2018 MLB Start of Season Power Rankings
America’s favorite pastime is back, and things are looking very interesting to start off the year. Many trades and crazy signings were executed over the offseason, making some teams great and others abysmal. In this article, I will give my start of season 2018 MLB Power Rankings, as well as an explanation for why teams are ranked where they are. #1 on this list may surprise you…
#1 – Boston Red Sox
This team wasn’t even projected to be the best team in the AL East, much less the best in the league. However, as a Red Sox fan, I saw this coming from a mile away. This talented roster got hit hard by the injury bug last season, preventing the team from reaching its full potential. After adding slugger J.D. Martinez in the offseason, the offense produced by this team should return to its former dominant form. Meanwhile, the pitching staff is due to be much better this year assuming David Price stays healthy for a whole year. All signs are pointing to great things for the Red Sox throughout 2018.
#2 – Houston Astros
It would be criminal not to include Houston this high on the list at least. They are the most balanced and deep team in the MLB by far. All of the superstars on this team play great defense and hit well, and the pitching staff is insanely good. The only thing holding this team back for me is that their division is much tougher this year with the emergence of the Angels. However, Houston should still be one of the top teams in the MLB this year, and nobody should expect otherwise.
#3 – Los Angeles Angels
Many baseball fans agreed that the Angels won the offseason BEFORE the red hot start to this season. Now, top free agent Shohei Ohtani is looking like the next Babe Ruth, veteran additions Ian Kinsler and Zack Cozart are proving to be more valuable than their contracts are worth, and Mike Trout continues to be the best player in baseball (which could change of Ohtani continues his success). This team’s one weakness is pitching, but even there they’re not terrible. Expect the surprising leap into relevance to sustain throughout the season and translate into a possible deep playoff run.
#4 – New York Yankees
The one message I would give Yankees fans right now is to not panic. The main talk throughout the MLB this offseason was the trade that sent NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton from Miami to the Bronx. Although his start to the season hasn’t been great, the rest of the team’s has. Starting pitching could use some improvement, and trading Dellin Betances by the deadline could prove useful for both parties, but otherwise this team is set for the long haul. And that’s not even mentioning the fact that Stanton is heating up, AND the fact that top prospect Gleyber Torres has just been called up to the MLB to fill the void at second base. Yeah, the pinstripes are going to be just fine.
#5 – Cleveland Indians
This team has one last good year in it before all of its key players start to regress. The starting pitching is shaky at best looking into the future, and key hitters such as Jason Kipnis and Edwin Encarnacion headline a group of hitters that are aging fast. Unfortunately for Cleveland, their long World Series drought will continue for the foreseeable future. Until this regression happens, however, let young stars like Francisco Lindor and fun veteran players such as Andrew Miller and Corey Kluber put on a show in the regular season.
#6 – New York Mets
Now that the pitching is healthy, fans are finally realizing that the Mets are good. Noah Syndergaard and Jacob DeGrom highlight a young and improving pitching staff that is giving other MLB offenses troubles early. The veteran addition of Todd Frazier has helped the offense on this team tremendously, as well as the power of star outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. While I don’t think this team can sustain such a hot start as the one they have gotten off to, I still think the Mets should be in the conversation for possibly winning the NL East this year.
#7 – Arizona Diamondbacks
Apparently, losing one of the best sluggers in baseball isn’t a big deal to this team. That’s because star infielders Paul Goldschmidt and Jake Lamb have been on a torrid pace to start 2018. Not only that, but the pitching has been nothing short of excellent. Patrick Corbin has looked like an ace, Robbie Ray continues to be one of the game’s brightest stars, and Zack Greinke is still a top MLB pitcher. As long as this team can rely on its pitching, then it will stay competitive in a crowded NL West all season.
#8 – St. Louis Cardinals
The addition of Marcell Ozuna has proven to be one of the most underrated trades of the offseason thus far. He adds a solid gold glove talent on defense and a powerful yet efficient bat on offense that this team desperately needed last year. Pair that with decent pitching and a good offense around Ozuna and you have the recipe to dethrone the Cubs from the AL Central division crown in 2018.
