While getting off to a fair start in the 2026 MLB season, Arizona Diamondbacks drop five spots on latest MLB Power Rankings list.
This season, the Arizona Diamondbacks have been doing their best to put up a better record early against some tough opponents.
But their efforts just haven't been producing consistent winning results. In fact, the latest MLB Power Rankings from The Athletic have the Diamondbacks at the No. 18 position.
That's five spots lower than they were in the previous MLB Power Rankings list.
One player, though, who has earned high marks (and rightfully so) for his play and hitting at the plate is Ildemaro Vargas. Vargas put together a 20-plus-game hitting streak over two seasons before seeing his streak end.
In looking at the Diamondbacks, Zack Meisel of The Athletic gave Vargas his flowers for such a solid start during April.
"Sometimes it takes players a couple years to settle in against big-league pitching," Meisel wrote. "Sometimes it takes a change of scenery.
"Sometimes it takes being released by the Cardinals, signing with the Diamondbacks, being selected off waivers by the Twins and then the Cubs and then the Pirates and then the Diamondbacks, signing with the Nationals and then the Diamondbacks, and then the Diamondbacks again to really find your footing," Meisel wrote.
Before you ask, "Did all of that really happen to Vargas?" The answer is yes, it all happened. Vargas' journey to MLB success was not paved in gold at all. He's had to work hard to prove that he's worthy of sticking in a lineup. Now, he's found a home with the Diamondbacks.
"His six home runs already match a career best," Meisel wrote. "He’s already more than halfway to his career-best hit total, set in 2024, when he was worth minus-0.5 WAR for Washington. This isn’t the guy you would have anticipated posting a .378/.398/.689 slash line through April. But sometimes it takes players a year or 10 to figure it out."
These rankings were put together when Arizona had a 16-17 overall record in the 2026 MLB season. Entering play on Monday, May 11, the Diamondbacks are 19-20 record-wise.
They are in third place all by themselves, 4 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, who are tied for first in the National League West Division. The San Francisco Giants and Colorado Rockies bring up the rear.
After finishing up a weekend series at Chase Field in Downtown Phoenix, the Diamondbacks have hit the road.
Speaking of Monday, they'll open a three-game series against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Michael Soroka is slotted to get the start for manager Torey Lovullo's D-backs. Meanwhile, the Rangers are scheduled to send Nathan Eovaldi to the mound.
Let's see if the Diamondbacks can get off to a winning start in this series deep in the heart of Texas.
When the Rangers series ends, Arizona will take a day off on Thursday before heading to a hitter's paradise in Coors Field. The Diamondbacks will get ready for a three-game weekend series against the Rockies in Denver, Colo.
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