MLB Power Rankings: Who Is Baseball's No. 1 Team on Opening Day?
The 2015 MLB season is officially underway, as the St. Louis Cardinals bested the Chicago Cubs 3-0 on Sunday Night Baseball, and the rest of the league's teams are now set for their respective debuts.
There is not much in the way of shuffling since our rankings from a week ago, though a big trade between the Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres did have an impact, as well as a few last-minute tweaks that were largely subjective.
From here on out, we'll have actual on-field results to base these rankings on, though don't expect any drastic changes to come after one week of action.
For now, the rankings are based on how teams look heading into the start of the season and also on expectations for the season as a whole.
Opening Day is finally here, baseball fans!
30. Philadelphia Phillies
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What to Watch for Opening Week
The Philadelphia Phillies kick things off against a pair of teams with lofty expectations for the upcoming year and plenty of hype in the Boston Red Sox and Washington Nationals, with both series coming at home.
It will be a four-man rotation to begin the season, and behind ace Cole Hamels, it's a group that could prove to be the biggest weakness on a team with plenty of areas of concern.
Chase Utley had a huge spring (.412 BA, 4 HR, 11 RBI), and he'll be looking to get off to a hot start once again after a terrific first half of the season a year ago.
Opening Day 25-Man Roster
| C Carlos Ruiz | LHP Cole Hamels |
| 1B Ryan Howard | RHP Aaron Harang |
| 2B Chase Utley | RHP David Buchanan |
| 3B Cody Asche | RHP Jerome Williams |
| SS Freddy Galvis | Bullpen |
| LF Ben Revere | RHP Dustin McGowan |
| CF Odubel Herrera (R) | RHP Jeanmar Gomez |
| RF Grady Sizemore | LHP Cesar Jimenez |
| Bench | RHP Luis Garcia |
| C Cameron Rupp | RHP Justin De Fratus |
| 1B/OF Darin Ruf | LHP Jake Diekman |
| IF Andres Blanco | RHP Ken Giles |
| IF/OF Cesar Hernandez | RHP Jonathan Papelbon |
| OF Jeff Francoeur |
DL: SP Cliff Lee, SP Chad Billingsley, RP Mario Hollands, LF Domonic Brown
29. Colorado Rockies
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What to Watch for Opening Week
Aside from the underwhelming Opening Day pitching matchup of Kyle Kendrick and Kyle Lohse to begin their series against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Colorado Rockies will also square off against the upstart Chicago Cubs at home.
The addition of Nick Hundley and decision to slot him as the everyday catcher was made with the pitching staff in mind, and it will be interesting to see what impact, if any, he has on their rotation in the early going.
How long Troy Tulowitzki can stay healthy is the big question. He hit .381 with five home runs and 12 RBI this spring, again looking like the dynamic offensive threat he was pre-injury last year.
Opening Day 25-Man Roster
| C Nick Hundley | RHP Kyle Kendrick |
| 1B Justin Morneau | RHP Jordan Lyles |
| 2B DJ LeMahieu | LHP Tyler Matzek |
| 3B Nolan Arenado | RHP Eddie Butler |
| SS Troy Tulowitzki | RHP Christian Bergman |
| LF Corey Dickerson | Bullpen |
| CF Charlie Blackmon | LHP Christian Friedrich |
| RF Carlos Gonzalez | RHP Brooks Brown |
| Bench | LHP Boone Logan |
| C Michael McKenry | RHP John Axford |
| C/1B Wilin Rosario | RHP Adam Ottavino |
| IF Daniel Descalso | RHP Rafael Betancourt |
| IF Rafael Ynoa | RHP LaTroy Hawkins |
| OF Drew Stubbs |
DL: SP Jorge De La Rosa, SP Tyler Chatwood, SP David Hale
28. Minnesota Twins
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What to Watch for Opening Week
The Minnesota Twins begin the season exclusively in-division, as they play the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox on the road the first week and follow that up with series against the Kansas City Royals, Cleveland Indians and then the Royals again.
The hope was that Ervin Santana could help improve on what was a 5.06 starter's ERA last year after signing a four-year, $55 million deal in the offseason. Instead, he'll be suspended for the first 80 games for the use of a performance-enhancer.
That opens the door for Mike Pelfrey to return to a starting role, which at least makes Minnesota look wise for not cutting ties with him this spring. Still, it's a big blow for a team that was looking to take a step forward on the pitching side of things to support what should again be a solid offense.
Opening Day 25-Man Roster
| C Kurt Suzuki | RHP Phil Hughes |
| 1B Joe Mauer | RHP Ricky Nolasco |
| 2B Brian Dozier | RHP Kyle Gibson |
| 3B Trevor Plouffe | LHP Tommy Milone |
| SS Danny Santana | RHP Mike Pelfrey |
| LF Oswaldo Arcia | Bullpen |
| CF Jordan Schafer | RHP Tim Stauffer |
| RF Torii Hunter | RHP J.R. Graham (R) |
| DH Kennys Vargas | LHP Aaron Thompson (R) |
| Bench | RHP Blaine Boyer |
| C Chris Herrmann | LHP Brian Duensing |
| IF Eduardo Escobar | RHP Casey Fien |
| IF/OF Eduardo Nunez | LHP Glen Perkins |
| OF Shane Robinson |
DL: None
27. Arizona Diamondbacks
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What to Watch for Opening Week
The Arizona Diamondbacks will get to stay in sunny Arizona to open the 2015 season, taking on a pair of divisional opponents in the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers at home.
There were more than a few surprises on the final roster, including the decision to option Yasmany Tomas to the minors, naming Nick Ahmed the starting shortstop and bumping Aaron Hill to the bench and giving the No. 5 starter job to Archie Bradley after trading Trevor Cahill.
The 25-year-old Ahmed hit .312/.373/.425 in Triple-A last season and batted .311 this spring to secure an everyday gig. A young roster overall could make for a long year but also provide plenty of hope for the future.
