Another week, another shift at the top in our MLB Power Rankings.
The powerhouses of baseball have split from the pack in the early part of the season, but the fight for the No. It remains a fierce battle between the contenders for the No. New York Yankees Los Angeles Dodgers — With some teams making their own cases to make big jumps on our list.
Which team is on the verge of victory in Week 9
The experts from the panel have combined their expertise to rank each team in baseball. We used what we had seen and what we knew going into this 162-game marathon. We also asked ESPN MLB experts David Schoenfield (Brand Doolittle), Joon Lee, Jesse Rogers, and Alden Gonzalez for observations on all 30 teams.
1. New York Yankees
Record: 40-16
Previous ranking: 2
The Yankees are still going strong. Nestor CortesTogether with a top pitching staff, leads the way • A slower fastball with a high strikeout rate. Although Aaron Judge Put together an MVP campaign. This group’s starting rotation has been strong, with strong seasons. Gerrit Cole, Jordan Montgomery, Jameson Taillon Luis Severino. New York is the juggernaut many expected it to be in the 2021 season. –– Lee
2. Los Angeles Dodgers
Record: 36-20
Previous ranking: 1
The Dodgers’ starting-pitching depth was tested by the departure of Clayton Kershaw Andrew Heaney. Even though both are close to a return, there’s another problem. Walker BuehlerStaff ace Corey Kluber is facing some unusual challenges. The 27-year-old right-hander allowed five runs in 2⅔ innings against the Mets on Saturday and has a 6.66 ERA over his past five starts, while striking out only 20 in a stretch of 24⅓ innings. Six of their nine previous games have been lost by the Dodgers. — Gonzalez
Record: 38-21
Previous ranking: 3
The Mets were 2-2 in a major series at Dodger Stadium. They lost the first two game (one run in two defeats), before winning the second and third. Walker Buehler In the third inning of the third game, and winning the fourth in 10 innings. Seth Lugo A ninth-inning lead (closer) was lost by. Edwin Diaz Had pitched the eighth against the Dodgers’ meat order. Eduardo Escobar On Tuesday, the Mets hit for the cycle against the Padres. This was the first game for the Mets since Scott Hairston’s 2012 death. It also marks the first time that Petco Park opened since 2004. — Schoenfield
Record: 36-21
Previous ranking: 4
It would be interesting to see if there was an ace emeritus designation in baseball, which is a designation that denotes the most successful active starter in the sport. Justin VerlanderKershaw or Max Scherzer. Verlander claimed this nontitle on Tuesday when he struck out 12 against Seattle in another great outing, moving him ahead of Scherzer injured as the active career strikeout leader. Verlander is also the active leader for career bWAR, and the leader in career victories (233), by a large margin. Verlander was the AL’s leader in wins, innings, and WHIP after his last start. It’s impressive for a 39-year old who has only one start in each of the two previous seasons. — Doolittle
Record: 33-23
Previous ranking: 9
Toronto is gaining momentum after a slow start to the May season. They have won series against the Reds and Mariners. Catcher is one of the most important contributors to the team’s offense. Alejandro KirkHe is the AL’s top catcher in batting average, on base percentage, and WAR. — Lee
Record: 35-22
Previous ranking: 6
The Padres are increasing their starting-pitching depth. Tuesday saw the team activated Adrian MorejonThe promising young left-hander, whose recovery from Tommy John surgery took 13-plus months, was finally able to pitch in relief of a dominant pitcher. Yu Darvish. The Padres have six capable starters in their rotation. Nick MartinezThe role of long-relief is held by. Morejon also has this ability. A.J. Preller, Padres general manger, will be able to use their health to keep them all healthy. Preller might be able help a less fortunate offense with some of that depth. — Gonzalez
Record: 32-25
Previous ranking: 8
Maybe this is how the Cardinals will be when they get back to health on the mound. They’ll be really good, but not top-notch. Paul Goldschmidt It has While leading the team, he was the Player of The Month in May and an elite performer. St. Louis has a third-lowest ERA and can’t seem to get its rhythm right now. You can’t expect anything less from the Cards in the pitching department. Rogers
Record: 33-25
Previous ranking: 5
