MLB Power Rankings

We’re full on into baseball season and it’s been pretty enjoyable so far. If you missed our season preview last week, be sure to go check it out. We predicted the order of finish in each division and even made an early stab at the playoffs.

Today though we begin analyzing what’s actually happened to this point. Below are our power rankings. These will continue on and off throughout the season. Similar to our NFL Power Rankings, these should reflect the entire season to date, with some added emphasis on their recent play. This is our first edition.

MLB Power Rankings – April 11, 2013

1. Atlanta Braves (8-1) – The Braves not only have the best record so far, but they have only allowed a league best 18 runs in 9 games, and are tied for the best run differential in the league. Justin Upton is the early season MVP. Plus, they should only get better seeing as Freeman, McCann, and Beachy are all currently on the DL (Andrew).

2. Washington Nationals (6-2) – Right behind the Braves is their fellow NL East competitor. The Nationals have been great at home (5-0) but they haven’t had consistent pitching efforts on the road (Andrew).

3. Oakland Athletics (7-2) – I wouldn’t have guessed it, but the A’s are tied for the best run differential (with Atlanta) in the majors. And unlike Washington, they’ve done their best work on the road (5-0). Their 58 runs scored is a league best too (Andrew).

4. Texas Rangers (6-3) – Yu Darvish is 2-0 and has fulfilled their ace role nicely. Their pitching has been better than their hitting thus far, which is a weird thing to say about the Rangers based on recent years (Andrew).

5. Boston Red Sox (5-3) – The theme of the league so far has been pitching, and the Red Sox have been doing it well. Getting production from a guy like Middlebrooks (3 HR’s in their game on Sunday) helps a lot too (Andrew).

6. Los Angeles Dodgers (5-3) – The Dodgers are another team that is thriving on the mound, but they have struggled at the plate. Once their hitters get going, they will be a truly great team (Andrew).

7. St. Louis Cardinals (5-4) – The Cardinals are a great offensive team. Their hitting will only carry them so far though (Andrew).

8. Kansas City Royals (6-3) – I expected the Royals to be good and they have gelled together quickly. Because they aren’t used to success, I wonder how they will handle it if they keep up their solid play for a few months (Andrew).

9. Arizona Diamondbacks (6-3) – Arizona (unlike KC) I didn’t expect to be good. I have serious doubts about their ability to keep it up at all (Andrew).

10. Cincinnati Reds (5-4) – This is a team that is similar to St. Louis… they score a lot of runs but are still searching for some pitching consistency (Andrew).

11. San Francisco Giants (6-3) – They have a good record, but I just haven’t been too impressed by them. They haven’t been pitching or hitting particularly well (only +3 DIFF) but I guess they have been “winning” well (Andrew).

12. New York Mets (5-4) – In the tough NL East, the Mets are playing third fiddle. I think they could potentially hang around all year though (Andrew).

13. Detroit Tigers (4-4) – The Tigers have yet to find their bats but we all know they have the firepower to break out at any time (Andrew).

14. Baltimore Orioles (4-4) – Have you watched Manny Machado play yet? He’s good and will only get better (Andrew).

15. New York Yankees (4-4) – If Robinson Cano can continue hitting like he has this week, the Yankees may be okay… but due to injuries they are thin overall (Andrew).

16. Colorado Rockies (5-4) – Anchored by a 3-0 record at home, they are the last team on these rankings with a positive run differential. Chacin has been their ace on the mound and they’re getting production from various places in the lineup (Andrew).

17. Chicago White Sox (4-4) – The good news is their pitching, the bad news is their hitting (Andrew).

18. Tampa Bay Rays (4-5) – There are games when they look great but then they have some stinkers. Thankfully the AL East isn’t as great as normal this year (Andrew).

19. Philadelphia Phillies (4-5) – This team is pretty old… but they can still get it done. A few new faces have infused some energy, but the return to form by their vets (Halladay, Utley, Howard) will be key to their success (Andrew).

20. Chicago Cubs (3-5) – They haven’t been as bad as their record indicates. They simply are young and haven’t closed out games very well (Andrew).

21. Toronto Blue Jays (3-5) – I expected them to be a little bit better on the mound than they’ve been. But they have the talent to come around so it’s more a case of a slow start than anything else I’m sure (Andrew).

22. Minnesota Twins (4-5) – They don’t have the hottest bats in the league but they have clawed out four wins in nine games. Good work (Andrew).

23. Seattle Mariners (4-6) – Have already played ten games so they get more rest throughout the season than ever other team… LOL (Andrew).

24. Los Angeles Angels (2-6) – Who would have a thought that a team with a roster this good could start out so poorly? They have a respectable DIFF (-11) compared to their terrible record.  Look for them to get it going soon (Andrew).

25. Cleveland Indians (3-5) – This team is one of three winless home teams in the majors. The good news is that they have been decent away from home (Andrew).

26. Houston Astros (3-6) – Houston have won two games in a row, which is the only thing that sets them apart from the teams below (Andrew).

27. Pittsburgh Pirates (3-6) – Magic Wandy has been their brightest spot so far in the year (Andrew).

28. Milwaukee Brewers (2-6) – When nobody on your team has more than 1 HR this far in, that’s not good (Andrew).

29. San Diego Padres (2-6) – Right where I thought they’d be (Andrew).

30. Miami Marlins (1-8) – In nine games they have scored a league worst (by far) 16 runs. That is awful (Andrew)!

By: The Sports Guys