Welcome to this year’s fifth edition of the MLB Top 10 power rankings. With my rankings, I am taking into consideration the potential of teams over the course of the season, along with the current value of teams, with far more emphasis on current value. Let me know how much you agree/disagree.

10. Milwaukee Brewers (20-16)

Last Week: NR

This 10th spot was really tough and came down between two teams: the Brewers and the Indians. They are both very similar in that the Brewers are 7-3 in their last 10 games and the Indians are 6-4, the Brewers have a -10 run differential on the season and the Indians have a -6, and the Brewers have a .556 win percentage while the Indians have a .563. So either team would have worked in this spot, but I made my decision on the fact I have a better feeling the Brewers would win a 7-game series over the Indians right now.

9. Arizona Diamondbacks (20-14)

Last Week: 10

The Diamondbacks are playing good ball and I wanted to put them a spot or two higher on the list, but when it comes to long term value over the course of the season, I don’t think they’ll hold up quite as well. But we’ll see. For right now, they’re just a game back of the powerful Dodgers in the NL West and have four of their five previous games. They also have no trouble scoring runs, with the 2nd-most runs scored this season in the NL, just four back from the Dodgers. Finally, they’ve had a pretty tough schedule so far, so they’ve proved they can beat quality competition. As I type all of this, I want to move them up on the list more and more.

8. Philadelphia Phillies (19-14)

Last Week: 9

Up one spot from last week, the Phillies have picked things up a little and are winners of 7 of their last 10 games. While a 19-14 record and 1st place in the NL East is nothing to complain about for Phils fans, I would say they haven’t lived up to expectations so far this season…which were really high. They’re still struggling in too many areas right now that make you wonder if they will end up winning the division. Pitching still needs to be more reliable, as well as some of their bigger bats (we’re looking at you Bryce Harper, with your .233 avg). But as a Braves fan, nevermind…that batting average is good right where it’s at.

7. St. Louis Cardinals (20-14)

Last Week: 4

The Cardinals are coming off a sweep to their rival Chicago Cubs and have lost four straight, which is why they’re down three spots from last week. To me, the long-term value is evident. I picked them to win the division at the beginning of the year, and I’ll stick to that all season long. Like I called out Bryce Harper, I’ll do the same with Paul Goldschmidt and his .252 average. I can say though, that I have much more confidence in Goldy coming around sooner than later, than I do with Harper. Goldschmidt started off slow last year too, before becoming the player we all know he is. As a matter of fact, Cardinals fans should be way more concerned with Matt Carpenter and whether he’ll get back into form.

6. New York Yankees (19-14)

Last Week: 6

Staying in the 6th spot for another week are the Yankees. They’ve slowly crept their way closer and closer to the Rays this season, despite a rash of injuries. Just like the Rays, they’re 6-4 in their last 10 games, and are only two games back from the AL East lead. The Yankees have really had some guys step up this season, including Gio Urshela who is hitting .333 through 25 games and has been a nice fill-in for the injured infield. Clint Frazier is back from injury now, and he was having a great start to the season as well, hitting .324 with 6 home runs so far.

5. Chicago Cubs (19-12)

Last Week: NR

For the first time this season the Cubs find their way onto this list, and jump all the way to the 5th spot. The long-term value has been there all along, we just kept waiting for them to play to their potential. They are the hottest team in baseball right now, winning seven in a row, and 14 of their last 17 games. It’s good to see for Cubs fans, who were extremely frustrated with the slow start the ball club got off to. Their sweep of the Cardinals this weekend, especially hanging 13 on the scoreboard last night, has rejuvenated this fan base for sure. This is also the third team from the NL Central on this list, so that will be such a fun division to keep an eye on all season long.

4. Minnesota Twins (20-12)

Last Week: 7

The Twins are up a few spots from last week, with a 7-3 record in their last 10 games. They’ve been pretty impressive from the get-go, which I fully expected they would. Currently holding a two-game lead over the Indians in the Central, I think they’ll finish the season at the top of the division by about the same margin. They have a very favorable schedule over the next three weeks, so it would be pretty big if they can take advantage of it before they’ll come to more quality opponents. It’s going to be a fun race between the Twins and Indians this year.

3. Tampa Bay Rays (21-12)

Last Week: 3

The top three on this list are unchanged from last week. It’s a little boring when it works out that way, but that’s just the way it is. All three of these teams have continued to play really good ball. The Rays still have given up the least amount of runs in baseball, 17 less than the best team, you guessed it…the Cincinnati Reds. Blake Snell also hasn’t been a huge factor yet this season, either, which speaks to the quality of their pitching staff. Snell missed a start with an injury, and hasn’t been that great in his two starts since returning. He’s back on the hill today in an interleague matchup with the Diamondbacks who score a lot of runs, as we’ve already determined. That’ll be a game to keep an eye on.

2. Houston Astros (20-14)

Last Week: 2

In their last 18 games, the Astros have been perfectly average with a 9-9 record. They’ve played a lot of really good competition in those games, though. The Astros are experienced and well balanced, and will more than likely win the AL West and go on to be the favorite to win the AL Championship. I almost feel like this team is on cruise control right now, managing their way through the regular season and waiting until their actual season, the post-season, begins. They are tied for second with the best run-differential in the game with the Rays at +46. While that is really good, the best team in that category is at +51 and is a surprise (at least to me). They are the Chicago Cubs.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (22-14)

Last Week: 1

For the second week in a row, the Dodgers claim the top spot. Everyone knows how good their offense is by now, led by Cody Bellinger, and it seems like they are on a mission to get back to their third straight World Series after falling in the last two. They lead the majors in runs scored at 191, which averages at 5.3 per game. They are 7-3 in their last ten games and are preparing to take on the NL East’s Braves and Nationals this week at Dodger Stadium.

Garett

MLB Top 10 Power Rankings