OK, Josh Hader He is human. He lost a run, lost a save, and also gave up runs. Big deal. Milwaukee is not a perfect team but it’s still in the right division. Some cracks in offense started to show last week. The Brewers managed just.190 in seven days. This result also included a loss in San Diego’s home series. Rogers
Record: 33-23
Previous ranking: 7
Tampa Bay suffered two walk-off losses in its series against the Orioles. These are two crucial games that will determine the fate of the AL East. Games against Baltimore will be crucial in shaping the order in the division. Meanwhile, lefty Jeffrey Springs With a 1.62 ERA in 15 appearances and seven starts this season, he continues to be an impact arm in rotation. — Lee
Record: 32-25
Previous ranking: 12
Joc Pederson The news cycle was flooded with stories about people getting slapped. Tommy Pham We won’t be focusing on his behavior in fantasy football leagues because of his unsightly conduct, but we will. His bat. Pederson signed a $6 million contract this offseason. He leads the Giants’ adjusted OPS and slashes.262/.338/.574 along with 13 home runs in his first 45 games. Pederson was acquired by the Giants as a depth player who could match up with righties. However, he has been an important contributor to the team, along with several key players on injured list. — Gonzalez
Record: 33-25
Previous ranking: 10
All teams can be criticized for injuries. Minnesota can be more justified than any other team, and that is a fact that most of them cannot deny. Spotrac reports that the Twins have seen 24 players go on the injured list, which is the highest number in baseball. Five starting pitchers had been placed on the shelf as of Wednesday. Five! They were Joe RyanSonny Gray, Bailey Ober and Chris Paddock Kenta Maeda. The injury situation almost got worse when MLB batting average & on-base% leader were announced Tuesday. Luis Arraez His shoulder was injured while he dived for a ground ball. The initial prognosis for the injury is good. Despite this, the Twins are still comfortably at the top of the AL Central, where their team has been since April 24. — Doolittle
Record: 30-27
Previous ranking: 13
Boston is finding new ways to climb the ranks. After a slow start, they are closing the gap to the rest in the division. They currently would be making the playoffs in their last wild-card slot. Even though Xander Bogaerts Rafael Devers You have gotten the offense down so far. Trevor Story His slow start to the season has been reversed and he is now among the top WAR second baseman. — Lee
Record: 30-27
Previous ranking: 15
The Braves won four games in Colorado, pushing them over.500 for their first season since the start of the season 2-1. Michael Harris II Harris has had some great plays in center, which is why the Braves decided to promote him from Double -A. Harris was in the middle when Harris was positioned by the Braves. Ronald Acuna Jr. Right and Adam Duvall Left: The outfield defense is one of the most impressive in the majors and a significant improvement over last year. Marcell Ozuna In left, Duvall or Guillermo Heredia In the center. Harris is still not able to hit the ball after his 43-game Double-A record of.305/.372/.506 but the Braves will be there for him in the No. Harris is backed up by his defense. Schoenfield
Record: 26-26
Previous ranking: 18
The Guardians have gradually risen to the top of team defense leaderboards. Sports Info Solutions reported that Cleveland was the leader in baseball in defensive runs saved up to Tuesday. This is largely due to an outfield that has been rated as the best in MLB. The Guardians’ total minus-14 DRS (from the outfield) was the best in the majors, just one run behind the Twins. Minnesota, however, has been minus-7. Myles Straw, Steven Kwan Oscar Gonzalez All rate among the top 30 DRS outfielders. — Doolittle
Record: 27-29
Previous ranking: 17
Rob Thomson’s managerial debut was made easier by four consecutive wins for the Phillies. On Sunday, Bryce Harper In the eighth inning, he hit a game-tying grandslam against the Angels. Bryson Stott After the Angels had taken the lead in the ninth, the Angels scored a three-run walk-off homer. Tuesday was Tuesday. Alec Bohm Matt Vierling Hader was homered by the Phillies in the ninth, giving them a 3-2 victory over the Brewers. This snapped Hader’s 40-year streak of scoreless appearances. Schoenfield
Record: 26-28
Previous ranking: 14
Joe Girardi, a former manager, and Joe Maddon, a former manager, rank 34th and 30th in their respective career wins over.500. Tony La Russa of the White Sox is ranked ninth on this list, and second in wins. He, along with Girardi, Maddon and Maddon are leading a club that has not met expectations in 2022.
