MLBSD 2019 (Early) Preseason Power Rankings & O/U Win Totals
Mar 1, 2019 2:12:23 GMT
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Dodgers GM (Pat), Braves GM (Cole), and 2 more like this
Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2019 2:12:23 GMT
1. Cleveland Indians
This team is straight up loaded. With superstars like Lindor and Ramirez leading the way for an otherwise above average lineup this team will be winning a lot of hitting categories this year (good luck beating them in steals). But where this teams impact is really made is on the pitching side of the ball. The fact that Clevinger and Maeda are almost a lock to not make the starting 5 just speaks volumes about the electric starting pitching on this team. They follow that up with a scary bullpen lead by arguably the best closer in the league (unless he sits the year out lol) in Kimbrel and the most dominant reliever in the league last year in Hader. Though not by a wide margin this team is the favorite to repeat this year and absolutely the favorite to win the AL.
O/U 208.5
2. Atlanta Braves
You can look as long and hard as you want but you will never find an offense as good as this one. This team not only has so much depth that they’d be choosing between Donaldson and Murphy for their starting utility spot but they have the star power to boot on top of that. Just think about how crazy this is, Acuna is easily this team’s worst starting outfielder. Following the elite lineup is one of the best starting rotations in the league. The only improvement the starting 5 could use is an elite ace, but don’t count out Bumgarner to fill that role with a bounce back year. This team adds the cherry on top with Chapman in the bullpen though could use more depth there following disappointing seasons from Vizcaino, Greene and Tepera. Honestly if this team matched up with Cleveland 100 times a 50/50 split shouldn’t surprise anyone. The biggest knock on this team is the daunting task of winning the loaded NL, which inevitably was the deciding factor for earning the 2 slot.
O/U 204.5
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
While the two teams ahead are clearly the top two there isn’t much drop off with the Dodgers right behind them. This team has a roster built very much like CLE with pitching leading the way. The starting pitchers have a few question marks to polish up such as if Kershaw will play a full season or if Wood can bounce back this year but with enough depth neither should be too big of a concern. Same goes for the bullpen with Jansen’s recurring heart issues affecting him last year and Knebel’s down season but with the additions of Kelly and Wilson they shouldn’t have much to worry about. The infield is an interesting position to watch. Rizzo is phenomenal but struggled early last year before finishing on a tear. Turner needs to stay healthy but when he’s healthy he’s a stud. Seager will hopefully be a big boost to the team this year after missing all of last season and hopefully won’t have lost a stride. The team has a lot of question marks but if all goes right could be holding up that trophy at the end of the season. If they really want to make the jump over CLE and ATL they’re going to need to give Blackmon some help in the outfield though.
O/U 194.5
4. Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox are the only true challenger for the AL throne. This team checks every box when it comes to their lineup, headlined by the triple Bs, Betts, Bellinger and Baez. The biggest concern for the lineup is the depth but barring an injury, which this roster doesn’t have much of a history with, this team will be dominating hitting categories this year. The starting rotation is as deep as the come but lacks the star power to push them over the top (unless you count future Cy Young winner Jose Berrios, according to Alex). The bullpen is good but will lack in saves as Yates is the only true closer on the team and the Padres just aren’t that good. All in all this team isn’t good enough to be the favorite but is too good to be considered a dark horse. Watch out for an upset in the AL.
O/U 190.5
5. Miami Marlins
This team has a lot of balance to it. The biggest knock on this team compared to the teams above it is the void of stars outside of Verlander, Yelich and Realmuto. That being said this team has a lot of good players. Behind Verlander the starting rotation leaves something to be desired. Rodriguez was outstanding last year but hasn’t proved himself in a large enough sample size yet. Taillon will be looking to take the next step this year which would be a huge boost for this team. Eovaldi could be the most interesting to watch however as he was as dominant as you’ll ever see a pitcher in the playoffs last year, but lacks the over resume outside of that. The bullpen is good, but not great. Betances will run up the strikeouts though so watch out. The lineup will probably be the most underrated part of this roster though. Suarez and Peralta are the biggest examples of this as both had great seasons last year that flew under the radar. Don’t forget about Aguilar crushing a few against you either. Depth will be a concern for this team but overall they should have no issue at all securing at least a wild card.
