MLB · 1 year ago

SportsGrid’s MLB Power Rankings: Phils or Dodgers at No. 1?

Ben DiGiacomo

Host · Writer

1. Philadelphia Phillies
Last Week’s Ranking: 2 (+1)

Upcoming Series: 3 @ MIA, 2 @ NYM, 2 vs. NYM

Seriously, do the Philadelphia Phillies have any holes? Their offense is a machine, and while some bats may be cold, enough hitters are blazing hot to round out the difference. Losing Trea Turner for the foreseeable future will hurt, but the offensive production hasn’t taken a hit as of now. Looking at the pitching staff, there is no doubt that they have the best starting staff in baseball with Zack Wheeler pitching better than anyone right now. To truly make the Phils a championship frontrunner, maybe they can add another elite bullpen arm, but who doesn’t need one of those?

Pennant Odds: +500

World Series Odds: +950

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10. Kansas City Royals
Last Week’s Ranking: 9 (-1)

Upcoming Series: 3 @ LAA, 3 @ SEA

The Kansas City Royals are fresh off an impressive series victory against the Milwaukee Brewers and continue to stack up wins. Still, the AL Central is tightly contested as the Cleveland Guardians continue to string together victories while the Minnesota Twins have gone on an absolute tear. Regardless, this is still one of the better teams in the American League that should be eyeing up ways to compete for a pennant sooner rather than later.

Pennant Odds: +3500

World Series Odds: +9000
9. Chicago Cubs
Last Week’s Ranking: 3 @ PIT, 3 @ ATL

Upcoming Series: 8 (-1)

The Chicago Cubs are currently in second in the NL Central behind the Milwaukee Brewers, but it seems that the Brewers have fallen a step back compared to their early season surge. The NL Central is there for the taking, so the Cubs need to handle their business this weekend against the struggling Pittsburgh Pirates and rise to the occasion down south against the Atlanta Braves. Chicago has some elite starting pitching, giving us an epic clash against the Braves’ sluggers. If the Cubs are up to the challenge, we’ll see this impressive climb in these rankings next week.

Pennant Odds: +1400

World Series Odds: +3000
8. Texas Rangers
Last Week’s Ranking: NR

Upcoming Series: 3 @ COL, 3 vs. CLE

After treading water through the season's first month, the Texas Rangers have picked up steam the past week, winning five of their last six. We know it’s difficult to judge the Rangers until they get their full pitching staff back from injury. Still, given how disappointing the AL West has been this season, the Rangers seem to have every opportunity to comfortably run away with this division.

Pennant Odds: +650

World Series Odds: +1500
7. Cleveland Guardians
Last Week’s Ranking: 5 (-1)

Upcoming Series: 3 @ CHW, 3 @ TEX

The Cleveland Guardians started the season hot, but have been a .500 ball club over the past two weeks. Their lack of starting pitching depth has shown through while some of their bats have cooled off. Given how competitive the AL Central is, it’s difficult to imagine the Guardians picking back up their early season pace, but crazier things have happened in the division.

Pennant Odds: +1200

World Series Odds: +3500
6. Minnesota Twins
Last Week’s Ranking: NR

Upcoming Series: 3 @ TOR, 3 vs. NYY

The Minnesota Twins are the hottest team in the American League. They have won 15 of their last 17 games and are on the brink of taking over the AL Central lead from the Cleveland Guardians. Everything is coming together for the Twins right now, and while their talent may be suspect, they still have enough to compete for the division crown. It’s hard to imagine them competing for the AL pennant, but their upcoming series against the New York Yankees will be fun to keep an eye on.

Pennant Odds: +850

World Series Odds: +2000
5. New York Yankees
Last Week’s Ranking: 6 (+1)

Upcoming Series: 3 @ TB, 3 @ MIN

The New York Yankees are going to keep winning games. It’s as simple as that. Their offense is loaded, the starting pitching staff is deep, and their bullpen has been reliable. New York makes sense as the favorite to take home the AL pennant given their veteran-ladened roster. That said, when it comes to our power rankings, I need to see the young Baltimore Orioles take a step back for the Yankees to vault in front of them. Until then, it’s the O’s division.

More MLB: Friday’s Top MLB Player Props

Pennant Odds: +300

World Series Odds: +650
4. Atlanta Braves
Last Week’s Ranking: 1 (-3)

Upcoming Series: 3 @ NYM, 3 vs. CHC

The Atlanta Braves are 22-12, so it’s not like we should sit here and call them a bunch of bums, but the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers have been playing better baseball lately. It’s as simple as that. The Braves just got swept by the Dodgers over the weekend, and their weak pitching staff was rather exposed by LA's sluggers. Atlanta's offense is as good as anyone's, and they’ll undoubtedly come together at some point. However, we know they’ll definitely need to add more pitching sooner rather than later.

More MLB: Fri. May 10 Ultimate Betting Guide

Pennant Odds: +250

World Series Odds: +490
3. Baltimore Orioles
Last Week’s Ranking: 3

Upcoming Series: 3 vs. ARI, 3 vs. TOR

The AL East will go down to the wire between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees, but it keeps feeling like the O's have more despite their youth and lack of playoff experience. Baltimore does not necessarily need to add to their roster; they just need to continue to stack wins and grow together as a team. The American League is wide open; why can’t the youth win out?

Pennant Odds: +470

World Series Odds: +1100

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2. Los Angeles Dodgers
Last Week’s Ranking: 4 (+2)

Upcoming Series: 3 @ SD, 3 @ SF

The Los Angeles Dodgers are peaking right now as they aim to extend their win streak to eight games tonight. Their offensive firepower speaks for itself, but we’ve seen the pitching staff come together to round out this star-studded team, especially in the weekend series against the Atlanta Braves. I still need to see more out of LA's young pitchers to give them the No. 1 spot, but it’s undoubtedly awfully close.

Pennant Odds: +145

World Series Odds: +300

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1. Philadelphia Phillies
Last Week’s Ranking: 2 (+1)

Upcoming Series: 3 @ MIA, 2 @ NYM, 2 vs. NYM

Seriously, do the Philadelphia Phillies have any holes? Their offense is a machine, and while some bats may be cold, enough hitters are blazing hot to round out the difference. Losing Trea Turner for the foreseeable future will hurt, but the offensive production hasn’t taken a hit as of now. Looking at the pitching staff, there is no doubt that they have the best starting staff in baseball with Zack Wheeler pitching better than anyone right now. To truly make the Phils a championship frontrunner, maybe they can add another elite bullpen arm, but who doesn’t need one of those?

Pennant Odds: +500

World Series Odds: +950

Swing for the Fences with SportsGrid’s free daily MLB Game Picks and MLB Prop Picks
10. Kansas City Royals
Last Week’s Ranking: 9 (-1)

Upcoming Series: 3 @ LAA, 3 @ SEA

The Kansas City Royals are fresh off an impressive series victory against the Milwaukee Brewers and continue to stack up wins. Still, the AL Central is tightly contested as the Cleveland Guardians continue to string together victories while the Minnesota Twins have gone on an absolute tear. Regardless, this is still one of the better teams in the American League that should be eyeing up ways to compete for a pennant sooner rather than later.

Pennant Odds: +3500

World Series Odds: +9000

SportsGrid’s MLB Power Rankings: Phils or Dodgers at No. 1?

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