MLB Power Rankings: Week 4
12. Philadelphia Phillies (10-8)
The Phillies are still working on finding consistent offense. The pitching however, has been great. The depth has been increased thanks to the great start from Ranger Suarez who is 3-0 with a 1.73 ERA through 3 starts. Add that kind of production to what you’ll get form Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler, and the Phils have a great rotation that can compete with any team.
11. San Diego Padres (11-10)
The Padres got two series wins last week against the Cubs and Dodgers. There is a noticeable grit and fight to this team that has been missing the past couple of years. They have had several comeback wins and rank 1st in the league in runs scored. The pitching additions of Dylan Cease and Michael King have also looked good to start the season.
10. Detroit Tigers (10-7)
The hitting of this team still has not been very good but the pitching has been phenomenal. They rank 1st in the league in WHIP and BAA and 3rd in ERA. A team that has great, consistent pitching will always be in the mix for the postseason.
9. Chicago Cubs (10-7)
The Cubs have been hit by the injury bug early this season but that hasn’t stopped them from getting the job done. The NL Central is turning out to be a very competitive division and Chicago is right in the middle of it. Michael Busch may have been the biggest under-the-radar trade of the offseason with his great start hitting .304 with 6 home runs.
8. Pittsburgh Pirates (11-7)
The Pirates had a rough week with a series split against the Phillies then got swept by the Mets on the road. This feels like a team that will have an inevitable downfall but I’m not ready to completely count them out just yet.
7. Cleveland Guardians (12-5)
Have we overlooked the Guardians? Last week I said their hot start was due to an easy schedule but they played tough against the Yankees and have started the week strong in Boston. They own the best run differential in the league and are top 10 in most hitting categories.
6. Milwaukee Brewers (11-6)
Another team that may have been overlooked is the Brewers. They are currently atop the NL Central which is the most competitive division in the league at the moment. The rank in the top 3 in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging. Christian Yelich did just land on the IL with a back injury. We’ll see how this team will do with one of their best bats out.
5. Kansas City Royals (11-6)
I love a worst-to-first kind of story and that’s what this Royals team has the makings of. The pitching staff owns the best team ERA in the league, led by a Cy Young level start from Brady Singer who has a 0.98 ERA through 3 starts. Salvador Perez doesn’t look like he has aged at all as he leads the team in batting average, home runs and RBIs.
4. Baltimore Orioles (11-6)
The Orioles are playing up to par to begin the season. The hit well, the pitch well, and they have an energized fan base behind them. Grayson Rodriguez and turned into the second ace of this staff behind Corbin Burnes. The lineup is one of the deepest in the league and should continue to be. They have a big weekend series against the Royals in Kansas City.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers (12-8)
The Dodgers haven’t looked super dominant over the past week, going 3-3 against the Twins and Padres. The expectations are very high for this team so even a .500 week seems like the roof is caving. All things considered, LA is off to a good start and Mookie Betts is on an unreal tear to start the season, hitting .387 with 6 HR and 18 RBI.
2. New York Yankees (12-6)
After a very hot start, the Yankees have lost 4 of their last 6 games against the Guardians and Blue Jays. Aaron Judge is off to a slow start, hitting just .182 and 3 home runs. If he gets going, this team is going to have one of the best offenses in the league.
1. Atlanta Braves (11-5)
New year, same story for the Braves. This team hits like no other team in the league, ranking 1st in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging. Marcell Ozuna is crushing baseballs right now with 7 home runs and a .364 batting average. The pitching is still a concern but Reynaldo Lopez has stepped up early for this team with 0.50 ERA through 3 starts.