Second 2026 Cape League Power Rankings

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Art or Photo Credit: Reese Wyman

Two weeks into the season, the Cape League pecking order is starting to take shape. With a Fenway Park trip in the books and the All-Star Game drawing closer, every win is becoming more important. These rankings are based on recent performance, emerging trends and overall momentum. As June comes to a close, here's where all 10 clubs stand in the second edition of the power rankings.

  1. Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox (15-1-1) Previously: 1

No team could even challenge the Red Sox for the top spot in the power rankings. Yarmouth-Dennis has been the best team in nearly every metric on both sides of the ball.

Their +79 run differential leads the league by a large margin. Scott Pickler has built a strong roster, and they haven't slowed down at all. Vanderbilt infielder Tommy Goodin took home Player of the Week honors, adding three home runs while hitting .320.

Although Y-D boasts one of the best lineups on the Cape, its pitching staff is where it truly shines. None of its top nine most used pitchers own an ERA above 3.00. Relievers Danny Nelson and Peyton Rodgers have been nearly untouchable with 0.84 and 0.59 ERAs, respectively. Their team ERA of 2.14 is far and away the best on the Cape.

Pickler is primed and ready to compete for his seventh Cape League title with Y-D. The true test will be whether the Red Sox can carry this historic momentum into the playoffs in August.

  1. Harwich Mariners (12-5) Previously 2

Harwich's offense is the only one on the Cape to outscore Y-D, plating 96 runs compared to the Red Sox's 93. Steve Englert has built a high-flying offense that leads the league in hits, doubles and stolen bases.

Harwich has consistently featured the most local players on the Cape, and the Mariners are playing like a family on the field. Colin Larson, Sean O'Leary and Julio Solier have all been productive New England contributors. Ty Smolinski's four home runs have been a major boost as the Mariners continue to click offensively.

On the mound, Maine product Jason Krieger has been dominant, posting a 0.59 ERA through 15.1 innings. Despite a few losses, Harwich has capitalized on its opportunities and isn't far from making a run at Y-D.

  1. Brewster Whitecaps (10-6-1) Previously 4

Brewster has quietly been winning a lot of tight contests on the Cape. Jamie Shevchik's Whitecaps sit third behind Harwich and Y-D in the East, but have won their last three games and jumped Bourne in the power rankings. Starter Payton Manca has dominated in his second summer on the Cape, posting a 0.84 ERA through three starts.

Brewster's success has come from competitive pitching and effective small-ball hitting, a formula that Shevchik intends to stick with. Brody DeLamielleure has been red-hot, hitting .357 through his first eight games with the Whitecaps. Brewster has a real shot at climbing the rankings if it can continue its winning ways.

  1. Bourne Braves (6-8-3) Previously 3

The Braves have won three of the last four titles, but Scott Landers' squad has struggled to separate itself from the pack this season. Y-D may be leading the league so far, but the Braves have still been very competitive. A few ties are all that separate them from a nine-win start.

Bourne's .253 batting average leads the league, while its six triples are well ahead of the rest of the Cape, where no other team has more than two. Andrew Costello's .367 batting average and two home runs both lead the Braves offensively. Landers’ top of the order is firing on all cylinders, but his trademark one through nine lineup depth hasn’t been as potent as previous seasons. The rotation trio of Will Whelan, Jaden Alba and Brandn Bennett has been instrumental in Bourne picking up wins, but a few blow-up outings have prevented the Braves from building sustained momentum.

Although Bourne typically shines in the postseason, the Braves need to put together a winning streak if they want to reclaim their spot at the top.

  1. Chatham Anglers (8-7-2) Previously 5

The Anglers continue to win with their red-hot lineup. Their +20 run differential is third-best on the Cape, and their roster has the talent to show for it. The four-pronged attack of Gabe Fraser, Rob Rispoli, Connor Shouse and Jacob Parker are all hitting above .300 entering July. Dennis Cook believes he has the best squad on paper, and his team has only been proving him right.

The Anglers have struggled for power but have made up for it with contact hitting and dominant pitching performances. Angel Cervantes has yet to allow a run through three outings and has been one of Chatham's most productive arms, aided by Jerry the Dinosaur, the superstitious toy he brings to the mound with him. Chatham's lineup tends to come in waves, and when everyone is clicking, the Anglers can be one of the most dangerous teams on the Cape. If Chatham can stay hot, it has the potential to climb even higher in the rankings.

