We’re officially a quarter into the season, which means it’s time to update our MLB Power Rankings 2022. As it always happens, some teams have climbed the ladder, while others continue to underperform. Luckily for them, there’s still plenty of time to turn things around.
MLB Power Rankings 2022
If something has defined the best baseball teams this season, it’s consistency. They’ve known how to bounce back quickly and found different ways to win games. That’s why there’s not that much difference in our MLB Power Rankings today if compared to our previous MLB power rankings.
But as we’ve seen throughout the years, the baseball season is an extremely long grind. Moreover, the postseason is as ruthless as it’s unfair, so getting hot at the right time or making a key move before the deadline can end up leading you to a World Series pennant.
So, if your favorite team isn’t featured here or isn’t as high as you’d like, don’t worry! There are still three-quarters of the regular season left and there’s plenty of time to turn things around. So, without further ado, we give you our updated MLB Power Rankings 2022:
15. Braves
The reigning World Series champions have been far from consistent this season. Despite featuring a dominant rotation on paper, their starting pitching has left a lot to be desired. Not even Charlie Morton or Max Fried have given them quality starts as often as expected, and it’s hard to win baseball games that way.
Ronald Acuña Jr. is back and that’s obviously great news for them. Also, landing Matt Olson made losing Freddie Freeman somewhat less hurtful. But Ozzie Albies and Eddie Rosario have struggled vastly at the plate and their bullpen isn’t doing them any favors, either.
14. Diamondbacks
If someone would’ve told me that the Arizona Diamondbacks will have a 23-26 record one quarter into the season, I would’ve called them crazy, yet here we are. They’ve been one of the most surprising teams in all of baseball this season, boasting a solid rotation and excelling in one-run games.
Daulton Varsho deserves a lot of credit for his recent breakout and Zac Gallen has played like a legitimate ace. Also, they’re finally getting the old Madison Bumgarner back. This team may still fall off a cliff from now on but for the first time in years, it seems like they’re finally heading in the right direction.
13. White Sox
The Chicago White Sox were supposed to run away with their division this season but have been fairly disappointing thus far. But, then again, they’ve dealt with multiple injuries and are still one of the best baseball teams this season, at least on paper.
There’s only so much a team missing Garrett Crochet, Eloy Jiménez, Yoan Moncada, and A.J. Pollock can do. Johnny Cueto has given them another trustworthy starter, at least until Lance Lynn is ready to come back. Michael Kopech has been lights out, but Dallas Keuchel was designated for assignment.
12. Giants
The San Francisco Giants are coming off a franchise-record season. But even though they haven’t been nearly as good this year, they’re still third in arguably the toughest division in all of baseball. Also, the fact that they’ve done that without a star-studded lineup only makes them more intriguing.
Carlos Rodón has been a legit Cy Young candidate, and Mike Yastrzemski could also enter the MVP conversation. Other than that, the Giants look like a team of outcasts with a chip on their shoulder, and that makes them really dangerous. They can either go way up or hit rock bottom in our future MLB Power Rankings 2022.
11. Cardinals
Death, taxes, and the St. Louis Cardinals being a legit contender. That’s just the way it’s been forever. And now that both Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt have both decided to go human torch mode, it’s hard not to think of them as a big threat out of the National League Central.
The most impressive part about this Cardinals team is the fact that they haven’t even missed Jack Flaherty. But Flaherty is getting closer to his return, so we expect them to get hot as hell following the All-Star break. Oh, did I mention they also called up their two best prospects and are still missing Tyler O’Neill? Don’t sleep on them.
10. Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays slid to the 10th spot in our MLB Power Rankings 2022 after enduring a bit of a tough stretch. They were perhaps the most aggressive team in the offseason, yet they haven’t found the success they’d hoped for early in the season. Even so, they have enough talent to run away with the division.
Most of their hitters are still dormant, so it’s hard to rank the Blue Jays right now. They have an explosive offense on paper, and Alek Manoah looks like a superstar pitcher in the making. So, if Bo Bichette and Teoscar Hernandez start hitting some balls, they could go bonkers against any team in the league. If not, well, maybe next year.
