MLB Power Rankings: Red-hot Oakland A's crack the top-10

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DENVER, COLORADO – APRIL 18: Starting pitcher Marcus Stroman #0 of the New York Mets throws against the Colorado Rockies during the second inning at Coors Field on April 18, 2021, in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

2021 MLB Power Rankings: Red-hot Oakland A’s crack the top-10

No. 4 and 3

team. 3. . 7-4. Previous: . New York Mets. 4

The New York Mets are in the middle of a strange start to the season, as they have seen games postponed due to weather, as well as COVID-19. Offensively, the team has struggled to put together consistent at-bats, but luckily for the Mets faithful, they are getting some outstanding pitching from their starting rotation.

Marcus Stroman has joined Jacob deGrom atop the rotation, and both men have posted earned run averages under 1.00. The monster season was expected from deGrom, who has a minuscule ERA of 0.45, but Stroman is not far behind, as his 0.90 earned run average has really been a shot in the arm for this franchise.

Brandon Nimmo is surprisingly leading the way offensively, posting a batting average in the stratosphere at .455, but the rest of the lineup has struggled. If the Mets can continue to get this kind of pitching, they are going to be fine, but the bats need to start backing up the incredible job the rotation has been doing eventually.

7. . 9-5. Previous: . Kansas City Royals. 3. team

The first-place team in the AL Central is the Kansas City Royals, and this is going to be a season where the team will have other squads in the division nipping at their heels all season long. The Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox are playing solid baseball, and are both a game back of the Royals, who have won five of their last six games to take first place entering the middle of April.

As is usually the case, Whit Merrifield is raking, batting .321 for the season, and Salvador Perez has displayed outstanding power from his catcher position. The perennial All-Star leads the team in both home runs and runs batted in, and if the Royals are to stay atop the AL Central, he needs to stay hot.

Danny Duffy has been lights out on the mound, posting an earned run average under 1.00, and as a staff, the Royals have gotten out to a strong start, with a collective ERA of 4.02. Overall, this team is solid up and down the roster, and we should be in for an exciting season in the AL Central.

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