MLB power rankings: Which way do they go?

The Padres on Sunday were three outs away from a winning start to a critical road trip. Instead, the Reds walked off closer Robert Suarez, leaving Padres manager Mike Shildt to explain how an 0-for-13 showing with runners in scoring position was the real culprit.

“We play a lot of close game,” Shildt said, “and we need to figure out a way to add on and have a little bit of margin for error with our pitching group.”

It’s the story more often than not.

The Padres are three games better than they were through 83 games last year, but it’s a record buoyed by a 15-4 start to the season rather than anything they’ve done lately.

Since a 21-0 win at Coors Field, the Padres rank 29th in OPS (.649), 28th in homers (36) and 25th in runs (166), and the clock is ticking.

The rotation is still without Michael King and Yu Darvish, Fernando Tatis Jr. remains MIA (.654 OPS) since May 11 and A.J. Preller had roughly a month to figure just what to do with a team that begins the week a game out of a wild-card spot.

1 | Detroit Tigers (53-32, Last week: 1)

It’s not just the Tarik Skubal show. Three Tigers have more than 15 homers: Riley Greene (19, .887 OPS), Spencer Torkelson (17, .806 OPS) and Kerry Carpenter (16, .779 OPS).

2 | Los Angeles Dodgers (53-32, LW: 4)

Only three Dodgers led their position in the first phase of NL All-Star balloting, but the defending champs have eight players vying for starting jobs at next month’s Midsummer Classic. No team has ever had more than five starters.

3 | Chicago Cubs (49-35, LW: 3)

The Astros took two of three from the Cubs over the weekend in Houston, so they won the Kyle Tucker trade, right? Right?

4 | New York Yankees (48-35, LW: 2)

Only two Yankees have ever hit 30 homers before July 1: Babe Ruth (1928 and 1930) and Aaron Judge, who is one homer shy of tying the franchise record 31 hit before July 1 last year.

5 | Tampa Bay Rays (47-37, LW: 11)

Jonathan Aranda had never played more than 44 games before posting a .738 OPS last year. This year, he’s likely on his way to the All-Star Game after pair 10 homers and 44 RBIs with a .902 OPS through 79 games for the surging Rays.

6 | Houston Astros (50-34, LW: 7)

The Astros are in their rightful spot atop the AL West, but there’s concern as Jeremy Pena has missed two straight games with rib soreness.

7 | Milwaukee Brewers (47-37, LW: 9)

After cycling through arm after arm en route to last year’s division title, the Brewers are two games behind the Cubs and on the verge of adding Brandon Woodruff to the mix.

8 | Philadelphia Phillies (49-35, LW: 5)

After a 2-4 road trip, the Phillies return home to potential good news: Bryce Harper could return from the IL as soon as Monday.

9 | St. Louis Cardinals (47-38, LW: 12)

The ultimate Maddux: Sonny Gray struck out 11 while completing a 5-0 win on Friday in just … 89 pitches.

10 | New York Mets (48-37, LW: 6)

Hard to contend for the best record in the NL if you’re being outscored by the Pirates 30-4 in a three-game sweep.

11 | Cincinnati Reds (44-40, LW: 13)

Guess the Reds knew exactly what they were paying for when they gave Nick Martinez $21 million via a qualifying offer. The swing-man took a no-hitter into the ninth inning on Friday after making his two previous appearances out of the bullpen.

12 | San Francisco Giants (45-39, LW: 8)

Not exactly what they had in mind: The Giants are 4-8 and Rafael Devers is hitting .217/.333/.391 since the trade to San Francisco.

13 | San Diego Padres (45-38, LW: 10)

So the Padres know how to find left fielders on the cheap. Last year, Jurickson Profar had 11 homers and 55 RBIs through June 29. This year, Gavin Sheets has 13 homers and a team-high 49 RBIs through June 29.