2017 MLB Power Rankings 1.0

The early stages of the 2017 MLB season certainly have had its fair share of surprises. The power rankings below display the current ranking of teams, based on how they have performed thus far combined with the ability to keep things rolling.

 

1. CHICAGO CUBS. The Cubs are looking as expected, and they should be extra happy with the way Jake Arrieta is pitching. Just wait until reigning MVP Kris Bryant gets hot.

2. NEW YORK METS. The Dark Knight is back?? And as long as Cespedes and Bruce keep hitting home runs, the offense will provide enough run support for the rotation.  

3. WASHINGTON NATIONALS. Max Scherzer through 2 starts – 2.13 ERA and 17 strikeouts. Trea Turner will be back healthy soon. Harper well on his way to a bounce-back year.

4. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS. Sweeping the reigning AL Champs? Offensive explosion? All they need now is more consistency from the mound and this could be a huge upset in the NL West.

5. CLEVELAND INDIANS. Francisco Lindor off to a torrid start (still waiting on Encarnacion) and the rotation looks solid. Still, losing 4 to Arizona is bound to drop them down some slots.

6. BOSTON RED SOX. There’s the good – Chris Sale, Drew Pomeranz, Sandy Leon. And there’s the bad – Steven Wright, the flu. Once they get fully healthy the Sox should be fine.

7. HOUSTON ASTROS. Lance McCullers looks like an ace. George Springer is off to a hot start.

8. BALTIMORE ORIOLES. Dylan Bundy is finally the guy the Orioles can look forward to every 5th day with confidence.

9. DETROIT TIGERS. Justin Verlander and Michael Fulmer have dazzled. The lineup isn’t where it should be (Miggy hitting .107) but it will get there.

10. LOS ANGELES DODGERS. Let’s hope they are better than they are playing, because the NL West is looking mighty crowded.

11. TAMPA BAY RAYS. Wow, who saw them being this high so early on. Huge credit to Chris Archer and Steven Souza.

12. COLORADO ROCKIES. Closer Greg Holland has a 0.00 ERA, even at Coors Field.

13. CINCINNATI REDS. The Closer-committee looks to be a genius decision. Lots of good hitting all around.

14. LOS ANGELES ANGELS. This is one of the expected worst teams in baseball by the Tailgate Staff. It has been a wild (LUCKY!) first week for the Angels. Hopefully they revert to what we expected so we don’t look as bad.

15. MIAMI MARLINS. Marcell Ozuna may finally be in for that true breakout campaign.

16. TEXAS RANGERS. A shaky bullpen could spell disaster for this team. Plus, Beltre’s injury adds further trouble to this struggling squad.

17. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS. Posey to the DL was a huge blow. The lineup looked weak even with him in there.

18. MINNESOTA TWINS. This is probably the highest they will climb in the rankings this season. Miguel Sano might be legit, however.

19. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS. The experience on this team should help offset early-season troubles, but a playoff run might be fading out of the picture.

20. OAKLAND ATHLETICS. Kendall Graveman appears to be the breakout pitcher of 2017. What if Sonny Gray returns, and he is good too?

21. TORONTO BLUE JAYS. When you fall behind the A’s in power rankings, you know the season is going bad for you. 1-7 bad. Expect some turnaround, based on the talent of this team.

22. PITTSBURGH PIRATES. Andrew McCutchen bounce-back year? Tyler Glasnow breakout? Gerrit Cole reverting to form? 0-3, Pirates fans.   

23. SAN DIEGO PADRES. Their young outfielder Manuel Margot has some promise, but the team doesn’t.

24. NEW YORK YANKEES. The hyped-up youth movement is looking like a crawl, and it is about to get slower with Gary Sanchez out for 4 weeks.

25. SEATTLE MARINERS. Wait, weren’t they supposed to be dark horses for the AL West crown?

26. KANSAS CITY ROYALS. How the mighty have fallen. At least Danny Duffy looks like a guy who can lead a rotation.

27. MILWAUKEE BREWERS. Ace Junior Guerra is out until mid-May. Keep an eye on Jimmy Nelson, though. He shut the Cubs down in his first start.

28. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES. Some high scoring games they’ve had. First beating the Nats 17-3, then getting smoked by the Mets 14-4. Clay Buchholz is being Clay Buchholz.

29. ATLANTA BRAVES. Freddie Freeman is a stud. Not much else is happening in Atlanta, sorry Braves faithful.

30. CHICAGO WHITE SOX. Full rebuild mode is about to start. Quintana, Robertson, and Frazier will all likely be on the chopping block.

 

 

Written by Matt Loehle