The Yankees continue to pull away from American League rivals, while the National League's competition heats up 11 weeks into this season.
While the Dodgers hold onto the No. 1 spot, the Braves are pushing for the Mets at top of the NL East. The Padres and Giants are in the NL West, occupying the No. 1 spot. Which team is the strongest in these divisional matches?
Our experts have combined their knowledge to rank all teams in baseball. This is a combination from what we have 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 observations on all 30 teams.
Week 10 | Preseason rankings
Record: 51-18
Previous ranking: 1
People around baseball say that the Yankees team has “no holes”. The offense leads MLB with home runs and their rotation leads in ERA. People have compared the team's success to the greatest teams over the past few decades. Infielder has been one of the bright spots for this team. Gleyber TorresHe has an impressive batting line of.260/.309/.512, with 13 home runs, and has a 2.5 WAR. This is second among position players on the team. — Lee
Record: 45-26
Previous ranking: 2
It will be interesting to observe if the Mets follow Cubs catcher Willson Contreras The Mets' catchers are currently struggling at the plate, ranking 27th in Majors in catcher OPS. A lineup that averaged 5.79 Runs per Game in May has dropped to less than 4.5 Runs per Game in June. The team could benefit from another bat. James McCann He's not yet available, but it's unlikely that he will provide much improvement over the past. Tomas Nido. Top prospect Francisco Alvarez remains a longshot, despite excellent numbers at Double-A. — Schoenfield
Record: 42-25
Previous ranking: 3
First Blake TreinenThe Dodgers' most important reliever was forced to be shut down due to discomfort in his right shoulder. Then Walker BuehlerTheir top starting pitcher, Stephen Strasburg, sustained a flexor strain which could keep him out of action until September. Now Mookie BettsWith a cracked rib, Betts, their most valuable position player, is now on the injured reserve. Betts' injury, unlike those of Treinen or Buehler, isn't expected be to keep him out for more than a few weeks. However, the Dodgers' legendary depth is being tested. The NL West is expected to be interesting with the Giants and Padres. — Gonzalez
Record: 43-25
Previous ranking: 6
After a slow start to the game, the Astros offense is now rolling. This next generation Houston offense is suddenly starting to take shape, with a few fringe MVP candidates. Yordan Alvarez Kyle Tucker. If the balloting were to take place today, the top four AL candidates would most likely receive heavy support. Aaron Judge Then, follow by Jose Ramirez, Rafael Devers Mike Trout. Alvarez and Tucker are both just behind those frontrunners. Alvarez is a particular favorite as he continues his climb to the point where he can be part of the eternal conversation about which player currently holds the title of “most feared batter in the game.” Alvarez has outhit opposing pitchers by a staggering.443/.521/.885 along with an AL-leading 23 RBIs. — Doolittle
Record: 44-27
Previous ranking: 4
Already, the Padres had done an admirable job in coping with the wrist injury. Fernando Tatis Jr. But then, they were spied. Manny MachadoIn an attempt to make a case for the NL MVP Award early, Machado slipped on first base Sunday, and tweaked his left ankle. Machado's injury to his ankle is not serious according to the Padres. Their starters are still dominant, but their lineup has drastically changed since then. Jurickson Profar Jake Cronenworth They began to produce at a high level. The 2022 Padres have, in many ways, the appearance of a team that can endure almost any kind of challenge. — Gonzalez
Record: 40-30
Previous ranking: 7
Is it the right time to begin viewing? Max Fried As one of only a few legitimate No. He is one of only a few legit No. After two mediocre starts to the season (he lost both), he is now 7-0 with a 3.35 ERA. In those games, the Braves are 10-2. He's pitched at least six innings in all but one of those 12 starts (and went 5⅔ in the other) as he's been a model of consistency. His 2.82 ERA is sixth among starters over the last three seasons. Don't forget the six scoreless innings he tossed in Game 6 of this World Series. Schoenfield
Record: 39-30
Previous ranking: 5
