Before diving into the MLB games today, it’s always important to examine the MLB standings and latest MLB power rankings to get a picture for how things are shaking out during the 2022 season.
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As more games are played, our MLB power rankings will round into form reflecting talent and the MLB standings. We’re now more than two months into the 2022 MLB season, providing us with a great look at the best teams in MLB and those with a lot of room to improve heading into the summer.
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Let’s dive into our latest MLB power rankings today.
1. New York Yankees (LW: 1)
By the New York Yankees standards, June didn’t close on the best note. The best team in baseball largely went cold against the Houston Astros, managing to score just two combined runs in three losses. It’s certainly a sign that at least one American League foe will provide serious competition to New York in the MLB playoffs. More importantly, it should send a message to Brian Cashman that another bat is needed in the lineup.
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2. Houston Astros (LW: 2)
In his age-39 season and coming off Tommy John surgery, Justin Verlander is competing for his third Al Cy Young award. He’s the horse of the rotation, but it’s a deep pitching staff complemented by an outstanding lineup. As the trade deadline draws closer, depth and catcher should be targets.
3. New York Mets (LW: 3)
Max Scherzer rejoins the New York Mets rotation and Jacob deGrom is only a few weeks behind. Sitting near the top of the MLB standings, this outcome far exceeds the wildest hopes New York should have had when Scherzer went down. There is room for improvement, with starting pitching and left-handed bats areas to address via trade.
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4. Atlanta Braves (LW: 5)
The Ronald Acuna Jr. injury provided a slight bump in the road for the Atlanta Braves, but they managed to overcome it. This team is neck-and-neck with the Los Angeles Dodgers and pitching matchups would likely decide who advanced if they met in the MLB postseason. For now, just based on success in June, Atlanta gets the slight nod in our MLB power rankings.
5. Los Angeles Dodgers (LW: 4)
The Los Angeles Dodgers are getting Mookie Betts back sooner than expected, a huge boost for one of the best MLB lineups in 2022. On the other side, injuries are beginning to take a toll on the rotation and Tyler Anderson is regressing. With a great farm system, Los Angeles could land any of the top pitchers available on the market.
6. Toronto Blue Jays (LW: 7)
After dropping the series to the Milwaukee Brewers, the Toronto Blue Jays rallied with multiple wins over the Boston Red Sox. Fans are focused on the All-Star Game, stuffing the ballots to get a majority of the Blue Jays’ lineup into the ASG. Ironically, the team’s second-best hitter in June – Teoscar Hernandez (170 wRC+, .964 OPS) – didn’t make the cut.
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7. San Diego Padres (LW: 6)
The San Diego Padres took an unusual approach to the Manny Machado injury, keeping him out of the lineup for more than a week without ever putting him on the injured list. Ultimately, it worked out as the MVP candidate is back in the heart of the order as San Diego faces the Dodgers, Seattle Mariners and San Francisco Giants. It will be a great stretch with a winning record pushing the Pads back up the MLB power rankings.
8. Boston Red Sox (LW: 9)
While the series in Toronto didn’t provide the results the Boston Red Sox wanted, a lost series can be forgotten after a dominant month. Once a bottom-10 team in the MLB power rankings, a club that entered June 23-27, the Red Sox are now one of the hottest teams in MLB and will definitely be a buyer at the deadline.
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9. Milwaukee Brewers (LW: 8)
If the Cy Young caliber of Brandon Woodruff is back, the Milwaukee Brewers can win the NL Central. Milwaukee holds a significant pitching advantage over the St. Louis Cardinals, a critical factor in determining division races. While both teams might still make the playoffs, give us the team with two aces leading its staff and a dominant bullpen.
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10. St. Louis Cardinals (LW: 10)
The St. Louis Cardinals lineup is outstanding, a group capable of carrying this team into October. However, the Jack Flaherty injury along with back-end starters Andre Pallante and Dakota Hudson isn’t good enough to mask the lack of front-end talent. St. Louis must add a co-ace behind Adam Wainwright.
11. Minnesota Twins (LW:13)
The Minnesota Twins have just enough firepower to make a run at the AL Central crown and Byron Buxton’s latest heroics are another example of what he can do. However, this week and the past month once again demonstrated why Twins’ organization must commit to buying quality pitching, both starters and relievers, at the deadline.
12. Cleveland Guardians (LW: 11)
It will be fascinating to watch the Cleveland Guardians at the trade deadline. Outfield is a glaring need, it’s been that way for years. However, there’s also an argument to be made that Cleveland would benefit from adding a No. 2 or 3 starter. Ownership that keeps a lock and key on payroll likely rules out any big moves, which means the Guardians will fluctuate in the AL Central race and the MLB power rankings with Minnesota until either team makes a move.
13. San Francisco Giants (LW: 12)
The San Francisco Giants approach worked last year, threading every needle perfectly with perfect platoons and veteran players finding the fountain of youth. That’s not happening in 2022. In order for the Giants to remain competitive in the NL West, Farhan Zaidi must add a middle-of-the-order bat in July.
14. Tampa Bay Rays (LW: 14)
Things look bleak for the Tampa Bay Rays Putting the sweep over the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates aside, Tampa Bay is struggling against quality teams. It doesn’t help that Wander Franco, still only 21, is struggling to meet sky-high expectations at the plate. If the Rays want to compete for a Wild Card spot moving forward, offensive upgrades and another starting pitcher must be priority targets.
15. Philadelphia Phillies (LW: 14)
Philadelphia Phillies rookie Darick Hall is the best story in baseball this week, but it isn’t enough to inspire a lot of confidence in this club. Philly’s biggest flaws – defense and bullpen – are integral for winning games consistently, especially against the best MLB teams. Until some of those problems are addressed, there’s not much room for the Phillies to move up in the MLB power rankings.
16. Texas Rangers (LW: 16)
17. Seattle Mariners (LW: 22)
18. Los Angeles Angels (LW: 17)
19. Chicago White Sox (LW: 19)
20. Miami Marlins (LW: 20)
21. Baltimore Orioles (LW: 18)
22. Pittsburgh Pirates (L@: 23)
23. Arizona Diamondbacks (LW: 21)
24. Colorado Rockies (LW: 24)
25. Chicago Cubs (LW: 26)
26. Washington Nationals (LW: 27)
27. Detroit Tigers (LW: 25)
28. Kansas City Royals (LW: 28)
29. Cincinnati Reds (LW: 29)
30. Oakland Athletics (LW: 30)
This article was originally published on Sportsnaut.com and is republished here with permission.