La Russa is not only close to Jerry Reinsdorf but also has some other advantages when it comes time to avoid becoming the third big-name manager fired. Chicago’s hovering at.500 is not great, but its run differential (minus 52 through Tuesday) suggests that it is very lucky to be so close to breaking even, especially in the AL Central, which is still winnable. The White Sox are still not at full strength. The 2022 debut is not yet scheduled for the rotation. Lance LynnThe former scout is on the verge of making a comeback. La Russa is yet to be able to write his preferred everyday lineup for the season. — Doolittle
Record: 27-31
Previous ranking: 11
The Angels lost their 12th straight game Monday night. Joe Maddon was then fired as their manager. Mike Trout Later that afternoon, he felt tightness in his left leg and the Angels lost their 13th consecutive game. This set a new franchise record for single-season losses. The Angels were just two weeks old when they sat 10 games over.500. They looked like a dominant team, ready to make it to the postseason for only second time in 13 year. Now, the Angels are reeling. It’s been an amazing turn of events. — Gonzalez
Record: 26-30
Previous ranking: 16
High-priced second baseman could be a factor in the Rangers’ success. Marcus Semien He is also doing the same. Semien hit.355 in the last seven days and had a day with three homers during a doubleheader. Semien’s power stroke is back, as he has slugged.839 during that span. This bodes well to Texas, who quietly is regaining the playoff race due to the Angels’ fall. Rogers
Record: 26-31
Previous ranking: 20
Are you looking for a Julio Rodriguez update? You should. After hitting.136 in the 12 first games of his career, his average for the rest of his career was.309/.363/.497 and seven home runs in his 43rd. His hard-hit rate is at the 90th percentile, while his walk rate is acceptable at 43rd percentile. His speed and defense are the biggest surprise. They both rank among the top in the game according to Statcast metrics. Swing-and-miss is still a major problem. If he can learn to lift the ball a bit more, hard-hit balls could turn into home runs. Schoenfield
Record: 24-30
Previous ranking: 21
Take a look at this 6-start stretch starting from Sandy Alcantara This was highlighted by Wednesday’s nine scoreless inning against the Nationals: 7IP, 1R; 8IP, 1R; 9IP, 0ER; 8IP, 1R; 8IP, 1R; 9IP, 0ER; 8IP, 1R; 8IP, 1R, 7 IP; 0R; 9IP, 0R; 8IP, 1R; 7IP, 0R; 9IP, 0R; 9IP, 0R; 9IP, 0R; and Don Mattingly for actually letting Matting 100 in four games. He has a 1.61 ERA, leads the majors with innings pitched and keeps it in the park. Alcantara should be considered for the All-Star Game starting lineup. None of the Marlins’ pitchers have ever attempted to start one. Schoenfield
Record: 27-31
Previous ranking: 19
The D-backs tried Dallas Keuchel, 2015 AL Cy Young Award Winner, and could have an immediate opening in their rotation. Humberto Castellanos has been injured in the elbow and is currently being replaced by another player. Tyler GilbertShe had five strikeouts and was then charged with six earned run against the Reds. Keuchel was signed to a minor league contract but has struggled with a 7.11 ERA ever since July. The D-backs hope to see Brent Strom, Keuchel’s former pitching coach, again in order to unlock the potential of a former ace. — Gonzalez
Record: 23-33
Previous ranking: 23
It’s the Christopher Morel Chicago. He is the rookie leadoff player and has gotten on base in 22. This is more than any other player in his career. After Tuesday’s leadoff home run, his OPS for the first inning is a staggering 1.523. With some combination of a few different things, he’s also a good late-inning player. Javy Baez (energy) Tim Anderson (hit tool). Bottom line: It’s great to watch him. Rogers
Record: 24-30
Previous ranking: 25
