ESPN Power Rankings: Braves hold top spot as National League dominates top three
The Atlanta Braves have maintained their position at the summit of the MLB Power Rankings for a fourth consecutive week, narrowly ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Milwaukee Brewers complete the top three, marking the first time this season that the highest-ranked trio are all from the National League.
ESPN’s MLB Power Rankings for Week 10 of the 2026 season have been released, with the Atlanta Braves retaining the No. 1 position for the fourth consecutive week. Compiled by ESPN experts Buster Olney, Jesse Rogers, and Bradford Doolittle, the rankings place the Braves narrowly ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Milwaukee Brewers round out the top three, a development that marks the first instance this season where the top three teams are exclusively from the National League.
The top 10 also features the Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, and San Diego Padres, alongside American League representatives including the New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, Seattle Mariners, and Cleveland Guardians. Conversely, teams such as the Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, and Detroit Tigers remain near the bottom of the list despite entering the 2026 season with playoff aspirations.
The rankings reflect a combination of performance metrics and expert assessment across the 30-team league. In the National League, the Braves’ dominance is highlighted by their home-field dynamics at Truist Field. Through the end of May, the venue showed a significant tilt toward pitchers, with Atlanta batters averaging 5.97 runs per game on the road compared to 4.41 at home.
In the American League, the Seattle Mariners have surged following a five-game win streak fueled by 14 home runs, vaulting them to the top of the AL West. The Cleveland Guardians have also established themselves as front-runners in the AL Central, aided by the rapid acclimation of top prospect Travis Bazzana. Meanwhile, the New York Yankees are managing the absence of Aaron Judge, with Ben Rice emerging as a key offensive contributor.
At the lower end of the standings, the struggles of the Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, and Detroit Tigers persist. The Royals and Tigers, in particular, have seen their seasons accelerate in the wrong direction during May, with both teams posting poor records in high-leverage situations. The Red Sox have indicated a willingness to take on significant salary to acquire a right-handed hitter, reflecting their desperation to return to the playoff hunt.
