MLB Power Rankings: How Far Have These NL Powerhouses Fallen?

The 2025 Major League Baseball season is barely a quarter of the way through the marathon, yet the landscape of the National League already looks nothing like the preseason projections. While a few teams have sprinted out of the gate with authority, a shocking number of preseason playoff favorites are still struggling, mired in mediocrity or outright disappointment. The question on every fan’s mind isn’t just who is winning, but how far have these NL powerhouses fallen—and can they climb back?

In this edition of our MLB Power Rankings, we are zeroing in on the National League. We’ll dissect the alarming underperformance of teams that were supposed to be division winners, analyze the root causes of their slumps, and offer expert predictions on whether they can salvage their seasons. Buckle up; the NL is a mess, and we’re here to sort it out.

The Atlanta Braves: A Dysfunctional Offense in the Deep South

No team better encapsulates the theme of “preseason favorites struggling” than the Atlanta Braves. Penciled in by virtually every pundit as the runaway winners of the NL East, the Braves have instead looked like a shell of the juggernaut that has dominated the division for years. Their offense, once a relentless machine of power and contact, has devolved into a feast-or-famine lineup that too often produces nothing.

The numbers are jarring. Through the first 40 games, Atlanta ranks in the bottom third of the league in batting average with runners in scoring position. The absence of a consistent leadoff hitter has created a ripple effect, leaving stars like Ronald Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson hitting with far fewer ducks on the pond. The bullpen, while statistically average, has suffered from critical meltdowns in high-leverage spots, turning winnable games into crushing losses.

• Key Issue: Strikeout rate has spiked to 27%, a franchise-worst pace in the modern era.
• Underlying Concern: The rotation, led by Spencer Strider, has been solid but not dominant. The lack of a true #2 starter is glaring.
• Expert Analysis: This isn’t a talent problem; it’s a process problem. The Braves are pressing, chasing pitches outside the zone, and failing to execute situational hitting.

Prediction: Do not write them off. Atlanta has the organizational depth and a track record of second-half surges. Expect a trade for a middle-of-the-rotation arm by the deadline. They will still win the NL East, but it will be by a much slimmer margin than anticipated—think 88-90 wins instead of 100.

The San Diego Padres: Baseball’s Most Expensive Disappointment

If the Braves are a fixable puzzle, the San Diego Padres are a full-blown crisis. Armed with a payroll that rivals the Dodgers and a roster dripping with star power, the Padres are currently flirting with a .500 record. The “preseason favorites are struggling” narrative finds its poster child here. The offense is anemic, the defense is sloppy, and the chemistry seems non-existent.

Let’s start with Fernando Tatis Jr. While healthy, he has not been the MVP-caliber force we expected. His chase rate is up, his exit velocity is down, and he looks lost at times in right field. Meanwhile, Manny Machado is playing through what appears to be a nagging wrist issue, robbing him of his trademark power. The pitching staff, once the team’s strength, has been inconsistent. Joe Musgrove has been solid, but the back end of the rotation is a revolving door of unproven arms and injury reclamation projects.

• Key Issue: A complete lack of lineup balance. Too many right-handed power hitters who are easy to pitch to with high fastballs and breaking balls away.
• Underlying Concern: The Padres are 27th in baseball in defensive runs saved. That is a death sentence for a team that relies on pitching.
• Expert Analysis: Manager Mike Shildt is walking a tightrope. The clubhouse tension is palpable. This team needs a spark, and it might require a shocking trade—perhaps moving a young prospect for a gritty contact hitter.

Prediction: The Padres are in serious trouble. They will hover around .500 until the All-Star break. If they don’t make a significant trade by July, they will miss the playoffs entirely. The window is closing, and the pressure is suffocating. A 78-84 record is not out of the question.

The Philadelphia Phillies: Contenders or Pretenders?

The Philadelphia Phillies present a more complicated case. They are not “struggling” in the same catastrophic sense as the Braves or Padres, but they are underwhelming relative to their World Series aspirations. After a hot start, the Phillies have hit a wall, exposing cracks in their foundation that were papered over by late-inning heroics in previous years.

The biggest red flag is the bullpen. Once a strength, the relief corps has been a liability. José Alvarado has been hittable, and the closer role has been a carousel of uncertainty. The offense, while powerful, is too reliant on the long ball. When they aren’t hitting homers, they are generating almost no runs. Bryce Harper is having a typical Harper season—great, but not otherworldly—and the supporting cast around him has been streaky.

• Key Issue: Defensive inefficiency. The Phillies rank near the bottom in turning batted balls into outs. They give away too many free bases.
• Underlying Concern: The starting rotation, beyond Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola, is a minefield of inconsistency. Ranger Suárez has been good, but the fifth starter spot is a black hole.
• Expert Analysis: The Phillies are a classic “talent over execution” team. They have the horses to win a short series, but they lack the discipline to dominate a 162-game grind.

Prediction: The Phillies will be buyers at the deadline, specifically targeting a high-leverage reliever and a versatile infielder. They will finish with 86-90 wins and secure a Wild Card spot. However, they are not a true World Series contender unless the bullpen stabilizes. They are a tier below the Dodgers and Braves in the NL hierarchy.

The St. Louis Cardinals: A Pitching Rebuild in Real Time

Perhaps the quietest struggle belongs to the St. Louis Cardinals. After an aggressive offseason focused on revamping their pitching staff, the results have been mixed at best. The Cardinals were supposed to be a bounce-back candidate, but instead, they look like a team stuck in neutral. Their “preseason favorites are struggling” status is less dramatic than others but equally alarming for a franchise that prides itself on consistency.

The rotation, headlined by Sonny Gray and Miles Mikolas, has been surprisingly vulnerable. Gray has been good, but not the ace they paid for. The defense, once a hallmark of Cardinal baseball, has been porous, with Nolan Arenado showing signs of age at third base. The offense is top-heavy; if Paul Goldschmidt and Willson Contreras don’t produce, the lineup goes silent.

• Key Issue: The bullpen has a 4.50+ ERA, negating any positive starts from the rotation. The lack of a shutdown closer is crippling.
• Underlying Concern: The farm system is not producing impact players quickly enough to supplement the aging core.
• Expert Analysis: St. Louis is caught in a rebuild-and-compete paradox. They aren’t bad enough to tank, but they aren’t good enough to contend. This is the most dangerous place in MLB.

Prediction: The Cardinals will be sellers at the deadline. Expect them to trade a veteran starter or a bullpen arm for prospects. They will finish around 75-80 wins, missing the playoffs and entering a true transitional phase. The “Cardinals Way” needs a serious re-evaluation.

Conclusion: The NL’s Fallen Giants Can Rise Again—But Time is Ticking

As we look at the MLB Power Rankings, the National League is a study in contrasts. The Los Angeles Dodgers are cruising, the Arizona Diamondbacks are a pleasant surprise, and the Chicago Cubs are hanging around. But the narrative is dominated by the failures of the elite. The Braves, Padres, Phillies, and Cardinals all entered 2025 with championship-or-bust expectations, and all four are facing existential questions.

The key takeaway? The season is long. The Braves have the best chance to right the ship because their core is proven and deep. The Padres need a miracle—or a trade. The Phillies need health and bullpen help. The Cardinals need a philosophical reset.

For baseball fans, this chaos is a gift. It means the playoff race will be wide open, with multiple teams fighting to avoid the label of “biggest disappointment.” But if these NL powerhouses don’t find answers soon, the “preseason favorites are struggling” headline will turn into an obituary for their 2025 hopes. The clock is ticking. The climb back to relevance starts now.

Source: Based on news from ESPN.

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