We are over the two-month mark The 2022 MLB season has concluded, so we have seen enough action to be able to make more accurate predictions about the baseball world.
You can be sure that your Dodgers team, despite some odd outings against the Pirates this season, is still a formidable offensive force. If you are a New York Yankees or Mets fan, you might be wondering whether they can maintain this level in October. If you are a Texas fan, you might be cautiously optimistic that the Rangers can make it into the playoffs after turning around their season.
What does the first eight weeks of the season look like for your team? And where is it compared to the other 30 teams?
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 and Joon Lee to provide an observation for each team.
Record: 33-17
Previous ranking: 1
The Dodgers’ annoying tendency to always be right continued into the past week. But, L.A. was surprised by the Pirates. Yes, the Pirates. The Dodgers have a record of 1-4 against the Bucs after losing to them at home on Monday and Tuesday. They are the team with the worst run differential in baseball. L.A. is currently 32-12 against all other teams. What does this mean? Baseball is a strange, amazing thing. Aside from that, baseball is a wonderful, strange thing. Is Something to Pittsburgh’s players seeming to have the Dodgers number. L.A. will likely just acquire those players. — Doolittle
Record: 34-15
Previous ranking: 2
While Aroldis Chapman The Yankees has had a difficult time with their lockdown relief. Clay Holmes. New York purchased Holmes in a trade last year that barely made any ripples. But the righty has been dominant to begin the season with a 0.36 ERA, 0.69 WHIP and 24 1/3 innings pitched over 23 games. Holmes previously had a 5.57 ERA over four seasons for Pittsburgh. –– Lee
Record: 35-17
Previous ranking: 4
Dom SmithAfter a career that saw him hit.186/.287/.256 and no home runs in 86 games, his up-and-down Mets career came to an abrupt halt when the Mets optioned he back to Triple-A. He seemed to be having a breakout year in 2020 when he ranked fourth among NL slugging and OPS, with totals that prorated up to 60 doubles or 30 home runs in a full-season. Although his power declined in 2021, he admitted this spring that he had suffered from a partially torn labrum. Buck Showalter said that Smith was likely feeling pressured and like he needs to hit four home runs within one at-bat. Smith could also be considered trade bait if the Mets desire to add more pitching depth. — Schoenfield
Record: 33-18
Previous ranking: 3
Houston went 4-2 in six games before Wednesday’s win against Oakland. However, they scored only 13 runs in those games. This is the lowest scoring major league team in that time period. Although it’s only a week, the streak highlights some long-term trends for Astros’ hitters. Houston’s season average dropped to.228 after the six games. Although it’s not a good idea to focus on batting average as an evaluation measure, the fact is that Houston’s elite offense has been distinguished by its ability to post elite numbers across all three major slash categories for the majority of the past decade. This is the key question: Will this trend continue or will it simply reflect the current status of the Astros after recent roster changes? — Doolittle
Record: 32-20
Previous ranking: 6
The Brewers are resilient. This is not surprising, considering Craig Counsell is the best in the dugout. Milwaukee will be tested without Brandon Woodruff And Freddy PeraltaThe former pitcher will be back shortly. As long as Josh Hader If he is healthy, Milwaukee will always have an opportunity late in games. He saved the doubleheader Monday and has 18 saves in his first 18 games. He has only given up four hits. That’s the type production that wins MVP votes. Rogers
Record: 30-20
Previous ranking: 5
Joe Musgrove He has been a top prospect and rookie, but has proven to be an ace. MacKenzie Gore Similar results have been achieved by Gore. Musgrove is currently at the top of all NL starters for WAR with a 1.86 ERA. Gore is in the top 10 with a 1.71 ERA in eight starts. Musgrove and Gore. Yu Darvish And Sean ManaeaSan Diego is home to one of the most respected baseball teams in the world. — Lee
Record: 29-21
Previous ranking: 8