#9 – Milwaukee Brewers
While the Cardinals look more polished to start the season, the Brewers certainly have the most untapped potential out of the entire MLB. The main thing holding this team back is pitching, which I believe will be much better in a month or so. The lineup features some scary names, including Eric Thames, Travis Shaw, Ryan Braun, and Lorenzo Cain. If they can all get hot at around the same time, then watch out for Milwaukee to make noise in the NL throughout this season.
#10 – Colorado Rockies
The super bullpen idea that Colorado tried to employ this offseason has had inconclusive results thus far. The rest of the young pitching staff needs time to figure itself out. However, while this happens, Colorado can still rely on Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story to carry a solid offense to victories most nights. If the pitching can reach its full potential at some point before the trade deadline, then this team could be a sneaky wild card team if not a division winner.
#11 – Chicago Cubs
Replacing a former CY Young candidate with Tyler Chatwood and other bullpen help wasn’t the greatest idea on the Cubs’ part. While Jake Arietta’s presence in the starting rotation will be sorely missed, the team can still make something out of this season without him. However, as the Cardinals and Brewers are looking better this season, Chicago is in danger of missing the playoffs all together. While I don’t think it will come to that, the Cubs still need to address adding bullpen and starting pitching help in order to increase their chances at another title run.
#12 – Toronto Blue Jays
How has this roster performed so well? After looking abysmal last year, Toronto currently finds themselves in second place in the AL East. While this success will not last, I can say one thing positive about the start to this year, which is that star third baseman Josh Donaldson is looking like he’s returning to his MVP form. If he can continue playing at a high level and the pitching can stay consistent unlike last year, then this team might have a chance at a wild card spot come October.
#13 – Seattle Mariners
Pitching is holding this team back. There is simply just too little talent in the starting rotation or the bullpen to hold back other high powered AL lineups. However, the addition of Dee Gordon has improved the offense in a big way. Having a reliable guy in your lineup that is speedy and hits well is usually a recipe for success in today’s MLB, and Gordon has proven that things are no different. If this team can acquire a good pitcher for the rotation before the trade deadline, then Seattle might find itself in a wild card spot when all is said and done.
#14 – Los Angeles Dodgers
What happened to the team that almost won a World Series just a year ago? The answer is quite simple; Cody Bellinger is in a sophomore slump, and this team is suffering a championship loser’s hangover. It also doesn’t help that star third baseman Justin Turner is out with an injury for an extended period of time. However, this team still has the pieces to turn things around. If the pitching can once again become dominant and the young stars can step up offensively, then Los Angeles could propel itself back in the playoff conversation before we know it.
#15 – Minnesota Twins
After an abysmal season in 2016, the Twins turned it around in 2017 and made the playoffs as a wild card team. Unfortunately, the reason they got there has been injured to start this season, and the team has suffered as a result. However, if Ervin Santana can pitch as dominant as he did last year and the Twins’ young stars continue to develop, then this team could once again fight for a playoff spot in a division that is becoming increasingly weak.
#16 – Washington Nationals
Sorry Nationals fans, but this is the last year your team will be relevant. While star outfielder Bryce Harper continues to be a top player in the MLB, the rest of the team has looked average at best. The pitching seems to have taken a step back, and the offense doesn’t look as efficient as it should given the talent on roster. This team may be in trouble as far as making the playoffs this season, but if Harper leaves in free agency after 2018, then all hope is lost in our nation’s capital.
#17 – Atlanta Braves
The future of the Braves is only looking up. Many young stars are being brought up from the farm system, such as Ronald Acuña, the second best prospect in baseball. The offense is looking better by the week, with players such as Ender Inciarte providing sparks day in and day out. The only thing Atlanta lacks is pitching, but even then they have prospects that can be special in a year or two. While the Braves will be mediocre again this year, expect them to be a powerhouse in the NL East starting as early as next season.
