The crack of the bat, the pop of the mitt – baseball season is in full swing! We’ve moved past the small sample sizes of April, and the standings are starting to take a more definitive shape. While the true contenders often reveal themselves over the grueling 162-game schedule, the first couple of months have already given us plenty to talk about.
Some preseason favorites are cruising, some are stumbling, and several unexpected teams are making serious noise. Here’s our look at the MLB Power Rankings, focusing on who’s surprising us (good and bad) and who’s looking like the real deal:
The Elite Tier: Living Up to the Hype
- New York Yankees: Firing on all cylinders. Aaron Judge is back to MVP form, Juan Soto has been everything they hoped for, and the starting pitching, even without Gerrit Cole, has been phenomenal. They look like the most complete team in baseball right now. (Expectation: Met)
- Philadelphia Phillies: This team is rolling. Dominant starting pitching led by Zack Wheeler, Ranger Suárez, and Aaron Nola, coupled with a deep and powerful lineup. They’re running away with the NL East and look like a legitimate World Series threat. (Expectation: Slightly Exceeded – Pitching Dominance is striking)
- Los Angeles Dodgers: Even with some bumps, the star power is undeniable. Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, and Freddie Freeman anchor a fearsome lineup, and Tyler Glasnow leads a solid rotation. They haven’t hit their absolute peak yet, which is scary for everyone else. (Expectation: Met)
The Strong Contenders: Making Noise
- Baltimore Orioles: Young, exciting, and powerful. Gunnar Henderson is playing like an MVP, Adley Rutschman anchors the lineup, and the rotation, boosted by Corbin Burnes, is solid. They are proving last year was no fluke. (Expectation: Met)
- Cleveland Guardians: MAJOR SURPRISE! Few predicted the Guardians would be leading the AL Central this effectively. Excellent starting pitching, clutch hitting led by José Ramírez and Josh Naylor, and fantastic bullpen work (especially Emmanuel Clase) have them looking like a serious playoff team under first-year manager Stephen Vogt.
- Milwaukee Brewers: MAJOR SURPRISE! After trading Corbin Burnes and losing manager Craig Counsell, many expected a step back. Instead, driven by Willy Adames, William Contreras, and surprisingly strong rotation pieces, the Brewers are leading the NL Central and playing exciting baseball.
- Atlanta Braves: Still dangerous, but dealing with adversity. Losing Spencer Strider early and now reigning MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. for the season are massive blows. Their lineup depth keeps them competitive, but they’ve slipped from the truly elite tier for now. (Expectation: Mild Disappointment – Injuries hurt, but still very good)
- Seattle Mariners: Pitching, pitching, pitching. Their rotation is arguably the best in baseball, capable of shutting down any lineup. The offense remains inconsistent, which holds them back from the top tier, but their pitching gives them a chance every night. (Expectation: Met)
The Playoff Hopefuls: In the Thick of It
- Kansas City Royals: MAJOR SURPRISE! Bobby Witt Jr. is a superstar, Salvador Perez is resurgent, and the rotation led by Seth Lugo and Cole Ragans has been far better than expected. They’ve cooled slightly but remain firmly in the AL playoff picture, a massive leap from last year.
- Minnesota Twins: Overcame a slow start thanks to solid pitching and contributions throughout the lineup. They look like strong contenders for the AL Central title, battling the surprising Guardians and Royals. (Expectation: Met)
- Chicago Cubs: Hanging tough in the competitive NL Central despite injuries. Solid pitching and timely hitting have kept them afloat. Need more offensive consistency to make a serious push. (Expectation: Met)
- San Diego Padres: Star power galore with Tatis Jr., Machado, and Bogaerts, plus the emergence of Jurickson Profar. Pitching remains a question mark, leading to inconsistency, but they have the talent to make a run. (Expectation: Met/Slight Disappointment – Expected more consistency)
The Muddled Middle: Questions Abound
- Boston Red Sox: Surprise Pitching! Their rotation has unexpectedly been a strength, keeping them competitive despite injuries decimating the lineup. Can they sustain it, and will the bats wake up?
- Arizona Diamondbacks: Disappointment. After a magical World Series run, the D-backs have struggled with injuries and inconsistent play, especially from their pitching staff. Still time to turn it around, but not the start they wanted.
- San Francisco Giants: Treading water. Some bright spots (Heliot Ramos’s emergence) but lack the high-end talent and consistency to break away from the pack.
- St. Louis Cardinals: Disappointment. Expected to bounce back after a dismal 2023, the offense has been largely anemic, wasting some solid pitching performances. Showing signs of life lately, but need much more.
- Detroit Tigers: Strong starting pitching led by Tarik Skubal keeps them intriguing, but the offense is often painful to watch. Need bats to emerge to truly compete. (Expectation: Met)
- Tampa Bay Rays: Disappointment. Injuries have ravaged the roster, and the typical Rays magic hasn’t been as potent. They’re hovering around .500, which feels like a letdown given their recent track record.
The Clear Disappointments: Falling Short
- Houston Astros: BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT! A disastrous start dug them a huge hole. Injuries hurt, but key players underperformed significantly. They’ve played better lately, but climbing back into contention is a massive task for the perennial AL power.
- Toronto Blue Jays: Disappointment. Loaded with offensive talent on paper (Guerrero Jr., Bichette, Springer), the lineup has significantly underperformed. Pitching has been okay, but they need the bats to wake up fast.
- New York Mets: Despite massive spending, the Mets have been mediocre and inconsistent. Injuries haven’t helped, but the overall performance hasn’t matched the payroll. (Expectation: Met/Slight Disappointment)
The Rebuilding & Struggling Tier
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Flashed potential early but faded. Some exciting young players (Paul Skenes, Jared Jones), but lack overall depth and offensive punch. (Expectation: Met)
- Washington Nationals: Surprise Fight! Expected to be near the bottom, the Nats have played hard and been surprisingly competitive thanks to emerging young talent like CJ Abrams and MacKenzie Gore. Still rebuilding, but fun to watch.
- Cincinnati Reds: Disappointment. Hyped young talent hasn’t translated into enough wins, largely due to offensive struggles. Pitching injuries haven’t helped either.
- Oakland Athletics: Scrappy at times, especially with Mason Miller closing games, but talent deficiencies are clear. Playing better than rock-bottom expectations. (Expectation: Slightly Exceeded)
- Los Angeles Angels: Mike Trout’s injury was a predictable blow. Lack pitching depth and lineup consistency beyond Trout. (Expectation: Met)
- Colorado Rockies: Playing in Coors Field doesn’t hide the lack of talent, especially on the pitching side. Clearly rebuilding. (Expectation: Met)
- Miami Marlins: Injuries and underperformance led to an awful start and a sell-off (Luis Arraez trade). Clearly looking towards the future. (Expectation: Disappointment – Total collapse)
- Chicago White Sox: Historically bad start. Lack talent across the board and are firmly in a deep rebuild. (Expectation: Met – Knew it would be bad, maybe not this bad)
It’s still relatively early, and the trade deadline, injuries, and simple regression will inevitably shake these rankings up. But for now, the Guardians, Brewers, and Royals are crashing the party, while traditional powers like the Astros are trying to pick themselves up off the mat. It’s shaping up to be another fascinating MLB season!
What are your biggest surprises and disappointments so far? Let us know in the comments!
