the cycle and hit three homers in the same game isn’t just something you can do in MLB The Show. It also happens in real life, as we saw with Bryce Harper (first career cycle) and Kyle Schwarber (fifth career three-homer game) on Saturday against the Mets. Harper and Schwarber are just the second pair of teammates to reach these feats in the same game, joining Lou Gehrig and Tony Lazzeri of the 1932 Yankees.

6) Tampa Bay Rays ⬇️

Last week: 5

After winning two out of three against the Nationals over the weekend (with a couple of big swings from the returning Jonny DeLuca), now the Rays have a chance to end June on a high note. They’ll play seven out of their next 10 games against the Royals, with the other three coming against the banged-up Diamondbacks.

7) St. Louis Cardinals ⬇️

Last week: 6

After a quiet month of May, JJ Wetherholt is slashing .333/.403/.500 this month. Yes, he slugged two homers in a wild win over the Royals on Sunday, but the most impressive thing this month is that he has more walks (six) than strikeouts (five). The National League Rookie of the Year race is far from over, as Sal Stewart of the Reds, Carson Benge and Nolan McLean of the Mets, Bryce Eldridge of the Giants, and Konnor Griffin of the Pirates will have something to say about it, but Wetherholt is the clear favorite right now.

8) Cleveland Guardians ⬆️

Last week: 9

The Guardians have lost four out of six since José Ramírez went down with hamate bone surgery. Travis Bazzana is certainly doing his part to help pick up the slack offensively. He’s hit safely in five straight games, during which he’s launched three homers.

9) Chicago White Sox ⬇️

Last week: 7

No rest for the weary here. After getting swept by the Tigers over the weekend, now the White Sox are set to square off against the Guardians to begin the week. After a long wait, catcher Kyle Teel is finally ready to make his season debut.

10) Chicago Cubs ⬆️

Last week: 12

PCA continues to enjoy a ridiculous month. He’s hit .550 (11-for-20) over the past seven days, including the first cycle of his career last Monday. He’s now homered in five out of his last seven games.

11) Seattle Mariners ⬆️

Last week: 14

It’s been an uneven few days for the Mariners, as they lost two out of three to the Red Sox over the weekend, but they also got Cal Raleigh back from the IL and Logan Gilbert is showing ace form once again. We’ve been saying it for a while, but the Mariners should be better than their record shows.

12) Miami Marlins ⬆️

Last week: 15

This is not a misprint. With the best record in baseball this month, including a four-game winning streak, the Marlins are on the verge of our top 10. The club will have to hope that 2026 breakout Liam Hicks won’t have to miss much time as he deals with a lower-back strain.

13) San Diego Padres ⬇️

Last week: 10

After abbreviated stints with the Royals and the Mariners, Samad Taylor has been a shot in the arm for the Padres’ offense, slashing .362/.423/.447 across 13 games. He’s hit safely in each of his starts with the club and has recently moved up near the top of the order. For a team who has struggled to find offense, they are literally riding the hot hand as far as it will take them.

14) Washington Nationals ⬇️

Last week: 11

Selected No. 2 overall in the 2023 MLB Draft, Dylan Crews hasn’t had the smoothest transition to the majors, but maybe just maybe we’re seeing what made him so highly-coveted. The former Golden Spikes Award Winner has three homers and 10 RBI over his last 10 games. While his patience leaves a lot to be desire, he’s making lots of solid contact. His .268 xBA and .489 xSLG indicates that he’s deserved better than his results would indicate. The Nationals’ lineup is already potent as it is, but it would be something if Crews begins to meet the hype.

15) Arizona Diamondbacks ⬇️

Last week: 13

Jordan Lawlar is back on the IL with a hamstring injury while Ryne Nelson is dealing with a flexor strain and Michael Soroka has a strained right glute. The Diamondbacks were looking forward to returns from Corbin Burnes and A.J. Puk, but they both suffered setbacks while ramping up their respective rehabs. If you’re around the .500 mark, you have a chance in this modern playoff structure. And that’s pretty much where the Diamondbacks find themselves. However, the injuries just might be too much to withstand.

16) Pittsburgh Pirates

Last week: 16

Scary moment in Sunday’s game, as Jared Jones was hit the elbow by a comebacker. He had a very emotional reaction, understandable given his return from Tommy John surgery, but fortunately X-rays came back negative.

