MLB Power Rankings: Brewers among the best, Cardinals failing their early test

5) MLB Power Rankings: New York Yankees

This year’s New York Yankees ball club probably won’t run away with the division. They’ll be right where they belong in the postseason in some way or another. New York has met expectations early on. Some days are good. Others are bad. Unlike their unsustainable hot start to the 2022 season, this year’s ball club may have to slow compile wins. It’s all right. As long as they save some for October, that’s all that matters.

4) MLB Power Rankings: Minnesota Twins

Later this week the Minnesota Twins will get to play the New York Yankees. How that series goes will have a huge impact on next week’s MLB Power rankings. For now, it’s the Twins who have the slight advantage. Their starting pitching staff has been brilliant to start the season with guys like Sonny Gray and Pablo Lopez pitching well. The bats do need to improve. It’s early. Warmer weather could help out in a big way.

3) MLB Power Rankings: Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves look like the superior team in the National League East. Time will tell if this early assumption stays true or not. They’re winning with regularity early on even in the face of some major injuries. How they overcome them will prove whether or not this is a team of destiny or just a regular season champion who cannot get it done in the postseason.

2) MLB Power Rankings: Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers haven’t forgotten how close they got to last year’s postseason. Sweeping the New York Mets last week at home goes a long way toward them becoming the top National League team in this week’s MLB Power Rankings. They have a roster that can do a little bit of everything. Imagine how frightening they’ll be if Corbin Burnes returns to his Cy Young form or they get anything close to the MVP version of Christian Yelich.

1) MLB Power Rankings: Tampa Bay Rays

What the Tampa Bay Rays have done is terrific yet also deceptive. Their perfect record says they are the most powerful team in baseball. Their schedule says they’ve played the Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, and Oakland Athletics. Picking on three of baseball’s weakest teams is nothing to gloat about. Unfortunately, you can only play who is on your schedule. The soft start for the Rays has given them an early lead. We’ll see how they handle tougher opponents.