We’re through one full month of the baseball season and the calendar has now flipped to May. To the surprise of many, the New York Yankees are the best team in the MLB with a record of 18-9. Even so, they are viewed with an air of skepticism as they are not one of the teams in the Top 5 of the futures – according to the odds makers. The same goes for the Baltimore Orioles, who had the MLB’s third-best record at 17-10. If they can sustain, they’ll climb up the board but for now, here are the top 10 teams in our MLB power rankings.
1. Chicago Cubs
Last Week: 1
World Series Championship Odds: +350
The Cubs lost two of three in Boston before rebounding to win three of four at home over Philadelphia, and now the New York Yankees come to town this week before heading to Colorado. Kris Bryant was especially on fire as he hit .444 with three homers this week, although all three were solo shots. The pitching staff struggled, however, posting an ERA of 4.57 for the week; Jake Arrieta split his two starts with an ERA of 6.97.
2. Cleveland Indians
Last Week: 3
World Series Championship Odds: +600
The Indians lost two of three in Detroit to kick off a 10-game road trip (Thursday’s game was postponed), while Kansas City is the weekend destination and then it is off to Toronto. The Indians hit .229 as a team over the last week, and the starting pitching was inconsistent. Andrew Miller continues to be one of the top, if not the top, middle reliever in baseball as he has yet to allow a run in 13.2 innings of work over 11 games this season.
3. Boston Red Sox
Last Week: 2
World Series Championship Odds: +650
The Red Sox followed their series win against the Cubs by splitting four tough games with Baltimore at home, and now they go on the road to Minnesota and Milwaukee. Hanley Ramirez tore the cover off the ball this week, hitting .360 with four homers and seven RBIs, while Drew Pomeranz won bouth of his starts with an ERA of 3.18.
4. Washington Nationals
Last Week: 5
World Series Championship Odds: +800
The Nationals lost two of three to the New York Mets at home, although their 23-5 win in the finale should count for two wins. Then, they took two of three from Arizona at home and now they head on the road to Philadelphia and Baltimore. While Bryce Harper gets all the attention for being Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman hit three home runs this week and quietly leads the National League with 11 dingers.
5. Houston Astros
Last Week: 4
World Series Championship Odds: +800
The Astros took two of three from Oakland at home, and then three of four against Texas. Marwin Gonzalez went bananas this week with an average of .467 and 12 RBIs, and he hit five homers as well. Dallas Kuechel seems to be back as the ace of the rotation, but Charlie Morton won both of his starts this week and it would be good if Kuechel had some help.
6. New York Yankees
Last Week: 8
World Series Championship Odds: +1000
The Yankees won both series this week at home against Baltimore and Toronto, taking two of three in both. The legend of Aaron Judge continues to grow as he hit .524 with six home runs and 12 RBIs, and they even got a good start from Michael Pineda. C.C. Sabathia had a rough week, however, taking no-decisions in two starts despite an ERA of 12.10.
7. Los Angeles Dodgers
Last Week: 6
World Series Championship Odds: +1000
The Dodgers swept Philadelphia at home before losing two of three to San Francisco, and rookie Julio Urias looks like he could be in line to climb up the rotation. In two starts, Urias has yet to earn a decision of any kind, but he has an ERA of 0.84 in 10.2 innings of work. He has walked eight batters, but he is still learning and has some good stuff in his arsenal. The Dodgers will probably bring him along slowly, but Urias is off to a good start.
8. Baltimore Orioles
Last Week: 7
World Series Championship Odds: +1800
The Orioles lost two of three in New York to the Yankees, and then there was that series in Boston, which they split. Baltimore has to refocus before the Chicago White Sox and Washington come to town, and they can’t afford to spend all their time thinking about the Red Sox. If there is a silver lining to come out of this week for Manny Machado, it is that he is still starting to roll as he hit .267 with four home runs and nine RBIs. Pitchers, take note: don’t throw at his knees or he’ll take you deep in the next at-bat.
9. New York Mets
Last Week: 9
World Series Championship Odds: +2000
The Mets did well to take two of three in Washington and then two of three in Atlanta (the last game of that series on Thursday was postponed). However, the Mets got some bad news as Noah Syndergaard will be out for the next three months with a torn lat muscle, and with Steven Matz and Seth Lugo out with elbow injuries, they need some help in the rotation. Who steps up? Jacob deGrom? Matt Harvey? Zack Wheeler? The Mets would prefer if it was all three. At the plate, Michael Conforto hit .444 qwith three home runs and 10 RBIs this week.
10. Colorado Rockies
Last Week: –
World Series Championship Odds: +2000
The Rockies enter the power rankings after a solid week which saw them win two of three in Arizona, and then do it again in San Diego. The Diamondbacks come to town this weekend for revenge, followed by the Cubs, and the Rockies have long been known as a franchise that values hitting due to playing at Chase Field. They’re eighth in runs scored, which is to be expected, but the Rockies are 22nd in ERA, but they had a good week on the mound. Greg Holland saved all three chances he got to get to 12 saves, which leads the National League and most impressively, he has yet to blow a save. In a tough division like the National League West, the Rockies can’t afford to drop many games.
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