Tampa Bay was hit hard by the shortstop Wander Franco Hit the injured-list, but this team — as it is every year — will be carried on by its depth. Taylor Walls Franco will be following Franco as Franco’s second choice, having emerged as one the top prospects of the organization in recent years. While Shane McClanahan And Drew Rasmussen Continue to shine Jeffrey Springs He has had a significant impact on the rotation. He has allowed just eight runs in 38 1/3 innings, for a 1.88 ERA (and 0.86 WHIP). — Lee
Record: 29-21
Previous ranking: 10
Talk about a team who takes a step back for every step it takes forward. Since the start of the season, the Cardinals seem to have trailed the Brewers by three games in the NL Central. They’ve been hot, cold, and in between. Paul Goldschmidt He has been on fire recently. His active 23-game hit streak has seen him produce a.440 batting percentage and 1.369 OPS. He is living up to the big contract. Rogers
Record: 29-20
Previous ranking: 12
Shortstop Bo Bichette After struggling to get out of the gates in 2021, is now starting to make a comeback. Bichette continued a poor April with a May that saw him hit closer to his career norms of.296/.339/.537, five homers, and 16 RBIs. Alek Manoah This rotation continues to be led by Manoah with a 1.77 ERA (and 1.9 WAR). Manoah is second in quality starts behind Musgrove among all baseball pitchers. — Lee
Record: 30-22
Previous ranking: 9
Although it’s a small statistic, the Twins lost three of their last four games. Although it’s not significant, it highlights something that is likely to be true. The bullpen is the main area that Twins should focus on when they upgrade their in-season equipment. The Twins would not turn down the opportunity to upgrade any position group. However, their rotation has been great and they have a position player roster that is one of the best in MLB. The relief staff is the only thing you need to worry about as we look forward to Minnesota’s potential success in October. This hurdle is initially just winning a game. — Doolittle
Record: 27-23
Previous ranking: 7
This was not a week to remember. Six consecutive losses for the Angels have been recorded since Wednesday’s publication of power rankings. Los Angeles was unable to stop the bleeding, with more than seven runs per game. The average rotation ERA in that period was close to eight. We all know the Angels’ recent narrative: The inability to put together enough starting pitching has been the biggest driver in a six-year-and-counting postseason drought. L.A. had a six man rotation. The slump was basically one round through the rotation. Chase Silseth The injured are taken in their place Griffin Canning. Panic? No. Concern? Concern? — Doolittle
Record: 27-22
Previous ranking: 11
Although the Giants opened the season with a 14-7 record, they are now in decline. They finished May with a 13-14 record, and lost two of their three games to the Reds. The Giants’ pitching team ranks among the top in baseball, but it has been slipping in ERA. The Giants need pitchers who can keep up with the rest of their division. Jakob Junis He has a 2.68 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and is second in WAR among team pitchers. This allows him to perform above his career norms. — Lee
Record: 24-27
Previous ranking: 13
Boston is recovering from its poor start to this season and is close to the.500 mark. Nathan Eovaldi After a five-run inning against Astros, he made two more starts and allowed only four earned runs. He also struck out 17 batters in 15 1/3 innings. That included a perfect match against the Orioles. The season’s first part was dominated by third baseman Rafael Devers The team’s offense leader, hitting.341/.371/.603 and 11 homers with a 2.6 WAR. — Lee
Record: 23-25
Previous ranking: 14
While the White Sox have many problems with injuries and underperformance, they won’t have to deal with former AL Cy Young winners. Dallas Keuchel. Keuchel was officially designated for assignment last Wednesday and eventually released after clearing waivers. This is a clear indicator that Chicago didn’t see a turnaround in the veteran lefty. Keuchel’s White Sox record was excellent through the end of June. He was 12-4 with a 3.13 ERA and 11 quality starts across 26 rotation appearances. Keuchel went 5-12, had a 7.11 ERA, and only four quality starts in 23 games. Although it seemed like Keuchel’s contract was overdue, the White Sox should consider it a sunk expense that is unlikely to be covered in on-field value. However, there’s a risk. If Keuchel tries to join another team and fails, it will not be a good idea for Chicago’s pitching process. — Doolittle