O/U 184.5
6. Chicago Cubs
This is is another team that is very well balanced. The starting rotation has no real weaknesses but, after the two headed monster of Snell and Kuechel, isn’t necessarily very intimidating. The relievers on this team almost all fall into the same category of guys who don’t really scare you but that you also can’t take too lightly. The lineup will also shows no signs of weakness but has a little more than the pitching with guys like Bryant, Springer and Grandal. Overall this team’s lack of weaknesses will carry them to the playoffs but the lack of true strengths will need to be overcome. It will Be interesting to watch how this team proceeds with Abreu as he’s been knowingly shopped but has no backup.
O/U 178.5
7. Cincinnati Reds
This team has taken an interesting approach this offseason as they lack almost any resemblance of a farm system. This team seems more driven to now look towards the future rather than competing this year but don’t count them out to make some noise this year. This is still a very well-rounded team lead by Goldschmidt. The starting rotation could be stronger and lacks an ace but doesn’t have any big holes as there are plenty of viable pitchers in it. The relievers are the bread and butter of this team and will surely be the deciding factor in a few games this year. Colome and Vazquez are nasty and if Melancon can come back to peak form this year the group is even scarier. The lineup is good but not great. The infield will have no problem carrying their weight with Goldschmidt, Gregorius and Rendon leading the way but the outfield could use a hand. If this team is looking to make a run this year they will be hunting at the trade deadline. Consider this team a dark horse for this year.
O/U 165.5
8. New York Yankees
This team’s silent offseason is just simply puzzling. This team’s rotation is still headed by Scherzer, one of the most polarizing players in the league. A bullpen comprised of Dìaz, Ottavino and Davis is just lethal. This team also still has Stanton who is a monster and the addition of Muncy is a sweetener as well. The fact the more than $40m in cap wasn’t used to bolster the lineup and maybe rotation will never make sense to me but regardless this team still can compete with the upper echelon of the league. With an abundance of cap space and some solid prospects in the system they could very easily make the moves to shoot up these rankings but for the time being the lackluster effort this offseason will leave more to be desired from a team that should have its eyes set on winning the Pennant.
O/U 162.5
9. Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays have built a solid all around team but will need to beef it up to get over the hump. The rotation is great, Cole is a superstar if he continues to play at the level of excellence he played last year and guys like Porcello and Happ are above average starters. The bullpen is also strong but favors holds heavily over saves. But with names like Barnes, Boxberger, Barraclough and Hirano this team should have a strong ERA every week. The lineup doesn’t have a single name that jumps off the page at you but is filled with viable players. In order to make the jump this team will need to try and add a couple of higher end players but for now pen them in for a wildcard spot.
O/U 156.5
10. Washington Nationals
This team will not lose in strikeouts this year. Sale, deGrom and Strasburg is about as good of a trio as you’ll ever see. The bullpen is good but has a lot to prove after some down years last season. The lineup is the weak spot on this team. While Benintendi is great, Correa will need to come back to 2017 form and Albies will need to forget that the second half of last season ever happened. This team has a lot of guys who need to prove themselves this year and if they do this team will be climbing the list in no time. Until then though they’ll be grinding it out in hopes of taking the last wildcard spot.
O/U 154.5
11. Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies may be in the worst position possible. A borderline top 10 team that falls to 4th in their division. Not their fault but it sucks nonetheless. That being said this is a team that will be making a push for the wildcard and has just as good a chance as any. This team has a few questions marks that could turn in their favor very quickly though. Schoop was a disaster last year but has much higher potential and is in a lineup where he’ll see opportunities. Santana has a chance to revitalize his game with CLE as he’ll have base runners on for him very often. Gomber, Kingery and Herrera will all be looking to make significant strides this year as well. On top of that this team boasts some big stars in Nola and Arenado, and don’t be surprised if Hoskins improves on his all star campaign from last year. This team’s has all the tools, now they just need them to pan out.
O/U 152.5
12. Colorado Rockies
This team has a lot of good starting pitchers with Severino as their top guy. If Rodriguez can return to last years pre-injury form then this could be a seriously dominant rotation. The lineup is phenomenal with names such as Judge, Machado, Freeman and Sanchez, however a lack of depth could really derail this team if the injury bug strikes. The weak point on this team is the bullpen. Herrera won’t be seeing as many opportunities this year and the rest of the bullpen doesn’t provide much for saves or holds. This is a team that could definitely sneak up on some people but could use a couple more pieces to really finish the puzzle.
