MLB Power Ranking 3.0

DON’T COUNT THEM OUT:

10. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (-5):

After the way the Arizona Diamondbacks finished the 2023 season and playoffs, I expected them to be great in 2024. I became even more excited after Arizona added depth to their starting rotation by signing Eduardo Rodriguez and Jordan Montgomery. However, Rodriguez has been on the IL to start the season, and due to missing spring training, Montgomery hasn’t been himself. Their offense was inconsistent in 2023, and it’s been inconsistent to kick off 2024, as well. They’ve gotten off to a poor 14W-20L start, but I’m not ready to count them out. Considering the fact that Corbin Carroll is yet to get going this year, Arizona’s team .703 OPS (14th in the MLB) is encouraging. When Carroll, Rodriguez, and Montgomery are rolling, the Diamondbacks are a high-end playoff team.

9. HOUSTON ASTROS (-2):

Much like the Diamondbacks, the Houston Astros have gotten off to a surprisingly horrible start. They currently are 12W-21L, and have the third-worst record in the American League. Nevertheless, as a Yankee fan, I know that the Houston Astros won’t go down without a fight, and they will eventually come roaring back. Justin Verlander has only made three starts and has looked terrific, posting a 2.08 ERA. Furthermore, it is the first time Joe Espada has managed a team, it might simply be taking him some time to figure things out. There was no chance that I was going to leave a team with Altuve, Tucker, Alvarez, Bregman, and Verlander out of my top 10.

EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS:

8. DETROIT TIGERS (-):

From the get-go, I’ve been calling the Detroit Tigers my “sleeper team”. Detroit has numerous young arms who are making their marks in 2024. Led by Tarik Skubal and Reese Olsen, the Tigers’ young staff has pitched to a 3.17 ERA (4th best in the MLB), through their first 33 games. I was very excited about a number of their young bats coming into the season as well. Riley Greene has made me look smart, posting a .953 OPS. On the contrary, Spencer Torkelson and Colt Keith are yet to get comfortable at the plate in 2024. Despite missing production from the right side of their infield, the Detroit Tigers won 17 of their first 30 games. Once Torkelson and Keith get going, the Tigers will be dangerous. 

7. CLEVELAND GUARDIANS (Previously unranked):

Out of nowhere, the Cleveland Guardians have gotten off to an incredible start. At 21W-12L, they currently have the second-best record in the American League. Led by the bullpen, their pitching staff has a very solid 3.48 ERA, 9th best in the MLB. Their lineup is doing its job as well, posting a .711 OPS, 12th best in the MLB. They have a great record, good pitching, and good hitting, so why aren’t they higher than 7? That’s because I’m very concerned regarding their depth. Cleveland has 3 hitters with an OPS above .850, and the rest of the team is all below .740. Cleveland has 1 starting pitcher with an ERA below 2.10, and the rest are all above 4.30. If one or two of these key players get injured or start slumping, which will happen 100% in the game of baseball, Cleveland is toast. There’s no denying that they’re looking great through 33 games, but let’s see if they can keep it up through the long and taxing 162-game season.

6. MILWAUKEE BREWERS (+4):

Like many others, I believed that the Milwaukee Brewers would regress after losing Corbin Burnes and Craig Counsell. Nevertheless, Milwaukee has embraced the “us against the world” mentality and they have set out to prove the doubters wrong. As of the first week of May, they’re doing an incredible job. At 20W-12L, Milwaukee currently sits atop the NL Central. Unlike Cleveland, the Brewers have a deep lineup. They have 6 hitters posting an OPS north of .775, and their two youngsters, Jackson Chourio and Sal Frelick will eventually figure it out and join the group. Despite having 4 pitchers on the IL, Milwaukee’s staff has done a decent job, pitching to an average 3.97 ERA. The Brewers are doing a great job proving the doubters wrong, and it’s fun to watch.

WORLD SERIES CONTENDERS:

5. NEW YORK YANKEES (-1):

After a blazing-hot start to the season, the Yankees have somewhat cooled off. At first glance, their offense is great, putting up a .725 OPS, 8th best in the MLB. However, if you take a closer look, that number is inflated by two games in which they put up 15 runs on consecutive nights. Their offense is inconsistent and it hurt them in their first series against Baltimore, in which they failed to score over 2 runs in any game. On the contrary, their pitching staff is quietly becoming a weapon. Through 35 games, the Yankees have pitched to a 3.01 ERA, 3rd best in the MLB. Led by closer Clay Holmes, who is yet to allow a run in over 16 innings pitched this year, their bullpen is arguably the best in baseball. Don’t forget that they’ve done so without Gerrit Cole, the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner. Cole has started his rehab process and when he comes back, the Yankees’ rotation will be as scary as it gets. Apropos stars returning from the IL, don’t forget about Jasson Dominguez, AKA “The Martian”. The Yankees called up their super-prospect, Jasson Dominguez late in the 2023 season. In a week and a half, Dominguez restored faith in New York. He homered off of Justin Verlander in his first at-bat in the big leagues and posted a .980 OPS, before tearing his UCL. Dominguez is expected to return in June and will likely take Giancarlo Stanton’s spot in the lineup. Replacing a man with a .725 OPS and the lowest on-base percentage in New York’s lineup, who’s also clogging up the DH spot and limiting their flexibility. Meanwhile, Dominguez is a switch hitter who hits for power and average and can play anywhere in the outfield. If Cole and Dominguez get healthy and find a rhythm in time, this Yankee team will be unreal. 

