MLB ’24 POWER RANKINGS – 2
MLB ’24 POWER RANKINGS – 2
Surprises and disappointments through first 18 games
The Early Injury Bug!! But it’s a marathon. Some teams have had quick starts, while others with great expectations have stumbled out of the gate. There is no doubt that injuries have played a factor in early rankings, especially among pitchers. However, the harsh reality of any team sport, to temper all that optimism is no matter how many teams have actually seen improvement, and even if they go on to win more games than last year, the final overall record will inescapably sit at exactly .500. However, in the universal language of losers, “It’s early.”
WEST NOT BEST: An early look at the various MLB divisions shows that the unexpected is happening in the early returns from the NL and AL Wests. Aside from the Dodgers, Padres and Rangers, struggling and sitting below .500 are the other seven teams, including the Padres, the D’back, Giants, Astros and M’s.
MLB DIVISIONS CUMULATIVE RECORDS (Thru 4/15)
1-NL Central +15 … 2-AL East +14
3-AL Central Minus-2 … 4-NL East minus-7 …
5-NL West minus-9 … 6-AL West minus-11
Griff’s Power Rankings – 2024 Edition 2
1-Yankees (9) Pre-season in parentheses
Crazy challenge for opposing pitchers to work through hitters 2-5, now receiving help from bottom of order. RF Juan Soto, CF Aaron Judge, 1B Anthony Rizzo, DH Giancarlo Stanton new murderer’s row. IL: RH Gerritt Cole (elbow inflammation), RH Jonathan Loaisaga (UCL), RH Scott Effross (back), IF DJ LeMaheu (foot fracture), IF Oswald Peraza (shoulder strain), OF Jasson Dominguez (TJ), RH Lou Trivino (TJ), IF Jon Berti (groin), RH Tommy Kahnle (shoulder).
2-Dodgers (2)
Team’s show-biz attitude reenforced by superior depth of talent. Regular season Dodgers will not be challenged out west. IL: RH Walker Buehler (TJ), RH Dustin May (TJ), RH Tony Gonsolin (TJ), LH Clayton Kershaw (shoulder), RH Blake Treinen (lung bruise), RH Bobby Miller (shoulder), RH Brusdar Graterol (shoulder), RH Connor Brogdon (plantar fasciitis), RH Emmet Sheehan (forearm), OF Jason Heyward (tight back).
3-Orioles (4)
Even better than they were a year ago and now have called up rookie 2B Jackson Holliday. IL: LH John Means (forearm strain), RH Kyle Bradish (elbow sprain), Cionel Perez (oblique), Felix Bautista (Tommy John).
4-Braves (3)
Filling gaping Strider hole in rotation will not be easy. But bats are still impressive and the lineup deep. The Beasts of the NL East. IL: RH Spencer Strider (elbow strain), C Sean Murphy (oblique), LH Angel Perdomo (TJ).
5-Brewers (24)
Lost their manager, bullpen closer and rotation ace and still lead a surprisingly good Central. IL: CL Devin Williams (back), RH Brandon Woodruff (shoulder), RH Jakob Junis (shoulder), RH Trever Megill (concussion), RH Taylor Clark (knee), RH J.B. Bukauskas (lat), OF Garrett Mitchell (finger).
6-Rangers (1)
The respect gained from being defending World Series champs will keep the Rangers in Top 10. IL: RH Max Scherzer (back), Jacob deGrom (TJ), 3B Josh Jung (wrist), RH Tyler Mahle (TJ), 1B Nathaniel Lowe (oblique), RH Josh Sborz (shoulder), LH Brock Burke (rt. hand fracture), RH Michael Lorenzen (neck sprain), LH Cody Bradford (back).
7-Phillies (5)
As soon as Phils straighten out the bullpen and their closer situation, they will be worthy of this too-high ranking. IL: RH Taijuan Walker (shoulder), RH Michael Rucker (finger), RH Dylan Covey (shoulder), RH Luis Ortiz (ankle).
