Power Rankings: Griff's 2023 Power Rankings #5

If MLB playoffs were to begin today, three AL division winners would be 1-Rays, 2-Rangers and 3-Twins while AL wild-card order would feature the O’s Blue Jays and Astros. In the senior circuit, the three division champs would be 1-Pirates, 2-Braves and 3-D’backs/Dodgers with the order of wild-card qualifiers being Brewers, Mets and one of Marlins/Dodgers/D’backs. The power shift in baseball seems headed East, with six of 12 qualifying today teams being from AL/NL East. It should be noted that all five AL East teams are above .500 and within that five-team powerhouse, is a combined 71-33 outside the division. Other teams like the Astros, Phillies, Dodgers and Padres that struggled early on, seem to be righting their ship and moving closer to what was expected when the season opened.   

Numbers in parentheses are from Edition 4 power rankings. 

Griff’s Power Rankings – Edition 5

1-Braves (1)

Five Braves check in with OPS over .900. Two of those are no surprise (RF Ronald Acuna Jr. and 1B Matt Olson) while three are unexpected (C Sean Murphy, SS Orlando Arcia and CF Sam Hilliard).

2-Rays (2)

Lead the AL in average, runs, homers and ERA. Also have five players over .900 OPS -- SS Wander Franco, LF Randy Arozarena, 1B Yandy Diaz, RF Josh Lowe and DH Harold Ramirez. Head-scratchingly good.

3-Blue Jays (5)

If the Jays want to post the types of extended winning streak (7+Gs) needed to compete and win the toughest division in baseball, they have to feel they can free up and trust top relievers, RH Jordan Romano, RH Erik Swanson, to work 3 Gs in a row.

4-Pirates (14)

With an amazing start to the season, the Bucs are led by the outfield trio of LF Bryan Reynolds (.313, 5HR-22RBI), CF Jack Suwinski (.297, 6-18) and RF Joe Connor (.289, 4-11). Is this a mirage?

5-Brewers (6)

The best thing that ever happened to 1B Rowdy Tellez was being traded to the Brewers instead of stuck playing in the giant shadow of Vlad. Rowdy leads the Brew-Crew with 8 homers and 20 RBIs.

6-Orioles (13)

A fun young team to watch with total 34 HR / 30 SB, led by C Adley Rutschman and CF Cedric Mullins, uneven starting pitching and a deep bullpen with Top 5 combining for 82 Ks in 64.2 IP keep it interesting.

7-Rangers (7)

Nobody wants to play this team right now. Rotation headed by RH Jacob deGrom (now IL), RH Nate Eovaldi and LH Martin Perez and a lineup led by 2B Marcus Semien and SS Corey Seager. Explosive.

8-Mets (4)

Who would have thought the three leading starter-inning totals for a team spending $336M on payroll would be LH David Peterson, RH Kodai Senga RH Tylor Megill.  

9-Astros (8)

Infield leads way, but 2B Jose Altuve is IL’d, while 3B Alex Bregman, SS Jeremy Pena and 1B Jose Abreu yet to get rolling. DH Yordan Alvarez is a constant force.

10-Twins (9)

The gamble to sign 1B Joey Gallo has paid off, at least early, with 11 of 13 hits for extra bases and a 1.063 OPS. RH Sonny Gray having personal starting renaissance.

11-Yankees (3)

Bombers have had healthy starting five in the rotation in April, unfortunately not the starting five anticipated over the winter. RH Gerrit Cole has been early Cy guy.

12-Phillies (19)

Excitement in Philly for the imminent return of Bryce Harper -- but now as DH/1B. Loss of 1B Rhys Hoskins was huge. DH Kyle Schwarber off to a slow start but has 6 HR and 18 walks.   

13-Dodgers (10)

Top 3 in rotation is still elite led by LH Clayton Kershaw, but 4-5 starters will need to be upgraded from RH Noah Syndergaard and RH Michael Grove. Shortstop still a conundrum replacing Trea Turner.

14-Angels (16)

This is probably the closest the Angels have been to the Dodgers since their last inter-league bus ride. Always a head-scratcher as to why Angels team with CF Mike Trout and RH/DH Shohei Ohtani is not better.

15-Cubs (12)

LF Justin Steele and RH Marcus Stroman is a fine starting pair at the top, but team has levelled off since fast start. Nice to see CF Cody Bellinger bounce-back after down years in L.A.

16-Diamondbacks (15)

Snakes fleshed out the roster via the off-season Blue Jays trade, but it’s RH Zac Gallen’s scoreless innings streak and OF Corbin Carroll’s dynamic offence that key their roadrunner-quick start.

17-Padres (18)

While 3B Manny Machado and LF Juan Soto struggle, SS Xander Bogaerts steps up in a leadoff and leadership role. RH Yu Darvish and LH Blake Snell are 1-6 in combined 10 starts.

18-Red Sox (20)

Sox are 10-6 in last 16 but struggling to replace once-solid middle infield of Bogaerts and 2B Trevor Story (IL). RF Alex Verdugo leads the way and will be a fun G3 matchup for Jays’ RH Alek Manoah.

19-Marlins (17)

The addition of 2B Luis Arraez and 1B Yuli Gurriel plus the move of CF Jazz Chisholm from second stabilized the lineup. When Cy guy RH Sandy Alcantara finds himself, look out.

20-Guardians (11)

The infield, expected to be strength on both sides of the ball, but has struggled offensively, although 3B Jose Ramirez is finding his warm-weather stride. CL Emmanuel Clase remains class of MLB. 

21-Mariners (21)

Loss of LH Robbie Ray for the season and no imaginative internal plans for meaningful roster development led to this place. RF Teoscar Hernandez’s return to the GTA on the weekend was mixed (1-for-12, HR, 7K).

22-Cardinals (22)

NL Central has improved product over its once-hapless past, but Cards standing of last-place in the division is hard to figure. C Willson Contreras bat has been good, but was Yadi’s leadership that important?

23-Reds (26)

Yes, there are reasons to go to Reds games. RH Hunter Greene is worth the price of admission and 2B Jonathan India having a nice bounce-back year. Still waiting on a return to health by 1B Joey Votto.

24-Tigers (24)

Are 2-14 vs. AL East so reserve judgment until they have played everyone in their own division. Veteran SS Javy Baez looks like struggling to stay interested.    

25-Giants (25)

Best team in the Bay Area but that’s like owning a run-down mansion next to a dumpster fire. Struggles begin with RH Logan Webb at 1-5 in six starts. SS Brandon Crawford 36, close to done.

26-Nationals (28)

They needed an ace but RH Josiah Gray is stepping up. They needed offensive leaders, so 3B Jeimer Candelario and DH/1B Joey Meneses answering the call. Team still is not good for MGR Dave Martinez.

27-White Sox (23)

Tough times on the South Side with CF Luis Robert benched for non-hustle on a team that lost 10 of 11 games. Is that a reflection of leadership? Team is ridiculously underachieving.

28-Rockies (27)

Good to see LF Randal Grichuk finally back in lineup. Offence revolves around 1B C.J. Cron and veteran C Elias Diaz. Even at altitude, Team ERA of 5.36 doesn’t help.

29-Royals (29)

This is what often happens early the next season when you put all your eggs in the “young hitters that impressed the previous season” basket. SS Bobby Witt Jr. is a talent about to break out.

30-A’s (30)

Las Vegas is rolling the dice in assigning stadium real estate to bring in a franchise that seems to have already given up where they are. While fans in the Bay Area are asking, “Oh, are the A’s still here?”