O/U 147.5
13. Texas Rangers
Kikuchi is one of the most intriguing names to watch this year and he’ll be wearing a Rangers uniform. But until he’s fulfilled the hype surrounding him this isn’t much more than an above average team. This team has a lot of talent but is void of any true stars. Kemp will be fun to watch as he attempts to repeat on last years success. While this team doesn’t show any major weaknesses though there just aren’t enough strengths to really consider this team to compete this year. This team does still possess the cap space to make moves this year and next and with no key contributors departing to FA next year they could very well have their sights set on then.
O/U 142.5
14. San Francisco Giants
The starting pitching is there. If Cueto can stay healthy and Gray can stay consistent, pairing them with Corbin is a solid trio. Outside of that grouping however, this team isn’t very inspiring this year. Soto and Hicks will be enough to keep them in the upper half of the league but that’s about it. Though with players like Sheffield, Mize and Madrigal ready to take the next step in the near future, this team will be competing before you know it. A little extra cash for next year doesn’t hurt either and Hicks is the only big contributor on this team that will be departing.
O/U 136.5
15. Seattle Mariners
This team has a recurring theme throughout the roster. A lack of being consistent and/or proven. Gonzalez is the kinda guy who could pitch a perfect game one day and get pulled in the first the next. Treinen was absolutely unbelievable last year, but where did that come from and can he repeat it? Nicasio had a phenomenal start last year just to fade off into the wind. Gordon was a disaster last year after a great 2017. Upton failed to reach his career marks last year in what was a disappointing season and Pham was up and down all year last season. This team does still inspire some faith with Moustakas and Segura, but with too many question marks all over this roster this team can’t be considered any more than middle of the pack until proven otherwise.
O/U 133.5
16. Kansas City Royals
This is a team with potential to have a good season but not enough firepower to be a real threat to anyone. Darvish will have to be a monster this year for the rotation to really be taken seriously. Leone and Brach will be enough to keep the bullpen relevant but not much else. The lineup is easily the strength of this team, lead by Gennett and Bogaerts but additions at 1B and 3B would go a long way to completing this offense with the solid outfield they have comprised. Look for the Royals to have their weeks this season but to also disappoint in other weeks. An average season is your best bet with them.
O/U 124.5
17. Pittsburgh Pirates
This is easily the most exciting young team in the league, but right now that’s all they are. This team has prospects galore and if they wanted to make moves to win this year they have all the ammunition to pull of just about any trade possible. That being said, all of this talent they currently hold is too raw to provide much value this season. The only reason to keep an eye on this team right now is to see the progressions that Andujar and Bieber make this year. Bold prediction but this is your 2022 favorite to win it all.
O/U 118.5
18. Baltimore Orioles
This is a team I fully expect to be selling this year. A few decent options in the rotation could be enticing to contenders as the Orioles should looking to bolster the farm system. The bullpen on this team is non-existent and the lineup has way too many holes to be taken seriously. There’s enough talent to stay a step ahead of the bottom third of the league but that’s about all this team will be doing in their current state.
O/U 114.5
19. Milwaukee Brewers
This is a fairly young and unproven team that has some upside to it but not enough shown yet. Between Braiser, Jones, Jennings and Reed this bullpen could look strong this year but it’s no guarantee. As for the rotation, any group led by Gray is a big red flag, though he and others like Kuhl, Mejia and Borucki could all show improvements over last year that wouldn’t be surprising to anyone. The lineup needs help for sure. Harrison and Tulowitzki aren’t getting any younger and no other names have shown that they are the real deal yet. This team has a lot of guys who can take another step this year but until they do the Brewers will be hanging out in the lower half of the league.
O/U 110.5
20. Arizona Diamondbacks
This whole roster is pretty much comprised of players who are good enough to earn starting spots on their respective teams but not enough to make an impact. This team looks like it’s built to keep the team afloat until the farm system is ready to make the jump. The depth of the farm system on top of $70m next offseason looks like a lot of fun but this team’s biggest catch this year will be watching to see if Wheeler can put together a pretty good season. Overall this is a boring roster that you can start paying attention to in the next year or two.
O/U 105.5
21. St. Louis Cardinals
The rotation doesn’t catch your eye immediately but a strong return for Martinez could turn that around. Outside of that the rest of this roster is very lackluster. The depth of the bullpen looks nice on paper but with no real good contributors, don’t expect much. Carpenter was unreal last year and could very well repeat again this year but with no help around him it will likely be a lost cause. Maybe the improvement of Bader can be a spark for this team, but with a fairly young core and solid farm system the Cardinals will be looking past this season.
