MLB power rankings: Already behind in the game?

Last year, A.J. Preller struck first. Then he struck again, his spring trade for Dylan Cease and his May swap for Luis Arraez setting the trade market well ahead of July and putting the Padres in position to push to the top of the NL wild-card standings.

Maybe Buster Posey was a fan of the strategy.

Because the Giants’ new baseball ops chief struck first on Sunday, acquiring disgruntled All-Star Rafael Devers from the Red Sox for Kyle Harrison, Jordan Hicks and two prospects.

The Giants have lost four of the six games they’ve played so far against the Padres. They’ve lost two of three against Arizona and Los Angeles, but they begin this week 10 games over .500, in second in the NL West and they have significantly improved well ahead of the coming trade deadline sweepstakes.

Meantime in Padres land, Jackson Merrill (concussion) is on the injured list for the second time in a row, Yu Darvish (elbow) is still being slow-played, Michael King (shoulder) has yet to ramp up throwing, the Padres still don’t have a left fielder and Preller is behind in the game in the front office.

Should make for an interesting month, if Preller has the pieces to keep the Padres within striking distance.

1 | Chicago Cubs (44-28, Last week: 4)

The Cubs have soared to the top of the NL Central with Shota Imanaga on the injured list with a hamstring strain, but he’s set to return this week.

2 | Detroit Tigers (46-27, LW: 1)

Is the AL Central all sewed up? The Tigers have lost two in a row, but no one else in a weak division has won a game in the last three days and Detroit already has a nine-game cushion.

3 | New York Mets (45-27, LW: 2)

The Mets have the majors’ lowest ERA (2.93) but losing Kodai Senga to a hamstring injury for a month is a big crack in the foundation.

4 | Los Angeles Dodgers (43-29, LW: 5)

The Dodgers say Roki Sasaki has been shut down and is not part of their plans this season, but Shohei Ohtani cis returning to the mound Monday and Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are making progress.

5 | New York Yankees (42-28, LW: 3)

Fresh off being swept in Boston, Yankees could get a boost with Giancarlo Stanton’s return from the injured list this week.

6 | Philadelphia Phillies (42-29, LW: 10)

Weathering the storm: Bryce Harper and Aaron Nola are both on the injured list and the Phillies are still inching closer to the Mets in the NL East.

7 | San Francisco Giants (41-31, LW: 7)

So … will Rafael Devers be OK with DHing or playing first base in San Francisco or is Matt Chapman moving when he gets back from the IL?

8 | Houston Astros (41-30, LW: 12)

The Astros have won five in a row, have a 4 ½-game lead in the AL West and finally seem to be finding their footing in the post Alex Bregman Era.

9 | Tampa Bay Rays (39-32, LW: 9)

Here come the Rays: They swept the Mets in New York over the weekend and have won 18 of their last 24 games.

10 | San Diego Padres (39-31, LW: 6)

Nick Pivetta is not an ace, but he’s approaching team No. 1 status, because the Padres NEEDED a win on Sunday and he responded with seven innings of two-run ball to avoid a sweep in Arizona.