MLB power rankings: Untouchable Mason Miller powers Padres toward the top

Gabe Lacques, USA TODAYMon, April 20, 2026 at 9:20 AM UTC

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Mason Miller has been untouchable all season. And so have the San Diego Padres lately.

Miller's scoreless streak is now at 32 ⅔ innings, just one shy of the Padres' franchise record. And perhaps most impressively, the best closer in the game has struck out 27 of 38 batters faced this season, his 71.1% strikeout rate the highest by a pitcher in his first 11 appearances since 1900.

But it takes a good team to give a closer a chance to shine and the Padres are just about baseball's best right now. They've won 13 of 15 to close within a half-game of the Los Angeles Dodgers - and zoom seven spots to No. 2 in USA TODAY Sports' power rankings.

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At 15-7, the Padres have baseball's second-best record, thanks in large part to their closer with the wipeout fastball-slider combo that's proven untouchable. Or, as Fernando Tatis Jr. put it, "Game over."

Miller's next task? Preserving his scoreless streak through mile-high Coors Field and Phoenix this week.

A look at our rankings:

Mason Miler joined the Padres in 2025.1. Los Angeles Dodgers (-) -

Nothing like Coors Field to humble a club on a 126-win pace.

2. San Diego Padres (+7) -

Jackson Merrill has robbed three home runs - still impressive even if Jo Adell did that in one game.

3. New York Yankees (-1) -

Cam Schlittler still taking guff from Red Sox fans, still ready to break their hearts once again.

4. Atlanta Braves (+3) -

Martín Pérez DFA'd, re-signed, still dominates Phillies.

5. Milwaukee Brewers (-2) -

Jacob Misiorowski with a dominant 40% whiff rate through five starts.

6. Cincinnati Reds (+5) -

Won eight of first 10 road games for first time since ... 1990 World Series championship season.

7. Pittsburgh Pirates (-1) -

Mitch Keller sporting a 2.79 ERA after five starts.

8. Cleveland Guardians (-) -

Parker Messick threatened, but Len Barker's perfect game is Cleveland's last no-no. Len Barker is now 70 years old.

9. Detroit Tigers (+4) -

Dillon Dingler leads all major league catchers with .983 OPS, second with five home runs.

10. Arizona Diamondbacks (-) -

Corbin Carroll hits grand slam one day, exits with back tightness the next.

1 / 0Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB seasonThe Athletics Lawrence Butler is tagged out by Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas as he tires to extend his double into a triple during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026.11. Chicago Cubs (+3) -

They win five in a row but let's not get too excited: Three were against the Mets.

12. Philadelphia Phillies (-8) -

Zack Wheeler set to make season debut next weekend in Atlanta.

13. Seattle Mariners (-8) -

Lefty Kade Anderson's first three pro starts at Class AA: 22 strikeouts, one earned run in 14 innings.

14. Miami Marlins (+4) -

Kyle Stowers returns from hamstring strain, gets drilled in first plate appearance of the year.

15. Tampa Bay Rays (+4) -

Owner Patrick Zalupski visits his pal Tom Ricketts in Chicago, gets some live-work-play development tips.

16. Texas Rangers (-) -

Now 10-40 at T-Mobile Park since 2020. Talk about taxing.

17. Toronto Blue Jays (-2) -

Kazuma Okamoto goes 59 at-bats between home runs.

18. New York Mets (-6) -

If a homestand with Twins, Rockies and Nationals can't fix them...

19. Baltimore Orioles (-2) -

Jeremiah Jackson and Rico Garcia are their best players right now, which is both good and bad news.

20. Athletics (-) -

They depart Yolo County for a telling six-game stretch at Seattle and Texas.

21. Los Angeles Angels (+3) -

An appropriate bevy of tributes for Garret Anderson.

22. Boston Red Sox (-1) -

In danger of getting buried in the AL East.

23. St. Louis Cardinals (+4) -

Won five of their first seven series.

24. Minnesota Twins (-1) -

Still the ABS kings of the moment with 38 successful challenges.

25. San Francisco Giants (+1) -

Lineup so punchless that Daniel Susac will take at-bats from .151-hitting Gold Glove catcher Patrick Bailey.

26. Houston Astros (-4) -

Are they really this bad?

27. Washington Nationals (+1) -

James Wood's seven homers tied for second in NL.

28. Kansas City Royals (-) -

Salvador Perez, manager Matt Quatraro fall out briefly over "little mental breather."

29. Colorado Rockies (+1) -

Consecutive wins over the Dodgers for the first time since October 2022.

30. Chicago White Sox (-1) -

Munetaka Murakami doubters feeling sheepish: His eight home runs just one behind Aaron Judge.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB power rankings: Padres' Mason Miller powers SD vs. LA in NL West

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