O/U 100.5
22. Chicago White Sox
The White Sox have a very good young core that need to prove themselves. The only thing holding this team this far down is a combination of young players that need to show more than just a season of success and veterans wearing new stripes this year. Paxton and Newcomb could be a lethal combo this year but Paxton needs to control his ERA while Newcomb needs to show that last year wasn’t a fluke. The bullpen is going to have a phenomenal ERA this year but it comes with question marks. Soria is with a new team and no longer holds the closing job. Iglesias is dependent on his team’s success if he wants to have save opportunists and Dominguez needs to show that last years brilliance was more than just a hit start. The entire lineup is young enough to show improvement across the board and it will be interesting to see how Pollock pans out in LA with the loaded outfield and poor injury history. Loads of high ends talent in the farm make this team very scary for the near future. Chicago-Pittsburgh could turn into a great rivalry a couple years down the road.
O/U 98.5
23. Toronto Blue Jays
A full season out of Syndergaard could pay dividends for this team, but even with him this rotation isn’t very good. The bullpen has some promise to it with Osuna and Minter leading the way. The lineup is really abysmal though. Torres is great and will look to improve this year but outside of him only Mejia carries enough upside to make any impact on this team. Maybe Guerrero steps up and rejuvenate this team but in all likelihood the Blue Jays rebuild is still in the early stages and their record will reflect that this year.
O/U 86.5
24. Los Angeles Angels
This team could use a lot of comeback and breakout seasons this year for help. McCullers is a prime candidate but he doesn’t have much help surrounding him. The resurgence of Giles and Thornburg could leave the Angles with a solid bullpen, though I won’t be betting on either of them. The lineup is mostly pretty dull but a bounce back year from Buxton and the imminent breakout of Robles could be the spark this team needs to son some games this year. With an above average farm system there’s hope for this team down the road but they are more likely to build through FA and the draft.
O/U 83.5
25. New York Mets
Arguably the most unexpected move of the offseason was the Mets trading for the catastrophic contract of Harper while in the early stages of a rebuild. Betting on their prospects for sure could pay off or could be a disaster down the road, but I’d bet on the former. This team is very young and has a lot of promising names that will make an impact down the road but as far as this season, this is a very lacking team that got bumped above a couple of the basement teams because they added a superstar.
O/U 75.5
26. Houston Astros
Instead of pursuing a title run this team has decided to sit back during FA and instead bolster the farm system with high end prospects, Paddack, Luzardo, Whitley, Swaggerty and Kirilloff to name a few. While this team still has plenty of talent with names like Davis, Bauer and Rodney, there is almost no resemblance of a team around them. A few additions surely move the Astros up the rankings but this is a team that I expect to continue to sell assets and further descend into the basement. They’re only a few years out from potentially the best rotation in the league however, so don’t sleep on them for long.
O/U 73.5
27. Detroit Tigers
This is an old team that doesn’t have much to show for this year. Andrew Miller is a very good reliever but Cruz is expected to decline and Lester is a shell of his former self. Outside of them the rest of the roster is very depressing. While a deep farm system is sure to pump out some good talent to build on, there isn’t much to say about this team this year other than bleh. They have a couple contributors keeping them from the very bottom but that’s all they’ll be doing.
O/U 65.5
28. Oakland Athletics
This team pulled off the most controversial move of the year with the sign-and-trade of Harper but that’s pretty much all they’ll be remembered for this year. The roster has some young talent to build on but no much and plenty of holes in it. Ohtani is the lone bright spot here in hopes that his elbow won’t affect him much this year. The team has built up a decent farm system which inspires hope for the future, but it will take a combination of player development and FA signings for the A’s to become relevant again.
O/U 60.5
29. Minnesota Twins
The losers of the Harper sweepstakes fall right behind the winner (though as far as moral goes they’re the real winner). This team isn’t built to win this year but names like Bart, Kelenic and Harrison show optimism over the horizon. By that time this team will be out from under Samardzija’s terrible contract, not to mention the boatload of cap space this team brings. Watch out for them to bolster the roster next year, more likely planning for the year after. But in the meantime enjoy watching other teams battle it out because this isn’t their year.
O/U 58.5
30. San Diego Padres
You never want to be mean to the commissioner of the league but this team flat out sucks. This is a t-ball roster that will no doubt finish last place in the league. The farm system does provide a lot of optimism for this team’s future but these rankings are focused strictly on this season and this team’s ace is Shipley, enough said. The abundance of cap space this team brings into next season however leaves the door open for an exciting offseason in San Diego. But in the meantime… well you get the point.
