MLB power rankings: Red-hot Red Sox claim No. 1 spot
Gabe Lacques
Grim weather conditions finally forced a postponement at Fenway Park on Monday, though that may do little to quell the Boston Red Sox's historic start.
The Red Sox are on a 13-1 roll, their best 14-game stretch since 2006, and have surpassed the Houston Astros for the No. 1 spot in USA TODAY Sports' power rankings.
The Los Angeles Angeles, winners of seven straight for a 13-3 record, were the biggest risers, moving up five spots, while the slumping Washington Nationals dropped seven spots.
From 1 to 30, how they stack up based on voting from our nine-person panel:
TEAM. MOVEMENT
Follow every MLB game: Latest MLB scores, stats, schedules and standings.
1. Boston Red Sox (+1)
►13-2 is nice, but not as impressive as getting in nine games at Fenway before first postponement.
2. Houston Astros (-1)
►Justin Verlander has 77 strikeouts, 10 walks as an Astro.
3. Los Angeles Angels (+5)
►#SmallSampleSize, but: Shohei Ohtani has a 195 ERA-plus, and a 233 OPS-plus.
4. Arizona Diamondbacks (-1)
►Have won all five series, facing Rockies, Dodgers, Giants and Cardinals.
MORE MLB
- Miserably cold April bites Ohtani
- Red Sox extend best start in 118-year history
- Cubs, Nats, Dodgers all struggling; who's in trouble?
5. New York Mets (-1)
►Another chance to bedevil the struggling Nationals this week.
6. Cleveland Indians (+3)
►More than 60 friends and family set to fete Francisco Lindor in Puerto Rico homecoming.
7. New York Yankees (--)
►Sonny Gray allowing nearly two baserunners an inning.
8. Pittsburgh Pirates (+4)
►Gregory Polanco (.887 OPS), Starling Marte (.947) and Josh Bell (.797) an imposing middle of the order.
9. Chicago Cubs (-5)
►Brandon Morrow has yet to give up a run; then again, he's had just two games to save.
10. Colorado Rockies (--)
►D.J. LeMahieu nearly halfway to his career high of 11 home runs.
11. Minnesota Twins (+3)
►Puerto Rico as permanent April home might not be a bad idea.
12. St. Louis Cardinals (+3)
►First shot at Cubs this week.
13. Washington Nationals (-7)
►Among qualified NL hitters, Ryan Zimmerman last in average (.122), second-to-last in OPS (.428).
14. Toronto Blue Jays (+3)
►Ryan Tepera, Roberto Osuna form potent late-inning duo.
15. Los Angeles Dodgers (-2)
►Clayton Kershaw is just fine. Now, for everything else.
16. Milwaukee Brewers (-5)
►What's your favorite Josh Hader stat? How about, opponents are batting .065 (2 for 31) against him.
17. Seattle Mariners (+1)
►Dee Gordon doing an above-average job in center field so far.
18. Philadelphia Phillies (+4)
►Jake Arrieta pays his first dividends.
19. Atlanta Braves (--)
►Their +26 run differential tied with Arizona for best in National League.
20. San Francisco Giants (-4)
►For now, call him Chris Stratton, staff ace.
21. Baltimore Orioles (-1)
►With nine of next 13 vs. Tigers and Rays, a chance to get better.
22. Texas Rangers (-1)
►Will things get chippy in future games vs. Angels after Elvis Andrus' fractured elbow?
23. San Diego Padres (+4)
►Joey Lucchesi has struck out 25 and walked four.
24. Oakland Athletics (+2)
►May lose 100 games but produce a pair of All-Stars in Sean Manaea and Matt Chapman.
25. Chicago White Sox (-1)
►Starters yielding 5.25 runs per game; Michael Kopech strikes out 11 in first 10 Class AAA innings.
26. Kansas City Royals (-1)
►Bullpen (6.99 ERA) and offense (three runs per game) both worst in baseball.
27. Detroit Tigers (-4)
►April in the D: A half-dozen postponements and three straight days off
28. Tampa Bay Rays (+1)
►Averaging 4.5 innings per start, last in the majors. At least that was by design.
29. Cincinnati Reds (-1)
►Homer Bailey's reemergence one of the few bright spots in 2-15 start.
30. Miami Marlins (--)
►They meet up with Giancarlo Stanton having hit seven home runs, fewest in NL.
