Welcome to June. We are officially in the middle-third of the marathon that is the MLB regular season. This week’s power rankings aim to answer a basic question: How am I feeling about these teams now compared to how I felt on Opening Day with the whole season still in front of us?
Past experience and projection systems may have informed the level of optimism or pessimism for clubs before the season, but now we have a healthy sample of data to help indicate the direction each team is heading. Using an ultra-scientific spectrum ranging from Much Better to Much Worse, here’s how I’m feeling about all 30 teams entering Tuesday relative to the start of the season:
(Mallory Bielecki/Yahoo Sports)
1. Detroit Tigers (40-21) 📈
Much better. It’s not just that the Tigers have amassed the best record in baseball, though that obviously helps their case as the first team to dethrone the Dodgers in our power rankings this season. It’s that Detroit’s success has been thoroughly comprehensive. This team excels in nearly all phases of the game, and has compiled a gaudy record as a result. OK, fine, the Tigers rank 30th in stolen bases with just 21 swipes in 60 games. But beyond the running game, the Tigers are above average or better across the board: fifth in runs per game, eighth in wRC+, fourth in rotation ERA, third in bullpen ERA, and ninth in Statcast’s Fielding Run Value. Last year’s surprise run to the ALDS was merely an appetizer. This year’s Tigers look like a legit threat to win it all.
2. New York Mets (38-22) 📈
Better. With Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas yet to throw a pitch this season, New York has compiled the league’s lowest team ERA (2.86), a stunningly impressive display of run prevention considering the relatively unproven personnel involved. But even if the pitching regresses some, it would seem the offense still has another gear to reach to help mitigate any slippage on the mound. It took until the 59th game of the season for Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto and Pete Alonso to homer in the same contest, a reminder that we still haven’t seen this tremendous trio come close to its potential as a collective offensive juggernaut. Vibes are good in Queens.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers 📉
Slightly worse. Just because we just watched the Dodgers overcome an unprecedented amount of pitching injuries to win the World Series last season doesn’t mean they are a lock to repeat the same feat, especially when the arm ailments have arrived even…