4. TEXAS RANGERS (+2):

Despite having two future hall-of-fame pitchers on the IL, the Texas Rangers have gotten off to an 18W-16L start. Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer are most definitely injury-prone, but we cannot just assume that they’ll be injured in October. The Rangers’ lineup, has done a very solid job, posting a .721 OPS, (9th best in the MLB) and 161 runs (10th best in the MLB), without getting the normal production from Corey Seager. Seager is the best hitter on the Rangers, but he’s been struggling to the tune of a .599 OPS so far. Seager has a career OPS of .864, and will soon enough be back to hitting like the star slugger he is. They’ve also been down their stud third baseman, Josh Jung, who played a big part in their championship run last year. It’s also important to note that Nathan Eovaldi is on the IL, as well. It is unlikely, but if Jung, Seager, deGrom, Scherzer, and Eovaldi get right in October, I don’t see a possibility in which the Rangers won’t win another World Series. Nonetheless, baseball is a streaky game, with many injuries and inconsistencies, and it’s unwise to expect everything to work out perfectly at the perfect time.

3. ATLANTA BRAVES (-2):

The Atlanta Braves were my World Series favorites from the very start. However, in April, they announced that Spencer Strider must undergo Tommy John surgery and will miss the remainder of the season. As I’ve stated in many of my articles, the front half of the team’s rotation is what wins a playoff series. Without their number-one guy, this is a completely different team in the playoffs. While their lineup is incredible, hitting for a .749 OPS, 4th best in the MLB, I’m concerned about Atlanta. While Chris Sale, Charlie Morton, Max Fried, and Bryce Elder are all solid pitchers, none of them scare me in a playoff game. In October, they’ll face rotations with multiple top-tier starters, and it’ll end the same it has in each of the last two years. The Braves are great, but I doubt they’ll win the World Series or even the Pennant. 

2. BALTIMORE ORIOLES (+1):

The Baltimore Orioles were one of the best teams coming into the season, and through the first week of May, they’ve exceeded expectations. My main concern regarding Baltimore was their pitching depth, both in the rotation and bullpen. They’ve answered the bell in a big way, pitching to a 3.38 ERA, 6th best in the MLB. They made a statement last week, by shutting down Aaron Judge and the Yankees’ lineup in the first clash of the AL East greats. Baltimore’s pen has 3 pitchers with an ERA of 2.77 or less, in 13 or more innings pitched. Meanwhile, their rotation has 3 starters with sub 2.90 ERAs, with Grayson Rodriguez and Dean Kremer close behind, at 3.71 and 4.19. Between their pitching staff stepping up, and their lineup leading the American League in both OPS and runs scored, the Orioles are going to be scary in October. Unless all the pieces fall into place perfectly for the Rangers or Yankees, I expect the Orioles to win the Pennant easily, and maybe even the World Series.

1. LOS ANGELES DODGERS: (+1):
   

After a ridiculous offseason, the Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t immediately meet the expectations. The Dodgers’ infield was a mess, to the point that they had to move over Mookie Betts, an outfielder, to shortstop. Furthermore, one of their biggest signings, Yoshinobu Yamamoto got lit up for 5 runs in his very first inning of the year. Nevertheless, they eventually figured things out and they are rolling now. Answering my main concern, the Dodgers have only committed 16 errors in the field, 10th least in the MLB. They currently lead the MLB in both OPS and runs scored, the only question is their pitching. Sure enough, led by the new imports Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s sub 2.90 ERAs, alongside the youngsters, Gavin Stone and Bobby Miller, the Dodgers rotation is coming together nicely. Alex Vesia and Evan Phillips have been incredible out of the bullpen, as well. Together, the Dpdgers’ pitching staff has a 3.42 ERA, 8th best in the MLB. In my very first article, I explained that the recipe for overperforming in the playoffs is two dominant starters (Glasnow and Yamamoto), and two dominant relievers (Vesia and Phillips). The Dodgers are already 22W-13L, and they’re going to “overperform” in the playoffs. Therefore, as of May 5th, 2024, I expect the Los Angeles Dodgers to win the World Series.