Brewers Dethrone Dodgers: New No. 1 in Week 20 Power Rankings
MLB Power Rankings Week 19: Brewers Knock Dodgers Off the Top Spot!
Published: August 13, 2026 | Source: ESPN MLB Expert Panel
What Are MLB Power Rankings?
Think of power rankings like a weekly report card for all 30 baseball teams. A group of ESPN experts watches every game, checks the stats, and ranks teams from best (No. 1) to worst (No. 30). They look at:
- Current record (wins vs. losses)
- How they’ve played recently (hot streak or slump?)
- Injuries (are star players healthy?)
- Upcoming schedule (easy or tough games ahead?)
- Overall talent (how good is the roster on paper?)
Key Point: These rankings change every week based on who’s playing well right now—not just who had a good April!
BIG NEWS: New #1 Team for First Time in Nearly 2 Months!
| Rank | Team | Record | Last Week | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milwaukee Brewers | 74-47 | #2 | +1 |
| 2 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 73-48 | #1 | -1 |
| 3 | Tampa Bay Rays | 74-46 | #4 | +1 |
| 4 | Atlanta Braves | 73-48 | #3 | -1 |
| 5 | Chicago Cubs | 71-50 | #5 | — |
| 6 | New York Yankees | 68-52 | #6 | — |
| 7 | Boston Red Sox | 64-56 | #7 | — |
| 8 | Philadelphia Phillies | 64-58 | #8 | — |
| 9 | Arizona Diamondbacks | 64-58 | #10 | +1 |
| 10 | San Diego Padres | 65-57 | #11 | +1 |
The Dodgers had been #1 since Week 12 (early June). That’s 7 straight weeks on top—until now!
Meet the New #1: Milwaukee Brewers
Why They’re on Top
- Best record in baseball: 74-47 (.612 winning percentage)
- Leading the NL Central division comfortably
- Expert David Schoenfield says: They’re scrappy and find ways to win even when shorthanded
But They’re Battling Injuries Right Now
| Player | Position | Issue | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper Pratt | Shortstop (rookie) | Hamstring strain | Out until late August |
| Joey Ortiz | Infielder | Stiff neck | Day-to-day |
| Brice Turang | Usually 2B | Forced to play SS | First time at SS since 2023! |
| Jihwan Bae | New pickup | Signed last week from Mets | Starting at 2B immediately |
| Andrew Vaughn | Usually 1B/DH | Playing 3B | Trying to spark offense |
Big Test Ahead: Brewers head to Los Angeles for 4 games vs. Dodgers starting Thursday. Can they prove they’re the real deal?
The Former Champs: Los Angeles Dodgers
Why They Dropped to #2
- Terrible stretch: Lost 8 of 9 games before beating the last-place Royals
- Since July 1: Only 14-18 (below .500!)
- Offense ranked 21st in OPS (on-base + slugging)
- Pitching ranked 23rd in ERA (earned run average)
But Experts Aren’t Panicking
| Star Player | Status | Good News |
|---|---|---|
| Tarik Skubal (new ace) | Just debuted Mon | "Still getting acclimated" |
| Blake Snell | Returned Tue | "Looked sharp" |
| Tyler Glasnow | Rehabbing | Making progress |
| Will Smith (catcher) | Rehabbing | Making progress |
Manager Dave Roberts told his team: "We’re a wild-card team right now. We’ve got to get going and play with urgency."
Biggest Jump: Tampa Bay Rays → #3 (Up from #4)
Why They’re Surging
- Best AL record since June 28
- 9 straight wins | 18 of last 22
- Best home record in MLB: 41-18 at Tropicana Field
- Most series sweeps in baseball: 13!
- One of the top pitching staffs in the sport
Expert Jorge Castillo: "After two seasons without playoffs, they’re real contenders again. The Rays will be a tough out in October if the Junior Circuit runs through The Trop."
Biggest Drop in Top 10: Chicago White Sox → #11 (Down from #9)
The Problem: Starting Pitching Collapse
- Rotation ERA since All-Star Break: 4.34 (21st in MLB)
- Trade deadline move: Got Luis Castillo from Mariners
- Castillo’s debut: 5 runs in 4 innings
- Castillo’s ERA with Seattle: 5.06 in 20 games
Expert Jorge Castillo: "Chicago will need better performances across the board from its rotation to hold off the Guardians, Twins and Tigers for the division crown."
Other Notable Team Stories (Quick Hits)
Chicago Cubs (#5) – Defense Wins Games
- Matthew Boyd since returning from IL: 6-0, 2.65 ERA
- Best defense in MLB: +85 Defensive Runs Saved (No. 1!)
- Statcast Fielding Run Value: +62 (33 runs better than #2 Blue Jays)
New York Yankees (#6) – Star Power Returning Soon?
| Player | Injury | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Giancarlo Stanton | Two calf strains (Apr + Jul) | Running bases—getting closer! |
| Cody Bellinger | Hamstring | Hitting/fielding—likely back before Stanton |
| Aaron Judge | Rib | Not cleared for baseball activities yet |
Goal: All three back for October playoffs
Boston Red Sox (#7) – Secret Weapons Coming?
| Player | Injury | Potential Role |
|---|---|---|
| Roman Anthony (top prospect) | Finger (since May) | Hitting high-velo pitches—nearing rehab |
| Garrett Crochet (ace) | Shoulder (since Apr) | Throwing again—maybe bullpen role for playoffs |
Expert Jorge Castillo: "Having them for the postseason could make Boston the favorite to win the pennant."