Toronto split a four game series against the Orioles, before losing two of the three games against New York. The team is beginning to see an increase in its offense, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr He bounced back from the season's struggles with a strong June, hitting at.294/.388/.624 and eight homers. A stronger performance from the team is also required. Jose Berrios Yusei Kikuchi It should aim to surpass their ceiling, especially after Hyun-Jin Ryu underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery. — Lee
Record: 40-31
Previous ranking: 8
Even with Paul Goldschmidt The Cardinals are still struggling to beat the Brewers, despite winning another award — this week player of the Week. St. Louis won five of seven games, but not against lesser opposition, after being swept by Rays. St. Louis lost the first of their series against Milwaukee but won two of the subsequent games. This has been a very start-and stop year for them. Goldschmidt, who ranks third in OPS behind Yordan Avarez and Aaron Judge, has been amazing all season. Rogers
Record: 38-30
Previous ranking: 10
The Giants are as adept as any at finding unknown players and extracting value from them. You can now add Luis Gonzalez To that growing list. Gonzalez, 26 years old, was chosen off waivers by the White Sox in August and then returned to minor league on a contract. The left-handed hitting outfielder has a batting average of.302/.361/.447 in 180 plate appearances. This is a significant lift for key players on and off the injured list. It was a.302/.361/.447 hitter in 2019. Mike Yastrzemski. It was last year. LaMonte Wade Jr. It seems Gonzalez is this year. Some teams are better at this than others. — Gonzalez
Record: 39-32
Previous ranking: 13
After a slow start to June, which included losing a series against the Mets last week, the Brewers were able to sweep the Reds to regain first place in the division. They also temporarily overtook the Cardinals. Although it's a close race for the top spot in the NL Central, Milwaukee has found their mojo again at the plate. Outfielder Hunter Renfroe This week was a huge success with close to a 1.300 OPS. Rogers
Record: 39-31
Previous ranking: 12
The Red Sox appear to be a serious threat — not like the team that started slow at the beginning of the season. Nick Pivetta With a 1.77 ERA, 61 strikeouts and 61 innings pitched in nine of his most recent starts, seems like one the best pitchers in MLB. Boston's front office stated that a leap for Pivetta was essential for the team's success. The righty's recent victory has coincided with a victorious stretch. — Lee
Record: 38-32
Previous ranking: 11
You can blame it on the avalanche injury that has decimated the Minnesota pitching staff, but the bottom line is the Twins' staff have been in disarray lately. Minnesota's performance has fallen into the ice-cold area at the worst time possible, including a series of crucial games against Cleveland. The Twins had allowed 135 runs less than the league average club through May 26. This number dropped to 44 when Minnesota lost a series opener to the Guardians. The Twins ranked 23rd among all staff ERAs in the period that began May 27, with both starters and reliefrs in the bottom ten of their respective groups. — Doolittle
Record: 37-32
Previous ranking: 9
The Rays are in trouble and have not won consecutive games since June 9, when they had 11 games above.500. Tampa Bay relies on its top prospects Vidal Brujan Taylor Walls In the absence Wander Franco Brandon Lowe Both were struggling against major league pitching. With Manuel Margot Kevin Kiermaier Tampa Bay will also be on the injured list. The Red Sox are advancing in the wild-card and division race, so Tampa Bay will have to rely heavily on its depth. — Lee
Record: 36-28
Previous ranking: 15
Jose Ramirez is the MVP candidate. His stellar performance as the Guardians chased down the Twins and caught them in the division race has earned Cleveland a lot of attention. It has set up a season-long fight for first place. Don't forget about the outstanding season that another infielder has put together: Andres Gimenez. Gimenez has been Cleveland’s most consistent starter at second base. He has also played the keystone role in around two-thirds (about 3) of his outings. Gimenez is having one of the most impressive seasons in American League second base, with an impressive run and excellent defensive metrics. Gimenez, who was acquired from the Mets in the previous season, has been a part of an elite defensive team. Amed Rosario Blockbuster deal Francisco LindorGimenez has the highest OPS+ among the trio, and also the greatest number of defensive runs saved. — Doolittle
