It’s the first edition of MLB power rankings for the 2022 season. We will break down the preceding two weeks and file each team based on performance and record. Who stands at the top and who has hit rock bottom? The article is split into two sections: One for the first 15 teams who find themselves towards the top, and the second 15 for those who dare to tread in deep waters. Who resides above the rest?
Make sure to follow all of our baseball content right here.
The Sizzling Top 15
1 Los Angeles Dodgers (11-4)
Following a three game set with the Colorado Rockies in which the Dodgers pulled out just one win, LA climbed out of the lion’s den. Reigning the NL West with an 11-4 record, the Dodgers are back in business. Following that stint, Los Angeles has been on a 10-2 run constructed by their rotation and surging lineup. In particular, recently affixed Freddie Freeman and shortstop Trea Turner have supplied the offense. Turner has plated 13 runs batted in on a .279 batting average, and Freeman has molded a .322 average on three big flies.
2 New York Mets (12-5)
The New York Mets, what a sight to see. In recent years, the Mets have been the laughingstock of New York. However, this season manifests otherwise. The Mets have broken straight out of the gates and now nestle over the wrenching NL East. In the most recent series, New York polished off the San Francisco Giants in a three-game set, in which the Mets took hold of two out of the three. Over the weekend, they had no trouble ridding themselves of the scuffling Arizona Diamondbacks. The Metropolitans are largely backed by Francisco Lindor‘s recent flourish and Tylor Megill with yet another promising start.
3 San Francisco Giants (11-5)
In resemblance to their 2021 burgeon, the Giants yet again reside toward the top of the NL West. At odds with the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco sits just half-game back of their division rivals. After a three-game feud with the Mets which culminated in a series loss, the Giants quickly reconvened and swept the Washington Nationals by a vast margin. In a three-game set, the Giants blew out the Nationals by a tally of 24-6.
4 New York Yankees (10-6)
Following a rocky start that rendered much uncertainty in the offense, the Yankees have defied all odds and are now cruising at the crest of the AL East. The pitching staff has been nothing but masterful. Placing third in the MLB, the Yankees have composed a 2.53 ERA, credited to both the rotation and bullpen. The offense, on the other hand, has slowly shaped into its designated form. In yesterday’s contest with the Cleveland Guardians, ace Gerrit Cole slabbed the rubber while the offense came to life. Embodied by DJ LeMahieu‘s three knocks, the Bombers’ offense plated a season-high 10 runs to top off a series sweep.
5 Toronto Blue Jays (10-6)
With a team loaded with young and ambitious stars, the Blue Jays have had no issue racking up wins. Sitting in close proximity to the Yankees in the standings, the AL East will be a fun one to observe. Toronto has excelled in several categories of their syllabus. For instance, Vladimir Guerrero has been on a tear to kick off the season. Stocking a .351 average paired with five long balls, the young superstar has been in the limelight of the Blue Jays’ offense. On the bump, sophomore Alek Manoah and veteran Kevin Gausman have been the potency of the rotation. In addition, the bullpen seems to oblige to that same scheme, led by Jordan Romano and Yimi Garcia.
6 Seattle Mariners (10-6)
One of the hottest teams in baseball as of late, the Mariners have been firing on all cylinders. Cultivating three consecutive series wins, the Mariners are a force to reckon with. With Robbie Ray on the verge of his Cy Young form, and Logan Gilbert lighting up every opponent he sees, the Seattle rotation seems to be plausible. Offensively, the bats have woken to another degree. Ty France collected five hits in a Mariners win over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday. In addition, J.P. Crawford, Eugenio Saurez, and Tom Murphy have all contributed to a larger extent.
7 St. Louis Cardinals (9-5)
In a recent three game set with the rock-bottom Cincinnati Reds, the Cardinals were bound to dismantle their opponent. Although, the series concluded with a two-to-one advantage directed towards the Reds. Despite the recent struggles to plate runners, the Cardinals still employ several hitting machines. Nolan Arenado and Tommy Edman have been the resource for the struggling St. Louis offense. The strings mending the Cardinals together is their pitching staff. With a rotation embodied by Adam Wainwright and Miles Mikolas, the team has had major success at the pitching degree.
8 San Diego Padres (10-7)
While just 6-4 over the previous 10 games, the Padres have excelled in all corners (pun intended) of the game. Prior to the three-game series with the division foe Dodgers, which provoked a series loss, the Padres were on a roll. Led by Manny Machado at the hot corner, and Eric Hosmer who resides across the way from Machado at first base. Both sluggers have exceeded beyond a .330 batting average in a brief span of measure. The Padres aspire to bounce back, as they head to Cincinnati to visit the Reds for a three-game sequence.