8-Tigers (15)
All of a sudden, Tigers, expected to improve, are a pitching-centric team, with deep, strong-armed bullpen and a Cy candidate LH Tarik Skubal. IL: IF Andy Ibanez (hamstring).
9-Guardians (18)
AL Central stepped up its game and Guardians surprising part of that. Top 5 reliever are dominant. IL: RH Shane Bieber (TJ), RH James Karinchak (shoulder), RH Gavin Williams (elbow inflammation), RH Trevor Stephan (elbow), RH Sam Hentges (finger), RH Xzavion Curry (virus).
10-Royals (23)
This team was going to be obviously improved, but the results are coming sooner than expected. But, it’s a marathon. IL: LH Kris Bubic (TJ), LH Jake Brentz (hamstring), 2B Michael Massey (back), RH Carlos Hernandez (shoulder), RH Kyle Wright (shoulder), LH Josh Taylor (biceps).
11-Pirates (27)
Bucs also began last year 20-8 before returning to earth. Don’t get too excited, but give them some love, now. IL: LH Marco Gonzalez (forearm), RH Johan Oviedo (TJ), RH Dauri Maureta (TJ), C Yasmani Grandal (plantar fasciitis), C Jason Delay (knee), C Endy Rodriguez (elbow), IF Ji Hwan Bae (hip).
12-Cubs (13)
Rookie Japanese LH Shota Imanaga exciting Cubs faithful with the flair of an Asian Marcus Stroman. Among teams with early success in the NL Central, Cubs are most sustainable. IL: LH Justin Steele (hamstring), RH Jameson Taillon (back), IF Patrick Wisdom (back), RH Julian Merryweather (rib), RH Caleb Kilian (shoulder).
13-Blue Jays (12)
Will likely remain in the 8-15 ranking range all year, until proving they can contend in baseball’s toughest division. These Jays are built for 162. Short series, not so much. IL: RH Alek Manoah (shoulder).
14-Rays (17)
The Rays ability to compete, no matter what personnel losses suffered, continues…but it’s early. IL: LH Shane McLanahan (TJ), LH Jeffrey Springs (TJ), RH Shane Baz (TJ), RH Drew Rasmussen (elbow), RH Taj Bradley (pec), 2B Brandon Lowe (oblique), OF Josh Lowe (oblique), IF Jonathan Aranda (finger), IF Taylor Walls (hip), OF Johnny DeLuca (hand).
15-Padres (7)
The bottom in the top half of the MLB rankings seems about right for a team that should end up higher than this. ILs: OF Tucupita Marcano (knee ACL), RH Luis Patino (elbow), RH Glenn Otto (shoulder).
16-Reds (14)
Hitters ballpark in Cincy with an exciting young roster in gettable division. IL: OF TJ Friedl (wrist), 2B Matt McLain (shoulder), LH Sam Moll (shoulder), LH Alex Young (back), LH Brandon Williamson (shoulder), Tejay Antone (elbow UCL).
17-Diamondbacks (8)
A 5-game losing streak last week didn’t help the Snakes, but WS runners-up are better than this. ILs: OF Alek Thomas (hamstring), SS Geraldo Perdomo (meniscus), LH Eduardo Rodriguez (lat), CL Paul Sewald (oblique), RH Drey Jameson (TJ).
18-Red Sox (21)
Surprisingly competitive start thus far on shoulders of rotation. IL: IF Vaughn Grissom (hamstring), UT Rob Refsnyder (toe fracture), SS Trevor Story (shoulder), UT Romy Gonzalez (wrist sprain), RH Nick Pivetta (elbow flexor), RH Isaiah Campbell (impinged shoulder), RH Liam Hendriks (TJ), RH Lucas Giolito (elbow surgery), LH Chris Murphy (TJ).