Record: 24-27
Previous ranking: 15
After hitting two home runs in April, and then.280 with five more home runs in 16 May games, William Contreras He is getting more playing time. It’s split between catcher/DH and one disastrous game in left-field. Contreras’ bat began to turn last year, when he hit.290 at Triple-A and slugged.516 at Triple-A. While he struggled in major leagues, Contreras did have some power potential. Unexpectedly, the Braves also called up top prospect Michael Harris II From Double-A to play centerfield, they suddenly rely on two young players as a way to increase their offense. Schoenfield
Record: 24-25
Previous ranking: 23
We dare to say that the Rangers are making a comeback after a slow start. A productive week at the plate was highlighted by the wins in Oakland and Rays. The Texas hitters are among the top in OPS for the past seven days. Kole Calhoun The leader was 11-for-32 in eight games, while Marcus Semien Finally, he scored his first home run of this season. The Rangers are considered a wild-card sleeping dog. Rogers
Record: 22-29
Previous ranking: 16
After the Phillies’ May record of 10-18, speculation continues about Joe Girardi’s future as manager. The Phillies went 2-5 during an important road trip to Atlanta, New York and lost in 10 innings. The Phillies have the fourth highest payroll in the majors. However, the preseason concerns regarding the bullpen as well as the defense have proven to be justified. Dave Dombrowski may have more responsibility than Girardi. Girardi’s contract expires at the end 2022 and it is safe to assume he hasn’t gotten the best out of this team. Schoenfield
Record: 22-24
Previous ranking: 17
Jose RamirezThe rapid rise in RBIs of’s has been attracting a lot more attention. One, his 51 ribbies in Cleveland’s 45 first-half games put him on pace to reach 184 for the season. This was even before Wednesday’s addition of one RBI. This would be the third-highest historical total. This would be quite a feat considering the league context where it was achieved. The top three single-season RBI numbers are 191 by Hack Wilkinson (1930), league OPS.808, and 185 respectively by Lou Gehrig (1931), League OPS.740, and 184 by Hank Greenberg (37, league OSP.770). Through Tuesday, the OPS aggregate in majors was.696. According to baseballmusings.com Ramirez has driven home 28.8% of runners to base when he has taken the plate. Pete AlonsoNL’s RBI Leader is currently at 21.7%. — Doolittle
Record: 25-27
Previous ranking: 19
The Diamondbacks are still hovering around.500 this year, which is kind of funny. This is a significant improvement on their 2021 disastrous season. However, it was not the most pleasant of weeks. The Dodgers swept Arizona in a four game weekend series. They scored a total of eight runs against the Dodgers’ 26. Zac Gallen But, despite continuing to be a strong performer Zach Davies, Merrill Kelly And Madison Bumgarner All had tough outings last week. Rogers
Record: 21-29
Previous ranking: 20
Ty France He was the AL’s top first baseman in 2022. France is third in FanGraphs WAR’s top 10 first basemen, just behind Goldschmidt (NL). Freddie FreemanThe only other AL players are Cleveland and. Owen Miller Baltimore’s Trey Mancini. France is a strong force in scoring position, ranking among the AL’s leaders in OPS and batting average. France is in line to play in the All-Star Game, but don’t be surprised if he doesn’t get the nod from the fans. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.). Schoenfield
Record: 20-28
Previous ranking: 18
Marlins went 7-19, even though they were outscored only six runs. It was disappointing. The majors were led by the Marlins’ 14 runs of one-run losses on Wednesday. Only the Cubs, with 13, were close. There is still a bright spot. Jazz ChisholmHowever, his numbers dropped after a recent 1-for-18 stretch that was sandwiched between missing four games with sore hamstrings. For starters Sandy Alcantara And Pablo LopezHowever, he is still trying to make a case for the Marlins to participate in the All-Star Game. Schoenfield
Record: 23-27
Previous ranking: 22
Kris BryantColorado’s offense won’t be helped by’s return on the injured list. The Rockies only have 13 home runs away at Coors Field — the fewest in all of baseball. Bryant didn’t hit them out at all, but he was likely due for a few longer balls. This will have to wait for Bryant to get healthy. Colorado pitchers have an ERA of over 7.00, which is not good. Rogers
