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Major League Baseball is officially back.
Opening day came and went last week with beautiful sunny skies (or cloudy, rainy weather causing some postponements around the league, depending on your location.) America’s favorite pastime has returned, and with it the joy of a warm afternoon at the ballpark, only interrupted by the crack of the bat or the satisfying pop of a baseball hitting leather.
In the spirit of new beginnings, Greenville Sports Media is proud to present our version of MLB Power Rankings, a once weekly listing of every team in baseball. While there’s plenty of baseball to watch, let’s take a look at our rankings first.
1. Atlanta Braves
The team with the best record in the regular season a year ago returned all but one starter while adding bullpen depth, a third starter in Chris Sale, and a left fielder in Jarred Kelenic. The sky’s the limit once again for Atlanta.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers
After one of the more stunning (and expensive) offseasons in MLB history, the Dodgers have the best talent that money can buy. Anything short of a World Series title is a failure for LA this season.
3. Baltimore Orioles
Featuring the best young core in the MLB (with more talent awaiting in the minors) the future is now for the Orioles.
4. Texas Rangers
While a lot had to come together for the Rangers to make their October run last season, it would be disrespectful to have the reigning World Series Champions any lower on the list. Just like last season, Texas should pack a punch this year.
5. Houston Astros
Houston is not the same team it once was, but the Astros remain one of the MLB’s most talented squads
6. Philadelphia Phillies
While rather overshadowed by Atlanta in the NL East, Bryce Harper and the Phillies are one of the premier teams in the National League yet again.
7. Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays may be without ace pitcher Kevin Gausman for Opening Day, but it won’t be long until he returns to a very promising Toronto roster.
8. New York Yankees
The Bronx Bombers have already lost ace Gerrit Cole to an elbow injury for the first several months of the season, but the Yankee’s powerful lineup should keep them very much afloat until his return.
9. Seattle Mariners
Julio Rodriguez is good at baseball. That will do for now.
10. Arizona Diamondbacks
Last year’s runner-up made all the right moves in the offseason on paper. Now to see if they translate on the diamond.
11. Cincinnati Reds
Will the 2nd year of Elly De La Cruz be as exciting as the first?
12. Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays have a lot of pieces to replace, it’s true, but they’ve always made the adjustments before. Tampa Bay should be considered a major factor in the American League yet again.
13. Minnesota Twins
The Twins have a great pitcher in Pablo Lopez. In terms of other key pieces. they also have this great pitcher named Pablo Lobez.
14. Chicago Cubs
Cody Bellinger is back, and the Cubs project to be a slightly above mediocre team this year.
15. San Francisco Giants
After once again striking out in multiple attempts to woo a superstar to San Francisco, the Giants will be running it back with a solid, if very unexciting, squad.
16. San Diego Padres
All the talent, none of the success. The Padres will be doing their best to change that narrative this season.
17. Milwaukee Brewers
Despite a tumultuous offseason including the dumping of ace pitcher Corbin Burnes, the Brewers have a chance to continue being a solid, middle of the pack team in 2024.
18. Cleveland Guardians
Young pitching and a quietly solid lineup will give the Guardians a chance to make some moves in these rankings over the course of the season.
19. Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox took some gambles this offseason, but they weren’t very costly gambles. This feels like a wait and see year for Boston.
20. St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals have the talent to make a move up these rankings, but they also have the potential to slip on down to the bottom. Will Paul Goldschmidt still be on the team after the trade deadline?
21. New York Mets
After an absolutely disastrous 2023 campaign, the Mets will attempt to rebuild from the ashes.
22. Detroit Tigers
Detroit’s far from the worst team in the MLB, but they still probably won’t make the playoffs. Baby steps.
23. Kansas City Royals
With one of the most exciting young players in baseball in Bobby Witt, the Royals spent big money in the offseason to try and muster some success in 2024.
24. Miami Marlins
With ace pitcher Sandy Alcantra set to miss the entire season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in October, the Marlins 2024 outlook appears bleak.
25. Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates are young, potentially exciting, but ultimately not overly talented in 2024.
26. Colorado Rockies
Mile-high in elevation, rock bottom in power rankings.
27. Washington Nationals
The rebuild continues.
28. Chicago White Sox
Doesn’t work, but could be fun to fix.
29. Los Angeles Angels
Now that Shohei Ohtani has moved across town to sport the Dodger-blue, the Angels can only get worse. At least they have Mike Trout.
30. Oakland Athletics
On the positive side, the Athletics will set attendance records this year. Unfortunately, those records will be for least attendance since the pandemic year of 2020. Anyone looking to quarantine for an illness or just find a quiet place to get away from the crowds should make their way to the Coliseum when the A’s play at home.
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