MLB power rankings: Dodgers can't shake Padres in NL West race, but Giants falling behind

The Los Angeles Dodgers (27-13) have a half-game lead over the San Diego Padres (27-14) in the National League West entering Monday, while the reigning champion San Francisco Giants (22-18) have lost six of eight to fall back into third place.

After getting swept at home against the Padres over the weekend, the Giants host the NL East-leading New York Mets for three games starting Monday night. Those Padres have won six of seven and begin the week with a series against the Milwaukee Brewers, who have a three-game lead in the NL Central.

San Francisco only plays the Dodgers and Padres three more times each before the All-Star break.

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In this week's USA TODAY Sports MLB power rankings, the top six stayed the same – with the New York Yankees at No. 1 – while the Tampa Bay Rays jumped two spots to No. 7. 

Here's how our eight-person panel voted this week: 

Rank (movement from last week)

1. New York Yankees (–)

• Nestor Cortes didn't give up three runs in a start until his eighth of the season.

2. Los Angeles Dodgers (–)

• Mookie Betts, who still hasn't turned 30(!), had 7 HR and 18 RBI through 19 games in May.

3. Houston Astros (–)

• After rough April, Jose Altuve batting .343 with 8 HR in 18 May games.

4. New York Mets (–)

• Max Scherzer's oblique injury will keep him sidelined 6-8 weeks.

5. Milwaukee Brewers (–)

• Willy Adames showing last year's power output was no fluke with 9 HR in 35 games.

6. San Diego Padres (–)

• MacKenzie Gore for NL Rookie of the Year?: Lefty has a 2.06 ERA in 35 innings.

7. Tampa Bay Rays (+2)

• 15-game winning streak vs. Orioles comes to an end, losing 2 of 3 in Baltimore.

8. Los Angeles Angels (-1)

• Angels pitchers holding opponents to a .213 average through 43 games, best in the AL.

9. Minnesota Twins (+1)

• Bailey Ober comes off the injured list with a strong outing in Kansas City.

10. San Francisco Giants (-2)

• Catcher Joey Bart (.162 average in 74 AB) may may have lost his grasp on the starting job.

11. St. Louis Cardinals (–)

• Cardinals have an MLB-best 36 steals, getting caught only four times through Sunday.

12. Toronto Blue Jays (–)

• Tough week ahead with two at Cardinals, four at Angels.

13. Chicago White Sox (–)

• Johnny Cueto's first two starts: 12 IP, 0.00 ERA,12 strikeouts.

14. Atlanta Braves (+1)

• William Contreras hit six home runs in his first 10 games of 2022.

15. Arizona Diamondbacks (+2)

• Another four-game set coming up vs. Dodgers, having lost all four last week.

16. Philadelphia Phillies (–)

• Eight games back through Sunday, Phillies host the Giants and Angels this week.

17. Cleveland Guardians (-3)

• Steven Kwan's 1.7 walk-to-strikeout ratio is the best in the majors.

18. Boston Red Sox (+3)

• Trevor Story hit five homers with 13 RBI in seven games last week.

19. Colorado Rockies (–)

• Catcher Brian Serven's first two MLB hits were home runs.

20. Miami Marlins (–)

• Jorge Soler has 4 HR, 9 RBI and a .975 OPS in his last 10 games.

21. Seattle Mariners (-3)

• Rookie outfielder Julio Rodriguez hitting .325 in 21 May games.

22. Texas Rangers (+3)

• Marcus Semien still hadn't hit a home run through 39 games.

23. Oakland Athletics 

• Dany Jimenez has a 0.55 ERA in 16 games, converting all eight save chances.

24. Pittsburgh Pirates (–)

• Zach Thompson has given up one earned run in 16 innings across his last three starts.

25. Baltimore Orioles (-3)

• The No. 1 overall pick in 2019, catcher Adley Rutschmann makes his big-league debut.

26. Chicago Cubs (–)

• Cubs play nine games in seven days this week vs. Brewers, Cardinals.

27. Kansas City Royals (–)

• Zack Greinke enjoying a nice return with 3.48 ERA through eight starts.

28. Detroit Tigers (+1)

• Tarik Skubal has a 1.55 ERA with 47 strikeouts in his last seven starts.

29. Washington Nationals (-1)

• Yadiel Hernandez is hitting .321 with 20 RBI in 31 games.

30. Cincinnati Reds (–)

• Alexis Diaz, brother of Mets closer Edwin, has a 0.92 ERA in 18 games.