#18 – Philadelphia Phillies
From one rising team in the NL East to another. The Phillies have given fans a reason to actually go to games this season, as they currently have a winning record. The addition of pitcher Jake Arietta through free agency has proven to be a great thing, as he’s looking like a CY Young candidate early. Like the Braves, this team will be mediocre this season, but Philly will find itself in the playoff conversation soon as long as the young stars on roster keep developing.
#19 – Pittsburgh Pirates
At this point in the rankings, the teams go from OK to god awful. The first of these teams is the Pirates. Why are they ahead of the other 11 teams below them? Simply because of the hot start they had to the season. However, that start was against some pretty bad teams, so there’s no reason to be impressed. The bright spot on this team has been pitcher Jameson Taillon, as he has been pitching quite well to start the year. However, he can’t and won’t be able to carry this team on his own. Now it’s just a waiting game to see when the rebuild officially starts.
#20 – Oakland Athletics
Next in the trash tier is the Athletics. The sole reason they are this high is because they have talent. However, while they have shown that they can beat the best teams in the MLB, this team underperforms severely. There is no reason for optimism in Oakland but for the fact that the AL West is weak. Still, the green and yellow will continue to be cellar dwellers in the AL for years to come.
#21 – San Francisco Giants
On paper, this team is amazing… if the year was 2013. Adding former superstars that are regressing was not the smartest plan financially, but at least it’s fun to watch sometimes. However, the entire team is aging poorly, and the pitching keeps getting injured. As the NL West continues to be the best division in the MLB, the Giants will continue to struggle.
#22 – San Diego Padres
One sentence sums this team up nicely: The Padres signed Eric Hosmer to an 8 year, $144 million contract this offseason.
#23 – Detroit Tigers
While the Tigers’ record is better than people predicted it would be, it’s still under .500, and the schedule ahead is even harder than what they have faced to this point. This team will soon be fully embracing the rebuild, which is the best course of action for Detroit at this point.
#24 – Tampa Bay Rays
The only good player left on this roster is star pitcher Chris Archer. Their prospects look promising, but if the Rays don’t trade Archer for solid prospects before the deadline, then the impending rebuild will fall flat, and Tampa Bay will be stuck in below average land for a long time to come.
#25 – Baltimore Orioles
Watch how cheesy the commercials are for the Orioles’ sports network, MASN. That’s all you need to know about this team.
#26 – Texas Rangers
Age has hit Texas hard, but hey, Bartolo Colon is on this team. Hell, he almost got a no hitter earlier this season. Go Big Sexy!
#27 – Miami Marlins
The fact that this team isn’t the worst in the MLB after new owner Derek Jeter blew up this team is… hilarious. However, the prospects aren’t promising, and Starlin Castro can’t win games on his own. This team is tougher than many thought to put away, but more often than not your team will get the job done.
#28 – Kansas City Royals
What happened to the Royals? They are only a few seasons removed from winning a world series. However, most of their star talent left in free agency, and now they’re left with an aging Mike Moustakas, Salvador Perez, and Alcides Escobar. Kansas City needs to maximize their trade value and start the rebuild already.
#29 – Chicago White Sox
This team has taught me two things over the past season. Yoan Moncada is not as good as people made him out to be, and not all prospects that do well in the minors translate to the MLB. This team is still a good few years away from being relevant again.
#30 – Cincinnati Reds
And now we finally get to the most pathetic excuse for a professional baseball team. Boy, for a team that looked promising last year, you would think this entire roster is on drugs. However, the real culprit is that their complete lack of any talent is being heavily exposed. There are a couple promising players individually, but they are few and far between. This team is so bad that the Reds should be paying fans to come watch this team lose day in and day out. Cincinnati is not a good sports city by any means, but at least none of its other teams are as bad as this illusion of an MLB team.
That concludes my beginning of season 2018 MLB Power Rankings. I will most likely do an updated version of this after the trade deadline hits to reflect on how I was wrong and how teams’ seasons have been going to that point. Thank you for reading to this point! Go check out some of our other articles on the website!