We have a new No. 1 team on the SportsTips’ MLB Power Rankings heading into Week 6! Look below to find out where your team ranks after a month and a half of the 2021 MLB season!
Here’s where all 30 MLB teams stand heading into Week 6 of the 2021 MLB season:
1. Boston Red Sox
World Series Championship Odds: +2200
Current Record: 22-13
Previous Rankings: 3
The Red Sox are our new No. 1 team on the SportsTips’ MLB Power Rankings heading into Week 6 following a 5-1 record from their six games in Week 5. Although they gave up 6+ runs in four of their six games, Boston’s offense has continued their dominant early season form, piling on 49 runs last week, including three double digit scores.
J.D. Martinez is back 🔥
AL MVP? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/x7NBCAOFXA
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) May 10, 2021
Xander Bogaerts (45) and J.D. Martinez (42) are leading the league in hits this season, while Martinez is also leading the majors in RBIs (31) and home runs (10).
2. Chicago White Sox
World Series Championship Odds: +1200
Current Record: 19-13
Previous Rankings: 9
After splitting their two game series against Cincinnati, the Chicago White Sox swept their AL Central rival Kansas City Royals to claim top spot in their division. The White Sox gave up a total of just five runs last week, having pitched shutout victories on Tuesday in Cincinnati and Friday in Kansas City.
As a result of their pitching staff boasting the fourth best ERA in baseball (3.16), Chicago have won 11 of their past 15 games.
3. San Francisco Giants
World Series Championship Odds: +5500
Current Record: 20-14
Previous Rankings: 5
San Francisco had a confusing week, losing two of their three games against Colorado before winning two of their three games against San Diego to hold top onto top spot in the NL West.
Largely thanks to Brandon Belt (3), Brandon Crawford (3) and Buster Posey (2) the Giants have hit 12 homers in their past six games. As well as that, San Francisco are boasting the seventh best team ERA (3.48) in the league this season, which leaves them on top of the loaded NL West division heading into Week 6.
4. St Louis Cardinals
World Series Championship Odds: +2800
Current Record: 21-14
Previous Rankings: 14
As a result of their 5-2 Week 6 record against the Mets and Rockies, the Cardinals are seven games above .500 and two games clear on top of the NL Central division.
Largely thanks to the pitching improvements from John Gant (2.15 ERA) and Jack Flaherty (2.83 ERA), St Louis are 13-4 in their past 17 games. While on the offensive end, Tommy Edman’s 41 hits this season are the fifth most in the league.
5. San Diego Padres
World Series Championship Odds: +800
Current Record: 19-16
Previous Rankings: 2
San Diego missed out on the opportunity to claim the No. 1 spot in the NL West division over the weekend, losing two matches of their three game series against San Francisco. However, the Padres still had a 3-3 week after winning their earlier series against the Pirates.
As it stands the Padres have the No. 1 ranked team ERA in the league (2.89), which should only improve with Dinelson Lamet and Chris Paddack returning from the IL.
6. Oakland Athletics
World Series Championship Odds: +2200
Current Record: 21-15
Previous Rankings: 8
Another .500 week for the A’s leaves them with the second most wins in the American League heading into Week 6. After splitting their four games series against Toronto, Oakland defeated Tampa Bay on Friday and Saturday to set up a 2-1 series victory.
Batting at .326 in his last 12 games, Matt Chapman is finding form for with the bat, improving on a .152 average through his first 24 starts. Their upcoming series against the AL leading Red Sox in Boston will be a great test for the A’s in Week 6.
7. Cleveland Indians
World Series Championship Odds: +4000
Current Record: 18-14
Previous Rankings: 12
The Indians kicked off Week 5 with a rare series sweep on the road, winning each of their four games against the Royals in Kansas City before splitting their two games against the Reds for a 5-1 record.
Cleveland currently have the eighth best team ERA in baseball, while their offense is scoring enough to keep them competitive despite eight of their 11 batters (with 50+ at-bats) hitting at .234 or worse. With 10 wins from their past 13 games the Indians are certainly worthy of a top 10 position.
8. Houston Astros
World Series Championship Odds: +1800
Current Record: 18-16
Previous Rankings: 6
A 3-3, .500 Week 5 leaves Houston two games behind Oakland in the AL West. After losing their opening two games of the week to the Yankees in New York, the Astros responded with three wins from their next four games against New York and Toronto.
