Don’t like your team very much this season? Just wait a week.
So it goes in the slog known as the 2026 Major League Baseball season, where nobody’s really out of it and anyone can get back in it just by winning a few games.
This week’s example? The St. Louis Cardinals.
They dealt away starter Dustin May and reliever JoJo Romero and respected outfielder Lars Nootbaar at the trade deadline and promptly won four consecutive series and eight of their past 12 games. That’s lifted them above .500 and within three games of a playoff spot.
Talk about addition by, well, addition: Nootbaar’s trade helped open some space for rookie Joshua Báez, who merely had the greatest debut in major league history. Phenom? He is now, it seems.
Joshua Báez is correct: The Cardinals climbed three spots in USA TODAY Sports’ power rankings.
As such, the Cardinals have leaped three spots in USA TODAY Sports’ power rankings, with more upward mobility in the offing. They have eight games this week, including a five-gamer against the Cincinnati Reds, against whom they’ve won five of eight. They head to Philadelphia next weekend, by which time they could possibly climb into playoff position with a good series against the Phillies.
Or not. Twenty-four of 30 teams are living week-to-week, and there’s no telling how the road ahead may treat the Cardinals. For now, it’s good living.
A look at our updated MLB power rankings:
Before we freak out too much, keep in mind the Brewers went 6-0 against the Dodgers last year.
It’s gone from “annual summer malaise” to “wow perhaps this just isn’t a very good team” very quickly.
With 36 homers, Matt Olson has outside shot at second 50-homer season.
Look out: 19-10 since the break.
With Toronto, Baltimore coming on, will they slide all the way out of playoff position?
If they can survive an 11-game road trip, anything’s possible.
Josh Hader is 17-for-17 in save chances since return from injury.
Have lost 17 of 23 AL West road games. Tough way to win a division.
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MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
Guess what? The Dodgers don’t have MLB’s highest payroll!
Due to the team’s heavy use use of deferred contracts, MLB’s Labor Relations Department’s present-day salary calculations has the Mets at No. 1.
(Payrolls entering opening day)
(Brad Penner, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
1 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
Guess what? The Dodgers don’t have MLB’s highest payroll!
Due to the team’s heavy use use of deferred contracts, MLB’s Labor Relations Department’s present-day salary calculations has the Mets at No. 1.
(Payrolls entering opening day)
(Brad Penner, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
2 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
30) Cleveland Guardians — $69,984,029
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
3 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
29) Miami Marlins — $79,429,030
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
4 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
28) Chicago White Sox — $83,892,150
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
5 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
27) Washington Nationals — $87,955,033
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
6 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
26) Tampa Bay Rays — $89,632,420
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
7 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
25) Athletics — $91,849,688
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
8 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
24) Minnesota Twins — $96,726,784
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
9 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
23) St. Louis Cardinals — $98,115,902
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
10 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
22) Pittsburgh Pirates — $102,058,886
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
11 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
21) Colorado Rockies — $118,302,854
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
12 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
20) Cincinnati Reds — $124,308,099
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
13 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
19) Milwaukee Brewers — $125,467,605
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
14 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
18) Kansas City Royals — $141,244,816
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
15 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
17) Seattle Mariners — $160,726,794
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
16 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
16) Baltimore Orioles — $170,369,743
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
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MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
15) Los Angeles Angels — $179,002,696
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
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MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
14) Arizona Diamondbacks — $183,460,266
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
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MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
13) Texas Rangers — $183,539,230
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
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MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
12) Boston Red Sox — $198,883,374
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
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MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
11) San Francisco Giants — $200,800,003
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
22 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
10) Detroit Tigers — $209,415,401
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
23 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
9) Chicago Cubs — $220,693,350
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
24 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
8) San Diego Padres — $224,833,896
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
25 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
7) Houston Astros — $246,519,331
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
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MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
6) Atlanta Braves — $252,141,372
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
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MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
5) Toronto Blue Jays — $278,989,858
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
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MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
4) Philadelphia Phillies — $283,686,918
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
29 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
3) New York Yankees — $301,064,810
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
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MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
2) Los Angeles Dodgers — $322,385,057
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
31 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
1) New York Mets — $357,626,125
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
That’s five straight series losses, and now Chase DeLauter’s hurt again.
Have lost six of nine to White Sox this season. So, wild card it is?
Heart of a champion? Now, just one game out of playoff position.
Eight-game week vs. St. Louis, Arizona could ignite or thoroughly douse any thoughts of contending.
Now just 3½ games up on sad-sack Mets.
A particularly brutal 15-game stretch arrives: Brewers, Cubs, Phillies, Blue Jays, Red Sox.
25. New York Mets (-)
Now .500 (22-22) in the Andy Green era.
29. Athletics (-1)
It took him 26 games, but Tommy Tanks finally gets his first big league homer in Yolo County.
Ben Joyce, back from May 2025 labrum surgery, picks up first save in nearly two years.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB power rankings: Cardinals back in race as Joshua Báez arrives with bang
