2026 MLB Early Season Power Rankings: Surprising Teams and Emerging Contenders

The Preseason Narratives Are Already Wrong

Six weeks into the 2026 MLB season, several of the stories we expected to define the year have been replaced by ones nobody saw coming. The Atlanta Braves entered the season as the NL East favorites and have largely played like it, though their offense has shown early signs of volatility. The run-scoring machine that carried them through multiple division titles has sputtered in stretches, averaging just 3.4 runs per game in June – a dramatic underperformance from a lineup that was supposed to be one of the three best in baseball.

The Philadelphia Phillies have emerged as the most compelling storyline in the NL East. After opening the season seemingly destined for another second-place finish, the Phillies have steadily chipped away at the gap, closing what was a 9.5-game deficit to within 2.5 games. That kind of sustained momentum is rare at this stage of the season.

Miami Becomes the Biggest Surprise

The Miami Marlins have been the genuinely shocking story. Nobody predicted a team that finished below .500 last year would become the hottest team in baseball, but that is exactly what has happened. Miami went 20-6 in June – a month-long run of baseball that few franchises manage in an entire season. Their pitching staff, built through organizational development, has been the foundation.

Individual Brilliance Worth Watching

Kyle Schwarber has been the story in the National League, becoming the first player to reach 30 home runs this season. In the American League, Yordan Alvarez is putting together what could be an MVP-caliber season – leading the AL in home runs and extra-base hits, pacing all of MLB in OPS and total bases. When Alvarez is locked in, the Houston lineup is nearly impossible to navigate around.