MLB Power Rankings
Taking 2 weeks in between power rankings seems a bit more feasible for seeing jumps and drops. We are wrapping up week 6 as I sit and type this and man, were there some doozies across the majors these last 2 weeks. The teams that have routinely occupied the cellar remain there as it seems it’s going to be one looonnnggg season for some of us out there (I’m right there with you), while the teams that we fully expected to occupy the ceiling are just continuing to show why it pays to have money in baseball. Some of these rankings may seem a bit reactive, but baseball is a rather streaky sport. We have to take into account hot and cold streaks when it comes to ranking these teams or else we get caught in take-lock and no one benefits from that. I hope your team is in the top 10 and if it isn’t well then call up your GM and tell them to make some moves or you’ll rescind your fanbase card. Let’s see where our teams have landed!
Biggest Riser: Minnesota Twins (+12), Biggest Faller: Cincinnati Reds (-16)
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (6): I mean, what else do you want from me? I ranked them lower than I probably should have and now they’re at the top. There’s no other way around it.
2. Philadelphia Phillies (9): Long thought of as the “other” team in the NL East, the Phillies are finally at the top of the mountain and hold the best record not just in their division, but in the majors. This team had been underperforming so it was just a matter of time until they reached these heights. They’re showing no signs of slowing down either.
3. Baltimore Orioles (2): It’s nothing short of amazing what Baltimore is doing this year. Truthfully, they earned it. They built the best farm system in baseball and built from within. Even with future superstar Jackson Holliday being sent back down, this lineup still boasts top-end numbers throughout.
4. New York Yankees (5): If anyone was worried about the Yankees and their struggling superstars, you probably shouldn’t be. Top-10 in AVG, OPS, ERA, and WHIP (1 of 4 teams across the league to do this), they are cruising right now. Their big-3 (Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, and Juan Soto) have combined for 26 home runs and they are just getting started. Baseballs beware.
5. Cleveland Guardians (3): I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop with Cleveland, but the only other thing that is dropping is their likelihood of NOT making the playoffs. Their pitching has persevered and when you have Jose Ramirez in your lineup, anything can happen. Cleveland just might eke out a division title.
6. Atlanta Braves (1): Just a brutal stretch for Atlanta winning just 4 of their last 10. Getting swept by the Dodgers isn’t fun, but do we expect anything less at this point? Losing that series to Seattle doesn’t help either. That being said, Marcell Ozuna and Chris Sale have been incredible for a team that already boasts a star-studded cast. They’ll be fine.
7. Texas Rangers (14): The Rangers are finally looking like a team that won the World Series last year. The biggest issue is just consistent pitching. We expected them to be good, and for the most part, they have been, but it could be better. If it all comes together, this is a top-5 team in the league.
8. Kansas City Royals (7): I feel as though the top 15 is just all AL Central teams. They have 4 in it. The Royals are simply astounding. Their pitching limits runs and their hitting produces runs and shockingly, they coincide at the same time. It doesn’t get much better than that. I’m interested to see who wins out in this arm’s race by the end of the year.
9. Milwaukee Brewers (4): Have you ever heard of the Invisible String Theory? That’s how the NL Central works. The top 2 teams will somehow always manage to switch back and forth and remain close at the same time as the season goes on. Milwaukee looked like they were going to run away with this division in April, but May hasn’t been too kind. Still, near the top of the league offensively but it seems like the magic potion used on this pitching staff is beginning to wear off.
10. Minnesota Twins (22): Our biggest riser of the last 2 weeks, the Twins have finally begun producing like the preseason, AL Central favorites that they were touted to be. 7 games over .500 and 1.5 games out of 1st, this team has come to play. Their pitching has been lights out and their hitting has risen, but is still being bogged down by early-season stinkers. Is the AL Central the toughest division in baseball at the moment?
11. Chicago Cubs (10): Cody Bellinger coming back from a rib injury in less than 2 weeks is crazy. Bellinger hitting the way he does less than 2 weeks removed from a rib injury is even crazier. Not to mention Shota Imanaga pitching as though his life depended on it, this team is making a strong case to win the NL Central.
12. San Diego Padres (12): I feel as though the Friars are going unnoticed. Certainly more than they have in recent years even with all of the big names that fill their lineup card. This is one of the best offensive teams in the league and the revival of Dylan Cease has brought to life a dormant pitching staff. While they may not push the Dodgers out of 1st in the NL West, they certainly are looking like a top NL wild card team.
13. Seattle Mariners (18): I hope y’all are strapping in because this team is about to come on in a big way. Ravaged by injuries, the M”s are finally returning to full health and it couldn’t be coming at a better time. They’re 2 games below .500 and 2.5 games out of the AL West lead with Texas. A top-10 pitching staff will propel this team to high places and the hitters are finally coming alive.
