Mason Miller has been untouchable all season. And so have the San Diego Padres lately.
Miller’s scoreless streak now stands at 32 ⅔ innings, just one shy of the Padres’ franchise record. And perhaps most impressive is that the game’s best closer has struck out 27 of 38 batters faced this season, his 71.1% strikeout rate the highest by a pitcher in his first 11 appearances since 1900.
Advertisement
But it takes a good team to give a closer a chance to shine and the Padres are the best in baseball right now. They have won 13 of 15 to move within a half-game of the Los Angeles Dodgers and move seven spots closer to No. 2 in the USA TODAY Sports power rankings.
At 15-7, the Padres have the second-best record in baseball, thanks in large part to their closer with a killer fastball-slider combination that has proven to be untouchable. Or, as Fernando Tatis Jr. said, “Game over.”
Miller’s next task? Preserving his scoreless streak at Coors Field and mile-high Phoenix this week.
A look at our updated rankings:
Mason Miler joined the Padres in 2025.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (-)
Nothing like Coors Field to humiliate a club that has a 126-win pace.
Advertisement
2. San Diego Padres (+7)
They won eight of their first 10 road games for the first time since…the 1990 World Series championship season.
Parker Messick threatened, but Len Barker’s perfect game is Cleveland’s final no-no. Len Barker is now 70 years old.
Dillon Dingler leads all major league catchers with a .983 OPS, second with five home runs.
Corbin Carroll hits a grand slam one day and comes out with a stiff back the next.
1 / 21
Stadium vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during the 2026 MLB season
A’s Lawrence Butler is tagged out by Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas as he tires to extend his double into a triple during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026.
1 / 21
Stadium vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during the 2026 MLB season
A’s Lawrence Butler is tagged out by Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas as he tires to extend his double into a triple during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026.
2 / 21
Stadium vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during the 2026 MLB season
Cleveland Guardians mascot Slider interacts with fans during the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field on April 17, 2026.
3 / 21
Stadium vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during the 2026 MLB season
Washington Nationals right fielder Daylen Lile attempts to catch a batted ball for a single by Jake Mangum of the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park on April 16, 2026. The Nationals won the game, 8-7.
4 / 21
Stadium vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during the 2026 MLB season
Milwaukee Brewers catcher Gary Sanchez wears a special chest protector to commemorate Jackie Robinson Day during the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at American Family Field on April 15, 2026.
5 / 21
Stadium vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during the 2026 MLB season
April 13: Spencer Horwitz of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrates a home run in the dugout while wearing a welder’s hood during a 16-5 victory over the Washington Nationals at PNC Park.
6 / 21
Stadium vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during the 2026 MLB season
April 12: Philadelphia Phillies mascot The Phanatic entertains fans with the local team’s mascots for a birthday celebration before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park.
7 / 21
Stadium vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during the 2026 MLB season
April 11: Jonathan Aranda (left) of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates with Ryan Vilade after hitting a single against the New York Yankees in the 10th inning of a 5-4 victory at Tropicana Field.
8 / 21
Stadium vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during the 2026 MLB season
José Ramírez of the Cleveland Guardians acknowledges fans after becoming the team’s all-time leader in games played against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field on April 6, 2026.
9 / 21
Stadium vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during the 2026 MLB season
A rainbow appears during the fourth inning of the game between the San Diego Padres and the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on April 6, 2026.
10 / 21
Stadium vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during the 2026 MLB season
A fan dresses as the Pope applauds during the first inning of the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rate Field on April 5, 2026. The White Sox won the game, 3-0, to complete a three-game sweep over the Blue Jays.
11 / 21
Stadium vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during the 2026 MLB season
Konnor Griffin of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrates with a traffic cone after making his major league debut in a 5-4 loss over the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park on April 3, 2026.
12 / 21
Stadium vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during the 2026 MLB season
A young Red Sox fan meets Tessie, the Boston Red Sox mascot, before the Red Sox home opener against the San Diego Padres at Fenway Park on April 3, 2026.
13 / 21
Stadium vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during the 2026 MLB season
14 / 21
Stadium vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during the 2026 MLB season
Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez (6) and center fielder Jakob Marsee celebrate a victory against the Chicago White Sox at LoanDepot Park on April 1, 2026.
15 / 21
Stadium vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during the 2026 MLB season
Fans try to catch a solo home run by Matt Chapman of the San Francisco Giants as San Diego Padres left fielder Nick Castellanos watches during the third inning at Petco Park on March 31, 2026.
16 / 21
Stadium vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during the 2026 MLB season
Philadelphia Phillies mascot The Phillie Phanatic entertains fans during the game against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on March 31, 2026.
17 / 21
Stadium vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during the 2026 MLB season
Kazuma Okamoto of the Toronto Blue Jays is sprayed with ice water by his teammates after a win over the A’s at Rogers Center on March 29, 2026.
18 / 21
Stadium vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during the 2026 MLB season
Eugenio Suarez of the Cincinnati Reds blows a bubble while waiting to bat against the Boston Red Sox at Great American Ball Park on March 28, 2026.
19 / 21
Stadium vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during the 2026 MLB season
The St. Louis Cardinals’ JJ Wetherholt is sprayed with water by his teammates after hitting a two-run single against the Tampa Bay Rays during the 10th inning at Busch Stadium on March 28, 2026.
20 / 21
Stadium vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during the 2026 MLB season
Fans react as the Milwaukee Brewers’ Jake Bauers homers against the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field on March 26, 2026.
21 / 21
Stadium vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during the 2026 MLB season
Two F-35C aircraft from the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron NINE Detachment at Edwards Air Force Base perform a flyover prior to the Opening Day game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on March 26, 2026.
They win five in a row but let’s not get too excited: three were against the Mets.
Zack Wheeler will make his season debut next weekend in Atlanta.
Left-hander Kade Anderson’s first three professional starts in Class AA: 22 strikeouts, one earned run in 14 innings.
“Kyle Stowers returns from hamstring strain and gets drilled in his first plate appearance of the year”.
Owner Patrick Zalupski visits his friend Tom Ricketts in Chicago and gets some development tips for living, working and playing.
Now 10 to 40 at T-Mobile Park as of 2020. Let’s talk taxes.
18. New York Mets (-6)
If a homestand with the Twins, Rockies and Nationals can’t do the trick…
20. Athletics (-)
They leave Yolo County for an eye-opening six-game stretch in Seattle and Texas.
21. Los Angeles Angels (+3)
22. Boston Red Sox (-1)
In danger of being buried in the American League East.
23. St. Louis Cardinals (+4)
He won five of his first seven series.
24. Minnesota Twins (-1)
They continue to be the ABS kings of the moment with 38 successful challenges.
25. San Francisco Giants (+1)
26. Houston Astros (-4)
Are they really that bad?
Advertisement
27. Washington Nationals (+1)
James Wood’s seven home runs tied for second in the National League.
28. Kansas City Royals (-)
29. Colorado Rocky Mountains (+1)
Consecutive wins over the Dodgers for the first time since October 2022.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB Power Rankings: Padres’ Mason Miller boosts SD vs. LA in the West Division of the National League