9 Colorado Rockies (10-5)
In spite of the plummeting in recent years, the Rockies have been the Cinderella story of the 2022 season. Breaking to a 10-5 start, nobody forecasted a Colorado outburst. While their pitching may be a flaw aside of Chad Kuhl, their offense has not withdrawn. Every facet of their lineup has been clicking. From C.J. Cron leading the league in home runs with six (in a three-way tie) to Connor Joe and veteran Charlie Blackmon. Although the Rockies split their recent two-game series with the Detroit Tigers, they hope to snap back as they head to Philadelphia to face the Phillies.
10 Milwaukee Brewers (10-6)
While their bats have struggled in the early phases of the season, the Milwaukee pitching has dealt plenty of damage. Although Brandon Woodruff has struggled in the early going, his most recent two starts are setting the tracks for another triumphant season. In addition to Woodruff, the Brewers’ rotation consists of Cy Young Winner Corbin Burnes and recent flourish Aaron Ashby. Following a weekend meeting with the Phillies, the Giants are heading to town for a one-game fixture before Milwaukee heads to Pittsburgh.
11 Los Angeles Angels (9-7)
The Angels claim two of the biggest headlines in all of baseball with Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani. Both have been up to par on those standards. Aside from those two faces, the Angels convey a thorough lineup by its nature. From Brandon Marsh and Jack Mayfield to Jared Walsh and Jo Adell, the Angels have met the standards for a dynamic lineup. On the mound, the latest addition to the Los Angeles rotation – Noah Syndergaard has been the face of the Angels pitching staff.
12 Tampa Bay Rays (9-7)
The Rays have rocked their way to a 9-7 record, which places them third in the quenched AL East. While the Rays struggled at first glance, Tampa Bay has been dubbed victorious in their two most recent series. Led by prophecy shortstop Wander Franco and a shock to many Ji-Man Choi, the Rays seem to portray yet another season adorned by success. In addition, their pitching staff has prospered once again. Dialing in on Shane McClanahan and Jeffrey Springs who have been the wellspring of the Rays pitching crew.
13 Minnesota Twins (8-8)
The Twins have been on a tear as of late. On a current four-game winning streak, Minnesota is eager to pounce on the Tigers in a three-game set. In the most recent series, the Twins were met by the Chicago White Sox for a three-game sequence. The Twins seemed to be no match for the White Sox, as they clobbered their struggling rivals. Steered by Byron Buxton and Luis Arraez who both preserve a .300 batting average. Although, the Twins’ most viable asset is their pitching staff. From rookie sensation Joe Ryan to Dylan Bundy and Bailey Ober, the Twins hope to resume that success as the Tigers come to town for a three-game set.
14 Oakland Athletics (9-8)
Following an eye-opening series loss to the Texas Rangers, the A’s hope for retaliation as they make their way to San Francisco. Despite their recent series struggles, nobody envisioned Oakland to graze above .500. However, the A’s have beaten all the odds and now stand in third place in the AL West. After shipping off several of their superstars, the club was bound for a revamp. However, with an offense led by Sheldon Neuse and Stephen Piscotty who are off to exceptional starts, the A’s have proven all the antagonism to be false.
15 Houston Astros (7-8)
Despite their recent struggles, the Astros convey a thorough and intriguing lineup on a daily basis. While their offense has lacked the tenacity they have possessed in recent years, their virtue is bound to succeed at some point. Michael Brantley and Alex Bregman seem to have no issue supplying the Astros offense. Bregman is batting .294 and Brantley sits at .316 with two long bombs. The Astros are eager to break out as they face the plummeting Rangers for a four-game set.
The Lingering 15
16 Boston Red Sox (7-9)
17 Miami Marlins (7-8)
18 Cleveland Indians (7-8)
19 Atlanta Braves (7-10)
20 Pittsburg Pirates (8-8)
21 Philadelphia Phillies (6-10)
22 Chicago Cubs (7-9)
23 Detroit Tigers (6-9)
24 Chicago White Sox (6-9)
25 Baltimore Orioles (6-10)
26 Kansas City Royals (5-8)
27 Washington Nationals (6-12)
28 Texas Rangers (5-10)
29 Arizona Diamondbacks (6-10)
30 Cincinnati Reds (3-13)
Check us out on our socials:
Twitter: @PTSTNews and @TalkPrimeTime
Facebook Page: Prime Time Sports Talk
Join our Facebook Group: Prime Time Sports Talk
Instagram: @primetimesportstalk
Follow Rephael Negnewitzky on Twitter @RephaelN613
Main Image Credit:
Embed from Getty Images