Record: 21-29
Previous ranking: 21
This is the name to remember: Christopher Morel. He may be the new player in a position outside of Seiya SuzukiTo be a regular on Chicago’s North Side. Morel has an excellent baseball body and a great game. He has been the batting leadoff hitter and has produced both early and late in contests. He has stolen five bases, and he plays all over the diamond. Morel is the perfect example of an “it” player. Now, he must prove that he can stay the course. Rogers
Record: 22-30
Previous ranking: 24
The Orioles are showing signs that they are alive — The team’s future could be seen in this indicator. Through 10 matches Adley Rutschman Hitting.179/.273/.256. But the bullpen of the team looks great. Highlights include the relief pitcher Jorge Lopez (1.16 ERA for 23 1/3 innings). Dillon Tate (six holds and 1.80 ERA in the 25th innings). Felix Bautista (two saves), Keegan Akin (0.80 WHIP over 33 2/3 innings Cionel Perez (0.55 ERA in 16/3 innings). — Lee
Record: 22-27
Previous ranking: 27
The Pirates are kinda just there. While they don’t win a lot, they haven’t lost a lot of games lately, going 11-11 in their 22 previous games. They have had a lot of low-scoring games, except for a 10-run win against the Rockies and eight against Dodgers. JT Brubaker, Jose Quintana Youngster Roansy Contreras All of them threw well in Pittsburgh. Contreras held the Padres to just two runs over five innings. Steel City has promise. Rogers
Record: 20-33
Previous ranking: 25
Oakland won its second series victory of May with two wins against Seattle, and lost three to Texas. Trade candidate Frankie Montas The team continues to post strong numbers, with a 3.20 ERA (and 0.99 WHIP) in 11 games this season. Oakland ranks second in offensive performance, ranking at 81 wRC+. This is more than Detroit. — Lee
Record: 17-32
Previous ranking: 30
Cincinnati may be able to move out of last place if they keep up their current pace. They’re currently 13-9 in 22 of their last 23 games. They have made progress on the mound and have compiled a top-10 ERA. Tyler Mahle And Vladimir Gutierrez It has been a year of good performances, something that has not always been the case. Combine that with a rising tide Joey VottoThe Reds are, at the very least, legitimate spoilers. Kyle FarmerIt was also helped by’s big week at home. Rogers
Record: 20-30
Previous ranking: 28
This past week, the Tigers showed some energy by winning five of seven games against Minnesota and Cleveland — both teams ahead of them in AL Central. Although it is possible to say Detroit is part the race, the Tigers were still outscored by the combined score during those games. But you have to start somewhere. Despite the slight surge in offense, Detroit’s pitching staff continues to struggle. Any hope for a recovery from Detroit’s injury-ridden pitching staff is dependent on some of their struggling hitters. Triple-A may offer some hope, as the team’s top hitting prospect is there. Riley Greene After suffering a foot injury in spring training, I just got back to playing. — Doolittle
Record: 18-34
Previous ranking: 29
“We aren’t trading Juan Soto“Yes,” Mike Rizzo, General Manager of General Motors, stated in a radio interview Wednesday. trade speculation For the team’s top player. We made it clear to his agent, and to the player. It makes perfect sense for the Nationals that Soto and the Lerner family are exploring the possibility to sell the franchise. explore trade ideasSoto is still under team control up to 2024. However, they still have years to do this and continue to search for a deal with Soto. Schoenfield
Record: 16-33
Previous ranking: 26
Although it is difficult to tell if the Royals are at rock bottom with regard to the quality of their play or not, they could have reached rockbottom in the MLB pecking list because dead last is about the lowest possible place. The Royals fell to the bottom of overall winning percentage, and run differential after a second consecutive pounding by Cleveland on Tuesday. Kansas City has been unable to lift its feet during the first two months of the season, despite having won two of three at Minnesota. Kansas City will begin a nine-game homestand Friday. While the opposition is tough (including Toronto and Houston), this may be the last chance this Royals team has to turn the tide. You can’t help but think Kansas City’s second half roster will be very different than its first. — Doolittle