ESPN Power Rankings: Rays surge to third as White Sox climb while Angels sink to bottom
The Los Angeles Angels have fallen to last place with the worst record in the majors, while the Colorado Rockies end a year-long streak of finishing at the bottom of the list.
The Tampa Bay Rays have made their first top-three debut in the MLB Power Rankings, reaching No. 3 in Week 8. This marks their highest standing since the 2023 season, when they held the No. 1 spot for 11 weeks before slipping in the standings. The rise is underpinned by a league-best 19-5 home record at Tropicana Field, where they have outscored opponents 119-85. ESPN analysts attribute the success to a dynamic offensive style blending contact and speed, supported by a top-notch pitching staff.
Conversely, the Los Angeles Angels have fallen to last place, sitting at No. 30 with the worst record in Major League Baseball. The decline follows a three-game sweep by the Los Angeles Dodgers, where the Angels were outscored 31-3. Despite refusing to commit to a full rebuild after 10 consecutive losing seasons, the team’s performance has deteriorated to the lowest point in the current rankings.
The Chicago White Sox have risen significantly to No. 14, their highest rank since September 2022. This upward movement is notable given that the franchise set the record for the most losses in a single season in 2024. ESPN experts now consider the White Sox playoff hopefuls, driven by strong performances such as those from pitcher Jacob Misiorowski, who has struck out 88 hitters in 57 innings with a 1.89 ERA.
In the lower half of the rankings, the Colorado Rockies have moved up to 29th, ending a streak of over a year where they consistently finished at the bottom of the list. The last time they finished outside of last place was in Week 3 of the previous year, in April 2025. Their move up one spot is directly linked to the Angels’ drop to the final position.
Other notable shifts include the Atlanta Braves dealing with the loss of standout DH Drake Baldwin to an oblique injury, and the New York Yankees managing a rotation depleted by injuries to Max Fried and Luis Gil. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Royals’ Nick Kurtz has achieved historic offensive numbers through his first 162 career games, and the Seattle Mariners have called up top prospect Colt Emerson, who hit a three-run home run in his debut.
