One week early on in an MLB season can carry an entire lot of change — and that is precisely what we noticed in our Week 3 energy rankings.
Though the top of the listing stands sturdy with the Dodgers and Yankees, the remainder of it noticed fairly a little bit of change. The Mets, on an eight-game dropping streak, plummeted from No. 5 all the way in which to 18. Similarly, Houston noticed its rating drop from ninth final week to No. 24 after dropping 9 of 10 video games earlier than pulling off a slim win over Colorado on Tuesday.
Minnesota, at the moment atop its division, jumped up from twenty fourth to 14th and the Pirates have entered the top 10, debuting at No. 8, following a robust begin to the season.
Where does your favourite membership stand three weeks into the 2026 season?
Our professional panel has ranked each workforce based mostly on a mix of what we have seen to this point and what we already knew going into the 162-game marathon that may be a full baseball season. We additionally requested ESPN MLB specialists Alden Gonzalez, David Schoenfield and Buster Olney to weigh in with an commentary for all 30 groups.
Record: 14-4
Preseason rating: 1
Yoshinobu Yamamoto surrendered a leadoff house run to Francisco Lindor on Tuesday, then proceeded to retire 20 consecutive batters. By the top of the evening, he had matched younger phenom Nolan McLean pitch for pitch and lasted into the eighth inning, giving the Dodgers an opportunity to win the sport within the backside half. Yamamoto completed third in National League Cy Young Award voting final 12 months, a distinction that didn’t account for his efforts in October. He has adopted that by representing Japan within the World Baseball Classic and starting the following common season with a 2.10 ERA by 4 begins. There is nobody like him. — Gonzalez
Record: 10-8
Preseason rating: 2
Jose Caballero opened this season with a chance to grab the workforce’s shortstop job. He had a few huge hits prior to now week however has struggled total: He has an OBP of .238 and an OPS+ of 55 by 17 video games. When Anthony Volpe finishes his minor league rehabilitation project in about two weeks, he’ll presumably slide again into the on a regular basis lineup at shortstop instantly. — Olney
Record: 12-7
Preseason rating: 6
The Braves started their season with a rash of accidents to their rotation and the season-long, PED-related suspension of outfielder Jurickson Profar. Three weeks in, Austin Riley and Ronald Acuna Jr. have but to actually get going. And but, inside a panorama by which virtually all people is hovering round .500, the Braves have separated themselves early, profitable 12 of their first 19 and outscoring groups by a mixed 44 runs. Their offense has scored essentially the most runs and their pitching employees is tied for the second-fewest allowed. And although Drake Baldwin, Matt Olson, Chris Sale and Raisel Iglesias are doing what we might all anticipate, the likes of Mauricio Dubon, Dominic Smith, Reynaldo Lopez and Bryce Elder have actually stepped up. — Gonzalez
Record: 12-6
Preseason rating: 19
There was a thought going into the offseason that the Padres would possibly attempt to convert Mason Miller right into a beginning pitcher. It made some sense — they had been going to be low on starters, and Miller has all the time possessed the flexibility to pitch greater than an inning at a time. Ultimately, although, the group backed off, and that has been a present for baseball followers in all places — as a result of Miller could possibly be on the verge of a historic season as a more in-depth. The 27-year-old right-hander has confronted 27 batters this season and has struck out a whopping 20 of them. He has registered 8⅓ scoreless innings, throughout which he has allowed solely two baserunners. And he’s on the middle of a Padres workforce that’s surging early. — Gonzalez
Record: 8-10
Preseason rating: 4
Zack Wheeler‘s prognosis was wholly unsure when he was recognized with a blood clot final August. Now, although, his return is nigh. Wheeler made his fourth rehab begin for the Phillies’ Double-A affiliate on Tuesday, placing out 9 batters and giving up three runs over 5⅔ innings. He’ll make just one extra, then ought to rejoin the Phillies’ rotation earlier than the top of the month. Wheeler has been one of many recreation’s finest, most sturdy beginning pitchers over the previous eight years. Not solely are the Phillies getting him again — and including him to what ought to be an outstanding rotation alongside Cristopher Sanchez, Andrew Painter, Jesus Luzardo and Aaron Nola — they’re seemingly getting him in his earlier kind. — Gonzalez
Record: 8-11
Preseason rating: 7
Did the Mariners repair their offensive woes or was the four-game sweep of the Astros merely a mirrored image of Houston’s inept pitching? Julio Rodriguez went 7-for-17 within the sequence along with his first house run and first extra-base hits. Josh Naylor hit his first two house runs within the sequence finale, though each house runs got here off cookies from Mike Burrows. J.P. Crawford went 4-for-11 with seven walks. But dealing with a a lot better pitcher in San Diego’s Michael King on Tuesday, the Mariners had been held to at least one run and 4 hits. — Schoenfield