The Pirates are confusing, but not in a bad way for fans. No one expected them to do this — and yet, they’re sweeping teams like The Dodgers. In the last two weeks, Pittsburgh had a fourth-lowest ERA (in the majors) Roansy Contreras Zach Thompson The rotation was full of good moments. As Cincinnati finishes last, the Pirates would finish in third place. This would be a significant (morally) victory. Rogers
Record: 24-32
Previous ranking: 22
The Rockies won a four-game home series against Braves and were swept. This ended a 27-game losing streak that saw them lose 20 games. The Rockies’ winning percentage jumped from.500 to.500 in that span. Their pitching staff was last in the majors with a 6.06 ERA. Perhaps some of this can be attributed to bad luck. The Rockies’ opposing BABIP was one of the highest in the majors. Rockies pitchers also permitted the Rockies to allow 95 mph or more batted balls. — Gonzalez
Record: 24-33
Previous ranking: 24
The Adley Rutschman The Orioles are well into the new era, but they hit a stumbling block last week when Grayson Rodriguez, top pitching prospect, suffered a lat muscle injury. This could prevent him from being active until September. Rodriguez ranked No. 8 Kiley McDaniel ranked him among the top 100 MLB prospects and he was expected to make it to the majors some time this season. — Lee
Record: 23-33
Previous ranking: 28
The short-term prospects for young starters Casey Mize Tarik Skubal continue to diverge. Skubal’s season is gaining momentum. At the moment, Skubal must be included in any discussion regarding speculation about the AL Cy Young race. Skubal’s record since May 1st is 4-0, with a 1.60 ERA and seven starts. Mize, who was limited to two starts in the big league this season with elbow pain, had to be removed due to lingering soreness. Rotation injuries have been a major problem in the AL Central this season. Perhaps the Tigers can be thankful that the news in this area hasn’t been bad. — Doolittle
Record: 20-36
Previous ranking: 27
Guess which team had the most OPS in baseball during the week? The Big Red Machine is back! Three regulars (Brandon Drury, Joey VottoTommy Pham, and ) all reached 1.000 OPS last week. Cincinnati may be able, if it can get out of last after its poor start to the season, to declare the season a success. Ok, no. It’s still an impressive run for Reds, who are now 16-12 after their terrible 4-23 season. Rogers
Record: 21-37
Previous ranking: 29
Stephen Strasburg will make his first major league start of 2022 on Thursday after pitching 13⅔ innings across three rehab starts in the minors, including a final one in Triple-A where he allowed just one hit over six innings. Manager Dave Martinez assured him that there will not be any restrictions. Strasburg has had a hard couple of seasons since he was awarded World Series MVP honors in 2019. In 2019, he resigned with the Nationals on an eight-year, $245m deal. Strasburg was limited to two starts in 2020 and five in 2021, before undergoing thoracic outlets surgery. In 2019, he led the NL with 18 wins and 209 innings (plus another 36⅓ in the postseason). Schoenfield
Record: 20-38
Previous ranking: 26
Oakland continues to slide down the standings after its strong start to the season is fading into the distance. The team lost series to the Twins, Angels and Angels. There are still some bright spots, however. Frankie Montas Paul Blackburn Anchor the top position of the rotation — Lee
Record: 18-37
Previous ranking: 30
The Royals’ 2022 Season started to slip away, but Kansas City keeps finding new floors for their performance, and suddenly this could be the worst season of franchise history. On Tuesday, Kansas City was on pace to win 51 games. This would be five less than the previous Royals team that played in a full season.
K.C.The expected win percentage of KC based on run differential is on pace to surpass the franchise’s worst mark. KC could also trade because of its early collapse Andrew BenintendiHe is currently in a walk-year and has been the Royals’ best player so far. A long summer looms. — Doolittle