This is my first attempt this year at power ranking the top ten teams of the MLB. It’s always tough this early in the season because you have to separate the pretenders from the contenders. I am taking into consideration the potential of teams over the course of this season, along with the current value of teams, with far more emphasis on current value to make these rankings. So let me know if you agree/disagree and how bad I disrespected your team.

10. Houston Astros (3-5)

The team with the worst record on this list is the Astros and the only reason they snuck on it was because of their long-term value. Everyone knows they will be there in the end because they just have far too much talent not to. Three of their five losses came to a very tough Tampa Bay team, who will be featured further down the list. While not the start Astros fans wanted, they have nothing to be concerned about right now.

9. Detroit Tigers (5-3)

Don’t look now, but the Tigers are 5-3 and are tied for the lead atop the AL Central. The major question here is how they will hold up the rest of the season, which I don’t think they will very well. Jordan Zimmermann has given the team two really good starts, but you have to think him and his team will conform into their true selves pretty soon. Still, I give them credit for a good start.

8. Oakland A’s (6-5)

The A’s are a very solid team, which we all knew coming into the season. They have a lot of firepower at the plate with Kris Davis and Matt Chapman leading the way, especially Davis with five homers already. This team should hold up well throughout the season and I expect them to be in the race at the end. Even though the Rangers are currently 1.5 games better than the A’s, we all know that won’t last long.

7. Seattle Mariners (7-2)

Staying in the American league, I’m going with the Mariners at #7. I debated placing the Mets here, but I like their pitching a lot more. Seattle is an interesting team because they don’t have some key pieces from last year, but seem unfazed by that. They still have a lineup capable of giving any team problems, especially if Domingo Santana proves his early season success is for real. I don’t think they’ll be in the playoffs, but I don’t think they’ll miss out by all that many games either. They’ll have a very respectable year.

6. New York Mets (5-2)

We knew the Mets had improved a lot coming into this season and if they can stay healthy, should compete all year long. Their pitching staff is great with the deGrom-Syndergaard 1-2 punch. They’ve upgraded their bullpen, and their lineup is finally capable. It’s promising to Mets fans that Peter Alonso is contributing the way he is already too, and he should just get better. It will be very interesting to keep up with the Mets this season in what is a very tough division.

5. Minnesota Twins (4-2)

I really like this Minnesota ballclub and think they will win the AL Central this season. Their lineup can hit it, and even Byron Buxton has gotten off to a .308 start. Adding Nelson Cruz into their order was a big addition. 24-year old pitcher Jose Berrios is having a great start to the year as well. We knew he would eventually put it all together once he got accustomed to the big league level and it looks like he’s doing that. They will also be a very interesting club to keep up with this season, but I think they finally have enough to overtake the Indians.

4. Tampa Bay Rays (6-2)

Do the Rays have what it takes to steal the spotlight from the Sox and Yanks to win the East? Yes. Will they? That’s a very good question. The Yankees are dealing with the injury bug already this year, which is reason for concern, and Boston has gotten off to a very strange 2-7 start. I think it will be a three team race all the way to the end, and the Rays just might get it done. Coming off a 90-win season last year, they started the year off strong by taking three of four from the powerful Astros. Like always, they have a lineup full of guys who don’t get the recognition, but have a knack for getting the job done.

3. Los Angeles Dodgers (6-2)

The Dodgers are off to what looks like will be another very good season. They are scoring runs and looking pretty impressive doing it, with Cody Bellinger lighting up the scoreboard with 6 home runs and 16 rbi already. Once Clayton Kershaw and Rich Hill become healthy and are added to the rotation, it will make them that much more dangerous. I think by the end of the year it will be a two-team race between the Dodgers and the Rockies for the NL West. But it’s hard to bet against the Dodgers with their proven track record and experience.

2. Philadelphia Phillies (5-1)

The Phillies are good. They upgraded what was already a good team quite a bit over the offseason, to go along with quality guys in the rotation. There’s hardly a weak spot in their lineup with guys all up and down having the ability to do damage. If they can stay healthy, they have a really good chance at winning the NL East over the Braves, Mets, and Nationals who all have the power to win the division themselves. So far, the Phillies just seem to have that “it” factor also, which is hard to explain, but leads teams who have it to so much success.

1. Milwaukee Brewers (7-1)

The Brewers are off to the best start in baseball at 7-1. So not only are they the hottest team, but they also have the long-term value to go all the way. They are building off a 96-win season from last year where they made it all the way to the NLCS and are picking up right where they left off. Last year’s MVP Christian Yelich is picking up right where he left off as well, hitting .379 with four home runs already. They have a very good squad and should be fun to watch compete all season long in what might be the best division in baseball.

Garett

MLB Top 10 Power Rankings