MLB Power Rankings Based on World Series Odds (Can Rays Sustain Hot Start?)
By Peter Dewey
We're a few weeks into the 2023 MLB season, and the Tampa Bay Rays have been the talk of the league.
Tampa Bay won 13 straight games to start the season, and it has the best record in the Majors so far.
While the Rays are off to a hot start, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres and other contenders have started slow.
Where does everyone stack up in the latest Power Rankings?
1. Atlanta Braves (+650) Last Week: No. 2
The Braves are 12-4, and they look like the best team in the NL even with Max Fried injured to start the season.
2. Tampa Bay Rays (+1000) LW: No. 12
The Rays have made the biggest jump so far this season, and they've put together a dominant +72 run differential.
3. Houston Astros (+800) LW: No. 1
The Astros are off to a slow start, but so is the rest of the AL West. Houston started slow last season and still won the World Series.
4. Toronto Blue Jays (+1300) LW: No. 7
The Jays were the first team to take down the Rays, and they are currently second in the AL East.
5. New York Yankees (+900) LW: No. 6
Gerrit Cole has been dominant to start the season, tossing a shutout on Sunday. The Yankees are off to a good start with Carlos Rodon and Luis Severino out with injuries.
6. New York Mets (+1300) LW: No. 5
The Mets' offense struggled early, but the team has won four straight to move into the No. 2 spot in the NL East.
7. Milwaukee Brewers (+2000) LW: No. 16
The Brewers are off to a hot start, taking three of four from the Padres to move to 11-5 on the season.
8. Minnesota Twins (+2200) LW: No. 15
The Twins split their series with the Yankees and their bats have been solid to start the season.
9. Los Angeles Dodgers (+850) LW: No. 3
The NL West looks pretty awful right now, but there's no reason to panic on the Dodgers.
10. San Diego Padres (+1000) LW: No. 4
The Padres are hoping Fernando Tatis Jr.'s return will spark them after a slow start.
11. Texas Rangers (+5000) LW: No. 17
The Texas Rangers currently are in first in the AL West, but the team has to survive without Corey Seager for a few weeks.
12. Cleveland Guardians (+3200) LW: No. 11
The Guardians need to find a little more pitching depth with Triston McKenzie sidelined to injury.
13. Seattle Mariners (+2800) LW: No. 9
Seattle started off extremely slow but has won four straight to get back to .500 through 16 games.
14. Boston Red Sox (+8500) LW: No. 18
The Red Sox have some pitching issues, but they are still 8-8 on the season and on a three-game winning streak.
15. Baltimore Orioles (+13000) LW: No. 20
The Orioles may be a serious contender in the AL for a playoff spot, as this young team has started out hot.
16. St. Louis Cardinals (+2100) LW: No. 10
The Cardinals should be fine, but the team has a minus-7 run differential so far this season.
17. Los Angeles Angels (+4000) LW: No. 14
The Angels are hoping to salvage the final game of a four-game set with Boston on Monday after dropping the first three.
18. Arizona Diamondbacks (+13000) LW: No. 23
Arizona leads the NL West, but I wouldn't put too much stock into it at this point in the season.
19. Chicago Cubs (+13000) LW: No. 21
The Chicago Cubs are 7-3 in their last 10 games, and they could be a sneaky team after making some win-now moves this offseason. Ian Happ also got an extension with the team.
20. Philadelphia Phillies (+2500) LW: No. 8
The Phillies are a mess right now, and injuries could hold this team back from a playoff spot after last year's strong finish.
21. Miami Marlins (+20000) LW: No. 22
The Marlins are somehow 8-8 despite only scoring 49 runs in their first 16 games...
22. Chicago White Sox (+10000) LW: No. 13
I thought the White Sox had a shot to win the AL Central, but their start to the season has been less than inspiring.
23. Pittsburgh Pirates (+25000) LW: No. 28
Oneil Cruz's injury limits the Pirates' ceiling, although the team is off to a good start at 9-7.
24. San Francisco Giants (+6000) LW: No. 19
The Giants just lack a ton of top-line talent in their lineup, and they're just 3-7 in their last 10 games.
25. Cincinnati Reds (+50000) LW: No. 27
The Reds have hit the ball well so far this season, and they have some solid young pitchers. However, they still find themselves in last in the NL Central.
26. Colorado Rockies (+100000) LW: No. 26
The Rockies have dropped five straight games to fall to 5-11 after a decent start to the season.
27. Detroit Tigers (+25000) LW: No. 25
The Javier Baez contract may be the worst in baseball. The Tigers can't score, putting up 50 runs in 14 games.
28. Kansas City Royals (+25000) LW: No. 24
The Royals are just 1-9 at home and have the second worst record in MLB.
29. Washington Nationals (+100000) LW: No. 29
This is a rebuild year for Washington, so the 5-11 start is exactly what was expected.
30. Oakland Athletics (+100000) LW: No. 30
When are the A's actually going to try to win?
Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.