O/U 38.5
This team is straight up loaded. With superstars like Lindor and Ramirez leading the way for an otherwise above average lineup this team will be winning a lot of hitting categories this year (good luck beating them in steals). But where this teams impact is really made is on the pitching side of the ball. The fact that Clevinger and Maeda are almost a lock to not make the starting 5 just speaks volumes about the electric starting pitching on this team. They follow that up with a scary bullpen lead by arguably the best closer in the league (unless he sits the year out lol) in Kimbrel and the most dominant reliever in the league last year in Hader. Though not by a wide margin this team is the favorite to repeat this year and absolutely the favorite to win the AL.
O/U 208.5
2. Atlanta Braves
You can look as long and hard as you want but you will never find an offense as good as this one. This team not only has so much depth that they’d be choosing between Donaldson and Murphy for their starting utility spot but they have the star power to boot on top of that. Just think about how crazy this is, Acuna is easily this team’s worst starting outfielder. Following the elite lineup is one of the best starting rotations in the league. The only improvement the starting 5 could use is an elite ace, but don’t count out Bumgarner to fill that role with a bounce back year. This team adds the cherry on top with Chapman in the bullpen though could use more depth there following disappointing seasons from Vizcaino, Greene and Tepera. Honestly if this team matched up with Cleveland 100 times a 50/50 split shouldn’t surprise anyone. The biggest knock on this team is the daunting task of winning the loaded NL, which inevitably was the deciding factor for earning the 2 slot.
O/U 204.5
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
While the two teams ahead are clearly the top two there isn’t much drop off with the Dodgers right behind them. This team has a roster built very much like CLE with pitching leading the way. The starting pitchers have a few question marks to polish up such as if Kershaw will play a full season or if Wood can bounce back this year but with enough depth neither should be too big of a concern. Same goes for the bullpen with Jansen’s recurring heart issues affecting him last year and Knebel’s down season but with the additions of Kelly and Wilson they shouldn’t have much to worry about. The infield is an interesting position to watch. Rizzo is phenomenal but struggled early last year before finishing on a tear. Turner needs to stay healthy but when he’s healthy he’s a stud. Seager will hopefully be a big boost to the team this year after missing all of last season and hopefully won’t have lost a stride. The team has a lot of question marks but if all goes right could be holding up that trophy at the end of the season. If they really want to make the jump over CLE and ATL they’re going to need to give Blackmon some help in the outfield though.
O/U 194.5
4. Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox are the only true challenger for the AL throne. This team checks every box when it comes to their lineup, headlined by the triple Bs, Betts, Bellinger and Baez. The biggest concern for the lineup is the depth but barring an injury, which this roster doesn’t have much of a history with, this team will be dominating hitting categories this year. The starting rotation is as deep as the come but lacks the star power to push them over the top (unless you count future Cy Young winner Jose Berrios, according to Alex). The bullpen is good but will lack in saves as Yates is the only true closer on the team and the Padres just aren’t that good. All in all this team isn’t good enough to be the favorite but is too good to be considered a dark horse. Watch out for an upset in the AL.
O/U 190.5
5. Miami Marlins
This team has a lot of balance to it. The biggest knock on this team compared to the teams above it is the void of stars outside of Verlander, Yelich and Realmuto. That being said this team has a lot of good players. Behind Verlander the starting rotation leaves something to be desired. Rodriguez was outstanding last year but hasn’t proved himself in a large enough sample size yet. Taillon will be looking to take the next step this year which would be a huge boost for this team. Eovaldi could be the most interesting to watch however as he was as dominant as you’ll ever see a pitcher in the playoffs last year, but lacks the over resume outside of that. The bullpen is good, but not great. Betances will run up the strikeouts though so watch out. The lineup will probably be the most underrated part of this roster though. Suarez and Peralta are the biggest examples of this as both had great seasons last year that flew under the radar. Don’t forget about Aguilar crushing a few against you either. Depth will be a concern for this team but overall they should have no issue at all securing at least a wild card.
O/U 184.5
6. Chicago Cubs
This is is another team that is very well balanced. The starting rotation has no real weaknesses but, after the two headed monster of Snell and Kuechel, isn’t necessarily very intimidating. The relievers on this team almost all fall into the same category of guys who don’t really scare you but that you also can’t take too lightly. The lineup will also shows no signs of weakness but has a little more than the pitching with guys like Bryant, Springer and Grandal. Overall this team’s lack of weaknesses will carry them to the playoffs but the lack of true strengths will need to be overcome. It will Be interesting to watch how this team proceeds with Abreu as he’s been knowingly shopped but has no backup.