Led by Yordan Alvarez, the Astros rank fourth in the league when lookig at runs scored per game (5.06), with Alvarez hitting at a .362 batting average (fourth in the league) to fo along with six homers and 21 RBIs this year.
9. New York Mets
World Series Championship Odds: +950
Current Record: 16-13
Previous Rankings: 16
After dropping their opening two games last week, the Mets have stormed into the top spot in the NL East after a 5-2 Week 6 record from their seven games against the Cardinals and Diamondbacks.
Our bullpen was pitching straight 🔥 this weekend. #LGM pic.twitter.com/mBjDVrk1Q8
— New York Mets (@Mets) May 10, 2021
The Mets pitching staff is currently subsidising their 30th ranked scoring offense, as New York will enter Week 6 with the second best team ERA in the league (3.00).
10. New York Yankees
World Series Championship Odds: +700
Current Record: 18-16
Previous Rankings: 11
As a result of their 4-2 Week 5 record against the Astros and Nationals, the New York Yankees are sitting second in the AL East and two games above .500 with a 18-16 record.
As much as New York are still needing more out of some of their marquee hitters, Giancarlo Stanton has led the Yankees offense to nine wins from their past 12 games. Stanton is hitting at .292 with nine home runs and 24 RBIs in 30 games this season.
11. Tampa Bay Rays
World Series Championship Odds: +2500
Current Record: 19-17
Previous Rankings: 15
The reigning American League champions have improved to two games above .500 after a 5-2 Week 5 record against the Angels and A’s. Tampa Bay began their week with a four game road series sweep in Los Angeles before winning just one of their three games against the A’s in Oakland.
The Rays pitching staff ranks 10th in the league for team ERA (3.81) which is doing enough to subsidise their lineup, who are ranking in the bottom 10 teams in the league for runs scored and batting average.
12. Milwaukee Brewers
World Series Championship Odds: +2100
Current Record: 19-16
Previous Rankings: 1
A 2-5 Week 5 record against the Phillies and Marlins has resulted in the Brewers relinquishing top spot in the NL Central division and the No. 1 spot on the SportsTips’ MLB Power Rankings heading into Week 6. Milwaukee began their week by being swept by the Phillies in Philadelphia, before salvaging some form with a 2-1 series victory over the Marlins in Miami. Prior to Saturday’s victory over the Marlins, the Brewers had dropped six games in a row, three of which were by just one run.
Milwaukee’s previously No. 1 ranked pitching staff has slipped to the ninth ranked team ERA (3.57) in baseball. While offensively the Brewers have continued to struggle, hitting at the 27th best collective batting average in the league (.217) and having scored the 25th most runs (134).
13. Atlanta Braves
World Series Championship Odds: +1500
Current Record: 17-17
Previous Rankings: 20
The Braves rollercoaster of a 2021 season continued in Week 5, collecting five wins from their six games which will see them enter Week 6 at a 17-17, .500 record. Atlanta began their week by sweeping the Nationals in Washington, before closing out Week 5 with a 2-1 series victory over the Phillies in Philadelphia.
Atlanta’s best baseball is undeniably capable of winning them games, however having now dropped four games below .500 three times already this season, the gap between their best and worst form is the most distinguishable of any team in the majors.
14. Philadelphia Phillies
World Series Championship Odds: +4000
Current Record: 18-17
Previous Rankings: 19
The Phillies have stormed back to an above .500 record after a 5-2 week against the Brewers and Braves. Philadelphia began their week by sweeping the in-form Brewers, outsourcing Milwaukee 17-12 in that series. The Phillies won their fifth game in a row against Atlanta on Friday before closing out Week 5 with a pair of losses against the Braves.
Neither their pitching staff or batting lineup is ranking in the top half of the league for team ERA or runs scored, which is some cause for concern going forward.
15. Toronto Blue Jays
World Series Championship Odds: +2400
Current Record: 17-16
Previous Rankings: 10
Toronto split their four game series against the A’s in Oakland before closing out Week 5 with a 1-2 series loss to the Astros in Houston. The Blue Jays batting group tends to determine how well Toronto are performing at the moment, as their pitching staff allowed 4+ runs in each of their seven games last week.
