St. Louis Cardinals fans encountered a rare, welcome sight on Sunday: Ryan Helsley, on the mound, closing a game.
And closing a wound, they hope.
Helsley had not pitched in eight days, because closers on bad teams aren't really necessary, and make no mistake: The Cardinals have been a bad team. They came into Sunday on a seven-game losing streak that included dropping the first three games of a key series at Milwaukee. And while the 4-3 win salvaged the finale, the Cardinals have to worry how much damage has been done.
St. Louis is 16-24, already eight games behind the Brewers and buried in the NL Central basement. The Cardinals went 71-91 a year ago and have not finished last in consecutive seasons since 1907-08. They're not yet destined for that fate. But there's not much further for them to fall in USA TODAY Sports' power rankings — and with one quarter of the season elapsed, teams' identities are gradually taking permanent form.
A look at our updated MLB power rankings:
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1. Los Angeles Dodgers (-)
James Paxton's 2.58 ERA just more found money.
2. Baltimore Orioles (-)
Grayson Rodriguez's return may create six-man rotation — a deep one, at that.
3. Atlanta Braves (-)
One of these days, Max Fried will knock Kent Mercker down a peg in Braves history.
4. Philadelphia Phillies (+2)
Ranger Suarez (1.50 ERA) might be your early leader in NL Cy Young race.
5. New York Yankees (-)
Aaron Judge is struggl- wait, what's that? His 10th homer?
6. Cleveland Guardians (-2)
Steven Kwan's hamstring injury puts monthlong pause on breakout year (.353, .953 OPS).
7. Milwaukee Brewers (+1)
Rhys Hoskins has never received an MVP vote — not even 10th-place. That may change.
8. Chicago Cubs (-1)
Shota Imanaga (1.08 ERA, 1.8 WAR) and Javier Assad (1.70, 1.7) quite a 1-2 pitching punch.
9. Seattle Mariners (-)
Notorious slow starter Julio Rodriguez starting to fully emerge.
10. Kansas City Royals (+2)
Seth Lugo has a 1.66 ERA, and the team looks as for real as he does.
11. Minnesota Twins (+2)
Carlos Santana, 38, homers in consecutive games. Yet getting hit in the helmet by a sausage was a career first.
12. Texas Rangers (-2)
You get swept at Coors Field, you drop in the rankings. There are rules to this.
13. Boston Red Sox (+1)
Brayan Bello wins first start after three-week absence with lat issue.
14. San Diego Padres (+2)
Now 6-3 since Luis Arráez trade.
15. Tampa Bay Rays (+3)
It's just nine games, but Jonny DeLuca has a .930 OPS.
16. Detroit Tigers (+1)
After 113 at-bats, Colt Keith still looking for his first major league home run.
17. Arizona Diamondbacks (+6)
Have dropped four of six extra-inning games.
18. New York Mets (+1)
Christian Scott with a promising 14-3 strikeout-walk ratio through two starts.
19. Cincinnati Reds (-8)
Have lost 10 of 11.
20. Washington Nationals (-)
Poked their heads briefly above .500 for first time since July 2021.
21. San Francisco Giants (-)
Lose Michael Conforto to hamstring injury and Jung Hoo Lee to separated shoulder.
22. Toronto Blue Jays (-7)
No, it's not a make-or-break three-game series at Baltimore. But it feels like it.
23. Pittsburgh Pirates (-1)
The Paul Skenes spotlight illuminated an inconsistent club for all to see.
24. Houston Astros (+1)
Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander lift them to a series win. Normalcy returning?
25. Oakland Athletics (+1)
Brent Rooker (.299, 1.012 OPS, 10 homers) looks like an All-Star again.
26. St. Louis Cardinals (-2)
Paul Goldschmidt still trying to find a road map off the interstate.
27. Los Angeles Angels (-)
Have lost 14 of 19 at home.
28. Colorado Rockies (+1)
Finally win first series of year - sweeping the defending champs.
29. Miami Marlins (-1)
"No one wants to get their butt kicked every night," says manager Skip Schumaker. But you can't always get what you want.
