MLB Power Rankings: Angels, Yankees are legit and Mariners, Red Sox showing quit
By Tim Boyle
25. MLB Power Rankings: Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers managed to take a few positive steps forward in the offseason and have embarked on the Spencer Torkelson era. They are taking the 2022 campaign to see what else they will need for next season when they should get a little more serious about winning games.
For now, they’re just a flawed club with some good pieces. Don’t be surprised, though, if they do manage to find themselves in the teens in future MLB Power Rankings. They had a rough week of losing. Some more consistent pitching in the next seven days could help them get back and maybe even surpass an American League Central rival or two.
24. MLB Power Rankings: Arizona Diamondbacks
Bottom-feeders of the National League West, the Arizona Diamondbacks have gotten very little from their starting lineup this season. They can’t hit much at all. It’s a shame because their pitching has started off strong. Merril Kelly, Madison Bumgarner, and Zac Gallen all entered May with ERAs below 1.30.
The Diamondbacks have sneakily won some games this year because of the pitching staff. No one should expect them to go very far at all this year. Eventually, hitters on other teams will figure them out and loads of games versus better National League West clubs will bury them in the desert.
23. MLB Power Rankings: Pittsburgh Pirates
Let’s give the Pittsburgh Pirates some credit. They extended Ke’Bryan Hayes and didn’t trade Bryan Reynolds for a weaker haul than they deserve. It has still done very little to make them contenders. Still, they find themselves hovering only a few games below .500 and in a solid position to be better than most people expect.
Now that the compliments are over, let’s get real with the Pirates. Their pitching is not exciting nor deep enough to win them games. Their lineup is shallow, too. They should avoid reaching the same low spot as the Reds on future MLB Power Rankings. At least there appears to be some hope they can win 75 games.
22. MLB Power Rankings: Chicago Cubs
Does anyone else think the Chicago Cubs roster just looks weird? They are past the point of their major sales yet they have a club that looks like it’s ready to begin trading away pieces.
Things haven’t gone horrifically bad for the Cubs even if their record isn’t what most fans would like it to be. Bad early performances from Kyle Hendricks and Marcus Stroman — two of the game’s most reliable righties in recent seasons — have certainly doomed them from a hot start. Their spot on this week’s MLB Power Rankings won’t slide much. They need to do more than beat bad teams.
21. MLB Power Rankings: Chicago White Sox
Maybe the most disappointing team of all so far this year, the Chicago White Sox neglected to do enough in the offseason to make the team better. No team is immune to injuries. The loss of Eloy Jimenez hurts them and has put the onus on some of the other players. Nobody has really stepped up to piece together an outstanding start.
The only thing saving the White Sox — along with a solid starting pitching staff — is that the division they play in is weak. They need to win every game they can against those clubs. Even if it comes down to a playoff spot with a record barely above .500, maybe they can pull it off.