One does not simply beat Vladdy in a race 💥 pic.twitter.com/vxYtkZj5Qg
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) May 9, 2021
Toronto’s starting pitchers currently rank 26th in the league when looking at ERA and have thrown the fewest innings collectively among all teams. However with 160 runs so far this season, the Blue Jays are doing enough on offense to keep them above .500.
16. Los Angeles Dodgers
World Series Championship Odds: +320
Current Record: 18-17
Previous Rankings: 4
With 13 losses from their past 17 games, the Los Angeles Dodgers have been one of the worst teams in the league since their 13-2 start to their World Series title defense. The Dodgers began their week by being swept by the Cubs in Chicago, before dropping two of their three games against the Angels for a 1-5 Week 5 record. Two of those losses came via extra innings against the Cubs last week.
During their one Week 5 victory against the Angels, the Dodgers coughed a 13 runs lead, only just holding onto a three run 14-11 victory. Other than that, Los Angeles scored three runs or fewer in four of their remaining five games.
17. Chicago Cubs
World Series Championship Odds: +6000
Current Record: 17-17
Previous Rankings: 26
The Chicago Cubs kicked off Week 5 with a rare three games series sweep over the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers before capping off a successful week with two wins from their three games against the Pirates. Chicago are now a .500 team as a result of their 5-1 record last week.
The Cubs pitching staff had one of their best weeks of the season, allowing three runs or fewer in four of their six games last week.
18. Cincinnati Reds
World Series Championship Odds: +4500
Current Record: 15-16
Previous Rankings: 21
In what was a short week, the Reds split both their two game series with the White Sox and their two games series with the Indians for a 2-2 record. Cincinnati pitched a pair of shutouts in their two wins, however also allowed nine runs during both of their losses.
Wade Miley threw baseball’s fourth no-hitter of the 2021 season against Cleveland on Friday, allowing just one walk and striking out eight Indians batters to continue his hot start (2.00 ERA) to the season. Sonny Gray also threw seven shutout innings against the White Sox last Wednesday, however their rotation is lacking the same quality at the mound.
19. Seattle Mariners
World Series Championship Odds: +10000
Current Record: 18-17
Previous Rankings: 13
The Mariners suffered a pair of 1-2 series losses last week, going down to the Orioles in Seattle and the Rangers in Texas. Seattle’s offense continued its downward trajectory in Week 5, scoring three runs or fewer on three occasions last week, including being on the wrong side of a no hitter against John Means on Wednesday.
Unfortunately poor production with the bat isn’t out of character for the Mariners this season, as Seattle are hitting at a .210 team batting average (29th in the league) with a .288 OBP (28th in the league), and .370 slugging percentage (23rd in the league), while also scoring just 4.06 runs per game (22nd in the league).
20. Texas Rangers
World Series Championship Odds: +20000
Current Record: 18-18
Previous Rankings: 23
In what was another successful week for the Rangers, Texas won three of their four games against the Twins in Minnesota and two of their three games against the Mariners in Texas, resulting in a 5-2 Week 5 record.
Led by Isiah Kiner-Falefa the Rangers offense will enter Week 6 with the 10th most runs (158) and fifth best team batting average (.248) in the majors. Batting at .282 this year, Kiner-Falefa has the equal second most hits in the league this season (42), to go along with 24 runs, 17 RBIs and five home runs.
21. Miami Marlins
World Series Championship Odds: +10000
Current Record: 15-18
Previous Rankings: 27
The Marlins began their week by sweeping the Diamondbacks before closing out Week 5 with a 1-2 series loss to the Brewers. Miami are now just 3.5 games behind the division leading Mets in the NL West and are the only team in their division with a positive run differential (+20, fifth in the National League).
Currently with the third best team ERA in the league (3.16), Sandy Alcantara, Pablo Lopez and Trevor Rogers have all continued their solid form at the mound this season.
22. Los Angeles Angels
World Series Championship Odds: +3000
Current Record: 15-18
Previous Rankings: 22
Friday’s 9-2 victory over the Dodgers brought an end to the Angels five game losing streak and set up a 2-1 series victory over their crosstown rivals. However, the Angels began Week 5 by being swept by the Rays, giving them a 2-5 record last week.
