MLB Power Rankings: Tampa Bay Rays Stake Claim to No. 1 Spot with Historic Start

Joel ReuterApr 11, 2023

The Tampa Bay Rays have steamrolled the competition en route to a 9-0 start while staking an early claim to the No. 1 spot in our weekly MLB power rankings, but how do the other 29 teams stack up?

The Milwaukee Brewers are the early front-runners in the National League, while a hot start by the Pittsburgh Pirates has been among the biggest surprises.

As the season progresses, the rankings will look distinctly different from the standings, as hot and cold streaks play major roles in where teams land. But for now, each club's placement is largely reflective of its record. Run differential was key in determining where teams fell.

Note: Statistics and analysis reflect games through Sunday. Team records have been updated to include Monday's results.

Nos. 30-26

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Dustin Bradford/Getty Images

Victor Robles

30. Oakland Athletics (2-8)

Previous Rank: 27

The Athletics went 1-5 last week against the Guardians and Rays, sending them back to the bottom of the rankings—where they may very well spend the rest of the season. Oakland has been outscored by a staggering 45 runs, by far the worst run differential in baseball.

29. Detroit Tigers (2-7)

Previous Rank: 25

After taking two of three from the Astros to start last week, the Tigers were swept by the Red Sox and outscored 24-9 in the three-game series. Detroit ranks last in the majors with a .553 OPS and has hit just five home runs.

28. Kansas City Royals (3-8)

Previous Rank: 24

The Royals have an MLB-worst .184 batting average, and they have already been shut out three times and scored just one run twice. That anemic offense has squandered strong work from a starting rotation that ranks fourth in the majors with a 3.29 ERA over 54.2 innings.

27. Washington Nationals (4-7)

Previous Rank: 26

The Nationals split a four-game series with the Rockies over the weekend, and former top prospect Victor Robles has been an early standout. The 25-year-old is hitting .387/.472/.452 with three strikeouts and five walks in 37 plate appearances, which is a vast improvement over his 104-to-17 strikeout-to-walk ratio from last season.

26. St. Louis Cardinals (3-7)

Previous Rank: 13

St. Louis went 1-5 last week against Atlanta and Milwaukee in what could be viewed as an early gauge of how it stacks up to other NL contenders. The young trio of Nolan Gorman (29 PA, 202 OPS+), Jordan Walker (37 PA, 166 OPS+) and Alec Burleson (25 PA, 158 OPS+) is off to a great start at the plate, but a 5.52 ERA from the starting rotation has undercut the Cardinals' offensive efforts.

Nos. 25-21

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Denis Poroy/Getty Images

Kyle Freeland

25. Miami Marlins (4-7)

Previous Rank: 29

The Marlins survived a scare when Jazz Chisholm Jr. suffered only a stinger while sliding into second base after it looked like a potentially serious injury. He remains the biggest X-factor for a team that still lacks offense. Left-hander Jesús Luzardo has a 0.71 ERA, a 0.95 WHIP and 15 strikeouts in 12.2 innings as he looks to build on last season's success.

24. Philadelphia Phillies (4-6)

Previous Rank: 30

The Phillies stumbled to a 1-5 start before taking two of three from the Reds over the weekend, and it has been an ugly beginning. With Darick Hall (torn thumb ligament) joining Rhys Hoskins (torn ACL) on the injured list, Philadelphia shifted Alec Bohm to first base with Edmundo Sosa starting the last two games at the hot corner.

23. Colorado Rockies (5-6)

Previous Rank: 21

Left-hander Kyle Freeland is off to a brilliant start for the Rockies with 12.2 scoreless innings and a 0.79 WHIP, but Colorado is just 2-6 with a minus-18 run differential when anyone else starts on the mound. Offseason addition Pierce Johnson is 3-for-3 in save chances while filling in for Daniel Bard in the closer's role.

22. Chicago White Sox (5-6)

Previous Rank: 20

Is this finally the year Luis Robert Jr. delivers on the hype? The 25-year-old is hitting .366 with a 201 OPS+ and four home runs in 42 plate appearances, and while he has yet to draw a walk, his aggressiveness is paying off. An MLB-worst 8.31 ERA from the bullpen and a shaky starting rotation behind Dylan Cease and Mike Clevinger are the big question marks on the South Side.

21. Seattle Mariners (4-7)

Previous Rank: 28

Despite a 1-4 start and a series loss to the Angels last week, the Mariners still have a plus-one run differential and closed the week by taking two of three from the Guardians on the road. Ace Luis Castillo has twirled 11.2 scoreless innings through his first two starts, but Seattle leads the majors with four blown saves and will be without Andres Muñoz, who was placed on the injured list with a strained shoulder.

Nos. 20-16

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Grayson Rodriguez

20. Cincinnati Reds (4-5)

Previous Rank: 9

After starting the season on a high note with a series win over the Pirates, the Reds went 2-3 last week against the Cubs and Phillies. Left-hander Nick Lodolo (1-0, 1.50 ERA, 4 BB, 21 K, 12.0 IP) has looked the part of a budding ace through two starts, and the young rotation could be a real strength this year.

