Well, it’s time for the second installment of our weekly countdown series known simply as “3 Up & 3 Down.” So if you’re new to the Baseball Banter Broadcast, 3 Up & 3 Down is our weekly examination of three teams playing well, three teams that aren’t. And we add in a team to “Be On the Look Out” for (or BOLO) just for good measure. So let’s examine “week two” of 3 Up & 3 Down.

FIRST UP: LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Simply put, the Los Angeles Dodgers continue to dominate baseball. At the time of this writing, the Dodgers are the owners of the best record in baseball at 11-3. LA adds in a +38 run differential and are 8-2 over their last ten games. The Dodgers are the unquestioned heavy favorites in the World Series race of 2026. And their current level of play has not diminished that outlook one bit.

FIRST DOWN: NEW YORK YANKEES

Well, for as good as the Yankees were on last week’s countdown, this week in baseball, New York has done themselves no favors. The Yankees went from being in a three-way tie for the best record in baseball to a three-way tie for the AL East division title. New York has dropped five straight games en route to their 4-6 record over their last ten ballgames. The Yankees are going to have to stop the bleeding somehow over these next seven games, starting with a four-game set against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

SECOND UP: SAN DIEGO PADRES

The San Diego Padres might have the toughest road of any team in baseball. As a member of the National League West division, the Padres have to deal with the Dodgers more than any other contending team. And even with those mitigating circumstances, not to mention the debacle that has been their ownership situation, this team continues to find a way. And to continue with the ever-difficult battle with the arch division rival Dodgers, the Padres also find themselves with an 8-2 record over their last ten games and are riding a four-game winning streak (at the time of this writing).

SECOND DOWN: TORONTO BLUE JAYS

As we chronicled last week, the Blue Jays are a team expected to be good. However, they have faced an early bump in the road with the way they’ve been playing baseball early in the season. Currently, the Jays are 6-9 overall through the early part of the season, and over their last ten ballgames, Toronto is 2-8. Toronto has found themselves on the losing end of games in no small part because of their -25 run differential. Giving up more runs than you score is obviously a losing combination. And sadly for Blue Jays fans, that is what they’ve been enduring. However, as we said last week, there is too much talent on the Blue Jays roster for them to stay down like this for long.

THIRD UP: THE ATHLETICS

The Athletics are having themselves a great week in New York. After claiming the last two games (and winning the series) against the Yankees in the Bronx, the A’s went across town and swept the Mets in Queens. Many people have overlooked the Athletics for a lot of different reasons over the past several seasons. However, a closer examination of the franchise would yield some interesting things brewing for the former Oakland natives. The Athletics over their last ten games are sporting a 7-3 record with a five-game winning streak.

THIRD DOWN: HOUSTON ASTROS

The Houston Astros missed the postseason in 2025 for the first time in eight straight seasons (since 2017). So coming into the 2026 season, Houston was determined to get back to October baseball. That being said, the 2026 season has not gotten off to the best start for the Astros. Houston is in possession of an overall 6-9 record and a worse yet 3-7 over their last ten games. Even worse yet, Houston is in the midst of a six-game losing streak (at the time of this writing). The Astros are going to have to right the spaceshuttle quickly if they don’t want to be grounded once again this October.

BE ON LOOKOUT FOR (BOLO): MINNESOTA TWINS

The Minnesota Twins made headline news during the 2025 trade deadline by trading away basically their entire roster (minus Byron Buxton). However, the Twins front office may currently be having the last laugh as their team has gotten off to a good start. Minnesota finds themselves with a winning record after sixteen games. The Twins have a positive run differential with +8 and are 7-3 over their last ten games. Obviously, it’s still very early in the season. However, as a team that was expected to compete for the worst record in the 2026 season, this start is worth celebrating.