Record: 9-9
Preseason rating: 8
Detroit has ripped off 5 straight wins, and the pitching that the Tigers labored laborious to enhance within the offseason has began to manifest. Framber Valdez held the Royals to at least one run over seven innings Tuesday, two days after Tarik Skubal stifled the Marlins. Monday’s off day was essential for the Detroit bullpen, after the Tigers had performed 10 video games in 10 days. Kyle Finnegan has but to surrender a run in eight appearances. — Olney
Record: 11-7
Preseason rating: 13
One cause for Oneil Cruz‘s scorching begin: He’s hitting left-handed pitching. Last season, he had solely 11 hits all season in opposition to southpaws, batting .102. He already has eight hits in opposition to them in 2026, together with three house runs. Over the winter, Cruz labored on bettering in opposition to lefties, which included the Pirates sending a left-handed pitcher to throw batting follow to Cruz again house within the Dominican Republic. — Schoenfield
Record: 9-8
Preseason rating: 3
It has been a troublesome few days for the Brewers. Christian Yelich is predicted to be out a month because of an adductor strain after leaving Sunday’s recreation. Offense at third base and shortstop — the Brewers do not have a house run from both place — continues to be an issue. And Trevor Megill was booed at house Tuesday after giving up three runs within the ninth in a 10-inning loss to the Blue Jays. He has given up seven runs his previous two outings and supervisor Pat Murphy stated he’ll have to think about different choices for closing video games. — Schoenfield
Record: 9-9
Preseason rating: 10
In 2025, Michael Busch ranked thirteenth within the majors in slugging share and Pete Crow-Armstrong ranked twenty seventh as the 2 mixed for 65 house runs (and 10.6 WAR). So far this season, Busch hasn’t homered and PCA has hit just one. Seiya Suzuki, who hit 32 house runs final 12 months, sat out the primary two weeks and can also be nonetheless looking for his first house run. Despite these begins, the Cubs are nonetheless averaging 5.22 runs per recreation, above the MLB common. PCA’s 23-3 strikeouts-to-walks ratio stays a priority, however Chicago ought to nonetheless find yourself as one of many higher offensive groups within the majors. — Schoenfield
Record: 9-9
Preseason rating: 15
The Marcus Semien-for-Brandon Nimmo commerce has paid early returns. Though Semien has struggled with the Mets, Nimmo has been the Rangers’ finest offensive participant, rating among the many MLB leaders in batting common whereas swatting eight extra-base hits. But he hasn’t had a whole lot of assist, as key hitters equivalent to Corey Seager and Wyatt Langford are hovering round .200 (Seager) or beneath (Langford). Nathan Eovaldi got here out of the gate with two tough begins however has righted himself with two sturdy outings to beat the Mariners and A’s. — Schoenfield
Record: 9-9
Preseason rating: 17
During Pete Alonso‘s years with the Mets, he could possibly be streaky — and we have seen that in his first few weeks with Baltimore. But there are indicators that he is about to go on a heater. Over the previous three video games, he has drawn six walks and struck out twice, an indication that he is not chasing pitches out of the strike zone. And on Monday, he bashed a house run within the Orioles’ 9-7 win over Arizona. — Olney
Record: 10-9
Preseason rating: 14
Every season, Cleveland’s entrance workplace works to handle payroll and compete with the relative nickels it has — and regardless of that, yearly, the Guardians generate pitching that retains them in rivalry. Rotation members Parker Messick, Joey Cantillo and Gavin Williams are all off to sturdy begins to this season, and Erik Sabrowski has change into considered one of baseball’s most constant set-up males, with 14 strikeouts in his first 9 innings. — Olney
Record: 11-8
Preseason rating: 24
Former Twins supervisor Rocco Baldelli is working with the Dodgers’ group, and standing on the sector at Dodger Stadium earlier this week, he stated he instructed mates all winter that Minnesota can be higher than anticipated due to a few of the high-end expertise it has. Like Taj Bradley, who generated a 1.25 ERA in his first 4 begins, and, in fact, Joe Ryan, who was sought by different groups on the commerce deadline final summer time. The Twins at the moment have among the finest data within the AL. — Olney
Record: 10-7
Preseason rating: 18
You can guess the Yankees’ teaching employees will go to work with the workforce’s infielders after Tampa Bay bunted and ran aggressively in opposition to New York in final weekend’s sequence. There had been a few key situations when New York first baseman Ben Rice charged a bunt and nobody lined first base, with Jazz Chisholm Jr. pinched to the center. It appeared as if Tampa Bay had been a basketball workforce operating a full-court press the Yankees had been seeing for the primary time. The Rays face the Yankees subsequent May 22-24. — Olney