Opening Day 25-Man Roster
| C Tuffy Gosewisch | RHP Josh Collmenter |
| 1B Paul Goldschmidt | RHP Rubby De La Rosa |
| 2B Chris Owings | RHP Jeremy Hellickson |
| 3B Jake Lamb (R) | RHP Chase Anderson |
| SS Nick Ahmed (R) | RHP Archie Bradley (R) |
| LF David Peralta | Bullpen |
| CF A.J. Pollock | RHP Randall Delgado |
| RF Mark Trumbo | LHP Andrew Chafin (R) |
| Bench | RHP Daniel Hudson |
| C Gerald Laird | RHP Evan Marshall |
| C/IF Jordan Pacheco | LHP Oliver Perez |
| IF Aaron Hill | RHP Brad Ziegler |
| IF Cliff Pennington | RHP Addison Reed |
| OF Ender Inciarte |
DL: SP Patrick Corbin, SP Bronson Arroyo, RP David Hernandez, C Oscar Hernandez
26. Atlanta Braves
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What to Watch for Opening Week
The Atlanta Braves will also be facing off against their own division to start the year with series against the Miami Marlins, New York Mets and then the Marlins again right out of the gate.
After trading Justin Upton, Jason Heyward and Evan Gattis during the offseason, another big piece was surprisingly on the move Sunday when the Braves shipped Craig Kimbrel and Melvin Upton to the San Diego Padres for Cameron Maybin, Carlos Quentin, top prospect Matt Wisler, Jordan Paroubeck and the No. 41 pick in the upcoming draft, per ESPN.com.
Finding a taker for Upton and adding Wisler to what has already been an impressive haul of young arms further improves the long-term outlook of the club, but it won't help any in 2015.
Opening Day 25-Man Roster
| C Christian Bethancourt (R) | RHP Julio Teheran |
| 1B Freddie Freeman | LHP Alex Wood |
| 2B Jace Peterson (R) | RHP Shelby Miller |
| 3B Chris Johnson | LHP Eric Stults |
| SS Andrelton Simmons | RHP Trevor Cahill |
| LF Eric Young Jr. | Bullpen |
| CF Cameron Maybin | LHP Josh Outman |
| RF Nick Markakis | LHP Andrew McKirahan (R) |
| Bench | RHP Juan Jaime (R) |
| C A.J. Pierzynski | RHP Cody Martin (R) |
| IF Alberto Callaspo | LHP Luis Avilan |
| IF/OF Kelly Johnson | RHP Jim Johnson |
| OF Jonny Gomes | RHP Jason Grilli |
| OF Carlos Quentin |
DL: SP Mike Minor, RP Dan Winkler, RP Shae Simmons
25. Tampa Bay Rays
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What to Watch for Opening Week
With right-hander Chris Archer taking the ball, the Tampa Bay Rays square off with the reigning AL East champion Baltimore Orioles on Opening Day. That's followed by a series with their Florida neighbors the Miami Marlins.
Until their rotation is back at full strength, it's hard to justify ranking the Rays any higher than this, as Alex Cobb, Drew Smyly and Alex Colome all begin the year on the shelf. Once those three return, and Matt Moore wraps up his recovery from Tommy John surgery, this staff could be special.
The position-player side of things is another story entirely, as the Rays should be a solid defensive team but outside of Evan Longoria are sorely lacking in impact bats. It will be a matter of whether their patchwork rotation can keep them in games to open the year.
Opening Day 25-Man Roster
| C Rene Rivera | RHP Chris Archer |
| 1B James Loney | RHP Nate Karns (R) |
| 2B Logan Forsythe | RHP Jake Odorizzi |
| 3B Evan Longoria | RHP Matt Andriese (R) |
| SS Asdrubal Cabrera | RHP Erasmo Ramirez |
| LF Desmond Jennings | Bullpen |
| CF Kevin Kiermaier | RHP Steven Geltz |
| RF Steven Souza (R) | RHP Kirby Yates |
| DH John Jaso | RHP Ernesto Frieri |
| Bench | LHP Jeff Beliveau |
| C Bobby Wilson | RHP Kevin Jepsen |
| IF Tim Beckham | RHP Grant Balfour |
| OF David DeJesus | RHP Brad Boxberger |
| OF Brandon Guyer |
DL: SP Alex Cobb, SP Drew Smyly, SP Matt Moore, SP Alex Colome, RP Jake McGee, 2B Nick Franklin
24. Texas Rangers
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What to Watch for Opening Week
A four-game series with the Oakland Athletics will launch the 2015 campaign for the Texas Rangers, followed by one series each against the remaining three AL West teams, starting with the Houston Astros at home.
No team suffered a bigger blow on the injury front this spring than the Rangers in losing Yu Darvish, and while Yovani Gallardo and Derek Holland are both solid starters, the rotation looks significantly less imposing without their ace at the top.
The outfield trio of Ryan Rua, Jake Smolinski and Delino DeShields could be an X-factor, as Rua will get the first crack at the starting left field job, but all three are capable of making an impact in their own way.
Opening Day 25-Man Roster
| C Robinson Chirinos | RHP Yovani Gallardo |
| 1B Prince Fielder | RHP Colby Lewis |
| 2B Rougned Odor | LHP Ross Detwiler |
| 3B Adrian Beltre | RHP Nick Martinez |
| SS Elvis Andrus | LHP Derek Holland |
| LF Ryan Rua (R) | Bullpen |
| CF Leonys Martin | RHP Logan Verrett (R) |
| RF Shin-Soo Choo | RHP Anthony Bass |
| DH Mitch Moreland | RHP Phil Klein |
| Bench | RHP Keone Kela (R) |
| C Carlos Corporan | RHP Shawn Tolleson |
| IF Adam Rosales | RHP Roman Mendez |
| OF Delino DeShields (R) | RHP Neftali Feliz |
| OF Jake Smolinski |
DL: SP Yu Darvish, SP Matt Harrison, SP Martin Perez, RP Kyuji Fujikawa, RP Tanner Scheppers, 2B Jurickson Profar
23. Houston Astros
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What to Watch for Opening Week
The Houston Astros will get their 2015 season started against the Cleveland Indians before kicking off a 15-game stretch of games against fellow AL West teams with a three-game series against the Texas Rangers.