O/U 178.5
7. Cincinnati Reds
This team has taken an interesting approach this offseason as they lack almost any resemblance of a farm system. This team seems more driven to now look towards the future rather than competing this year but don’t count them out to make some noise this year. This is still a very well-rounded team lead by Goldschmidt. The starting rotation could be stronger and lacks an ace but doesn’t have any big holes as there are plenty of viable pitchers in it. The relievers are the bread and butter of this team and will surely be the deciding factor in a few games this year. Colome and Vazquez are nasty and if Melancon can come back to peak form this year the group is even scarier. The lineup is good but not great. The infield will have no problem carrying their weight with Goldschmidt, Gregorius and Rendon leading the way but the outfield could use a hand. If this team is looking to make a run this year they will be hunting at the trade deadline. Consider this team a dark horse for this year.
O/U 165.5
8. New York Yankees
This team’s silent offseason is just simply puzzling. This team’s rotation is still headed by Scherzer, one of the most polarizing players in the league. A bullpen comprised of Dìaz, Ottavino and Davis is just lethal. This team also still has Stanton who is a monster and the addition of Muncy is a sweetener as well. The fact the more than $40m in cap wasn’t used to bolster the lineup and maybe rotation will never make sense to me but regardless this team still can compete with the upper echelon of the league. With an abundance of cap space and some solid prospects in the system they could very easily make the moves to shoot up these rankings but for the time being the lackluster effort this offseason will leave more to be desired from a team that should have its eyes set on winning the Pennant.
O/U 162.5
9. Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays have built a solid all around team but will need to beef it up to get over the hump. The rotation is great, Cole is a superstar if he continues to play at the level of excellence he played last year and guys like Porcello and Happ are above average starters. The bullpen is also strong but favors holds heavily over saves. But with names like Barnes, Boxberger, Barraclough and Hirano this team should have a strong ERA every week. The lineup doesn’t have a single name that jumps off the page at you but is filled with viable players. In order to make the jump this team will need to try and add a couple of higher end players but for now pen them in for a wildcard spot.
O/U 156.5
10. Washington Nationals
This team will not lose in strikeouts this year. Sale, deGrom and Strasburg is about as good of a trio as you’ll ever see. The bullpen is good but has a lot to prove after some down years last season. The lineup is the weak spot on this team. While Benintendi is great, Correa will need to come back to 2017 form and Albies will need to forget that the second half of last season ever happened. This team has a lot of guys who need to prove themselves this year and if they do this team will be climbing the list in no time. Until then though they’ll be grinding it out in hopes of taking the last wildcard spot.
O/U 154.5
11. Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies may be in the worst position possible. A borderline top 10 team that falls to 4th in their division. Not their fault but it sucks nonetheless. That being said this is a team that will be making a push for the wildcard and has just as good a chance as any. This team has a few questions marks that could turn in their favor very quickly though. Schoop was a disaster last year but has much higher potential and is in a lineup where he’ll see opportunities. Santana has a chance to revitalize his game with CLE as he’ll have base runners on for him very often. Gomber, Kingery and Herrera will all be looking to make significant strides this year as well. On top of that this team boasts some big stars in Nola and Arenado, and don’t be surprised if Hoskins improves on his all star campaign from last year. This team’s has all the tools, now they just need them to pan out.
O/U 152.5
12. Colorado Rockies
This team has a lot of good starting pitchers with Severino as their top guy. If Rodriguez can return to last years pre-injury form then this could be a seriously dominant rotation. The lineup is phenomenal with names such as Judge, Machado, Freeman and Sanchez, however a lack of depth could really derail this team if the injury bug strikes. The weak point on this team is the bullpen. Herrera won’t be seeing as many opportunities this year and the rest of the bullpen doesn’t provide much for saves or holds. This is a team that could definitely sneak up on some people but could use a couple more pieces to really finish the puzzle.
O/U 147.5
13. Texas Rangers
Kikuchi is one of the most intriguing names to watch this year and he’ll be wearing a Rangers uniform. But until he’s fulfilled the hype surrounding him this isn’t much more than an above average team. This team has a lot of talent but is void of any true stars. Kemp will be fun to watch as he attempts to repeat on last years success. While this team doesn’t show any major weaknesses though there just aren’t enough strengths to really consider this team to compete this year. This team does still possess the cap space to make moves this year and next and with no key contributors departing to FA next year they could very well have their sights set on then.