9. Twins
The Minnesota Twins are finally looking like the contender we thought they’d be over the past three years or so. Maybe it’s the Carlos Correa effect, maybe it’s all the injuries to the White Sox. Whatever the case, they hold a decent lead at the top of their division and are good enough to stay in that spot.
Byron Buxton has been healthy for the most part and he’s one of the most spectacular players in the game. But more than that, the Twins’ pitching corps led by Joe Ryan has been one of the most impressive in the Majors. They need to keep their foot on the gas if they don’t want to lose Correa, but there’s no reason to think this is unsustainable.
8. Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays got off to a slow start to the season but have now cracked the top-10 of our MLB Power Rankings 2022. Their offense continues to be pedestrian at best, but their starting rotation and bullpen are just otherworldly, as it’s been the case with them since Kevin Cash took over.
Shane McClanahan and Drew Rasmussen could both enter the Cy Young conversation once it’s all said and done. Jeffrey Springs has also emerged as a potential ace out of the blue. They need to get their hitters going, starting with Wander Franco. But they have enough pitching to hang around in the meantime.
7. Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers also got off to a slow start but, against all odds, their offense has them as one of the best MLB teams right now. We all knew their starting rotation was one of the best in the league, but the fact that they rank fifth in runs scored per game has been a pleasant surprise.
We all knew what Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff were capable of. Add a revamped, renewed Eric Lauer to that mix and the Brewers once again have the personnel to shut down their rivals any given night. Will they be at their best when it matters the most? That’s yet to be seen.
6. Angels
Joe Maddon was reportedly on the hot seat entering this season but that may not be the case anymore. Now that they’re finally healthy, the Los Angeles Angels have proven that they can compete with the best of them. Moreover, their success goes way beyond Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout.
The Angels are the only team ranking in the top five in starting-pitching ERA, outs above average, bullpen WHIP, and OPS, boasting a run differential of nearly 50 runs. Trout’s health will always be a concern and we’ve seen this team fail over and over, but they might well put an end to their postseason drought.
5. Padres
Manny Machado is playing the best baseball of his career, keeping the San Diego Padres’ offense afloat while Fernando Tatis Jr. is still on the shelf. They continue to chase the Dodgers for the top of the NL West, and their pitching has been much better than last year.
Joe Musgrove has been stellar, and adding Sean Manaea to the mix has done wonders thus far. Also, they wanted to get rid of Eric Hosmer, but he’s been one of the most productive players in the league this season. We’ve seen them implode before, so we’re still not completely sold, though.
4. Mets
Steve Cohen proved that he wouldn’t hesitate to break the bank and spend big bucks to build a contender right away, and it’s definitely working thus far. Even despite a string of injuries, the New York Mets continue to find ways to win games.
Max Scherzer was his usual self before going down with an injury. Tylor Megill was having a breakout before heading to the IL. Also, they won’t have Jacob deGrom for the time being. But their rotation of Carlos Carrasco, Chris Bassitt, and Taijuan Walker has been good enough to keep them afloat.
3. Astros
Remember when the Houston Astros were struggling at the plate? Yeah, those were the days. As predicted, Dusty Baker‘s team turned the page and is back where they’ve been over the past half a decade. They just won’t go away any time soon.
Justin Verlander hasn’t missed a beat despite being 39 years old and coming off Tommy John surgery, leading them to a 6-2 record when he pitches. Alex Bregman hasn’t been as good as expected, yet they continue to boast one of the best offenses in all of baseball.
2. Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers have put together the best team in all of baseball and it’s not even close. They have a star-studded pitching corps and the kind of lineup one could only dream of in a video game. No wonder they have the best record in the National League.
Dave Roberts‘ team will be a contender as long as they stay healthy. Even with a subpar Mookie Betts and Justin Turner, their offense continues to rake and produce. On the downside, Cody Bellinger is still struggling and Clayton Kershaw got hurt again.
1. Yankees
The New York Yankees sit at the top of MLB Power Rankings 2022 and for very good reasons. I think I speak for most when I say that I thought the Yankees would struggle this season after not revamping their rotation. Well, mea culpa, I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Aaron Judge‘s decision to bet on himself has proven to be right. He’s playing the best baseball of his career and the Yankees have been near perfect in every aspect of the game this season. Brian Cashman is knowns for his aggressive mid-season trades, so this team could only get better.
