We're now four weeks into the MLB season and we can see coast-to-coast dominance — New York and Los Angeles are home to two division leaders.
Do the New York Yankees, New York MetsOr Los Angeles AngelsThe beaten out Los Angeles DodgersFor the No. 1 spot?
Our experts have combined their knowledge to rank all teams in baseball. This is a combination from what we've seen thus far and what we knew going into the 162-game marathon that makes up a full season of baseball. We also asked ESPN MLB experts David Schoenfield (Brand Doolittle), Joon Lee, Jesse Rogers, and Alden Gonzalez for their early observations of all 30 teams.
Week 3 | Preseason rankings
1. New York Yankees
Record: 18-7
Previous ranking: 5
Yankees are flourishing after inducing panic among fans with a 5-5 start, which was followed by a 5-5 finish to the season. Aaron Judge Anthony RizzoWhile infielders catch baseballs, they are hitting the ball hard. Isiah Kiner-Falefa DJ LeMahieuYou will shine on the plate Gerrit ColeAfter a few shaky outings, he seems to be finding his feet. The rest of the rotation is between Jameson Taillon, Jordan Montgomery, Nestor Cortes Luis SeverinoThey have taken up the slack. — Lee
2. Los Angeles Dodgers
Record: 16-7
Previous ranking: 1
Through the first four weeks of the National League season, the Dodgers have been up there with the Mets in terms of the best team. It seems that they are still not at their peak. Mookie Betts, Trea Turner, Justin Turner Max Muncy —They usually make up six of the top spots in the lineup —They all have had to struggle in an era when offense is at an all-time low throughout the sport. The Dodgers have the best run-differential among the majors. While their offense has been mostly carried by the pitching, the Dodgers have a lineup that rivals the greatest in baseball history. That will happen at some point. — Gonzalez
3. New York Mets
Record: 18-9
Previous ranking: 4
With roster sizes ranging from 28 to 26, Mets were designated Robinson CanoAssignment: You can choose to keep Travis JankowskiHe offers speed and defense in outfield. Cano was 8 for 41 (.195) but only one home run. He wasn't getting much playing time. However, with Jeff McNeilHitting.337 left no room at second base. Cano may get one more chance (see Albert PujolsCano, who was on two teams after the Angels released his), but Cano's career — once destined to the Hall of Fame and 3,000 hits prior to two PED suspensions — might be over. Schoenfield
Record: 14-10
Previous ranking: 2
Here's a list containing the names of position players who were not available to the Giants when they began a series at Dodger Stadium this week. Brandon Belt, Evan Longoria, Tommy La Stella, Steven Duggar, LaMonte Wade Jr., Mike Yastrzemski. These six players can be counted upon for regular or semi-regular play. Yet, the Giants still play high-quality baseball and are near the top in the NL standings. They are that deep. They excel at maximising matchups. They are going to be a force again. — Gonzalez
Record: 17-8
Previous ranking: 10
Milwaukee will continue to receive good innings. Eric Lauer, Adrian Houser Aaron AshbyWatch out for the Brew Crew. Milwaukee's start pitching depth was three deep last year. This does not appear to be true anymore. One week after striking out 14 Phillies, Lauer struck out 11 Cubs Saturday. You can also add a bullpen to the mix, led by April's reliever of month Josh HaderMilwaukee won't need to score so many runs in order to qualify for the playoffs against a weak NL Central. Rogers
Record: 16-10
Previous ranking: 3
The Blue Jays remain one of the top teams in baseball. But, shortstop's struggles have prevented them from reaching their potential. Bo BichetteAt the plate. Santiago EspinalOne of the surprises for the team early in the season was Hassan, who nailed down the second base job with a.247/.311/.407. The late-inning trio Tim Mayza, Adam Cimber Jordan RomanoThis season, has been one the most successful in baseball. — Lee
Record: 16-9
Previous ranking: 9
