2024 MLB Power Rankings: Mets top 10? Dodgers top 5? Who’s No. 1?

The All-Star break is here, concluding an exciting first half of the MLB season.

There have been several surprises around baseball in 2024 following an action-packed offseason. Shohei Ohtani is still one of the game’s best in his new home, while Juan Soto has formed one of the best hitting duos in recent memory with Aaron Judge.

Those moves have helped their respective teams be among the best in baseball through the first three-plus months of the season. There were a few other teams, however, that played better in the first half. 

Let’s take a look at my final power rankings from the first half of the season, with odds from FanDuel Sportsbook.

10. New York Mets (49-46, last unranked)

World Series odds: +5000

This might be the first time in quite a while that the Mets are in my top 10. But they’re 27-13 in their past 40 games, turning that Grimace win streak into holding a playoff spot entering the All-Star break. Francisco Lindor has continued to prove that he was arguably the biggest snub from the All-Star Game, hitting two homers this past week to boost his slash line to .303/.396/.571 over the past month. New York’s performance of late has many of us saying, “OMG,” to quote Mets infielder Jose Iglesias.

9. Atlanta Braves (53-42, LW 8)

World Series odds: +900

The Braves dropped a spot after splitting six games against fellow NL wild-card contenders the Arizona Diamondbacks and Padres. The usual suspects are still playing well. Marcell Ozuna had a two-homer game on Friday and Chris Sale allowed just three runs over two starts this past week, picking up two wins in the process. But the question of whether Atlanta has enough to be a legitimate contender following the injuries to Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider persists at the break.

8. Boston Red Sox (53-42, LW 9)

World Series odds: +4000

The Red Sox’s recent climb up the standings has nearly mirrored the Mets’. Boston’s 31-19 record in its past 50 games is the best mark in the American League since May 19. Boston picked up another series win against a playoff contender as well over the weekend, taking two of three from the Royals. Rafael Devers has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball, as he launched two homers over the weekend to give him seven over his past 15 games. All-Star Tanner Houck threw six shutout innings this past Thursday, while Kutter Crawford has a 0.45 ERA over three starts in July.

7.  Milwaukee Brewers (55-42, LW 5)

World Series odds: +2500

The Brewers enter the break on a bit of a skid, losing seven of their past 10. Christian Yelich and Willy Adames have remained consistent at the plate, but Milwaukee’s rotation has scuffled recently. Still, the Brew Crew carry a 4.5-game lead in the NL Central thanks to the St. Louis Cardinals cooling off.

6. Minnesota Twins (54-42, LW 6)

World Series odds: +1800

The Twins keep pushing along to hold a wild-card spot entering the break, splitting six games against the Chicago White Sox and San Francisco Giants this past week. But they were dealt another injury issue with Carlos Correa over the weekend, learning that the All-Star shortstop has plantar fasciitis in his right foot. He played through that ailment last year, which hampered his play. But he told reporters over the weekend that his foot doesn’t feel as bad as it did last year and that he thinks he’ll “be ready for the second half.” The Twins sure hope so.

5. Los Angeles Dodgers (56-41, LW 4)

World Series odds: +360

Speaking of injury news, the Dodgers moved Yoshinobu Yamamoto from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL, sidelining him until at least Aug. 16 with triceps tightness. Perhaps that wasn’t the worst news on the injury front for the Dodgers last week. Ace Tyler Glasnow was also placed on the IL and Dustin May underwent season-ending esophagus surgery, further thinning their rotation. The Dodgers also haven’t done well on the field lately, winning just three of their past 11. This team was definitely in need of a break. 

4. New York Yankees (58-40, LW 7)

World Series odds: +550

Following another series loss, this one to the Tampa Bay Rays, the Yankees looked like they were going to end the first half on a high note. They decisively took the first two games of a three-game set against the Orioles and were an out away from a sweep when a pair of defensive miscues allowed Baltimore to walk them off. On the bright side, Gerrit Cole’s most recent start was his best since making his season debut a few weeks back. 

3. Cleveland Guardians (58-37, LW 3)

World Series odds: +1800

The Guardians lost four of their last five before the break, but were clearly one of baseball’s best teams in the first half of the season. Steven Kwan has been one of the best hitters in baseball (.352 batting average) and Josh Naylor is still one of the best first basemen (.816 OPS, 22 homers). José Ramírez is in a bit of a slump (.548 OPS, zero homers in July), but his track record suggests it’s only a matter of time before he starts hitting well again.

2. Baltimore Orioles (58-38, LW 1)

World Series odds: +700

The Orioles might have had their worst stretch of the season right before the break, getting swept by the Chicago Cubs and nearly the Yankees. Their best players are dong their parts, however.  Gunnar Henderson and Corbin Burnes are continuing to push for the AL MVP and Cy Young awards, respectively. Henderson hit his 28th homer of the season Sunday, the second-most in the league. Burnes, meanwhile, has only allowed six runs in 19 innings over his past three starts.

1. Philadelphia Phillies (62-34, LW 2)

World Series odds: +420

There’s been no better team in baseball in the first half of the season than the Phillies. They’ve won four more games than anyone else and lead the majors in run differential (plus-110). It’s no surprise that they have eight All-Stars, including a record five pitchers. Bryce Harper has posted a 1.009 OPS since returning from a brief injury spell, while Trea Turner has already swatted an MLB-high eight home runs in July.

Out: San Diego Padres (50-49, LW 10)

World Series odds: +4000

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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.