MLB power rankings: Braves leap ahead of Dodgers as Phillies surge

As we approach the quarter-mark of the regular season, there remains a stark divide in quality between the American and National League, with the AL featuring only four teams above . 500 and the NL accounting for eight of the 10 best records in the majors. For the previous edition of our power rankings , we took a look at the clearest strengths for each team, from the standout traits of the clubs at the top of the sport to the rare bright spots on the scuffling teams at the bottom.

This week’s power rankings explore the opposite, reviewing every team’s weaknesses, whether they are outlier shortcomings on a stacked roster or the biggest blemish on a team full of them. Let’s get to it. Jump to a team by clicking on the links below: AL East: Yankees | Rays | Orioles | Blue Jays | Red Sox AL Central: Tigers | Guardians | Twins | White Sox | Royals AL West: Athletics | Rangers | Mariners | Angels | Astros NL East: Braves | Marlins | Nationals | Phillies | Mets NL Central: Reds | Cubs | Pirates | Cardinals | Brewers NL West: Dodgers | Padres | Diamondbacks | Giants | Rockies 1.

Atlanta Braves (28-13) Third base. Left field — handled mostly by free-agent signing Mike Yastrzemski, still looking for his first Braves home run after 125 plate appearances — has been a problem. But the lackluster performance of Austin Riley — owed $22 million annually through 2032 — has been far more troubling, and stands out as the most glaring disappointment amid a season when so much else is going right for Atlanta.

Riley was the model of consistency for three years after his initial breakout in 2021 before spending the past few seasons declining across the board. Plate discipline and defense have never been Riley’s strong suit, but he always slugged more than enough to make him a well-above average player anyway. That power production hasn’t been there lately, and it has sunk to a new low (.