O/U 142.5
14. San Francisco Giants
The starting pitching is there. If Cueto can stay healthy and Gray can stay consistent, pairing them with Corbin is a solid trio. Outside of that grouping however, this team isn’t very inspiring this year. Soto and Hicks will be enough to keep them in the upper half of the league but that’s about it. Though with players like Sheffield, Mize and Madrigal ready to take the next step in the near future, this team will be competing before you know it. A little extra cash for next year doesn’t hurt either and Hicks is the only big contributor on this team that will be departing.
O/U 136.5
15. Seattle Mariners
This team has a recurring theme throughout the roster. A lack of being consistent and/or proven. Gonzalez is the kinda guy who could pitch a perfect game one day and get pulled in the first the next. Treinen was absolutely unbelievable last year, but where did that come from and can he repeat it? Nicasio had a phenomenal start last year just to fade off into the wind. Gordon was a disaster last year after a great 2017. Upton failed to reach his career marks last year in what was a disappointing season and Pham was up and down all year last season. This team does still inspire some faith with Moustakas and Segura, but with too many question marks all over this roster this team can’t be considered any more than middle of the pack until proven otherwise.
O/U 133.5
16. Kansas City Royals
This is a team with potential to have a good season but not enough firepower to be a real threat to anyone. Darvish will have to be a monster this year for the rotation to really be taken seriously. Leone and Brach will be enough to keep the bullpen relevant but not much else. The lineup is easily the strength of this team, lead by Gennett and Bogaerts but additions at 1B and 3B would go a long way to completing this offense with the solid outfield they have comprised. Look for the Royals to have their weeks this season but to also disappoint in other weeks. An average season is your best bet with them.
O/U 124.5
17. Pittsburgh Pirates
This is easily the most exciting young team in the league, but right now that’s all they are. This team has prospects galore and if they wanted to make moves to win this year they have all the ammunition to pull of just about any trade possible. That being said, all of this talent they currently hold is too raw to provide much value this season. The only reason to keep an eye on this team right now is to see the progressions that Andujar and Bieber make this year. Bold prediction but this is your 2022 favorite to win it all.
O/U 118.5
18. Baltimore Orioles
This is a team I fully expect to be selling this year. A few decent options in the rotation could be enticing to contenders as the Orioles should looking to bolster the farm system. The bullpen on this team is non-existent and the lineup has way too many holes to be taken seriously. There’s enough talent to stay a step ahead of the bottom third of the league but that’s about all this team will be doing in their current state.
O/U 114.5
19. Milwaukee Brewers
This is a fairly young and unproven team that has some upside to it but not enough shown yet. Between Braiser, Jones, Jennings and Reed this bullpen could look strong this year but it’s no guarantee. As for the rotation, any group led by Gray is a big red flag, though he and others like Kuhl, Mejia and Borucki could all show improvements over last year that wouldn’t be surprising to anyone. The lineup needs help for sure. Harrison and Tulowitzki aren’t getting any younger and no other names have shown that they are the real deal yet. This team has a lot of guys who can take another step this year but until they do the Brewers will be hanging out in the lower half of the league.
O/U 110.5
20. Arizona Diamondbacks
This whole roster is pretty much comprised of players who are good enough to earn starting spots on their respective teams but not enough to make an impact. This team looks like it’s built to keep the team afloat until the farm system is ready to make the jump. The depth of the farm system on top of $70m next offseason looks like a lot of fun but this team’s biggest catch this year will be watching to see if Wheeler can put together a pretty good season. Overall this is a boring roster that you can start paying attention to in the next year or two.
O/U 105.5
21. St. Louis Cardinals
The rotation doesn’t catch your eye immediately but a strong return for Martinez could turn that around. Outside of that the rest of this roster is very lackluster. The depth of the bullpen looks nice on paper but with no real good contributors, don’t expect much. Carpenter was unreal last year and could very well repeat again this year but with no help around him it will likely be a lost cause. Maybe the improvement of Bader can be a spark for this team, but with a fairly young core and solid farm system the Cardinals will be looking past this season.