Mike ClevingerOn Wednesday, the Padres finally recovered from Tommy John surgery. Now the Padres face a problem that would be envy by the rest of the game: Too many starting pitchers. Clevinger is sixth in a star-studded roster that also includes Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, Sean Manaea, Nick Martinez MacKenzie GoreThe 23-year old former first-round pick is now thriving in major leagues. Soon, Blake SnellThis staff will also include the Padres' newest addition, which is an embarrassment for a team trying to beat down the Dodgers and Giants in a tough division. The Padres could use some of their depth to get some much-needed outfield support if their starters stay healthy. — Gonzalez
8. Los Angeles Angels
Record: 16-10
Previous ranking: 13
Here's something you likely didn't pay much attention to at the beginning of this season: Taylor Ward. You may recall him. He was the No. In 2015, he was the No. 26 overall pick for catcher. However, he struggled to find his way in the major leagues and it sometimes seemed as though he never would. Ward improved his swing, gave up trying to lift baseball, and excelled in the lower minors. Ward has been one the best hitters in the game this year. He is now an everyday corner-outfielder and leads an offense that is very potent with him at the top. — Gonzalez
Record: 15-10
Previous ranking: 6
Two of the three games that the Rays lost to the Toronto Raptors were dropped by them. Minnesota TwinsOver the weekend, the offense has struggled overall. Randy Arozarena, Brandon Lowe Mike ZuninoFrustration among regular contributors Wander FrancoHe still looks like one of baseball's best players, leading the team with WAR in the early part. — Lee
Record: 14-10
Previous ranking: 8
St. Louis keeps spinning its wheels. They split a four-game series last week with the Mets, and did the same with their Diamondbacks counterpart. The Cardinals sometimes look like they are just waiting to get off to the races, but it isn't. They were shut down twice last week. Nolan ArenadoOne hitter is not struggling. His OPS was up last Wednesday, as was his WP. Paul GoldschmidtAfter a slow start,'s. St. Louis is now in second place, behind Milwaukee.Rogers
11. Minnesota Twins
Record: 15-10
Previous ranking: 17
The Twins would be the most popular team in baseball if it weren't for the Yankees' rampaging. Minnesota's start has been anything but uneven. With an 11-2 surge the Twins have jumped to a lead in an AL Central that was otherwise struggling. The key to this strong play was, well, everything. Minnesota was ranked in the top ten majors clubs for scoring and run prevention over the 12 games preceding Wednesday's loss against the Orioles. The Twins will be returning home Friday for a nine-game homestand, where they can put distance between themselves and the rest in the division. — Doolittle
Record: 14-11
Previous ranking: 12
Dusty Baker made history by becoming the first person to ever wear the hat. recorded his 2,000th winOn Tuesday, Baker became the 12th skipper to accomplish that feat as a manager. Baker seems a likely Hall of Famer, however, he has one hole on his résumé: A World Series crown as a manager. Only two of the 24 managers who have attained at least 1,500 career victories have not won a title. Gene Mauch, the late manager, is one of them. Buck Showalter, the Mets' best-ever manager, is the other. It's possible, though it's unlikely, that Baker or Showalter might find themselves in opposing dugouts during the Fall Classic.— Doolittle
Record: 12-15
Previous ranking: 11
The Braves lost Tuesday's doubleheader to the Mets, and they didn't win the series. They have now won only one of the first eight games of the season. Charlie MortonThe opener was lost by him as he continued to struggle at 1-3 with a 5.85 ERA and an 18-14 strikeout-to walk ratio. He has a good velocity and has made some concessions on soft contact. However, his command is not there, particularly on his curveball. His swing-and-miss rate has also dropped significantly from 2021. Schoenfield
Record: 12-13
Previous ranking: 7
Two major offseason acquisitions by the Mariners were Cy Young winners Robbie RayOutfielder and pitcher Jesse Winker. Ray is currently 2-2 with a 4.15 ERA. Not terrible but not great. His average fastball velocity has remained more than 2 miles per hour lower than 2021. However, his strikeout rates have dropped from an impressive 32.1% down to a lowly 20.8%. Winker is drawing walks, however, was hitting.186 through Wednesday. He has yet to homer. He hasn't been able to get the ball in the air, but his expected average based upon quality of contact is at.326. Schoenfield