14. Boston Red Sox (11): I constantly ask myself how this team keeps winning. Triston Casas looks to be lost until the summer and Rafael Devers has been on and off the bench with injuries. But lordy, this team is still downright performing. An AVG at 12th and an OPS at 11th coupled with a 5th-ranked WHIP and a league-leading ERA and you’ve got yourself a winning formula. Good on you, Alex Cora and Co.
15. Detroit Tigers (16): This Tigers’ team has been ambiguous as to how they want to win games this year. Their pitching has been stellar, ranking 3rd in WHIP and 5th in ERA, but even when it hasn’t been good, their hitting has come through. Riley Greene is looking every bit the part of a #1 overall pick and finally showing Detroit fans what they’ve been looking for.
16. New York Mets (13): What a change this team has pulled. We were talking about them struggling all season although they had the highest payroll. Sometimes it pays to be patient. Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor have some work to do as they hover around the Mendoza line, but as long as you’re winning games, you’re generally fine. Sitting at .500 after the start this team had is nothing short of a miracle.
17. Oakland Athletics (27): The biggest surprise of the baseball season so far, the A’s look like an actual professional baseball team. It’s sad to see what’s going on in Oakland right now, but it’s for the best that they leave and hopefully get a new owner, but who knows? None of their stats are eye-popping, but they find ways to win games. That’s all that matters.
18. Tampa Bay Rays (21): What happens when you lose a myriad of your starting pitchers and your big bat of Randy Arozarena isn’t working? You find yourself dropping in the rankings. I’ll give the Rays credit, they are making do with what they have, but it hasn’t been pretty. Amed Rosario and Issac Paredes have been a gift from the gods, but this team needs more production elsewhere.
19. Washington Nationals (25): Quite the surprise of the year, the Nats have seemed to revitalize Jesse Winker and Nick Senzel while retaining their homegrown star power. Pitching has long been a crutch for this franchise (outside of their World Series run), but the hitting has provided plenty of opportunity for this team to not have shutdown hurlers.
20. Arizona Diamondbacks (19): A sweep of Cincinnati at home, this team is so much better than their record indicates. A run differential of +13 is the 2nd highest of any team that has won less than 22 games. However. they sit at the top of the bottom 1/3rd. I expect this team to be just fine and be over .500 by the end of the month.
21. San Francisco Giants (20): One of the harder teams for me to get a feel for, you might be wondering why they are so high. 17 wins in the NL West is no small accomplishment and they’ve been rather decent both pitching and hitting-wise. On deck is a homestand with the hapless Reds and Rockies with a visit from the Dodgers sandwiched in between. We could be looking at a team that sits only a game or so below .500 when these 9 games have been played.
22. Los Angeles Angels (23): The worry for this team after their perennial all-star was once again injured was high and to be honest, it still is. The Halos may only have 14 wins, but their metrics are something to marvel at. They’re in the top half of the league in AVG and OPS and their pitching isn’t much farther behind. Is this just being buoyed by strong opening numbers or is this sustainable?
23. Pittsburgh Pirates (15): The fall from grace we all saw coming, this is a typical Buc’s season. Jared Jones continues to show that he’s a great pitcher to employ and the long-awaited promotion of Paul Skenes is finally upon us. You can’t ask for much more from this pitching staff, but the batting is poor. We all knew it would be.
24. Cincinnati Reds (8): The biggest faller, my hometown Redlegs are in an absolute tailspin. An AVG of .209 (30th) and OPS of .642 (26th) just goes to show you how little Cincinnati is producing at the plate. Thankfully, the pitching hasn’t been terrible, but when Elly De La Cruz leads your team with a .254 AVG, something has got to give.
25. St. Louis Cardinals (26): The Cards are improving thanks in part to Sonny Gray and a revitalized pitching staff, but this offense is putrid. 28th in AVG and 27th in OPS is not what St. Louis fans thought they would be getting a week into May.
26. Toronto Blue Jays (17): What do Toronto fans have to do to see success, huh? No playoff wins since 2016 and their last World Series was 1993. The young core of players that were dubbed as “franchise-altering” aren’t cutting it and it’s truly a disappointment to witness.
27. Houston Astros (26): There are quite a few rumors that the ‘Stros could be looking to move on from some of their older vets to reset the clock on this franchise. While I don’t necessarily know if this will happen, they sit 4th from the bottom in record and have been terrible in nearly every category.
28. Miami Marlins (28): Bye-bye, Luis Arraez, and hello tank season. I hope the prospects work out and join the majors soon, but what are we doing here? This franchise has been in rebuild mode since 2011.
29. Colorado Rockies (29): Hey, at least you’re not 30th.
30. Chicago White Sox (30): I have nothing more to say about this franchise. Good luck, Southside fans. I salute you.