The rotation is still shaky and heavily reliant on 2014 breakout stars Dallas Keuchel and Collin McHugh duplicating last year's numbers. However, the offense has no clear holes, and the bullpen should be vastly improved with the additions of Pat Neshek, Luke Gregerson, Joe Thatcher and Will Harris.
The guy to watch early will be Jake Marisnick, who opens the year as the everyday center fielder with just 330 big league at-bats under his belt. The glove is always been there, but will he hit enough to hang on to that job?
Opening Day 25-Man Roster
| C Jason Castro | LHP Dallas Keuchel |
| 1B Chris Carter | RHP Scott Feldman |
| 2B Jose Altuve | RHP Asher Wojciechowski (R) |
| 3B Luis Valbuena | RHP Collin McHugh |
| SS Jed Lowrie | RHP Roberto Hernandez |
| LF Colby Rasmus | Bullpen |
| CF Jake Marisnick | RHP Samuel Deduno |
| RF George Springer | LHP Joe Thatcher |
| DH Evan Gattis | RHP Will Harris |
| Bench | LHP Tony Sipp |
| C Hank Conger | RHP Pat Neshek |
| IF Marwin Gonzalez | RHP Chad Qualls |
| IF Jonathan Villar | RHP Luke Gregerson |
| OF Robbie Grossman |
DL: SP Brett Oberholtzer, SP Brad Peacock, RP Josh Fields
22. Milwaukee Brewers
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What to Watch for Opening Week
The Milwaukee Brewers jumped out to a 20-7 start last season, and their first steps in getting off to a similar start this year will be a pair of home series against the Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Trading Yovani Gallardo made sense if the team did not intend to re-sign him, but the onus now falls on 25-year-old Jimmy Nelson to step up at the back of the rotation, and his first start will come against a very good Pirates team.
This team certainly has the upside to be ranked higher than this a month from now, but the NL Central is going to be a dog fight, and on paper, the Brewers look like the least talented of the bunch.
Opening Day 25-Man Roster
| C Jonathan Lucroy | RHP Kyle Lohse |
| 1B Adam Lind | RHP Matt Garza |
| 2B Scooter Gennett | RHP Wily Peralta |
| 3B Aramis Ramirez | RHP Mike Fiers |
| SS Jean Segura | RHP Jimmy Nelson |
| LF Khris Davis | Bullpen |
| CF Carlos Gomez | RHP Tyler Thornburg |
| RF Ryan Braun | RHP Michael Blazek (R) |
| Bench | LHP Neal Cotts |
| C Martin Maldonado | RHP Jeremy Jeffress |
| 1B/3B Luis Jimenez | LHP Will Smith |
| IF Hector Gomez | RHP Jonathan Broxton |
| OF Gerardo Parra | RHP Francisco Rodriguez |
| OF Logan Schafer |
DL: RP Jim Henderson
21. Cincinnati Reds
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What to Watch for Opening Week
The Cincinnati Reds will have a chance to show exactly where they stand in the NL Central right off the bat, as their first 22 games are all against division foes. They'll take on the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals at home to start off that stretch.
A lot went wrong for the Reds in 2014, specifically on the offensive side of things, but bounce-back seasons from Joey Votto, Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips could change that.
It's the pitching that looks like a bigger concern now, as the Reds traded Mat Latos and Alfredo Simon, and Homer Bailey starts the year on the DL. That opens the door for rookies Anthony DeSclafani and Raisel Iglesias, and alongside veteran Jason Marquis, those three will be competing for two spots once Bailey returns.
Opening Day 25-Man Roster
| C Devin Mesoraco | RHP Johnny Cueto |
| 1B Joey Votto | RHP Mike Leake |
| 2B Brandon Phillips | RHP Anthony DeSclafani (R) |
| 3B Todd Frazier | RHP Jason Marquis |
| SS Zack Cozart | RHP Raisel Iglesias (R) |
| LF Marlon Byrd | Bullpen |
| CF Billy Hamilton | LHP Tony Cingrani |
| RF Jay Bruce | RHP Burke Badenhop |
| Bench | RHP J.J. Hoover |
| C Brayan Pena | RHP Jumbo Diaz |
| IF/OF Chris Dominguez | LHP Manny Parra |
| IF/OF Kris Negron | RHP Kevin Gregg |
| IF/OF Skip Schumaker | LHP Aroldis Chapman |
| OF Brennan Boesch |
DL: SP Homer Bailey, RP Sean Marshall, OF Jason Bourgeois
20. San Francisco Giants
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What to Watch for Opening Week
The San Francisco Giants begin their latest title defense on the road with series against the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres before squaring off against the Colorado Rockies in their home opener next week.
The concerns over this year's club and its chances of repeating have been talked about to death this offseason, but it really boils down to this being a pitching-driven team with an aging and questionable rotation behind ace Madison Bumgarner.
Being without Hunter Pence to start the year is also a big blow. Angel Pagan will be hitting in the No. 3 spot for the time being, but he's far better suited as a catalyst atop the lineup.
Opening Day 25-Man Roster
| C Buster Posey | LHP Madison Bumgarner |
| 1B Brandon Belt | RHP Jake Peavy |
| 2B Joe Panik | RHP Matt Cain |
| 3B Casey McGehee | RHP Tim Hudson |
| SS Brandon Crawford | RHP Tim Lincecum |
| LF Nori Aoki | Bullpen |
| CF Angel Pagan | RHP Yusmeiro Petit |
| RF Gregor Blanco | RHP Ryan Vogelsong |
| Bench | RHP Jean Machi |
| C Hector Sanchez | RHP George Kontos |
| IF Joaquin Arias | LHP Javier Lopez |
| IF Matt Duffy (R) | LHP Jeremy Affeldt |
| OF Justin Maxwell | RHP Sergio Romo |
| RHP Santiago Casilla |
DL: RF Hunter Pence, 1B/OF Travis Ishikawa
19. New York Yankees
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What to Watch for Opening Week
The New York Yankees begin the year with some stark contrast, as their veteran roster squares off against a Toronto Blue Jays team that enters the year with six rookies. That's followed immediately by an early-season showdown with the rival Boston Red Sox in New York.