Record: 11-7
Preseason rating: 11
It has been an odd begin for the Reds: They’re over .500 and sit atop the division however have been outscored and struggled mightily to attain runs, hitting simply .207 as a workforce. But they’re 4-0 in one-run video games and 0-4 in blowout video games. Noelvi Marte was already been despatched all the way down to Triple-A after a sluggish begin, and also you marvel what the Reds will do with Ke’Bryan Hayes. He had a 62 OPS+ in 2024 and 65 in 2025, which is concerning the absolute naked minimal for a very good fielder to stay within the lineup. Hayes has began 3-for-44 (.068) with no extra-base hits. He’s signed by 2029, so the Reds will give him an opportunity, however Eugenio Suarez would possibly need to get that third-base glove prepared. — Schoenfield
Record: 7-10
Preseason rating: 12
With Toronto’s pitching devastated by accidents, the on a regular basis lineup might need to hold the Jays for a bit, creating little margin for error — however to not fear, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is heating up. Including a three-hit recreation Tuesday, he has 11 hits in his previous 23 at-bats, with 4 doubles, 4 walks and two strikeouts. — Olney
Record: 7-12
Preseason rating: 5
The Mets had been shut out for a second straight time Monday, extending their dropping streak to 6. Over the course of two video games, they’d amassed 22 floor ball outs. They wanted to get again to hitting the baseball into the air. More importantly, they wanted to attain runs. And so the beginning of Tuesday’s recreation supplied a welcomed signal, when Francisco Lindor led off with a house run — however then the following 20 Mets hitters had been retired so as. They didn’t rating once more, in the end extending their dropping streak to seven video games. It is now eight, after getting swept at Dodger Stadium. In that stretch, the Mets have amassed 12 runs and slashed .175/.213/.257 — all with Juan Soto out due to a calf pressure. It’s getting late early in Queens. — Gonzalez
Record: 11-8
Preseason rating: 22
The Diamondbacks started their season by being swept by the two-time defending champion Dodgers, however they’ve since gained 11 of 16, sustaining sturdy hopes of staying within the race whereas reinforcements return from the injured listing. The first of these was Merrill Kelly, who took the ball Tuesday evening and helped his workforce defeat the Orioles. Kelly wasn’t nice, however he recovered properly after tough second and third innings, in the end pitching into the sixth.
“It’s so Merrill, isn’t it” D-backs supervisor Torey Lovullo stated. “He gets himself into trouble, takes a deep breath, and just executes to get out of a jam.” — Gonzalez
Record: 7-11
Preseason rating: 20
Garrett Crochet and supervisor Alex Cora assured reporters that the left-hander is wholesome after his ugly begin Monday, when he gave up 11 runs in 1⅔ innings and generated solely three missed swings amongst 55 pitches. But Crochet’s early-season velocity dip has caught the eye of rival evaluators. “He didn’t get above 96 mph,” considered one of them stated. “Last year, it was like he was never below 96 mph, and he could overpower you.” Crochet’s subsequent scheduled begin is in opposition to the Tigers on Sunday. — Olney
Record: 9-10
Preseason rating: 21
There are few extra fascinating pitchers to watch this season than Sandy Alcantara, the previous Cy Young Award winner who’s navigating his second season since Tommy John surgical procedure and, given the proclivities of the Marlins’ entrance workplace, may change into a first-rate commerce candidate in July. Alcantara struggled for many of final 12 months, however he completed fairly sturdy and was wanting like his earlier dominant self early in 2026, giving up two earned runs throughout 24⅓ innings in his first three begins. In a matchup in opposition to Skubal on Sunday, although, Alcantara struggled, giving up seven runs, 10 hits and two walks in six innings. — Gonzalez
Record: 10-8
Preseason rating: 26
The two-series journey to New York could not have gone a lot better because the A’s took two of three from the Yankees after which swept the Mets. This included two 1-0 wins, with Jeffrey Springs beating the Yankees on a mixed one-hitter, after which Aaron Civale and 4 relievers blanking the Mets on 4 hits. Springs adopted up with one other sturdy outing to beat the Rangers 2-1 on Tuesday and is now 3-0 with a 1.46 ERA and a .134 common in opposition to. — Schoenfield
Record: 7-11
Preseason rating: 16