Record: 12-12
Previous ranking: 22
Pablo LopezHe finally gave up his first home run, and allowed more runs Monday in the loss to Diamondbacks. But, what a fantastic first month: 3-1, 1.61 ERA with a.190 allowed average. He has a five-pitch arsenal, but he relies more on his four-seam fastball/changeup combination this year. These two pitches were combined at 64.3% last season and are now at 76.9%. His high soft contact rate and chase rates are due to him getting hitters to chase his changeup. Schoenfield
Record: 11-14
Previous ranking: 18
Bryce HarperA strain in his right elbow has prevented him from playing the field since April 16, due to an injury. Does that affect his hitting? His offensive numbers are okay, but not at the MVP level of 2021. His hard-hit rate is almost the same as 2021, and his average exit velocity is the same. He's not doing as much damage as 2021. It's not surprising that his walk rate is down from 16.7% – 6.6%. This is partly due to his swing rate, and especially his first-pitch swing rates. It's hard to tell if it's due to the elbow or if his brain is just thinking with. Nick CastellanosHe'll have more pitches behind him. Schoenfield
Record: 11-13
Previous ranking: 16
Over the first week of the 2022 season, the White Sox's offense was one of the most disappointing majors units. 27th in runs scored is the expected ranking of this lineup for the 2022 season. This is where it gets interesting: Is this bad luck or good fortune? Statcast places Chicago 9th in the expected wOBA at.344. However, the White Sox rank 25th for actual wOBA (.282). This is the biggest gap in major leagues (minus-.062) — Doolittle
Record: 14-10
Previous ranking: 14
German MarquezDespite being expected as the Rockies' anchor player, Marquez has been navigating a tough stretch. His 9.00 ERA is allowing five homers in the 19 innings following a stellar debut against the Dodgers. Marquez gave up seven runs and 10 hits in five innings Tuesday against the Nationals lineup. Later, he expressed disappointment at his new strategy for 2022 —To attack right-handed hitters more often, a four-seam fastball is recommended. —But it wasn't paying off. — Gonzalez
Record: 10-15
Previous ranking: 15
Other than the trio of Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers J.D. MartinezThe Red Sox offense has not been able to gain much traction. They have a team average of.231/.282/.352 so far. Boston fans aren't thrilled with the performance by big-ticket-free-agents Trevor StoryThis year, he has struggled to a.221/.307/.312 bat line. One of the bright spots has been the pitching staff. Michael WachaWith a 1.38 ERA and five starts, this season is looking great. — Lee
Record: 11-13
Previous ranking: 19
Although Cleveland has had a rough start, Guardians fans have seen their peak. Jose Ramirez. Ramirez had a batting average of.341/.421/.707 in his 22 first games. He had seven homers, seven runs and 28 RBIs. For the 22-game mark, each of these numbers was a new career record. Ramirez is often a slow starter, which is scary for Cleveland opponents. Ramirez's cumulative OPS is.789 for the 22 first games of his previous seasons. From games 23 forward, it's now.879. Ramirez has already finished in the top five of AL MVP balloting. He is poised to continue that conversation. — Doolittle
Record: 9-15
Previous ranking: 23
After a promising start, the Cubs offense fell to Earth. They will be unable to score this year due to their right-handed pitching. However, the Brewers' lefty performance should help. Eric LauerThey were also held down over the weekend. In a three-game series at Milwaukee, the Cubs managed just four runs. Nick MadrigalApril's rookie of the month Seiya SuzukiBoth were struggling. Despite being the leader of the league in the beginning, Suzuki struggled against both soft and hard pitching. Rogers
Record: 10-15
Previous ranking: 20
Oakland's season has been mixed up so far. They started the season with an 8-6 record, but have struggled over the last few series. This was highlighted by a sweep by the Guardians. The third baseman has been a shining spot. Sheldon NeuseHits.313/.375/.438 with a new partner and is now in charge of the start gig. Kevin SmithOn the injured list. Meanwhile, Paul BlackburnAmong the top pitchers in baseball in WAR. — Lee