19. San Francisco Giants (4-6)

Previous Rank: 16

The Giants exploded for 31 runs in a three-game series against the White Sox after getting shut out twice during the opening weekend. With Roberto Pérez (strained rotator cuff) on the injured list, we could see Gary Sanchez in the majors before long after he signed a minor league deal March 31.

18. Houston Astros (5-6)

Previous Rank: 18

The Astros are still looking for their first series win after splitting a four-game set with the White Sox to begin the year and dropping two of three to both the Tigers and Twins last week. The offense has racked up an American League-high 95 strikeouts and ranks near the bottom of the league in batting average (.240, 23rd) and OPS (.682, 24th).

17. Baltimore Orioles (5-5)

Previous Rank: 14

Grayson Rodriguez made his MLB debut Wednesday and allowed four hits and two earned runs while striking out five in five innings. He represents another key piece of Baltimore's long-term core and will be counted on to help lead the rotation. The Orioles took two of three from the Rangers on the road last week before dropping two of three at home against the Yankees.

16. Chicago Cubs (5-4)

Previous Rank: 23

The duo of Marcus Stroman (2 GS, 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 14 K, 12.0 IP) and Justin Steele (2 GS, 1-0, 0.75 ERA, 11 K, 12.0 IP) has been as good as any one-two punch in baseball, but the back of the rotation and middle relief remain question marks. The Cubs need someone other than Dansby Swanson, Ian Happ and Nico Hoerner to make an impact offensively.

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Nos. 15-11

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Francisco Álvarez

15. Boston Red Sox (5-5)

Previous Rank: 15

The Red Sox rebounded from getting swept by the Pirates last week to do some sweeping of their own, outscoring the Tigers 24-9 in a lopsided three-game series. Adam Duvall and Rafael Devers have been two of the most productive hitters in baseball, but the pitching staff ranks 21st with a 4.89 ERA, and now Duvall is sidelined with a fractured wrist.

14. Los Angeles Angels (5-5)

Previous Rank: 6

The big question mark for the Angels is a bullpen that has already tallied three blown saves and three losses. Los Angeles also needs to get more production from middle infielders Brandon Drury (5-for-30, 10 K), Luis Rengifo (4-for-29, 7 K) and David Fletcher (1-for-12). Despite that, it went 3-3 last week with a series win over Seattle to remain above .500.

13. Texas Rangers (6-4)

Previous Rank: 4

The Rangers began the year with a three-game sweep of the Phillies, but they crashed back to earth last week with series losses to the Orioles and Cubs while getting shut out twice. Corey Seager and Nathaniel Lowe are the only regulars with an OPS+ above 100, and Texas' .306 on-base percentage ranks 25th in the majors.

12. New York Mets (6-5)

Previous Rank: 11

With Omar Narváez sidelined by a strained calf, top prospect Francisco Álvarez made his first start of the year behind the plate Sunday and went 1-for-4 with an RBI. He will look to provide an offensive boost for the Mets, who rank 23rd with a .686 OPS and have been quiet at the plate aside from Pete Alonso (153 OPS+, 5 HR, 11 RBI).

11. Los Angeles Dodgers (6-5)

Previous Rank: 12

The Dodgers started 5-2 before losing three in a row to the Diamondbacks to close last week, and they are still sorting out a new-look roster. James Outman and Jason Heyward have helped stabilize the outfield, but Noah Syndergaard and Michael Grove are wild cards at the back of the rotation, and cleanup hitter Max Muncy is 4-for-33 with 16 strikeouts.

Nos. 10-6

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Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Seth Lugo

10. San Diego Padres (6-5)

Previous Rank: 10

The Padres scored a season-high 10 runs Sunday as they continue to wait for the return of Fernando Tatis Jr. from his 80-game PED suspension. The designated hitter platoon of Nelson Cruz and Matt Carpenter has produced three home runs and 15 RBI, while Xander Bogaerts is off to a terrific start in his new uniform. On the pitching side, Seth Lugo (2 GS, 2-0, 1.38 ERA, 12 K, 13.0 IP) is an early contender for free-agency steal of the offseason.

9. Minnesota Twins (6-4)

Previous Rank: 2

With several key pieces of the offense on the injured list, the Twins rank 26th in the majors with a .673 OPS, yet they still have a pair of series wins thanks to a brilliant start from the pitching staff. Minnesota ranks second in the majors with a 2.48 ERA, has converted all three of its save chances and is one of only five teams with multiple shutouts.

8. Toronto Blue Jays (6-4)

Previous Rank: 22

The Blue Jays finished the week on a 5-1 run, and infielders Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette and Matt Chapman each earned a spot on our team of the week for their offensive production. Toronto can win plenty of games with its offense, but a 5.28 ERA from the pitching staff is not going to cut it if it hopes to contend for a title.

