MLB power rankings: On shaky ground

San Diego Padres pitcher Michael King reacts after New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge hit a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

By Jeff Sanders | [email protected] | The San Diego Union-Tribune

PUBLISHED: May 26, 2025 at 5:30 AM PDT

Yu Darvish’s elbow still doesn’t feel right to the 38-year-old veteran. Michael King’s shoulder doesn’t, either, after sleeping on it wrong over the weekend. The Padres have already lost Joe Musgrove to Tommy John surgery and Matt Waldron has missed the first two months of this season because of the oblique strain he sustained in spring training.

In many ways, the Padres are fortunate that their season has not gone off the rails.

A win on Sunday salvaged what might have been a disastrous road trip that began with the Padres carrying a season-high, six-game losing streak into Friday.

The Padres have slipped to third in the uber-competitive NL West and begin a new week wondering what to make of the immediate future for King and Darvish, hoping Randy Vásquez and Stephen Kolek remain reliable and likely picking between the likes of Waldron and Kyle Hart for at least King’s next start.

Yes, the Padres are on shaky ground as Major League Baseball’s first significant mile marker arrives: Memorial Day.

1 | New York Yankees (31-20, Last week: 4)

With a .395 batting average and 18 homers, Aaron Judge says he still doesn’t “feel too great at the plate.” If only we were all so fortunate.

2 | Detroit Tigers (34-20, LW: 1)

Do we have a new best pitcher on the planet? Tarik Skubal, the reigning AL Cy Young winner, managed to strike out 13 while throwing a Maddux (less than 100 pitches) for the first complete game of his career.

3 | Chicago Cubs (32-21, LW: 5)

The hot Cubs made some more history on Sunday, as Reese McGuire, the catcher called up for the injured Miguel Amaya, became the third Cub since 1901 to hit two homers in his first game with the team.

4 | Philadelphia Phillies (34-19, LW: 8)

Kyle Schwarber, with an MLB-leading 18 homers and a .976 OPS, is as one dimensional as it gets, but he’s poised to get paid anyway after the season.

5 | Los Angeles Dodgers (32-21, LW: 2)

The Dodgers haven’t quite hit the stride they expect, too, but Shohei Ohtani is nearing a return to the mound after throwing his first live bullpen on Sunday.

6 | New York Mets (32-21, LW: 3)

Why does it seem like a sulking Juan Soto has never played in New York before? He did it last year. He knows the deal, so what’s the deal?

7 | San Francisco Giants (31-22, LW: 6)

Look who’s back: Left-hander Robby Ray is 7-0 with a 2.56 and is sitting on six straight quality starts.

8 | St. Louis Cardinals (30-23, LW: 11)

Kinda hard to trade Nolan Arenado now. The Cardinals keep winning, while Arenado only has a .684 OPS.

9 | Minnesota Twins (29-23, LW: 10)

The Twins have gotten to this point, 15 wins in 18 games, with shortstop Carlos Correa on the injured list for much of the time and sitting on just three homers and a .623 OPS.

10 | San Diego Padres (29-22, LW: 7)

Is Gavin Sheets entering Jurickson Profar territory? Sheets hit his 10th homer on Sunday and has an .843 OPS. Profar through May 25 last year: seven homers and a .923 OPS.