Record: 13-13
Previous ranking: 28
The D-backs opened their season with a record 6-11, and it seemed like they were heading for another 100-plus-loss year. They have been able to find their feet recently, winning seven of nine of their last nine games to climb back to.500. They have been lifted by their starting pitchers. Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly Madison Bumgarner combining for a 1.34 ERA in 73⅔ innings. — Gonzalez
Record: 8-15
Previous ranking: 21
It was a nightmare ending for two of Tigers' great success stories last season. Entering 2021, journeyman catcher Eric HaaseSix career hits were his until age 27. With a.745 OPS, 22 homers and a great utility game, he was an indispensable player for Detroit. Meanwhile, Akil BaddooHe went from Rule V Draft to a.766 rookie-season OPS, and nearly every day in the Tigers’ outfield. Both breakout players have hit below.150 in 2022 with slugging percentages lower than.250. — Doolittle
Record: 10-14
Previous ranking: 26
Texas showed signs of life this weekend by winning a series against Braves, the world champion Braves. Texas had lost three of the four games at home to Houston's division rival Houston. Marcus SemienThe story of Semien's struggles continues to be interesting. He was 1-for-19 over seven days, which ended Tuesday. Semien had 45 home runs last year, but has not yet reached the big leagues this season. The Rangers had a better pitching performance last week, but they still rank among the bottom five. Rogers
Record: 8-15
Previous ranking: 24
Even though it was a cold start to his big league career, Bobby Witt Jr. He was a star on the field and the basepaths for Royals. After dropping to.128 in his 10th game, Witt went on a hitting streak of 11 games that ended on Tuesday when Witt scored his first major league homer against St. Louis. Dakota Hudson. Witt scored.342 during this spree in 11 of his games. Additionally, Witt was subject to a season-ending knee injury. Adalberto MondesiWitt is only a matter time away from making his debut at shortstop. He figures to become an established player. — Doolittle
Record: 10-14
Previous ranking: 25
After starting the season at.500, the Pirates have lost five of seven of their last seven games. Their worst problem is at the plate. They reached.204 and had only one home run in six of their seven games prior to Wednesday's win over Detroit. The Pirates' season-high ERA was 5.86. Their team ERA was just 5.00 last Wednesday, so it was a losing week. Rogers
Record: 9-16
Previous ranking: 29
Baltimore enjoyed a strong weekend in the Red Sox series with a win on Saturday and nine runs on Sunday. Anthony SantanderOne of the most outstanding offensive players, he has a.408 OBP and is one of the top hitters in the league. Closer Jose Lopez has looked strong, posting a 1.59 ERA, 1.06 WHP and 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings in 11⅓ innings pitched. — Lee
Record: 9-17
Previous ranking: 27
They broke an eight-game losing streak in San Francisco by winning two of three. However, it's already the “Let's talk about” stage. Juan Soto” Phase of the season. It's strange that he has only six RBIs and five home runs. His average exit velocity has dropped from 93.0 to 89.6 mph. This is because he has been hitting weaker grounders than usual, so it's not surprising. He's also making more contact when chasing which accounts for the low contact. The main reason his batting average is low is that he's only hitting.200 against lefties, as opposed to.280 in the last season. His OPS+ is still at 159, which means he has had a slow start. Schoenfield
Record: 3-21
Previous ranking: 30
The Reds ended a long losing streak and then quickly started a new one. Last week, they were swept by the Padres (and Rockies). While they were able to win some games on offense, playing in Colorado will make that possible — pitching was a problem. In their six final games, the Reds posted a 9.55 ERA. Hunter Greene, Tyler Mahle Vladimir GutierrezAll got hammered though Connor OvertonDenver, he put in a solid effort. He was the only one.Rogers