7. Pittsburgh Pirates (6-4)

Previous Rank: 17

After sweeping the Red Sox and taking two of three from the White Sox last week, the Pirates climbed to their highest spot in these rankings in years. Bryan Reynolds is the hottest hitter on the planet, the bullpen is a perfect 6-for-6 in save chances, and Pittsburgh has a positive run differential (plus-one) for the first time in forever. How will it deal with losing Oneil Cruz to a fractured ankle?

6. New York Yankees (6-4)

Previous Rank: 7

Aaron Judge, Gleyber Torres and Gerrit Cole are off to strong starts, but the Yankees have also benefited greatly from the unexpected contributions of Franchy Cordero (5-for-14, 2 HR) and Jhony Brito (2 GS, 2-0, 0.90 ERA, 10.0 IP). New York took two of three from each of its first three opponents.

Nos. 5-1

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Jhony Brito

5. Arizona Diamondbacks (7-4)

Previous Rank: 19

The Diamondbacks played eight of their first 10 games against the Dodgers, going 5-3 a year after struggling to a 5-14 record with a minus-36 run differential against their National League West foes. Young infielder Geraldo Perdomo (7-for-16, 3 2B, HR, 8 RBI) is playing his way into a larger role.

4. Cleveland Guardians (7-4)

Previous Rank: 3

The Guardians started 5-2 before losing two of three to the Mariners over the weekend, though they ended the week on a high note with a walk-off victory Sunday. The fact that they rank ninth in the majors with a 3.90 ERA with starter Triston McKenzie (strained shoulder) and key reliever Sam Hentges (shoulder inflammation) on the injured list is a testament to their depth.

3. Atlanta Braves (7-4)

Previous Rank: 5

The Braves were 6-1 before they lost three in a row to the Padres to close the week. But considering all the injuries to the pitching staff, they are off to as good a start as could be expected. How many more chances will Marcell Ozuna (2-for-27, 10 K) and Eddie Rosario (4-for-25, 7 K) get to prove they can still produce?

2. Milwaukee Brewers (7-3)

Previous Rank: 8

The Brewers lead the NL and rank second in the majors with a plus-25 run differential, and a bullpen that has allowed just three earned runs in 32 innings has been the biggest key to success. The starting rotation also ranks 10th in the majors with a 3.75 ERA, and the contributions of newcomer Brian Anderson and rookies Garrett Mitchell, Brice Turang and Joey Wiemer have given the offense a boost.

1. Tampa Bay Rays (10-0)

Previous Rank: 1

How dominant have the Rays been?

The starting rotation is 8-0 with an MLB-best 1.90 ERA, the bullpen has a 1.86 ERA and .183 opponents' batting average, the offense leads the majors in OPS (.967) and home runs (24), and Tampa Bay has scored 75 runs in nine games.

The Rays are simply in a league of their own right now.

Complete Rankings

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AP Photo/Scott Audette

Tampa Bay Rays' Wander Franco, right, celebrates with teammate Josh Lowe after scoring against the Detroit Tigers during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 1, 2023, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Scott Audette)

1. Tampa Bay Rays
2. Milwaukee Brewers
3. Atlanta Braves
4. Cleveland Guardians
5. Arizona Diamondbacks
6. New York Yankees
7. Pittsburgh Pirates
8. Toronto Blue Jays
9. Minnesota Twins
10. San Diego Padres
11. Los Angeles Dodgers
12. New York Mets
13. Texas Rangers
14. Los Angeles Angels
15. Boston Red Sox
16. Chicago Cubs
17. Baltimore Orioles
18. Houston Astros
19. San Francisco Giants
20. Cincinnati Reds
21. Seattle Mariners
22. Chicago White Sox
23. Colorado Rockies
24. Philadelphia Phillies
25. Miami Marlins
26. St. Louis Cardinals
27. Washington Nationals
28. Kansas City Royals
29. Detroit Tigers
30. Oakland Athletics

Highlight of the Week: Nolan Arenado's 300th Home Run

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AP Photo/Jeff Roberson

St. Louis Cardinals' Nolan Arenado bats during the first inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays Saturday, April 1, 2023, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado hit his first home run of the season Saturday against Milwaukee Brewers starter Eric Lauer and with it joined the 300 home run club.

"It's hard to be more competitive than this guy," St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol told reporters. "It's cliché to say, 'Oh, this guy eats, sleeps and breathes baseball.' No, literally, that is all he cares about. He loves his family and then he loves baseball, and he doesn't care about anything else."

Arenado is now one of only 17 third basemen in MLB history to reach 300 home runs, and if he reaches the 30-homer mark this year for the eighth time in his career, he will overtake Scott Rolen (316), Ron Cey (316), George Brett (317), Troy Glaus (320) and Vinny Castilla (320) in the process.