The best-case scenario would be a trio of quality starts from Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda and CC Sabathia, three talented arms that all have significant injury question marks next to their names heading into the year.
How long before fans are calling for Stephen Drew to be replaced at second base? An oh-fer on Opening Day would probably do it, as Rob Refsnyder is waiting in the wings for his chance.
Opening Day 25-Man Roster
| C Brian McCann | RHP Masahiro Tanaka |
| 1B Mark Teixeira | RHP Michael Pineda |
| 2B Stephen Drew | LHP CC Sabathia |
| 3B Chase Headley | RHP Nathan Eovaldi |
| SS Didi Gregorius | RHP Adam Warren |
| LF Brett Gardner | Bullpen |
| CF Jacoby Ellsbury | RHP Esmil Rogers |
| RF Carlos Beltran | LHP Chasen Shreve |
| DH Alex Rodriguez | RHP Chris Martin (R) |
| Bench | LHP Justin Wilson |
| C John Ryan Murphy | RHP David Carpenter |
| 1B/OF Garrett Jones | LHP Andrew Miller |
| IF Gregorio Petit | RHP Dellin Betances |
| OF Chris Young |
DL: 2B Jose Pirela, IF Brendan Ryan, SP Ivan Nova, SP Chris Capuano
18. Kansas City Royals
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What to Watch for Opening Week
An uphill battle lies ahead for the Kansas City Royals as they look to defend their AL pennant, and that will all start with a series at home against the Chicago White Sox. That's followed by a meeting with the Los Angeles Angels, the team they swept in three games in last year's American League Division Series.
It's somewhat surprising that Chris Young, Ryan Madson and Franklin Morales were all able to find their way onto the Opening Day roster, but DL trips for Luke Hochevar and Tim Collins opened things up ahead of the dynamic foursome of Jason Frasor, Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland.
Slotting Lorenzo Cain in the No. 3 spot in the lineup sparked the offense down the stretch last season, so it makes sense to start the year with him there once again, but it will be interesting to see how long that alignment lasts.
Opening Day 25-Man Roster
| C Salvador Perez | RHP Yordano Ventura |
| 1B Eric Hosmer | LHP Danny Duffy |
| 2B Omar Infante | RHP Edinson Volquez |
| 3B Mike Moustakas | LHP Jason Vargas |
| SS Alcides Escobar | RHP Jeremy Guthrie |
| LF Alex Gordon | Bullpen |
| CF Lorenzo Cain | RHP Chris Young |
| RF Alex Rios | RHP Ryan Madson |
| DH Kendrys Morales | LHP Franklin Morales |
| Bench | RHP Jason Frasor |
| C Erik Kratz | RHP Kelvin Herrera |
| IF Christian Colon (R) | RHP Wade Davis |
| OF Jarrod Dyson | RHP Greg Holland |
| OF Paulo Orlando (R) |
DL: SP Kris Medlen, RP Luke Hochevar, RP Tim Collins
17. Oakland Athletics
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What to Watch for Opening Week
The Oakland Athletics will welcome to town the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners for the first week of action this season, as A's fans will have a chance to see the new-look roster in action for the first time.
A grand total of nine players from last year's Opening Day roster also cracked the 25-man group that breaks camp this season, as an offseason of wheeling and dealing has left the team with no shortage of new faces.
There is talent here, and Bob Melvin does as good a job as anyone getting the most out of his entire roster, but the A's simply gave up too much talent in the offseason to earn a place any higher than this in the rankings for now.
Opening Day 25-Man Roster
| C Stephen Vogt | RHP Sonny Gray |
| 1B Ike Davis | RHP Jesse Hahn |
| 2B Eric Sogard | LHP Scott Kazmir |
| 3B Brett Lawrie | RHP Kendall Graveman (R) |
| SS Marcus Semien | LHP Drew Pomeranz |
| LF Craig Gentry | Bullpen |
| CF Sam Fuld | RHP Jesse Chavez |
| RF Ben Zobrist | RHP Evan Scribner |
| DH Billy Butler | LHP Eric O'Flaherty |
| Bench | RHP R.J. Alvarez (R) |
| C Josh Phegley | LHP Fernando Abad |
| 1B/OF Mark Canha (R) | RHP Dan Otero |
| IF Tyler Ladendorf (R) | RHP Tyler Clippard |
| OF Billy Burns (R) |
DL: RF Josh Reddick, LF Coco Crisp, SP Jarrod Parker, SP A.J. Griffin, RP Sean Doolittle
16. Chicago White Sox
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What to Watch for Opening Week
Being without ace Chris Sale to open the season knocks the Chicago White Sox down a few spots for the time being, though this week's opponents in the Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins certainly won't mind.
The team will employ a five-man bench for the time being, which means it will most likely be a position player heading to the minors once Sale returns. Carlos Sanchez looks like the obvious candidate after losing the second base battle to fellow prospect Micah Johnson.
The bullpen figures to be significantly improved, but the White Sox will need Jake Petricka to return to the mix quickly, as he's dealing with a forearm issue. Closing out games was not a strong suit a year ago, when they converted just 36 of 57 save chances and had a 4.38 bullpen ERA.
Opening Day 25-Man Roster
| C Tyler Flowers | RHP Jeff Samardzija |
| 1B Jose Abreu | LHP Jose Quintana |
| 2B Micah Johnson (R) | LHP John Danks |
| 3B Conor Gillaspie | RHP Hector Noesi |
| SS Alexei Ramirez | Bullpen |
| LF Melky Cabrera | RHP Kyle Drabek |
| CF Adam Eaton | RHP Matt Albers |
| RF Avisail Garcia | LHP Dan Jennings |
| DH Adam LaRoche | RHP Javy Guerra |
| Bench | LHP Zach Duke |
| C Geovany Soto | RHP Zach Putnam |
| IF Gordon Beckham | RHP David Robertson |
| IF Carlos Sanchez (R) | |
| IF/OF Emilio Bonifacio | |
| OF J.B. Shuck |
DL: SP Chris Sale, RP Jake Petricka, RP Nate Jones
15. New York Mets
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What to Watch for Opening Week
There is no shortage of storylines for the first week of the season, but the return of Matt Harvey in a matchup against Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals might take the cake. After their three-game set with the Nats, they'll take on the Braves in Atlanta.
