MLB Power Rankings Based on World Series Odds on May 9 (Rays, Astros Hitting Their Stride)
By Peter Dewey
Welcome back to BetSided's MLB Power Rankings, where we not only rank the best teams in baseball, but we relate it to theirWorld Series odds at WynnBET Sportsbook throughout the season.
Last week, we mentioned a few contenders that had gotten out to slow starts, but the past week was kind to many of them. Plus, the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers continue to be dominant to start this year.
Let's get into this week's rankings:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (+450) Last Week: No. 1
What more can we say about the Dodgers? They have a 2.07 team ERA (by far the best in baseball) and an astounding plus-74 run differential in their first 26 games. Oh, and they've won six straight. They'll stick at No. 1.
2. New York Yankees (+1000) LW: No. 3
The Yankees rattled off 11 straight wins before finally dropping a game to the Toronto Blue Jays. New York is second in the league in team ERA, and Gerrit Cole looks back to his normal self, tossing another gem in a win over the Texas Rangers on Sunday.
3. New York Mets (+800) LW: No. 2
The Mets are baseball's only 20-win team, and they already have a six-game lead in the NL East. Buck Showalter's club has shown some extreme discipline early in the year, and the Mets, once again, look like real contenders.
4. San Diego Padres (+1500) LW: No. 6
The Padres may be the second-best team in the NL West behind the Dodgers, but they are playing some fantastic baseball even with Fernando Tatis Jr. sidelined. San Diego is going to be a team nobody wants to face in the wild card this season.
5. Milwaukee Brewers (+1500) LW: No. 7
The Brewers are atop the NL Central with a plus-36 run differential, and they rank in the top-10 in baseball in OPS and team ERA. That's about as balanced as they come.
6. Los Angeles Angels (+2500) LW: No. 8
Oddsmakers don't seem sold on the Angels' hot start, but whenever you have Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani on the roster, you're going to be an elite offense (third in OPS). Can L.A.'s pitching hold up for it to finally make the playoffs?
7. Tampa Bay Rays (+2000) LW: No. 10
The Rays may have lost on Sunday, but they've won seven of 10 to jump the Blue Jays in the AL East. Tampa Bay is seventh in OPS and team ERA, but it has played a light schedule to start the season.
8. Houston Astros (+1200) LW: No. 14
Well, did you expect anything less? The Astros have rebounded from a slow start and have won seven straight and now have the No. 3 ERA in baseball. They'll be a playoff team in 2022.
9. Toronto Blue Jays (+600) LW: No. 5
The Jays have faced an extremely tough schedule, but there are definitely some concerns with the starting pitching this season after Alek Manoah and Kevin Gausman.
10. Minnesota Twins (+3000) LW: No. 12
The Twins have cut their World Series odds from +5000 to +3000 with a strong start, and they've done it behind the No. 4 team ERA in baseball. This team is a legit contender to win the AL Central.
11. St. Louis Cardinals (+3000) LW: No. 9
The Cardinals have fallen two spots in each of the first three weeks of our Power Rankings, and it's hard to see that trend stopping if they keep playing .500 ball week after week.
12. Chicago White Sox (+1500) LW: No. 20
The White Sox have a minus-13 run differential, but they've won six straight to climb back into the No. 2 spot in the NL Central. The division won't be as easy as last season with the Twins off to a hot start.
13. San Francisco Giants (+2000) LW: No. 4
The Giants are just 3-7 in their last 10 games, and they dropped four of six to playoff-caliber teams in the Dodgers and Cardinals. The NL West is loaded, so San Fran has to be better against the league's elite if it wants to make the playoffs again in 2022.
14. Cleveland Guardians (+10000) LW: No. 18
The Guardians are hitting the cover off the ball (fourth in OPS, fifth in runs scored) and it's lifted them to a .500 record so far this season.
15. Atlanta Braves (+1500) LW: No. 19
The Braves are now back to the No. 2 spot in the NL East, but they are still under .500. The World Series hangover is tough, and the Braves can't afford to dig an even deeper hole in the division.
16. Colorado Rockies (+10000) LW: No. 16
The Rockies are 16-12 and in third place in the NL West, but they still have a negative run differential. Until this team can improve on its 26th team ERA (4.39) it's not serious as a contender.
17. Miami Marlins (+6000) LW: No. 13
The Marlins were pushing the Mets in the NL East, but then they lost seven of 10 to fall into third place and back under .500. Still, this team is performing above expectations so far in 2022.
18. Arizona Diamondbacks (+50000) LW: No. 24
The Diamondbacks still have a negative run differential, but they have won seven of their last 10 to move over .500. Hopefully umpires stop throwing out Madison Bumgarner for no reason.
19. Philadelphia Phillies (+2500) LW: No. 15
The Phillies blew a six-run lead in the ninth inning against the Mets this past week, and they sit in fourth in the NL East. The bullpen has been this team's Achilles heel for years, and it doesn't seem to be fixed yet this season.
20. Seattle Mariners (+3000) LW: No. 11
The Mariners have fallen off a cliff! They've lost eight of their last 10 games and are now13-16 on the season with a plus-1 run differential. This is the issue with young teams, but at least George Kirby was impressive in his MLB debut on Sunday.
21. Boston Red Sox (+2500) LW: No. 15
The Red Sox have lost five straight to fall into last place in the AL East, and their offense has been dormant this season, ranking 26th in baseball in OPS. Chris Sale also suffered a setback in his injury recovery, so don't expect this pitching staff to improve any time soon.
22. Baltimore Orioles (+50000) LW: No. 26
The Baltimore Orioles are not in last place in the AL East. This may be the last time we can say that in these Power Rankings, but it is true... for now.
23. Texas Rangers (+20000) LW: No. 25
The Rangers are 5-5 in their last 10 games and they stole the second leg of a doubleheader from the Yankees on Sunday. Texas needs offseason acquisitions Marcus Semien and Corey Seager to get going if it wants to make a move in the standings.
24. Chicago Cubs (+10000) LW: No. 22
I bumped the Cubs up two spots last week, and they proceeded to lose five straight games. Not ideal. This team has way too many holes (25th in ERA, 20th in OPS) to compete even in a weak NL Central.
25. Kansas City Royals (+10000) LW: No. 29
The Royals are dead last in MLB in runs scored and 27th in OPS. They've leapfrogged the Tigers in the AL Central, but they're still far from being a playoff team.
26. Pittsburgh Pirates (+50000) LW: No. 28
I will give the Pirates credit for being 11-16, but their minus-45 run differential signals that they should be much worse. A series with the Dodgers this week won't help that number.
27. Detroit Tigers (+10000) LW: No. 23
Maybe we all jumped the gun on the Tigers' rebuild coming to an end? They've lost eight of 10 and are 29th in baseball in OPS and runs scored.
28. Oakland Athletics (+50000) LW: No. 21
The A's, who essentially signaled they were tanking this offseason, are finally showing that they don't have the talent to compete, losing nine straight games entering Monday's action.
29. Washington Nationals (+50000) LW: No. 27
The Nationals have a team ERA of 4.92 (only the Cincinnati Reds are worse) and they have failed to surround MVP candidate Juan Soto with any talent. This team is destined for a last-place finish in the NL East.
30. Cincinnati Reds (+50000) LW: No. 30
Unserious franchise gets and unserious ranking. The Reds may have won two games last week, but they are still a putrid 5-23.