Welcome to our first MLB power rankings of 2013. If Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer, and baseball players are the boys of summer, then we’re right on time.

Don’t forget that power rankings are a snapshot in time during a long season. If you want the standings, check your local newspaper’s scoreboard page.

First 4

1. Cardinals: Their system is stocked and when one Cardinal goes down, there’s another to replace him. (Like anyone who leaves a chair in the newest Star Trek films.) They have a minor-league string of titles going, and chances are these prospects-bred-to-win will be adding St. Louis’ 12th this year or next.

2. Reds: If the Pirates can keep it together, the NL Central could have three teams in the postseason this year. Don’t let the Reds sneak up on you.

3. Rangers: Going 6-4 against the Tigers and A’s should help ease their early reputation as bumslayers. Still, the cushion the Rangers have built in the AL West can only help prevent a repeat of last year’s collapse.

4. Braves: Streaky, aren’t they? Overcoming injuries will do that to you, I guess. A six-game winning streak has put them back in control of the NL East. Until the Nationals can distance themselves from .500, the Braves need not be too concerned.

Middle mentionables

9. Pirates: The Bucs are always fun this time of year. 10 over .500 and yet visions of 82 wins are still the stuff of dreams. Why not finish it this year and knock out the losing skid and playoff drought in one swipe?

21. Angels: Congrats on winning 6 in a row. You’re still 6 under .500 and 10 behind Texas.

Final 4

27. Cubs: For some reason, people keep calling the Cubs a sleeper team. But losing streaks like their current 5-gamer keep killing any momentum. Even if stats like run differential start to pay off, this team’s not waking up in contention.

28. Astros: That last year’s worst team in baseball is on pace to set its franchise loss record for the third year in a row and finds itself in 28th says a lot about the current state of bad in baseball.

29. Marlins: A .271 win percentage and 16 games back heading into Memorial Day weekend. The latest fire sale won’t pay off with a championship any time soon. But nice job in 1997 and 2003. 

30. Twins: When you lose 10 in a row to drop from 18-17 to 18-27, you deserve to fall to the bottom of the weekly power rankings, even if two potentially historically bad teams are ahead of you.