Losing Zack Wheeler hurts, but it would have hurt most other teams significantly more. This ranking is more about questions needing to be answered offensively, and a strong spring training from the team as a whole was a nice start to that.
Can Lucas Duda repeat his breakout performance? Can David Wright bounce back? Can Michael Cuddyer stay healthy? If the answer is yes across the board, the Mets could climb quickly.
Opening Day 25-Man Roster
| C Travis d'Arnaud | RHP Bartolo Colon |
| 1B Lucas Duda | RHP Jacob deGrom |
| 2B Daniel Murphy | RHP Matt Harvey |
| 3B David Wright | LHP Jon Niese |
| SS Wilmer Flores | RHP Dillon Gee |
| LF Michael Cuddyer | Bullpen |
| CF Juan Lagares | LHP Sean Gilmartin (R) |
| RF Curtis Granderson | RHP Rafael Montero (R) |
| Bench | LHP Jerry Blevins |
| C Anthony Recker | RHP Buddy Carlyle |
| 1B/OF John Mayberry | RHP Carlos Torres |
| IF Ruben Tejada | LHP Alex Torres |
| OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis | RHP Jeurys Familia |
| RHP Jenrry Mejia |
DL: SP Zack Wheeler, RP Vic Black, RP Josh Edgin, RP Bobby Parnell
14. Baltimore Orioles
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What to Watch for Opening Week
The Baltimore Orioles are another team that will be bombarded with division opponents to begin the season, as their first 19 games are against fellow AL East clubs. They'll begin the year with the Tampa Bay Rays on the road before their home opener against the Toronto Blue Jays.
The team's roster situation heading into the year is an odd one, as the O's will have just 11 position players for their first game while Chris Davis finishes up his suspension from last year. Once he returns, it will no doubt be a pitcher bumped from the roster.
With a strong finish to the spring, Ubaldo Jimenez worked his way back into the rotation, bumping 24-year-old Kevin Gausman to the bullpen for the time being. That said, Gausman is still a huge piece of the team's future and needs to be back in there at some point.
Opening Day 25-Man Roster
| C Caleb Joseph | RHP Chris Tillman |
| 1B Steve Pearce | LHP Wei-Yin Chen |
| 2B Jonathan Schoop | RHP Miguel Gonzalez |
| 3B Manny Machado | RHP Bud Norris |
| SS Everth Cabrera | RHP Ubaldo Jimenez |
| LF Alejandro De Aza | Bullpen |
| CF Adam Jones | RHP Kevin Gausman |
| RF Travis Snider | RHP Brad Brach |
| DH Delmon Young | LHP Wesley Wright |
| Bench | LHP Brian Matusz |
| C Steve Clevenger | RHP Tommy Hunter |
| IF Ryan Flaherty | RHP Darren O'Day |
| LHP Zach Britton | |
| RHP Jason Garcia | |
| RHP Ryan Webb |
DL: C Matt Wieters, SS J.J. Hardy, IF Jimmy Paredes, OF David Lough
13. Chicago Cubs
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What to Watch for Opening Week
It's safe to say things did not go exactly as hoped for the Chicago Cubs on Sunday night, as they managed just five hits in a shutout at the hands of the St. Louis Cardinals. They will take on their rivals for two more games before heading to Colorado to play the Rockies.
The countdown to the arrival of Kris Bryant is officially on, but in the meantime, the team is slotting another rookie in Jorge Soler in the No. 2 spot in the lineup.
Jon Lester was touched up in his debut, but the bullpen looked terrific, allowing just two hits and striking out five in 4.2 scoreless innings of work. The relief corps could be a legitimate strength this year.
Opening Day 25-Man Roster
| C Miguel Montero | LHP Jon Lester |
| 1B Anthony Rizzo | RHP Jake Arrieta |
| 2B Tommy La Stella | LHP Travis Wood |
| 3B Mike Olt | RHP Jason Hammel |
| SS Starlin Castro | RHP Kyle Hendricks |
| LF Chris Coghlan | Bullpen |
| CF Dexter Fowler | RHP Edwin Jackson |
| RF Jorge Soler (R) | RHP Justin Grimm |
| Bench | RHP Jason Motte |
| C Welington Castillo | LHP Phil Coke |
| C David Ross | RHP Neil Ramirez |
| IF Jonathan Herrera | RHP Pedro Strop |
| IF/OF Arismendy Alcantara | RHP Hector Rondon |
| OF Matt Szczur (R) |
DL: OF Chris Denorfia, SP Jacob Turner, SP Tsuyoshi Wada
12. Toronto Blue Jays
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What to Watch for Opening Week
The Toronto Blue Jays will take to the road to begin their 2015 slate, matching up with the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles in a pair of AL East clashes.
The Opening Day roster features six rookies and two more players with limited big league experience, and most of those young guys will be filling significant roles. With Marcus Stroman lost for the season, the duo of Daniel Norris and Aaron Sanchez in particular will need to pull their weight.
This still looks like a team capable of challenging for the AL East title, and there is not a better 1-through-5 in any lineup in baseball; the combination of Jose Reyes, Russell Martin, Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Josh Donaldson looks awfully dangerous for opposing pitchers.