Record: 36-34
Previous ranking: 14
Aaron Nola As he tries to make an All-Star bid, he continues to fly unnoticed. He is currently 4-4 and has a 3.10 ERA. He's among the top Major League starters in strikeouts to walk ratio and lowest walks rate. He also ranks in the top 10 for OBP allowed and strikeout rates. His five previous starts have seen him post a 1.93 ERA and the Phillies have won five of them. They have a difficult stretch ahead of the All-Star break, with series against the Padres (Blue Jays), Braves, Marlins, Marlins, Marlins, Marlins, and Cardinals. Nola is crucial for them. Zack Wheeler To keep pitching as if you were the best 1-2 combination in the majors. Schoenfield
Record: 33-34
Previous ranking: 17
While the AL Central is focusing on the race between the Twins and Guardians, the preseason favorites White Sox are still hanging around and showing signs of becoming truly hot. Chicago has been outscored by only the Blue Jays, Astros and Yankees this month, despite the fact that the White Sox's lineup remains a revolving door because of injuries. Chicago's recent production has been key to its survival. Jake Burger Andrew VaughnBoth have an OPS of over.900 for June. Burger has had a greater power surge while Vaughn maintains a starting overall slash of.333/.382/.505. — Doolittle
Record: 34-38
Previous ranking: 19
Anthony Rendon He attempted to live with the pain in his right hand. On Friday, the pain became unbearable. Rendon chose to have season-ending surgery. This was a devastating blow for an offense that isn't as deep without Rendon and an organization looking to get back to the playoffs. Rendon signed a seven year, $245 million contract in December 2019. After year three, Rendon will have played in 40% of Angels' games and contributed an average of 3.1 WAR. The Angels are primed to have another year of Mike Trout, with Rendon missing yet again. Shohei Ohtani. — Gonzalez
Record: 31-36
Previous ranking: 16
Let's discuss more Sandy AlcantaraHis record is now 7-2 with a 1.72 ERA. He allowed just two runs in eight innings against the Mets to win Sunday's game. This has made him the frontrunner to be in the All-Star Game. He's also the Cy Young winner. No Marlins pitcher won the Cy Young Award. The highest finishes were Kevin Brown's in 1996 with a 1.89 ERA (though John Smoltz won 24 more games), and Dontrelle Williams' in 2005 with 22-10, 2.63 ERA. Alcantara has pitched at least eight innings for five consecutive games, and has exceeded 100 pitches in seven consecutive starts. Schoenfield
Record: 33-35
Previous ranking: 18
Texas won a series against the Tigers to recover from last week's loss to the Astros. However, Texas is losing little ground in the standings and has not yet moved past.500. Starter Jon Gray The Rangers did get a boost last Friday with seven shutout innings against Detroit. Although his first season at Coors Field was not a success, his home run percentage has been the lowest in his career. Rogers
Record: 32-39
Previous ranking: 21
Although the D-backs have not been able to contend in the highly competitive NL West, they have remained competitive despite a 110 loss season. Their starting pitching is the main reason. Merrill Kelly, Zach Davies, Madison Bumgarner Zac Gallen Despite Bumgarner’s poor performance against the Padres, their combined 3.53 ERA has earned them 56 starts. It is unclear which of them will be traded, if any. There will be interest from teams. — Gonzalez
Record: 31-39
Previous ranking: 20
The Mariners' playoff hopes were almost shattered by the recent homestand. The Mariners lost two of their three games to Boston, two to Minnesota, and then a devastating four-of-five to the Angels. Mike Trout scored in each of four Angels wins. FanGraphs projections have shown that the playoff odds for the team, which was 23% at the start, have fallen to 7%. After Sergio Romo, a long-time major leaguer, was able to leave the Mariners after he had an 8.16 ERA and allowed six runs in 14.1 innings. The 39-year old has a 3.20 career ERA and helped the Giants win three World Series. If this is the end, it's a tip of the cap for a fine career. Schoenfield
Record: 30-39
Previous ranking: 22