  1. Hyannis Harbor Hawks (7-10) Previously 9

If Hyannis had nine more Kyle Alivos, they would be atop the power rankings. Although the wins haven't been there for Hyannis, Mitch Karraker's lineup has been clicking, and the Harbor Hawks are beginning to build momentum, moving up three spots in the rankings. Karraker knew reinforcements were coming, and two Oregon Ducks, outfielder Jax Gimenez and pitcher Jonah Barkoff, joined Hyannis right before July.

Still, the pitching staff outside of Alivo has struggled. Alivo has been Hyannis' most productive player on both sides of the ball. The Cape League Ohtani is hitting .563 in seven games while also posting a 3.00 ERA in 12 innings. Hyannis started slowly with a significant lack of power in the lineup but has rounded into form nicely. Nine Harbor Hawks have homered this season, and their 18 home runs now lead the league.

Although Hyannis still hasn't picked up as many wins as expected, the numbers are there, and Karraker's new additions could help get the Harbor Hawks back in the hunt.

  1. Falmouth Commodores (7-9-1) Previously 6

Falmouth slides down a spot after four straight losses. The 'Dores are third in the West Division but have failed to separate themselves from the competition. Jack Dahm has relied on exceptional hitting performances from Austin Mallee and Jimmy Nugent to keep the Commodores afloat. Dahm's pitching staff has struggled at times, posting a league-worst 5.37 ERA, as he continues to search for a reliable rotation.

Sachem Ramos has yet to allow a run through 8.1 innings, while new additions like Ryder Woodson have provided a boost to the lineup. Although Falmouth hasn't been winning as of late, if its newcomers continue to produce and the pitching staff can find consistency, Dahm and his new-look squad could quickly get back into the mix.

  1. Cotuit Kettleers (5-10-2) Previously 8

Rob Cooper, the second manager in his rookie season on the Cape, sits just behind his counterpart Dahm in the rankings. Cooper's squad is on a three-game skid and has been struggling to win, but with just a -20 run differential, ahead of Falmouth and Hyannis in the West, the Kettleers are primed for a divisional breakout.

Their main problem continues to be their lack of power in the lineup. With just a .288 slugging percentage, only two current Kettleers have homered this season, with Jake Hanley hitting three and Jesse Di Maggio adding one. With the fewest stolen bases in the league and the second-fewest home runs, Cotuit is searching for production at the plate and a winning style of baseball.

Hanley and infielder Dawson Park have been hot, but a more consistent offensive effort is required to start piling up wins. On the upside, starters Jackson Yarberry and Jonathan Adelmann have been lights out on the mound. If Cotuit can maintain its pitching consistency and lengthen the lineup, the Kettleers have the talent to start stringing together victories.

  1. Orleans Firebirds (6-11) Previously 7

The Firebirds have one of the most revitalized rosters on the Cape. A tough division has kept them out of the win column, but the 'Birds are showing signs of life. Taunton native Ryan MacDougall owns a 1.012 OPS, while Tennessee infielder Tyler Myatt is hitting .309 with three home runs. Kelly Nicholson's roster did not start the year hot, but it has grown into the season.

Additions like Adam Magpoc and Tyler Harmony should bolster the lineup and complement talented hitters such as Elijah Ickes and two-way threat Adrian Beltre Jr. Nicholson's pitching staff has been volatile but largely effective. Starters Case Euper and Chase Frey both own ERAs below 2.50, and they have given the Firebirds a chance to win every time they take the mound.

Nicholson's 'Birds slide down two spots because of their recent losing form, but Orleans is far from out of the picture if its premier hitters can pick up the slack.

  1. Wareham Gatemen (4-13) Previously 10

Ryan Smyth's Gatemen remain locked into 10th place. They have just six points, and their -40 run differential reflects the struggles they have faced on the field. Their .586 OPS is still last on the Cape, and Wareham is looking for its roster talent to translate into on-field success. Much of the Gatemen's lineup dominated the Cape last year, including Caden McDonald, Chris Ramirez, Drew Rogers and Levi Clark.

With recent additions like Noah Sheffield, the Gatemen have more than enough talent to compete and certainly enough to pull themselves out of the cellar of the standings. Wareham has yet to win a road game, but it is more than capable of finding success away from home. Starter Garrett Lambert and reliever Ethan Baiotto, who own 2.95 and 0.77 ERAs, respectively, should eventually combine to produce more quality outings.

If Wareham can get its hitting talent and pitching talent clicking at the same time, the Gatemen are much better than their record suggests. However, for now, they remain stuck in last place.