Opening Day 25-Man Roster
| C Russell Martin | RHP Drew Hutchison |
| 1B Edwin Encarnacion | RHP R.A. Dickey |
| 2B Devon Travis (R) | LHP Daniel Norris (R) |
| 3B Josh Donaldson | LHP Mark Buehrle |
| SS Jose Reyes | RHP Aaron Sanchez (R) |
| LF Kevin Pillar | Bullpen |
| CF Dalton Pompey (R) | RHP Todd Redmond |
| RF Jose Bautista | RHP Liam Hendriks |
| DH Dioner Navarro | RHP Marco Estrada |
| Bench | LHP Colt Hynes |
| 1B Justin Smoak | RHP Roberto Ozuna (R) |
| IF/OF Steve Tolleson | RHP Miguel Castro (R) |
| IF/OF Danny Valencia | LHP Aaron Loup |
| LHP Brett Cecil |
DL: SP Marcus Stroman, LF Michael Saunders, UT Maicer Izturis
11. Miami Marlins
20 of 30
What to Watch for Opening Week
The Miami Marlins have a great chance to get off to a hot start, as they face the Atlanta Braves, Tampa Bay Rays and then the Braves again to begin the year.
Sorting out the Jarred Cosart gambling situation before the season started should help this group avoid any unnecessary distractions, and he's part of a rotation that has a chance to be very good, even as Jose Fernandez continues to rehab.
With the new-look infield, there are really no clearly defined holes on this roster, and with that in mind, there's no reason this team can't at least contend for a wild-card spot.
Opening Day 25-Man Roster
| C Jarrod Saltalamacchia | RHP Henderson Alvarez |
| 1B Michael Morse | RHP Jarred Cosart |
| 2B Dee Gordon | RHP Mat Latos |
| 3B Martin Prado | RHP Dan Haren |
| SS Adeiny Hechavarria | RHP Tom Koehler |
| LF Christian Yelich | Bullpen |
| CF Marcell Ozuna | RHP David Phelps |
| RF Giancarlo Stanton | LHP Brad Hand |
| Bench | RHP Sam Dyson |
| C Jeff Mathis | RHP Bryan Morris |
| IF Donovan Solano | LHP Mike Dunn |
| IF/OF Jeff Baker | RHP A.J. Ramos |
| IF/OF Don Kelly | RHP Steve Cishek |
| OF Ichiro Suzuki |
DL: SP Jose Fernandez, RP Aaron Crow
10. Cleveland Indians
21 of 30
What to Watch for Opening Week
The Cleveland Indians and reigning AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber will kick off the season against the upstart Houston Astros, followed by a three-game series with the division-rival Detroit Tigers at home.
The ceiling for this roster is what earns the Indians such a high spot in the rankings, as their lineup and starting rotation are both capable of being among the best in the game if they play up to their potential. In a wide-open AL Central, that gives them the look of a legitimate contender.
This is also a lineup full of players with something to prove. Jason Kipnis struggled through a rough 2014 season overall, Brandon Moss went from All-Star to non-factor in the second half due to a hip injury and Trevor Bauer has yet to deliver on his top-prospect billing. A group of guys with a chip on their shoulder can be a good thing.
Opening Day 25-Man Roster
| C Yan Gomes | RHP Corey Kluber |
| 1B Carlos Santana | RHP Carlos Carrasco |
| 2B Jason Kipnis | RHP Trevor Bauer |
| 3B Lonnie Chisenhall | RHP Zach McAllister |
| SS Jose Ramirez | LHP T.J. House |
| LF Michael Brantley | Bullpen |
| CF Michael Bourn | LHP Nick Hagadone |
| RF Brandon Moss | RHP Anthony Swarzak |
| DH David Murphy | LHP Kyle Crockett |
| Bench | RHP Austin Adams (R) |
| C Roberto Perez | RHP Scott Atchison |
| IF Mike Aviles | LHP Marc Rzepczynski |
| OF Ryan Raburn | RHP Bryan Shaw |
| RHP Cody Allen |
DL: OF Nick Swisher, SP Gavin Floyd, SP Josh Tomlin
9. Detroit Tigers
22 of 30
What to Watch for Opening Week
The Detroit Tigers begin their push for a fifth straight AL Central title at home against the Minnesota Twins, followed by a series with what could be their biggest challengers for the crown in the Cleveland Indians.
Without Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello, this certainly does not look to be as talented a team on the pitching side of things, and Justin Verlander dealing with a strained triceps does not help that situation any. Strong debuts from Alfredo Simon and Shane Greene would help ease some concerns.
That being said, this team should be dynamic offensively and also improved defensively with the return of Jose Iglesias and addition of Anthony Gose. It's a different-looking Tigers team than we've seen the past few seasons, but it's a talented one regardless.
Opening Day 25-Man Roster
| C Alex Avila | LHP David Price |
| 1B Miguel Cabrera | RHP Anibal Sanchez |
| 2B Ian Kinsler | RHP Alfredo Simon |
| 3B Nick Castellanos | RHP Shane Greene |
| SS Jose Iglesias | RHP Justin Verlander |
| LF Yoenis Cespedes | Bullpen |
| CF Anthony Gose | LHP Ian Krol |
| RF J.D. Martinez | RHP Angel Nesbitt (R) |
| DH Victor Martinez | LHP Tom Gorzelanny |
| Bench | RHP Joba Chamberlain |
| C James McCann (R) | RHP Al Alburquerque |
| IF Hernan Perez (R) | RHP Joakim Soria |
| IF/OF Andrew Romine | RHP Joe Nathan |
| OF Rajai Davis |
DL: RP Bruce Rondon
8. Boston Red Sox
23 of 30
What to Watch for Opening Week
As they look to again go from worst to first, the Boston Red Sox start things off with some interleague action against the Philadelphia Phillies before heading to New York to take on the rival Yankees.
Mookie Betts won the center field job outright with a terrific spring, and it's now unclear exactly how Rusney Castillo fits into the team's immediate plans. Supplanting Shane Victorino in right field seems like the obvious answer.
Speaking of injuries, losing Christian Vazquez for the season to Tommy John surgery could eventually force the team's hand in calling up top catching prospect Blake Swihart. Expect the early-season performance of Ryan Hanigan and Sandy Leon to be closely watched and scrutinized by the fanbase.