O/U 100.5
22. Chicago White Sox
The White Sox have a very good young core that need to prove themselves. The only thing holding this team this far down is a combination of young players that need to show more than just a season of success and veterans wearing new stripes this year. Paxton and Newcomb could be a lethal combo this year but Paxton needs to control his ERA while Newcomb needs to show that last year wasn’t a fluke. The bullpen is going to have a phenomenal ERA this year but it comes with question marks. Soria is with a new team and no longer holds the closing job. Iglesias is dependent on his team’s success if he wants to have save opportunists and Dominguez needs to show that last years brilliance was more than just a hit start. The entire lineup is young enough to show improvement across the board and it will be interesting to see how Pollock pans out in LA with the loaded outfield and poor injury history. Loads of high ends talent in the farm make this team very scary for the near future. Chicago-Pittsburgh could turn into a great rivalry a couple years down the road.
O/U 98.5
23. Toronto Blue Jays
A full season out of Syndergaard could pay dividends for this team, but even with him this rotation isn’t very good. The bullpen has some promise to it with Osuna and Minter leading the way. The lineup is really abysmal though. Torres is great and will look to improve this year but outside of him only Mejia carries enough upside to make any impact on this team. Maybe Guerrero steps up and rejuvenate this team but in all likelihood the Blue Jays rebuild is still in the early stages and their record will reflect that this year.
O/U 86.5
24. Los Angeles Angels
This team could use a lot of comeback and breakout seasons this year for help. McCullers is a prime candidate but he doesn’t have much help surrounding him. The resurgence of Giles and Thornburg could leave the Angles with a solid bullpen, though I won’t be betting on either of them. The lineup is mostly pretty dull but a bounce back year from Buxton and the imminent breakout of Robles could be the spark this team needs to son some games this year. With an above average farm system there’s hope for this team down the road but they are more likely to build through FA and the draft.
O/U 83.5
25. New York Mets
Arguably the most unexpected move of the offseason was the Mets trading for the catastrophic contract of Harper while in the early stages of a rebuild. Betting on their prospects for sure could pay off or could be a disaster down the road, but I’d bet on the former. This team is very young and has a lot of promising names that will make an impact down the road but as far as this season, this is a very lacking team that got bumped above a couple of the basement teams because they added a superstar.
O/U 75.5
26. Houston Astros
Instead of pursuing a title run this team has decided to sit back during FA and instead bolster the farm system with high end prospects, Paddack, Luzardo, Whitley, Swaggerty and Kirilloff to name a few. While this team still has plenty of talent with names like Davis, Bauer and Rodney, there is almost no resemblance of a team around them. A few additions surely move the Astros up the rankings but this is a team that I expect to continue to sell assets and further descend into the basement. They’re only a few years out from potentially the best rotation in the league however, so don’t sleep on them for long.
O/U 73.5
27. Detroit Tigers
This is an old team that doesn’t have much to show for this year. Andrew Miller is a very good reliever but Cruz is expected to decline and Lester is a shell of his former self. Outside of them the rest of the roster is very depressing. While a deep farm system is sure to pump out some good talent to build on, there isn’t much to say about this team this year other than bleh. They have a couple contributors keeping them from the very bottom but that’s all they’ll be doing.
O/U 65.5
28. Oakland Athletics
This team pulled off the most controversial move of the year with the sign-and-trade of Harper but that’s pretty much all they’ll be remembered for this year. The roster has some young talent to build on but no much and plenty of holes in it. Ohtani is the lone bright spot here in hopes that his elbow won’t affect him much this year. The team has built up a decent farm system which inspires hope for the future, but it will take a combination of player development and FA signings for the A’s to become relevant again.
O/U 60.5
29. Minnesota Twins
The losers of the Harper sweepstakes fall right behind the winner (though as far as moral goes they’re the real winner). This team isn’t built to win this year but names like Bart, Kelenic and Harrison show optimism over the horizon. By that time this team will be out from under Samardzija’s terrible contract, not to mention the boatload of cap space this team brings. Watch out for them to bolster the roster next year, more likely planning for the year after. But in the meantime enjoy watching other teams battle it out because this isn’t their year.
O/U 58.5
30. San Diego Padres
You never want to be mean to the commissioner of the league but this team flat out sucks. This is a t-ball roster that will no doubt finish last place in the league. The farm system does provide a lot of optimism for this team’s future but these rankings are focused strictly on this season and this team’s ace is Shipley, enough said. The abundance of cap space this team brings into next season however leaves the door open for an exciting offseason in San Diego. But in the meantime… well you get the point.
O/U 38.5