MLB power rankings: Phillies can't stop the bleeding as NL East hole grows
MLB power rankings: Phillies can't stop the bleeding as NL East hole grows
Gabe Lacques, USA TODAYMon, April 27, 2026 at 9:31 AM UTC
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Chuckle at the New York Mets, if that's your thing. Gawk at the five-car pileup that is the Boston Red Sox organization, which decided to kneecap its paragon of stability.
Yet if you're looking for the messiest big-market failure as April draws to a close, the Philadelphia Phillies might fill the bill.
They didn't lose a dozen games in a row, like the Mets, just 10. Yet a one-night reprieve gave way to perhaps their most discouraging setback yet - a 6-2 loss to the front-running Atlanta Braves in which starter Aaron Nola was very bad and the lineup utterly powerless to counteract lefty Chris Sale.
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Nola has a $172 million guaranteed deal and they can't simply make his 6.03 ERA go away like they did Taijuan Walker. And in a season of league-wide parity, they now own the biggest deficit in the major leagues - 10 ½ games behind the Braves - and dropped another 10 spots in USA TODAY Sports' power rankings.
A look at our rankings:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (-) -
Took two of three from the Cubs. Must have been all that Hollywood flash, right, PCA?.
2. New York Yankees (+1) -
Luis Gil was sent to the minors, but Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón are on the comeback trail.
3. Atlanta Braves (+1) -
Only the 1997 team can top their 20-9 record at this stage.
4. San Diego Padres (-2) -
Lucas Giolito finally finds a home in diminished Padres rotation.
5. Chicago Cubs (+6) -
Ten-game win streak halted by Dodgers, who did not need any special rules to do so.
6. Cincinnati Reds (-) -
Losing Eugenio Suárez to the IL hurts less when Sal Stewart remains unstoppable.
7. Pittsburgh Pirates (-) -
Konnor Griffin hits first homer on night Paul Skenes threatens to throw perfect game. Exciting times!
8. Detroit Tigers (+1) -
Spencer Torkelson homers in five straight games, first Tiger to do so since legendary Marcus Thames in 2008.
9. Tampa Bay Rays (+6) -
Junior Caminero's two-homer night included drives of 435, 450 feet.
10. Arizona Diamondbacks (-) -
Very quietly, Mike Soroka off to 4-0, 2.60 ERA start.
11. Milwaukee Brewers (-6) -
In a three-way tie for last with 19 homers.
12. Cleveland Guardians (-4) -
Angel Martínez's first career multi-homer game comes with a pair of blasts off Max Scherzer.
13. Seattle Mariners (-) -
Kade Anderson watch: One earned run, 30 strikeouts in 18 ⅔ innings at Class AA.
14. Miami Marlins (-) -
Win every other day and it's real easy to build big leads over the Phillies and Mets.
15. Texas Rangers (+1) -
Don't look now, but Josh Jung has a .920 OPS.
16. Toronto Blue Jays (+1) -
Pitching the eighth inning means Jeff Hoffman loses his light show intro.
17. New York Mets (+1) -
Move up a spot only because the Phillies are more embarrassing.
18. Baltimore Orioles (+1) -
Kyle Bradish averaging nearly three walks per start.
19. Athletics (+1) -
Have won four consecutive series away from Yolo County.
20. St. Louis Cardinals -
Outfield prospect Joshua Baez has six homers at Class AAA.
21. Los Angeles Angels (-) -
Catcher Logan O'Hoppe suffers wrist fracture.
22. Philadelphia Phillies (-10) -
What if they're simply this bad?
23. Boston Red Sox (-1) -
Alex Cora their first manager to get fired during the season since Jimy Williams in 2001.
24. Minnesota Twins (-) -
Have lost nine of 10, perhaps an inevitable bit of regression.
25. San Francisco Giants (-) -
Daniel Susac's injury puts onus on Patrick Bailey to hit, once again.
26. Washington Nationals (+1) -
Foster Griffin tosses seven shutout innings and looks more and more like a real find.
27. Houston Astros (-1) -
Christian Walker's revival (seven homers) one of the few bright spots.
28. Kansas City Royals (-) -
It took more than 100 at-bats, but Bobby Witt has himself a home run.
29. Colorado Rockies (-) -
Overworked bullpen prompts Chase Dollander's first start of season - and he pitches seven shutout innings.
30. Chicago White Sox (-) -
Noah Schultz strikes out eight in third major league start..
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB power rankings: Phillies a huge disappointment in NL East standings
Source: “AOL Sports”