Opening Day 25-Man Roster
| C Ryan Hanigan | RHP Clay Buchholz |
| 1B Mike Napoli | RHP Rick Porcello |
| 2B Dustin Pedroia | RHP Justin Masterson |
| 3B Pablo Sandoval | LHP Wade Miley |
| SS Xander Bogaerts | Bullpen |
| LF Hanley Ramirez | RHP Steven Wright |
| CF Mookie Betts | LHP Robbie Ross |
| RF Shane Victorino | RHP Alexi Ogando |
| DH David Ortiz | LHP Tommy Layne |
| Bench | RHP Anthony Varvaro |
| C Sandy Leon | LHP Craig Breslow |
| 1B/OF Allen Craig | RHP Junichi Tazawa |
| IF/OF Brock Holt | RHP Edward Mujica |
| OF Daniel Nava |
DL: RP Koji Uehara, SP Joe Kelly, C Christian Vazquez
7. Pittsburgh Pirates
24 of 30
What to Watch for Opening Week
After a 20-year drought, the Pittsburgh Pirates now have a bona fide streak with consecutive playoff appearances, and they have the talent to make it three straight. They hit the road to face the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers to start 2015.
The new first base platoon of Pedro Alvarez and Corey Hart has a chance to be a real X-factor for the offense, as they should have little problem outperforming last year's platoon of Ike Davis and Gaby Sanchez.
Their starting pitching depth is already being put to the test with Charlie Morton beginning the season on the disabled list as he continues to recover from offseason hip surgery. That makes the decision to re-sign Francisco Liriano and bring back A.J. Burnett look that much smarter.
Opening Day 25-Man Roster
| C Francisco Cervelli | LHP Francisco Liriano |
| 1B Pedro Alvarez | RHP A.J. Burnett |
| 2B Neil Walker | RHP Gerrit Cole |
| 3B Josh Harrison | LHP Jeff Locke |
| SS Jordy Mercer | RHP Vance Worley |
| LF Starling Marte | Bullpen |
| CF Andrew McCutchen | RHP Radhames Liz |
| RF Gregory Polanco | RHP Rob Scahill |
| Bench | RHP Arquimedes Caminero (R) |
| C Tony Sanchez | LHP Antonio Bastardo |
| 1B/OF Corey Hart | RHP Jared Hughes |
| IF Jung Ho Kang (R) | LHP Tony Watson |
| IF/OF Sean Rodriguez | RHP Mark Melancon |
| OF Andrew Lambo |
DL: SP Charlie Morton, C Chris Stewart
6. San Diego Padres
25 of 30
What to Watch for Opening Week
No team added more talent this offseason than the San Diego Padres, and their new roster will start the season against their top competition for the NL West title in the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants.
A busy offseason continued right down to the final day before the regular season began, as the team pulled off yet another huge trade to acquire All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel from the Atlanta Braves.
"With the chance to acquire Kimbrel, who's one of the best in the game, if not the best, it was a price we were willing to pay," GM A.J. Preller told reporters (via ESPN.com). "He's an A-level performer. He's 26 years old. It's an opportunity to strengthen our club."
Unloading Carlos Quentin and Cameron Maybin in the trade sorted out what was a crowded bench situation and wound up earning prospect Cory Spangenberg a spot on the roster. He'll push Jedd Gyorko at second base if Gyorko struggles again.
Opening Day 25-Man Roster
| C Derek Norris | RHP James Shields |
| 1B Yonder Alonso | RHP Tyson Ross |
| 2B Jedd Gyorko | RHP Andrew Cashner |
| 3B Will Middlebrooks | RHP Ian Kennedy |
| SS Alexi Amarista | RHP Brandon Morrow |
| LF Justin Upton | Bullpen |
| CF Wil Myers | RHP Odrisamer Despaigne |
| RF Matt Kemp | RHP Shawn Kelley |
| Bench | LHP Frank Garces (R) |
| C Wil Nieves | RHP Nick Vincent |
| IF Clint Barmes | RHP Dale Thayer |
| IF Yangervis Solarte | RHP Joaquin Benoit |
| IF/OF Cory Spangenberg (R) | RHP Craig Kimbrel |
| OF Will Venable |
DL: SP Josh Johnson, SP Cory Luebke, C Tim Federowicz, CF Melvin Upton
5. Los Angeles Angels
26 of 30
What to Watch for Opening Week
The Los Angeles Angels led the league in wins a year ago, but they'll have their hands full trying to defend their division title this season, and it starts with a three-game series against perhaps their biggest competition in the Seattle Mariners. That's followed by a date with the Kansas City Royals for the home opener.
They will go with a four-man rotation to start the season, but Garrett Richards could join the mix in the near future. The right-hander threw 5.1 scoreless innings in a Triple-A game Thursday as he continues to work his way back from knee surgery.
The ongoing Josh Hamilton situation could prove to be an off-field distraction, but on the field, the offense should be all right without him. The one-two punch of Mike Trout and Albert Pujols gets the most attention, but keep an eye on C.J. Cron as a potential breakout candidate.
Opening Day 25-Man Roster
| C Chris Iannetta | RHP Jered Weaver |
| 1B Albert Pujols | LHP C.J. Wilson |
| 2B Johnny Giavotella | RHP Matt Shoemaker |
| 3B David Freese | LHP Hector Santiago |
| SS Erick Aybar | Bullpen |
| LF Matt Joyce | LHP Jose Alvarez (R) |
| CF Mike Trout | RHP Drew Rucinski (R) |
| RF Kole Calhoun | RHP Vinnie Pestano |
| DH C.J. Cron | LHP Cesar Ramos |
| Bench | RHP Michael Morin |
| C Drew Butera | RHP Fernando Salas |
| 1B/OF Efren Navarro | RHP Joe Smith |
| IF Taylor Featherston (R) | RHP Huston Street |
| OF Collin Cowgill |
DL: SP Garrett Richards, SP Tyler Skaggs, RP Cory Rasmus, LF Josh Hamilton
4. Los Angeles Dodgers
27 of 30
What to Watch for Opening Week
A terrific matchup of Clayton Kershaw and James Shields kicks off the season for the Los Angeles Dodgers as they take on the new-look San Diego Padres. After that, it's off to Arizona for three games with the Diamondbacks.