Of all statistics within the huge leagues to this point this season, this could be essentially the most unimaginable: Bobby Witt Jr. has scored one run in 18 video games, although he is actually quick and has a .346 on-base share, with 17 hits and 10 walks. And on top of that, he has eight steals. But no person has been driving him in, as an enormous early-season concern for Kansas City has been the struggles of the fellows in the course of the lineup. Vinnie Pasquantino has a .444 OPS and Salvador Perez a .477 OPS. — Olney
Record: 8-11
Preseason rating: 9
It was a disastrous weekend for the Astros, dropping 4 video games to the Mariners to increase their dropping streak to eight video games earlier than lastly profitable Tuesday. Houston pitchers walked 26 batters within the first three video games in opposition to Seattle. To make issues worse, Tatsuya Imai joined Hunter Brown and Cristian Javier on the IL due to “shoulder fatigue,” also called “can’t throw strikes” after strolling 11 batters in his first 8⅔ main league innings. The Astros have already got the worst rotation ERA within the majors and now they need to dig deep into their depth. — Schoenfield
Record: 9-10
Preseason rating: 23
Jose Soriano‘s electrical begin to 2026 has the baseball world buzzing. He’s 4-0 with a 0.33 ERA, giving up one run in 27 innings and solely 9 hits. Now 27, Soriano has all the time had an incredible arm whereas relying closely on his sinker/knuckle-curve combo and struggling along with his management. This 12 months, he has upped his four-seam fastball utilization from 8.6% to 23.4%, which has made his sinker much more efficient. Throw in a wipeout splitter he’ll use primarily in opposition to lefties, and the whole arsenal has been unhittable to this point, whereas he has saved the walks underneath management. It’s laborious to say if the Angels have sufficient to shock, however having a legit ace is an efficient begin. Soriano is wanting like one. — Schoenfield
Record: 10-8
Preseason rating: 25
With Jordan Walker persevering with to rake — he leads the majors with eight house runs and ranks fourth in slugging share — the Cardinals have continued to hold round .500 (a 4-0 document in additional innings has been key). But their long-term success will hinge on a beginning rotation that ranks final within the majors with a strikeout price round 13% — far beneath the MLB common for starters. The Cardinals had been in the same spot a 12 months in the past, rating forward of solely the Rockies. — Schoenfield
Record: 6-12
Preseason rating: 27
The Giants started their season with a humiliating sweep at house in opposition to the Yankees, and issues haven’t gotten a lot better since for rookie supervisor Tony Vitello. We’re three weeks in, and the Giants have already absorbed three dropping streaks of at the very least three video games. Logan Webb‘s ERA begins with a 5, Rafael Devers is OPS’ing .609, Giants outfielders — together with Harrison Bader, who was simply misplaced to a hamstring harm — have mixed to slash simply .180/.218/.258, and the whole workforce has amassed a significant league-worst 9 house runs. A turnaround is probably going, however it must occur quickly. — Gonzalez
Record: 8-10
Preseason rating: 28
The Nationals have boasted one of many sport’s finest offenses over these first three weeks, all due to their two most vital gamers. James Wood went 12-for-22 with three house runs, eight RBIs and one steal of house to win NL Player of the Week honors final week. CJ Abrams, in the meantime, is slashing .367/.458/.717 with six house runs and 19 RBIs whereas reaching base safely in 16 of 17 video games this season. Just as encouraging: He has practically doubled his stroll price from final season. As Nationals supervisor Blake Butera instructed reporters final weekend: “There are a lot of positives with CJ’s game right now.” — Gonzalez
Record: 6-12
Preseason rating: 29
The commerce of Lenyn Sosa earlier this week was a basic case of a rebuilding workforce utilizing its belongings to try to reinforce its future. Sosa has largely been a journeyman in his profession and possibly wouldn’t have been with the workforce when the White Sox change into related once more. So, with the Blue Jays decimated by accidents and looking for roster Band-Aids, Chicago flipped Sosa to Toronto for 18-year-old outfielder Jordan Rich and a participant to be named later or money issues. — Olney
Record: 6-12
Preseason rating: 30
The Rockies hit the street final week on the heels of a four-game profitable streak, then acquired introduced all the way down to earth fairly shortly in San Diego. They misplaced the primary two video games in walk-off trend, dropped a 3rd in opposition to former employees ace German Marquez, then watched their longtime rotation anchor, Kyle Freeland, get scratched from the fourth. Freeland skilled lingering shoulder soreness whereas warming up for Sunday’s sequence finale and can await his prognosis. The 32-year-old left-hander is off to a pleasant begin, posting a 2.30 ERA with 13 strikeouts in opposition to 4 walks (albeit 4 hit by pitches, too) in his first three begins. The hope is he can simply deal with this with relaxation. — Gonzalez
