MLB power rankings: The NL West dominates the first few weeks

We're a couple weeks into the 2025 MLB season, so it's time to take a look at where the top teams stand

with the first edition of our SAN Power Rankings. One note, before we talk about how great the NL West is, these rankings are subjective

They're not based on potential or what's on paper. They're based on who's playing best right now

And guess what? No one's going to argue the NL West is playing fantastic baseball out of the gate

In particular, the San Diego Padres. They started 11-0 at home this year, which tied the best start in franchise history

Petco is a pitcher's park, and the pods are taking full advantage, with a 1.27 ERA at home, allowing just one earned run over their first 99 innings

Every night they bring it. You know, they're hungry. Like I say, the preparation's been really good. The execution's been equal

Right behind the pods are the Chicago Cubs, who are the highest scoring team in baseball

122 runs so far good for a plus 38 run differential They need that offense after losing starting pitcher Justin Steele for the season with an elbow injury

They're also the only team to beat the Padres in San Diego, a 10-inning, 2-1 thriller Tuesday night

We missed a lot of opportunities. They missed some opportunities. A lot of second-guessing, what-ifs for sure

but in the end our guys made some plays. Nico had a huge hit and we pitched our tails off

At number three, the New York Mets who have won eight of their last ten and are five and one at home

Juan Soto may lament the fact that he's not hitting in front of Aaron Judge anymore

but Pete Alonzo is no slouch. He's batting .356 with five homers and 20 RBI

Right behind the Mets are the surprising Giants. You see there's that NL West again

And with a 12-5 record, they are third in the league in run differential at plus 27 and 8-3 away from the bay

Is that sustainable? We about to find out with the series against the Phillies Brewers Rangers and Padres to round out April The Giants don meet their bitter rivals until June The Dodgers are fifth on the list at the moment

After an 8-0 start, they have come crashing down to earth. Are they still the best team in the league

Maybe, but they're not playing like it right now. Mookie Betts didn't hold back when breaking it down

We've got a long season to go and a lot can happen. This isn't the first time we've sucked for two weeks

So it just happens that it's right now. So we panic, things get worse

You don't panic, and then it looks like we don't care. So what are we supposed to do

After the Dodgers come the fourth NL West team, the D-backs have won three straight

They're not really playing close to their potential. But you know who is

The Detroit Tigers. After being swept in their season opening series against the Dodgers

they've won eight of their last ten. From there, we get to a few teams that have had their ups and downs

Phillies star Alec Boehm is struggling, which is dragging down their offense

The Yankees and their torpedo bats have the offense They second in the league in a run scored with 103 Thank you Aaron Judge But they got a 5 record of late

and injuries to the starting rotation are no doubt catching up with them. Max Freed, however, is trying to hold things together

The organization's really welcomed me in and made me feel comfortable. And, you know, at the end of the day, when you have really talented teammates

you can trust them and lean on them, knowing that it's not all up to me to shoulder everything out on the mound

Rounding at the SAN top 10 are the Cleveland Guardians, who started the season on the road and then came home and won five straight

Hot right now, will they stay that way over the next three weeks? We shall see

The same idea goes in reverse for teams that are struggling early

like the Braves, the Orioles, and the Red Sox. And as far as that NL West, how long can they hold those top spots

As one Padres superfan said today, in the NL West, if you're not the best you've ever been, you're fourth

For Straight Arrow News, I'm Chris Francis