MLB power rankings: Rampaging rookie leads NL West club up the charts

The San Diego Padres may not cool off until they catch the Los Angeles Dodgers. And Jackson Merrill may not stop slugging crucial homers until he runs down Paul Skenes.
The Padres continued their second-half rampage this week, going 5-1 on a road trip to Pittsburgh and Miami to make it 16 wins in 20 games since the All-Star break. They’re now within 3 ½ games of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West – and moved up three more spots in USA TODAY Sports’ power rankings.
It all wouldn’t be possible without Merrill, the rookie who switched from shortstop to center field on Opening Day and hasn’t looked back. Merrill, who turned 21 in April, hit game-tying home runs in the eighth and ninth innings in consecutive games to fuel comeback wins over the Marlins. He now has five game-tying or go-ahead homers in the eighth inning or later this season, tying Mel Ott and trailing only Frank Robinson for players 21 or younger.
With 3.0 WAR, 17 homers and an .814 OPS, he can certainly challenge Skenes, the Pirates rookie flamethrower who debuted in May, for top NL rookie honors. Just as the Padres continue rising the charts.
A look at our updated rankings:
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