Los Angeles’ pitching staff gave up 7+ runs in four of their seven games last week, as a result the Angels have the 28th ranked team ERA this season (5.12).
23. Minnesota Twins
World Series Championship Odds: +2400
Current Record: 12-20
Previous Rankings: 24
If a 2-4 Week 5 record was not bad enough for the Twins, losing Byron Buxton to a right hip strain was the icing on the cake. Minnesota won just one of their four games against the Rangers at home before splitting their two games against the Tigers in Detroit.
Buxton is hitting at .370 with nine home runs and five stolen bases this season, and he will likely be on the IL for more than just the 10 days.
24. Kansas City Royals
World Series Championship Odds: +6000
Current Record: 16-17
Previous Rankings: 7
The Royals were our biggest sliders last week, falling from seventh to 24th after an 0-7 Week 5 record at home against the Indians and White Sox. Kansas City is now on an active eight game losing streak against AL Central rivals (Twins, Indians and White Sox). In that time, the Royals have given up 58 runs.
On May 1st, the Royals were sitting with a 16-9 record.
They have since lost 8 straight games (All AL Central opponents) to fall below .500. pic.twitter.com/V5SDghvq7h
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 9, 2021
Things don’t get much easier for Kansas City in Week 6 as they prepare to once again face off the White Sox this weekend.
25. Baltimore Orioles
World Series Championship Odds: +15000
Current Record: 15-19
Previous Rankings: 25
One of the Orioles two wins last week came thanks to John Means throwing the third no hitter of the 2021 MLB season against Seattle on Wednesday. Means struck out 12 Mariners on his historic night and now has a 1.37 ERA in seven starts.
Means’ no hitter gave Baltimore a 2-1 series victory over Seattle before the O’s dropped the first three matches of their four game series at home against Boston, giving them a 2-4 record heading into Week 6.
26. Washington Nationals
World Series Championship Odds: +5500
Current Record: 13-17
Previous Rankings: 17
After kicking off their week by being swept by the Braves, Washington closed out Week 5 with a series loss to the Yankees, resulting in a 1-5 record. The Nationals offense continued to struggle last week, having now scored three runs or fewer in six of their eight games in May.
Washington’s offense now ranks 26th in the league for runs scored this season.
27. Arizona Diamondbacks
World Series Championship Odds: +20000
Current Record: 15-19
Previous Rankings: 18
Despite being 14-12 at the end of April, the Diamondbacks are now 15-19 after an 0-6 Week 5 record. Arizona were swept by the Marlins in Miami and the Mets in New York last week, scoring three runs or fewer in five of their six games.
Madison Bumgarner, Merrill Kelly and Zac Gallen have begun to turn around Arizona’s struggling rotation, as the Diamondbacks prepare for seven consecutive games at home in Week 6.
28. Pittsburgh Pirates
World Series Championship Odds: +25000
Current Record: 14-19
Previous Rankings: 28
Pittsburgh continued their return to mediocrity in Week 5, losing two of their three games against both the Padres and the Cubs resulting in a 2-4 record. Although their pitching staff did not concede more than five runs last week, the Pirates lineup failed to score more than two runs in five of their six Week 5 games.
After six games on the road, the Pirates will be returning home for seven games in Pittsburgh in Week 6 with the hope of finding some form with the bat.
29. Colorado Rockies
World Series Championship Odds: +25000
Current Record: 12-22
Previous Rankings: 29
The Rockies kicked off Week 5 with two wins from their three games against the Giants in Colorado before being swept by the Cardinals in St Louis. As a result, Colorado are now 10-8 at home this season and a league low 2-14 on the road.
Led by Trevor Story, the Rockies lineup has improved to the eighth best in the league when looking at team batting average (.242) and runs scored (159). However, Colorado will enter Week 6 with the 30th ranked team ERA in the league (5.20). Story is hitting .345/.472/.655 in May after a subpar performance in April.
30. Detroit Tigers
World Series Championship Odds: +25000
Current Record: 10-24
Previous Rankings: 30
Week 5 was far from the Tigers worst week of the season, stealing a game off the Red Sox in Boston and the Twins in Detroit resulting in a 2-3 record. However, the Tigers offense still ranks last in runs per game despite scoring six runs or more in four of their games last week.
Detroit still have the fewest wins in the league this season with just two wins from their past 10 games.
*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel
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