MLB Power rankings
By: Will Aimette
(Photo Credit: MLB.com)
While I’m working on my new stat (which will determine the best team in baseball), why not make an article featuring my opinion on who the best teams are in baseball right now, so I could compare them with my results. These updated power rankings are based equally on the team’s current record, how good their roster is, and how they’re set up to do for the rest of the year.
Los angeles dodgers ⬆2
Yes, this is a controversial take, but I feel MLB’s so-called “evil empire” is back on top. Their pitching is healthy again, and even without it for five months, they were able to maintain a first place lead (technically one game out, as of right now) for five months. Now former Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell is back and nearly 100 percent, Glasnow is back, Kershaw is pitching better than ever, and Ohtani is starting to rack up more and more innings every outing. Even with some of their hitters underperforming (Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernandez), they still look just as good as any other team in the MLB. Now I picked the Dodgers over the Brewers because of one reason; the playoffs. I just can’t see the Dodgers losing in the playoffs, with Snell, Glasnow, and Yamamoto, plus the bullpen. Then you add the hitters, and even the Brewers can’t stop this team. For the Dodgers, it really depends on how healthy they are. Because in the end, the only team that could beat them is themselves.
2. Milwaukee brewers ⬆6
A lot of people say they just “can’t understand” the Brewers run. Let me explain. The Brewers are a small market team, meaning they only have so much money to pay their guys. As a result, either the Brewers can get a star and some decent players around him, or four great players and some decent players around them. Knowing the Brewers, they chose the second option. So with those great players, or the glue of their team, make up for most of their money spent. These players are Christian Yelich, William Contreras, Freddy Peralta, and Brandon Woodruff. But wait, there are some stars on the Brewers I didn’t name, right? Well that's where the second part comes in. Since prospects are extremely cheap for the first five years of their MLB careers, young breakout stars become incredible value, especially to a small market team like the Brewers. So this is Jacob Misiorowski and Jackson Chourio in this situation, allowing the Brewers to have six guys that hold the team together. Three starters, three hitters. So now you have a lot of talent for good value, and here’s where it gets Moneyball-esque. The rest of the team is composed of 10 or 11 guys that don’t blow you away, but are consistent, play hard, and are willing to do whatever to win. This includes guys like Brice Turang, Andruw Monasterio, Isaac Collins, Caleb Durbin, and many others, They’re all fast, all smart players, all good fielders, and can certainly step up to the moment (as we’ve seen in their 14-game winning streak). Then they are managed perfectly, bringing back the old style of bunt and hit-and-run. They drive teams crazy using this strategy, even the best of the best (they are 6-0 against the Dodgers this year). In fact this team is devised so perfectly for the regular season that they have been to the playoffs five times in the last five years. So why is this team number two? It’s quite simple actually; the playoffs. This team is made for the regular season and the regular season only. None of those five years mentioned earlier did the Brewers make it to even the NLCS. Why? Because against great pitching, the Brewers simply don’t have enough talent to face those guys. To be good in the playoffs, you can’t just have glue to stick your team together, your whole team needs to be glue.
3. Philadelphia phillies ⬆1
When I was drafting this article (before Wheeler got hurt), the Phillies were my number one team in the MLB. Even without him, they still are close. Without their number one starter it’s going to be tough, especially considering they have the hardest schedule in all of baseball from this point on. But even with the injury, their staff looks like one of the best in baseball. The Phillies are sitting a solid 5 games in first, so they do have a pillow. The question is, will the pillow be enough to catch their fall? J.T. Realmuto is heating up at the right time and Schwarber looks like an MVP. I mean the guy hit four home runs yesterday! So even without Wheeler, they look good. But not as good. Sanchez had his worst start of the season and Taijuan Walker isn’t showing any improvement. So that raises the question, who is the third starter for the playoffs? Obviously they have the one-two of Sanchez and Suarez, but for the third starter I think it will be Luzardo, but he’s extremely streaky. At some times, he looks like an ace, and at others he looks well—terrible. But overall the Phillies certainly have a record good enough to make the playoffs, and are also talented enough to make a deep run.
4. Toronto blue jays ⬆5
I’ll say it - it’s a little controversial, but it’s also true. Teams in the AL have an advantage over teams in the NL. I think the Cubs are a better team than the Blue Jays, but the Blue Jays have more wins, and the Blue Jays are poised to make it further in the playoffs. Why? Because they play in the AL, and their competition is much worse. Don’t believe me? Go and compare the playoff teams from the NL and the playoff teams in the AL and see which teams are better. So that’s two thirds of the criteria needed for the Blue Jays, while the Cubs only have a third better than the Blue Jays, which is their talent on their roster. I think the only two teams in the AL that can compete with them are the Tigers and the Mariners (and maybe Astros). The aspect of the Blue Jays that gives them such a strong team is how balanced they are. Between Bichette batting .300, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. being himself, and Barger breaking out, this team is as good as ever. Their only weakness is pitching. While Kevin Gausman is good, he isn’t ace quality anymore, and I don’t see anybody else on this team that is capable of pitching consistently well. So while the Blue Jays are a good team, they’re only all the way up here because they play in a much easier league.
5. San diego padres ⬆2
This was the hardest decision of the article. Padres or Cubs? Well I believe the Padres have the slight edge. Why? Because the while the Cubs are seven games back in their division, the Padres are only two. Their records and rosters are pretty much equal. That gives the Padres a much better chance at having a first round bye, which is a huge advantage in the postseason. The Padres have a great top five in their lineup. Arraez is an excellent leadoff hitter, Machado is great batting second, and Tatis works perfectly right behind him batting third. A young Jackson Merrill is breaking out behind Tatis and so is Gavin Sheets, who is excelling in San Diego. Not to mention Ramon Laureano is playing the best baseball of his career. The guy instantly turned into a 30-30 guy with great defense the moment he arrived in San Diego. Talk about a career year. Their pitching is questionable but when Dylan Cease gets hot, their whole rotation looks that much better. So while the Padres are still stuck behind the Dodgers in second, they look good enough to make it to the playoffs and make a solid run.