19-Astros (6)
Replacing legendary Dusty Baker, MGR Joe Espada facing obstacles early with 5 starters on IL and closing conundrum. IL: RH Justin Verlander (shoulder), RH Jose Urquidy (forearm), LH Framber Valdez (elbow), RH Luis Garcia (TJ), RH Penn Murfee (UCL), RH Lance McCullers Jr (elbow flexor), RH Kendall Graveman (shoulder), RH Oliver Ortega (elbow).
20-Mets (20)
Slow starts recently, it happened again, but regaining their offence. IL: RH Kodai Senga (shoulder), RH Tylor Megill (shoulder), LH David Peterson (hip), IF Ronny Mauricio (knee), RH Sean Reid-Foley (shoulder).
21-Cardinals (22)
Any team with infield corners of 1B Paul Goldschmidt and 3B Nolan Arenado should contend. IL: SS Tommy Edman (wrist), OF Dylan Carlson (shoulder), 1B Matt Carpenter (oblique), RH Keynan Middleton (forearm).
22-Mariners (10)
As close to a reflection of the Blue Jays as is possible over past three years. IL: RH Matt Brash (elbow), RH Gregory Santos (lat), RH Bryan Woo (elbow), IF Sam Haggerty (medical), RH Collin Snider (knee), RH Eduard Bazardo (shoulder), RH Cody Bolton (kidney stones), RH Jackson Kowar (TJ).
23-Twins (11)
Tough start with high expectations. IL: SS Carlos Correia (oblique), 3B Royce Lewis (quad), OF Max Kepler (knee), RH Jhoan Duran (oblique), RH Josh Staumont (calf), RH Anthony DeSclafani (elbow), RH Zach Weiss (shoulder), RH Justin Topa (knee), RH Daniel Duarte (triceps), RH Josh Winder (shoulder).
24-Giants (16)
Starting staff is getting itself straightened out then this team will be better. IL: LH Robbie Ray (TJ), RH Alex Cobb (hip), RH Luke Jackson (back), RH Austin Warren (TJ), RH Tristan Beck (vascular), LH Ethan Small (oblique).
25-Angels (26)
Most exciting addition to Halos is the enthusiasm and sagacity of MGR Ron Washington. IL: RH Robert Stephenson (shoulder), IF Michael Stefanic (quad), RH Chase Silseth (elbow), LH Jose Quijada (TJ), RH Sam Bachman (shoulder).
26-Nationals (25)
Nats spent all of ‘23 identifying their future. They hope it is now. IL: RH Josiah Gray (elbow), RH Cade Cavalli (TJ), LH Jose Ferrer (back), 3B Nick Senzel (thumb), OF Victor Robles (hamstring), RH Mason Thompson (TJ), OF Stone Garrett (fibula).
27-Rockies (28)
Pitching staff could use some improvement. Offence can be good. IL: RH Daniel Bard (flexor tendon), RH German Marquez (TJ), LH Lucas Gilbreath (TJ), RH Antonio Senzatela (TJ).
28-Marlins (19)
Fish surprised last year but are surprising in reverse right now. IL: RH Sandy Alcantara (TJ), RH Eury Perez (TJ), RH JT Chargois (neck), RH Edward Cabrera (shoulder), LH Braxton Garrett (shoulder),
29-A’s (30)
Consider that RH Ross Stripling is highest paid player at $9.25M. CL Mason Miller is a legit keeper. IL: OF Brent Rooker (chostocondral), IF Miguel Andujar (knee), IF Aledmys Diaz (calf), RH Trevor Gott (TJ), RH Freddy Tarnok (hip), LH Ken Waldichuk (elbow flexor), LH Sean Newcomb (knee), RH Luis Medina (knee), LH Scott Alexander (rib).
30-White Sox (29)
It looked like Pale Hose may be improved in ’24, but thus far not happening. IL: 3B Yoan Moncada (groin), OF Eloy Jimenez (groin), C Max Stassi (hip), OF Luis Robert Jr (hip), RH John Brebbia (calf), RH Matt Foster (TJ), RH Jimmy Lambert (shoulder), RH Jesse Scholtens (TJ).