Major League Baseball

2024 MLB Power Rankings: Are the Phillies the best team in baseball?

Updated May. 13, 2024 1:27 p.m. ET

Which team is the best in baseball? The answer seems to change every week.

While the Atlanta Braves have occupied the top spot in my power rankings most often this year, only once have they held serve at No. 1 in consecutive weeks beyond the season's opening weekend.

Fittingly, there's a new club atop my rankings this week — and it's making its season debut at No. 1.

So, without further ado, here are the top 10 clubs in baseball right now, with World Series odds from FanDuel Sportsbook!

10. Kansas City Royals (25-17, last week unranked)
World Series odds: +9000

The Royals are back in the top 10 after a strong week, winning four of their past five. They're tied for the second-best run differential in the American League (plus-49). Seth Lugo put up another strong outing Sunday, striking out a career-high 12 Angels hitters and allowing just one run in eight innings. He's logged a quality start in eight of his nine outings this season. Salvador Pérez continues to have his best season in years (.329/.388/.555, eight home runs), Bobby Witt Jr. is a legit MVP candidate and Vinnie Pasquantino began to heat up this past week. Kansas City could be for real.

9. Cleveland Guardians (25-16, LW 6)
World Series odds: +3500

The Guardians had a rough weekend, losing three of four to the Chicago White Sox. But they're still a good number over .500 and lead an AL Central that's suddenly become competitive. Moreover, José Ramírez is finally hitting to his level, knocking four out of the park since May 5. Josh Naylor has also hit four homers in that stretch, as he and Steven Kwan (.353 batting average) remain hot at the plate.

8. Minnesota Twins (24-16, LW 9)
World Series odds: +2000

While the Guardians lead the division, the Twins get the edge over the three AL Central teams in the power rankings. Minnesota hasn't slowed down since its 12-game winning streak ended last Sunday, winning five of seven thereafter. Carlos Santana has hit a pair of clutch homers in the Twins' past three games. Ryan Jeffers had a strong week, too, tallying three homers and seven RBIs in his past six games. Joe Ryan and Pablo López are still pitching well, with each throwing six-plus innings of one-run ball in their most recent starts.

MLB Power Rankings: Dodgers or Phillies for No. 1 spot

7. Chicago Cubs (24-17, LW 7)
World Series odds: +3500

It was a so-so week for the Cubs, going 3-3 versus the Padres and Pirates. But Cody Bellinger's return set off the party at Wrigley, as he homered in his first game back from injury Tuesday and hit another one Friday. His arrival could provide a needed spark for his club, as Chicago is just 8-8 following their hot start to the season.

6. Milwaukee Brewers (24-16, LW 8)
World Series odds: +5000

The Brewers usurped the Cubs in the power rankings this week after taking three of four against the Cardinals in dominant fashion. Rhys Hoskins provided plenty of power, hitting three home runs in the past five games and William Contreras is still raking (.346 batting average). On the mound, Robert Gasser pitched six shutout innings in his MLB debut Friday.

5. New York Yankees (27-15, LW 5)
World Series odds: +650

The Yankees are hot again after hitting a brief skid against the Orioles, winning seven of their past nine games. Aaron Judge is finally heating up, too, hitting three homers last week and .343 in May. Giancarlo Stanton also hit a pair of homers this past week, with one of them being the hardest-hit ball in baseball this season. Good to see Juan Soto finally getting some help in the heart of the lineup. New York's starting pitching has also been solid enough to hold things over with Gerrit Cole progressing toward his return.

Yankees' Aaron Judges blasts two-run HR

4. Atlanta Braves (24-13, LW 4)
World Series odds: +490

The Braves were so close to a combined no-hitter on Saturday, getting all the way to the final out before J.D. Martinez blasted a home run. They also came within two outs of a sweep versus the Mets. This past weekend should quell some concerns over their starting pitching, with Max Fried tossing seven no-hit innings. Chris Sale had a tremendous start against his former team a few days prior, pitching six shutout innings with six strikeouts. Their offense hasn't been terrific, but you figure that hitters outside of Marcell Ozuna will start to get hot at some point. They're just too good not to.

3. Baltimore Orioles (23-11, LW 3)
World Series odds: +1100

The Orioles picked up a pair of extra-inning wins this past week, but the concerns over the back end of their bullpen remain. Craig Kimbrel has been removed as the closer following another blown save over the weekend. Baltimore has the offense, of course, to lessen that issue as it leads the American League in runs per game (5.2). Cole Irvin has also been one of the best pitchers in baseball of late, allowing just two runs over his past four starts.

2. Los Angeles Dodgers (27-15, LW 1)
World Series odds: +300

The Dodgers rode a seven-game winning streak into the weekend before the San Diego Padres took two of three. While they were shut out on Sunday, the Dodgers are still getting contributions from all over the lineup. Teoscar Hernández hit his 11th homer of the season on Saturday — a grand slam — and he's probably still their sixth-best hitter. L.A.'s starting pitching has been a lot better lately, as well, and that's with Walker Buehler laboring through his initial outings following a near two-year layoff.

Highlights from Dodgers' 5-0 win vs. Padres

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1. Philadelphia Phillies (28-13, LW 2)
World Series odds: +950

We've got a new team at the top. The Phillies earned the No. 1 spot after an 8-2 stretch and playing elite baseball for the past few weeks. Bryce Harper had a three-game home run streak last week, while Alec Bohm has remained one of the best hitters in the National League (.338/.400/.534). Philadelphia will need his production with Trea Turner sidelined for a bit. Ranger Suárez added to his early Cy Young case Saturday with seven shutout innings. He now ranks second in ERA (1.50) and first in WHIP (0.72) among qualified starters.

Out: Seattle Mariners (10, WS odds: +1800)

Ben Verlander is an MLB Analyst for FOX Sports and the host of the "Flippin' Bats" podcast. Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, Verlander was an All-American at Old Dominion University before he joined his brother, Justin, in Detroit as a 14th-round pick of the Tigers in 2013. He spent five years in the Tigers organization. Follow him at @BenVerlander.

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