The contending teams will be looking for closers well before the trade deadline. Daniel Bard This is a name you should keep in mind. Bard is a pending, free agent. In 27 1/3 innings, he has a 1.98 ERA. There have been many stories about Bard's remarkable return from a seven-year absence. The Rockies will likely trade Bard by July's end. — Gonzalez
Record: 31-39
Previous ranking: 23
The Orioles enjoyed a good week. They split a four-game series with the Blue Jays and then took two of three games from Rays. As an outfielder Cedric Mullins While he may not be having as great a year as 2021, his position players are still leading WAR. He is also stealing 15 bases while playing solid defense. — Lee
Record: 28-40
Previous ranking: 25
The most number of MLB debuts in baseball this year was 12 for Pittsburgh. Rookies Oneil Cruz Bligh Madris On Monday, they lit up the box score with a combined 5-for-9 and six runs scored against the Cubs. Madris was the Pirate's first player to score three runs in his MLB debut since Jason Kendall 1996. Cruz struck a ball at 112.9 mph, the fastest Pittsburgh player hit this year. The game was blown open by the three-run second. Rogers
Record: 26-43
Previous ranking: 24
The Cubs have been suffering from injuries and inexperience at the plate, which is causing them to give up large numbers of runs. The Cubs' 7.30 ERA in the seven days preceding Wednesday's win was their highest in the National League. They have promising prospects Caleb Kilian Before being sent back, Triple-A Iowa was sent to someone who struggled with command. Without Marcus Stroman (shoulder), Wade Miley (shoulder) Drew Smyly (oblique) Chicago is unlikely to have a winning streak. Rogers
Record: 23-45
Previous ranking: 26
The Reds looked as though they might rise from last — but a sweep against Milwaukee over the weekend changed that. Cincinnati ranked 28th last week in ERA and 25th OPS, which gives the team little chance of moving up in the power rankings. Third baseman Brandon Drury Reds fans will be in high demand during the trade season, with his 14 home runs as well as his over-.800 OPS being one of the few things you can cheer about on offense. Rogers
Record: 26-43
Previous ranking: 27
Riley Greene He has arrived, and he has made a big impression. Greene reached base 4 times and scored 2 runs in his big league debut. Then he continued on to score more than half the runs over his first four contests. Greene had not scored an extra-base hit in that time, but his on-base skills were a crucial boost to the defense of the Detroit attack. Imagine this: Greene walked five time in his first four innings. This is the equivalent of five walks per day. Willi Castro Regularly, he drew 48 games. Harold Castro 45 games were drawn. Oakland is the only team that has reached base faster than the Tigers this year. — Doolittle
Record: 25-43
Previous ranking: 29
Kansas Citians can find some solace during a poor Royals campaign. Bobby Witt Jr. era. Witt's numbers slowly started to climb after a slow start. In the past two weeks Witt's numbers have really risen. Witt is now hitting.333/.367/.593 from June 8, with three homers as well as seven extra-base hits in his last 14 games. Witt's bat is exploding, and often does so even though he has difficulty making contact. Statcast ranks Witt in third place in major leagues for his average and maximum exit velocity as well as hard-hit percentage and defense outs. Witt is second in sprint speed among majors, behind only the Dodgers. Trea Turner. That's quite a package. — Doolittle
Record: 25-47
Previous ranking: 28
The Nationals are continuing to make life easier for their NL East competitors: They're currently 1-8 against Marlins and 2-8 against Mets. They're also 1-4 against Phillies and 2-4 against Braves. Given the dire state of the 2022 Nationals it is easy to be negative. Let's try something positive. Josiah Gray Over his last four starts, he has a 1.82 ERA. That includes back-toback scoreless matches against the Phillies. You must start somewhere! Schoenfield
Record: 23-47
Previous ranking: 30
The Athletics are continuing to fall apart with a 3-15 record for June. Commissioner Rob Manfred stated the A's need to sign a new contract soon. This puts pressure on the Athletics to make a decision about their future. As the likelihood of the team leaving Oakland increases, Dave Kaval, the team president has been visiting Las Vegas on a weekly basis to check out potential locations for a ballpark. — Lee