The Dodgers will also be going with a four-man rotation to start the year, as Hyun-Jin Ryu is sidelined with a shoulder issue. That opened up a spot for a sixth bench player, with the slick-fielding Darwin Barney winning the job.
Matt Kemp vs. the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium ranks as one of the better storylines of Opening Day, and his replacement, Joc Pederson, could certainly benefit from a hot start given the hype surrounding his rookie season.
Opening Day 25-Man Roster
| C Yasmani Grandal | LHP Clayton Kershaw |
| 1B Adrian Gonzalez | RHP Zack Greinke |
| 2B Howie Kendrick | RHP Brandon McCarthy |
| 3B Juan Uribe | LHP Brett Anderson |
| SS Jimmy Rollins | Bullpen |
| LF Carl Crawford | RHP Juan Nicasio |
| CF Joc Pederson (R) | RHP Yimi Garcia (R) |
| RF Yasiel Puig | LHP Paco Rodriguez |
| Bench | RHP Pedro Baez (R) |
| C A.J. Ellis | LHP J.P. Howell |
| 1B/OF Scott Van Slyke | RHP Joel Peralta |
| IF Darwin Barney | RHP Chris Hatcher |
| IF Alex Guerrero (R) | |
| IF Justin Turner | |
| OF Andre Ethier |
DL: SP Hyun-Jin Ryu, SP Brandon Beachy, RP Kenley Jansen, RP Brandon League, RP Chris Withrow
3. Seattle Mariners
28 of 30
What to Watch for Opening Week
After coming one game short of reaching the playoffs last season, the Seattle Mariners added key pieces to the puzzle this offseason and look poised to make some serious noise. They'll be tested early with series against the Los Angeles Angels and Oakland Athletics.
Nelson Cruz was obviously the big offseason addition, but the right field platoon of Seth Smith and Justin Ruggiano also has a chance to make a real difference offensively.
On the pitching side, Taijuan Walker was lights out all spring and looks poised for a breakout season behind ace Felix Hernandez. Backing the rotation will again be one of the best bullpens around, as all the pieces look to be in place for a serious playoff push.
Opening Day 25-Man Roster
| C Mike Zunino | RHP Felix Hernandez |
| 1B Logan Morrison | RHP Hisashi Iwakuma |
| 2B Robinson Cano | LHP James Paxton |
| 3B Kyle Seager | RHP Taijuan Walker |
| SS Brad Miller | LHP J.A. Happ |
| LF Dustin Ackley | Bullpen |
| CF Austin Jackson | LHP Tyler Olson (R) |
| RF Seth Smith | RHP Carson Smith (R) |
| DH Nelson Cruz | RHP Tom Wilhelmsen |
| Bench | LHP Charlie Furbush |
| C Jesus Sucre | RHP Danny Farquhar |
| IF/OF Willie Bloomquist | RHP Yoervis Medina |
| IF/OF Rickie Weeks | RHP Fernando Rodney |
| OF Justin Ruggiano |
DL: SS Chris Taylor
2. St. Louis Cardinals
29 of 30
What to Watch for Opening Week
The St. Louis Cardinals began their season on a high note Sunday night, shutting out the rival Chicago Cubs 3-0 behind a strong start from Adam Wainwright. After two more games in Chicago, they head to Cincinnati to face the Reds.
Jason Heyward made a nice first impression in his Cardinals debut, going 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and a run scored. The player who came over from the Atlanta Braves with him, reliever Jordan Walden, also pitched a scoreless eighth to earn a hold.
Figuring out how to get Randal Grichuk enough playing time looks like one of the biggest problems facing this team right now, and that speaks to how complete their roster is from top to bottom.
Opening Day 25-Man Roster
| C Yadier Molina | RHP Adam Wainwright |
| 1B Matt Adams | RHP Lance Lynn |
| 2B Kolten Wong | RHP Michael Wacha |
| 3B Matt Carpenter | RHP John Lackey |
| SS Jhonny Peralta | RHP Carlos Martinez |
| LF Matt Holliday | Bullpen |
| CF Jon Jay | RHP Carlos Villanueva |
| RF Jason Heyward | LHP Randy Choate |
| Bench | RHP Matt Belisle |
| C Tony Cruz | LHP Kevin Siegrist |
| 1B Mark Reynolds | RHP Seth Maness |
| IF Pete Kozma | RHP Jordan Walden |
| OF Peter Bourjos | RHP Trevor Rosenthal |
| OF Randal Grichuk (R) |
DL: SP Jaime Garcia
1. Washington Nationals
30 of 30
What to Watch for Opening Week
The Washington Nationals will have a chance to flex their muscles in the NL East right out of the gate with series against the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies to begin the year.
With Anthony Rendon, Denard Span, Jayson Werth and Casey Janssen all beginning the season on the disabled list, the Nats are far from operating at 100 percent, but that loaded starting rotation is still enough to earn them the top spot to begin the year.
Most assume Michael Taylor will take over in center field next season when Span hits free agency, so this will be a nice audition for him to break camp with the team and see everyday at-bats to begin the year.
Opening Day 25-Man Roster
| C Wilson Ramos | RHP Max Scherzer |
| 1B Ryan Zimmerman | RHP Stephen Strasburg |
| 2B Yunel Escobar | RHP Jordan Zimmermann |
| 3B Danny Espinosa | LHP Gio Gonzalez |
| SS Ian Desmond | RHP Doug Fister |
| LF Tyler Moore | Bullpen |
| CF Michael Taylor (R) | RHP Tanner Roark |
| RF Bryce Harper | LHP Xavier Cedeno |
| Bench | RHP Craig Stammen |
| C Jose Lobaton | RHP Blake Treinen |
| 1B Clint Robinson | LHP Matt Thornton |
| IF Dan Uggla | RHP Aaron Barrett |
| OF Matt den Dekker | RHP Drew Storen |
| OF Reed Johnson |
DL: 3B Anthony Rendon, LF Jayson Werth, CF Denard Span, OF Nate McLouth, RP Casey Janssen
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.