17) Toronto Blue Jays ⬆️

Last week: 19

The Blue Jays went 4-1 on their road trip and now they’ll return home for a 10-game homestand as they finally get Shane Bieber back from the IL on Tuesday. With a big four featuring Cease, Bieber, Yesavage, and Gausman, it would be surprising if we didn’t see the Jays rise in the rankings moving forward.

18) Athletics ⬇️

Last week: 17

This weekend’s series against the Angels was a wild one, so it’s hard to pick just moment, but this catch from Colby Thomas is a ton of fun. It also makes my back hurt.

Something to watch this week: Zach Gelof owns a 24-game hitting streak, three shy of Arizona’s Ildemargo Vargas for the longest in MLB this season.

19) Cincinnati Reds ⬆️

Last week: 20

The pendulum is starting to swing the other way again. Fresh off taking two out of three from the Yankees, the Reds are set to welcome Elly De La Cruz back on Tuesday and Hunter Greene has begun a minor league rehab assignment.

20) Minnesota Twins ⬆️

Last week: 22

To their credit, the Twins aren’t going away. They’ve won six out of their last seven as they attempt to quell the annual trade rumors involving Byron Buxton. While Buxton remains the centerpiece of this offense, Josh Bell has enjoyed a healthy turnaround over the past month. He’s hitting .337 with four homers and 19 RBI over his last 23 games.

21) Texas Rangers ⬇️

Last week: 18

Wyatt Langford has been a force since returning from the injured list, hitting .317 with five homers and 12 RBI in 15 games.

22) Baltimore Orioles ⬇️

Last week: 21

The Orioles took two out of three from our No. 2 team in the Dodgers over the weekend, but they’ll be without a key piece this week after Adley Rutschman was hit in the head by a throw and had to go on the 7-day concussion injured list. Talk about some awful luck.

23) Houston Astros

Last week: 23

Things are actually looking up for the Astros. They’ve won three straight series for the first time this season and they also have their ace Hunter Brown back in the fold.

24) Detroit Tigers ⬆️

Last week: 26

The Tigers pulled off a sweep of the White Sox over the weekend as they try to climb their way out of the hole they dug while Tarik Skubal was on the shelf.

The Tigers will be tested in a big way in the coming days, as they’ll play six out of their next 10 games against the Yankees. They also have a four-game set against the aforementioned Astros.

25) New York Mets ⬇️

Last week: 24

The Mets were hoping they got an ace with the acquisition of Freddy Peralta this offseason, but after giving up a career-high 10 earned runs on Saturday against the Phillies, he’s now sporting a 4.83 ERA on the year. Even with Francisco Lindor expected to return this week, time is running out for this team.

26) Boston Red Sox ⬇️

Last week: 25

The Red Sox are signaling to the baseball world that it’s almost #HugWatch time.

Appropriately enough, Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras are likely trade candidates leading into the deadline. Aroldis Chapman and Jarren Duran are among the other names to watch on this roster.

27) Kansas City Royals

Last week: 27

Jac Caglianone is starting to find his way against major league pitching. The 23-year-old has seven homers and 16 RBI this month to go along with a stout .379/.468/.742 batting line. He’s homered in each of his last three games.

28) Los Angeles Angels ⬆️

Last week: 29

Mike Trout appears on track to get voted into the All-Star Game by the fans, but now he’s on the injured list with a right hamstring strain. Hopefully he’s able to make it back in time, as it would be extra special to see him play in Philadelphia, just a short drive from his hometown of Millville, New Jersey.

29) San Francisco Giants ⬇️

Last week: 28

Oh, what a mess the Giants continue to be. Not only were they swept by the Marlins over the weekend, but Rafael Devers decided to go all Roger Dorn and try to waive off a pinch-runner in the ninth inning on Sunday. Giants rookie manager Tony Vitello tried to be diplomatic after the game, but the vibes are just awful here.

30) Colorado Rockies

Last week: 30

Want to watch an inside-the-park home run? Let’s watch an inside-the-park home run.

My favorite thing about this might have been Jake McCarthy’s comments after the game. As he told Thomas Harding of MLB.com, “I was tired — I was trying not to throw up.”