MLB Power Rankings: Dodgers are still top dogs

With the MLB season set to begin in less than three weeks, it’s a good time to assign preseason rankings to all 30 clubs. Here is the first edition of BetAmerica’s MLB Power Rankings for 2020.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

A 60-game season affords less margin for error, but it would still be shocking if the Dodgers don’t win their eighth straight NL West crown. The trade for Mookie Betts makes their lineup that much stronger, and Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler comprise one the game’s best one-two punches atop the rotation.

2. New York Yankees

The Yankees haven’t had much luck in the health department over the last two seasons, but their depth has guided them to playoff appearances nonetheless. The addition of Gerrit Cole, and potential fall of the scandal-ridden Astros, could put them over the top in the AL.

3. Atlanta Braves

The defending NL East champs swapped Josh Donaldson for Marcell Ozuna in their potent lineup led by Freddie Freeman. The Braves’ well-balanced rotation, starring Rookie of the Year runner-up Mike Soroka, gives them a fighting chance just about every night.

4. Minnesota Twins

The Twins led the majors in home runs last year (307) and added Josh Donaldson to make their lineup that much more fierce. Underrated starters Jose Berrios and Kenta Maeda can go toe-to-toe with just about anyone.

5. Houston Astros

The Astros are the team that stands to benefit most from a lack of fans in the wake of their sign-stealing scandal, but their rotation (2019 AL Cy Young winner Justin Verlander excluded) has questions to answer. It will be interesting to see if Alex Bregman and company can keep the same offensive pace in 2020, particularly at home games. That being said, there is an abundance of talent here and Houston should threaten the AL’s top teams for a World Series bid.

6. Tampa Bay Rays

Don’t be shocked if the Rays give the Yankees a run for their money in the AL East. Charlie Morton, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow help make up a very strong rotation which covers for a slightly-above average lineup.

7. Washington Nationals

It’s rare to see a defending World Series champ listed as 20-1 underdogs to repeat, but that’s the case with the 93-win Nationals from 2019. They kept Stephen Strasburg but lost Anthony Rendon in free agency, which could cripple their lineup. The NL East offers them little margin for error.

8. Cleveland Indians

When healthy, Mike Clevinger, Shane Bieber, and Carlos Carrasco give the Indians a fighting chance whenever they’re on the mound. As long as Francisco Lindor can get consistent support from Carlos Santana and Jose Ramirez, Cleveland can make a deep postseason run.

9. Arizona Diamondbacks

The D-backs may not be the deepest team in the majors, which could hurt them this year, but they appear to be getting overlooked by many pundits. Adding Madison Bumgarner in free agency was a coup. Ketel Marte could be an MVP candidate if he plays like he did late last year (1.081 OPS post-All-Star Game).

10. Philadelphia Phillies

Joe Girardi, the Phillies’ new skipper, can afford to push frontline starters Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler, and Jake Arrieta a little harder with a short season to help make up for a modest bullpen. When healthy, Philly has a very talented lineup from top to bottom.

11. Oakland Athletics

A full season from starter Sean Manaea will be a boon for an A’s club that won 97 games a year ago.

12. St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals begin a procession of three straight NL Central teams, symbolizing just how competitive this division could be in 2020. Cy Young candidate Jack Flaherty leads the rotation, but an anemic lineup wasn’t assisted during the winter.

13. Cincinnati Reds

The Reds did plenty to boost their lineup in 2020, but can they make up 16 games on St. Louis?

14. Chicago Cubs

The core of the Cubs’ 2016 championship team looked burnt out by the end of last season, hence the firing of manager Joe Maddon. David Ross, part of the title-winning team, now takes over at the helm. It looks like a boom-or-bust type year in Chicago.

15. Chicago White Sox

The White Sox had a very promising offseason, signing Dallas Keuchel and Steve Cishek to bargain contracts. Top prospect Luis Robert is slated to make his debut in the outfield. A playoff bid is within reach.

16. New York Mets

The Mets being true contenders in 2020 seems like a fantasy. If everything goes right with Marcus Stroman, Rick Porcello, and Michael Wacha, the Mets could have an elite rotation anchored by back-to-back Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom. And the Mets could have an elite lineup if no one slumps or gets hurt behind Rookie of the Year Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil. In reality, a spot right in the middle of these power rankings feels appropriate.

17. Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers’ decision to sign Avisail Garcia in lieu of a frontline starter this winter remains a curious one. They could lose ground on their NL Central rivals as a result.

18. Boston Red Sox

Chris Sale and Mookie Betts, Boston’s biggest stars a year ago, are not walking through that proverbial door in 2020. They appear to be in a rebuild-on-the-fly mode, but who knows what management will decide to do if the team gets off to a hot start.

19. Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays may not have the deepest roster, but Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Cavan Biggio will be exciting to watch. Big free agent signing Hyun-Jin Ryu has had trouble staying healthy for all 162 games, but he only needs to stick around for 60 now.

20. Texas Rangers

They were spurned by many an elite free agent over the offseason, but the Rangers picked up Corey Kluber for a song and added Todd Frazier to a very respectable (and powerful) lineup. Texas could make a little noise in their new stadium this season.

21. Los Angeles Angels

Anthony Rendon and Shohei Ohtani will have to do some heavy lifting to make up for the Angels’ sub-par pitching staff.

22. Miami Marlins

They’re still a long away from contending, but the Marlins got demonstrably better this offseason by adding Brandon Kintzler to their bullpen and Corey Dickerson and Jonathan Villar to their lineup.

23. San Diego Padres

The addition of Manny Machado hardly made a difference for the Padres in 2019, as they finished 70-92. The Tommy Pham-Hunter Renfroe trade and the addition of Zach Davies probably won’t help much either.

24. San Francisco Giants

There won’t be any "even-year magic" in San Francisco in 2020 – there’s far too many holes on their roster. 

25. Colorado Rockies

The only thing worse than a bad team is a bad team with illusions of grandeur who alienated their best player in the offseason.

26. Kansas City Royals

Whit Merrifield will rack up the hits, but the dearth of talent around him will likely prevent the Royals from making a postseason bid.

27. Pittsburgh Pirates

New skipper Derek Shelton inherits perhaps the most caustic situation in the majors in the Pirates’ clubhouse. Building chemistry will be more important for Pittsburgh than winning games this year.

28. Seattle Mariners

The Mariners have gone into full rebuilding mode, joining the Orioles and Tigers at the bottom of the AL.

29. Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles have been a shell of themselves for years, and they traded away their best player in Villar over the winter.

30. Detroit Tigers

It’s hard to believe the Tigers posted an 11-12 record in April, as they finished a league-worst 47-114 last year. There’s little reason for optimism in 2020.  

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