No matter which publication you follow, many media outlets around baseball see two teams separating themselves from others in the sport. It's quite clear the Atlanta Braves and Dodgers have been universally accepted as the best teams in baseball so far in 2026, and MLB's latest power rankings reflect that.
Atlanta continues to strengthen their grip on the top spot, as the series wins keep rolling in for the team with the best record in Major League Baseball. The Braves are 40-20 on the season entering Tuesday, and are on a 108 win pace. Their run differential is +109 and their lead in the NL East is nearly double digits; it's safe to say things are going well.
Relive some of the biggest home runs from May, presented by Catalyst Fence Solutions!💥 pic.twitter.com/H42mLiRpBo
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 1, 2026
Braves viewed as clear cut best team in baseball in latest power rankings
As the season moves on, it will be interesting to see if any other National League clubs vault themselves into the Braves/Dodgers stratosphere. The NL Central has quite a few good teams, including the division leading Brewers who continue to defy the odds every season. The Padres have played well (although they cooled off this past week), and the Phillies have looked much better since their managerial change.
As for the Braves, superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. made an emphatic "I'm back" statement after a powerful week at the plate. The Braves right fielder raised his OPS by over .100 points during his home run barrage, and was quite active on the bases as well. The former MVP returning to form makes this already incredible Braves team that much more frightening as we approach the summer months.
Elsewhere on the roster, Atlanta has gotten some pretty encouraging health updates over the last few days. Impactful players like Hurston Waldrep, Drake Baldwin, and more recovering and getting added to this current crop of talent gets fans particularly excited about how special the 2026 season can be.
It's still way too early to declare the Braves and Dodgers to be on a collision course in the NLCS, but as each week passes it's clear these two squads look better than the rest of their National League contemporaries. Time will tell if the Braves can keep up this incredible winning pace, but regardless the distance they have created thus far is a huge reason why they are considered the best team in Major League Baseball by so many.
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