MLB Power Rankings: Reality check for the Braves, White Sox digging their graves
By Tim Boyle
Headlining this week’s MLB Power Rankings are the Atlanta Braves who received a reality check and the Chicago White Sox who couldn’t look more lost.
It’s late April. A couple of teams look like they’re going to run away from the rest of the pack. Some others are left way behind in the dust. It’s in the middle of the MLB Power Rankings where we find a mix of teams who aren’t quite sure what their plans are for the 2023 season. Do they compete or will season ticket holders start showing up with paper bags on their heads by June?
We’re slightly beyond the point of overreacting. There are definitely a few teams with good records we didn’t expect to see. How real is it?
Trying to decipher what everything means and whose record is legitimate and whose isn’t, let’s take a look at this week’s MLB Power Rankings.
30) MLB Power Rankings: Oakland Athletics
Is it too soon to lock the Oakland Athletics in at the number 30 spot for the rest of the year? They may not finish with the worst record. There are a couple of other bad teams who will challenge them. They’re already looking ahead to a future in Las Vegas. Leaving Oakland is about the most positive news for this ball club for two years. That’s sad. Equally as depressing is the -103 run differential.
29) MLB Power Rankings: Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are one of those teams who could challenge the Oakland Athletics for the worst record in baseball. It’s a little ironic considering it’s in Kansas City where the Athletics played before moving to Oakland. Nobody is having a more miserable year than the baseball fan who followed the Athletics to California and also adopted the Royals back in 1968. A 1-12 record at home this season probably has Missouri residents trying to push them a little closer to the state of Kansas.
28) MLB Power Rankings: Colorado Rockies
The bottom of the National League pit is where the Colorado Rockies find themselves. What can we really say about them that hasn’t been said before while stubbing a toe in the middle of the night? The Rockies lineup always needs to be one of the best in baseball to overcome the perils of Coors Field. This year’s lineup isn’t very good at all. A 100-loss campaign is very possible. They’re 1-9 in their last 10 games. This is rock bottom.
27) MLB Power Rankings: Chicago White Sox
Maybe Tony La Russa wasn’t the problem with the Chicago White Sox. This ball club is in a strange position as they continue to wait for players like Luis Robert Jr., Oscar Colas, and Eloy Jimenez to become stars. The Andrew Benintendi free agent signing this offseason is feeling mostly unnecessary. He’s playing well yet not nearly providing enough of what they needed. Atrocious pitching performances have been the bigger issue. Expectations were already not so great heading into the season. The White Sox asked fans to hold their beer before they went out to do something even worse.
26) MLB Power Rankings: Washington Nationals
Wait, does this mean the Washington Nationals are actually not a disaster? Hardly. The season is young. A look at how many of their players have performed, it is a bit strange to see them have as many wins as they do. What has held them together is pitching. Josiah Gray is 0-4 after four starts but he owns a 3.74 ERA. MacKenzie Gore has also done well. So has veteran Trevor Williams. The Nationals won’t do much more than be pests. However, they do appear as if they can take a step forward this year. Good for them.