Arizona Diamondbacks (#9) – Stars Need to Wake Up
- 21-16 since July (tied for last NL wild card)
- Corbin Carroll since July: .180/.290/.396
- Ketel Marte since July: .221/.304/.364
- Somehow averaging 5+ runs/game—but not sustainable
San Diego Padres (#10) – Offense Finally Clicking
- Jackson Merrill: 9 HR since All-Star Break (tied for MLB lead!)
- Merrill since July: .945 OPS
- Fernando Tatis Jr.: Superstar form since June
- New pitching help: Robbie Ray, Casey Mize, maybe Joe Musgrove returning
The Rest of the League at a Glance
Playoff Hunters (11-15)
| Rank | Team | Record | Key Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | White Sox | 62-57 | Leading AL Central but rotation struggling |
| 12 | Astros | 62-60 | Bryan Abreu = elite closer (1.87 ERA since May 3) |
| 13 | Marlins | 62-59 | Eury Pérez = Cy Young sleeper for 2027 (1.82 ERA last 11 starts) |
| 14 | Tigers | 59-61 | Traded Skubal & Mize but 37-23 since June 1 (5th best in MLB!) |
| 15 | Rangers | 60-61 | Stuck at .500 all year but ½ game out of 1st in AL West |
On the Bubble (16-20)
| Rank | Team | Record | Key Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Guardians | 59-62 | Rookie Parker Messick = 2.57 ERA (6th in MLB!) |
| 17 | Cardinals | 61-60 | Bringing back navy blue road caps (fans voted 80% yes!) |
| 18 | Nationals | 59-63 | Youngest lineup in MLB (avg age 24.9) but lead MLB in runs! |
| 19 | Twins | 60-62 | Added 4 relievers at deadline but lost ace Joe Ryan to injury |
| 20 | Pirates | 58-64 | Paul Skenes struggling (5.79 ERA last 9 starts, only 5+ IP twice) |
Rebuilding / Rough Patches (21-30)
| Rank | Team | Record | Key Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Mariners | 56-65 | 6 straight losses, 12-22 since July, 3rd lowest OPS |
| 22 | Orioles | 58-63 | Traded Adley Rutschman; Gunnar Henderson having down year |
| 23 | Blue Jays | 59-63 | 7 starters on IL—latest: Trey Yesavage (knee surgery) |
| 24 | Reds | 57-62 | Chase Burns had 12 straight wins (best since 1956!); offense last in avg |
| 25 | Mets | 53-69 | Rookie Nolan McLean okay (3.42 ERA) but sweeper/cutter getting crushed |
| 26 | Giants | 50-71 | Farm system now #4 after great deadline trades (Posey working magic) |
| 27 | Royals | 49-73 | Craig Kimbrel (38) signed—2 teams shy of record for most teams played for |
| 28 | Athletics | 47-74 | GM David Forst fired after 25 years; prep for Vegas move in 2028 |
| 29 | Rockies | 48-73 | Jake McCarthy = NL Player of Week (.303 avg, .851 OPS vs .591 last year) |
| 30 | Angels | 47-74 | Fired 3 pitching coaches (incl. legend Mike Maddux) for not using tech enough |
Summary: What You Need to Know
- Brewers are the new kings — First time since Week 12 someone else is #1
- Dodgers in a funk — But too talented to stay down long
- Rays are scary good — Best home record, most sweeps, elite pitching
- Padres crashing the party — Offense waking up at perfect time
- Injuries everywhere — Yankees, Brewers, Blue Jays, Nationals all hit hard
- Trade deadline impact showing — Tigers, Padres, Twins, Marlins all made moves
- October is wide open — No dominant team; 10+ teams have real playoff hopes
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
Q: How often do power rankings change?
A: Every single week! They’re a snapshot of who’s playing best RIGHT NOW, not a season-long grade.
Q: Do power rankings determine playoff spots?
A: Nope! Only wins and losses matter for playoffs. Rankings are just for fun and analysis.
Q: Why are the Dodgers still #2 if they’ve played badly lately?
A: Rankings balance recent form with overall talent. The Dodgers’ roster is still stacked with superstars.
Q: Can the Brewers stay #1?
A: They have a huge test this week (4 games at Dodgers). If they win that series, they’ll prove it.
Q: What’s "OPS" and "ERA" that keep getting mentioned?
A:
- OPS = On-base Percentage + Slugging Percentage (measures total offensive value)
- ERA = Earned Run Average (measures how many runs a pitcher allows per 9 innings—lower is better)
Related Reading from ESPN
- Week 19 Full Rankings
- Second-Half Preview & Playoff Odds
- Trade Deadline Winners & Losers
- Inside the Tarik Skubal Trade
Next Update: Check back next week for Week 20 Power Rankings—will the Brewers hold on, or will the Dodgers reclaim the throne?