MLB Power Rankings: Mookie Betts’ Dodgers overwhelming favorite to repeat

As Opening Day begins this week, it seems very possible that we’ll see a repeat champion for the first time in more than two decades.

The Dodgers enter 2021 as the overwhelming favorite to win the World Series, a year after ending a 32-year championship drought. Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger are back, and the addition of top free agent starter Trevor Bauer this winter made the rotation even better in their quest to become the first repeat champ since the Yankees won three straight from 1998 to 2000.

But they’ll certainly have challengers, and the stiffest one may come from their own division. And unlike last year, we have a long, 162-game season ahead, and anything can change in the next six months.

Here’s our crack at the first MLB power rankings of the season:

1. Dodgers: It would be hard to pick between the Dodgers and the field this season. Los Angeles’ rotation is the best in baseball, there’s depth and they boast two MVP candidates in the lineup. This team is stacked, to put it lightly.

2. Padres: Fernando Tatis Jr. is quickly becoming the face of baseball, but the key with San Diego is its rotation, which added Blake Snell and Yu Darvish this winter. They should give the Dodgers a run for their money in the NL West.

3. Yankees: There are certainly question marks with the rotation beyond Gerrit Cole. New additions Corey Kluber and Jameson Taillon have serious recent injury history, but if they can stay healthy enough to get through the season, this team will be hard to beat in the AL.

4. Braves: They still have to get over the hump when it comes to the postseason, but winners of three consecutive NL East titles, they’ll be right there again. They brought back Marcell Ozuna to rejoin Freddie Freeman and Ronald Acuna Jr. in a loaded lineup, and the additions of Charlie Morton and Drew Smyly with the eventual return of Mike Soroka makes Atlanta’s rotation intriguing.

5. Mets: New York looks poised to give Atlanta a run in the NL East after strengthening its roster with a slew of winter additions, none bigger than the acquisition of shortstop Francisco Lindor. Jacob deGrom, Marcus Stroman and the return of Noah Syndergaard from Tommy John surgery make the rotation as good as any in baseball.

6. White Sox: After making their first playoff appearance since 2008 last season with a wild-card loss to the A’s, the White Sox look ready to take another step this season with a terrific rotation led by Lucas Giolito, Dallas Keuchel and Lance Lynn.

7. Twins: The rotation leaves something to be desired, but the addition of Andrelton Simmons at shortstop is a quality one, and they bring back pretty much the same lineup that helped them win the AL Central last season.

8. Astros: With fans returning to ballparks, this group should have an interesting season, to say the least. Alex Bregman, Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa are still here and will look to lead a turnaround from a disappointing 29-31 season.

9. Nationals: They disappointed in 2020 after winning the 2019 World Series, but they still boast one of the best rotations in baseball with Max Scherzer, Patrick Corbin and Stephen Strasburg.

10. Blue Jays: After adding George Springer this winter, Toronto’s lineup is the most exciting in baseball with Cavan Biggio, Bo Bichette and a slimmed-down Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Their rotation probably keeps them from being serious threats to the Yankees in the AL East, but they should be in the mix for the postseason.

11. Cardinals: They made possibly the most impactful move of the offseason by taking All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado from the Rockies, who will pair with Paul Goldschmidt on the NL Central favorites.

12. Athletics: Oakland lost Khris Davis and Marcus Semien from a team that ran away with the AL West last season, but this group still has a solid rotation with Chris Bassitt, Jesus Lazardo and Sean Manaea, and most of their core remains.

13. Rays: With Snell and Morton gone, it’s certainly hard to see this group returning to the World Series. But they should still have enough to at least be in the mix for a playoff berth.

14. Brewers: They’ll need their offense to bounce back after a down year in 2020, but the return of Lorenzo Cain, who opted out last season, should help that cause. Christian Yelich was awful last year, but it was a small sample size and odds are he will return to form.

15. Cleveland: The departures of Lindor and Carlos Carrasco probably limits their chances of competing for an AL Central title, but they have a young and promising rotation led by Shane Bieber, last year’s Cy Young winner.

16. Angels: Shohei Ohtani is fully healthy again, and the two-way star is excited to show what he can do. With some additions to the rotation and, of course, Mike Trout, the Angels should compete in the AL West.

17. RED SOX: The lineup 1-9 is as good as any in baseball as long as J.D. Martinez and Rafael Devers can bounce back, but the rotation probably isn’t good enough to bring Boston back to the playoffs. Chris Sale won’t return in enough time to make an impact.

18. Phillies: They have mostly the same look as last season, with J.T. Realmuto back and Aaron Nola and Zach Wheeler leading the rotation. The difference between making the postseason or not may come down to their bullpen, which was disastrous last year.

19. Cubs: Their big bats struggled during last year’s shortened season, but bet on Kris Bryant, Javier Baez and Anthony Rizzo bouncing back in 2021. But after trading Darvish and losing Jon Lester and Jose Quintana in free agency, the rotation has a lot to prove.

20. Reds: After making the playoffs in 2020, Cincinnati will probably be worse this season, especially after losing Bauer to Los Angeles. The Reds will look for Luis Castillo to fill the ace role and Sonny Gray to be a quality No. 2 once he returns from a back injury.

21. Giants: They finished eighth in runs scored last season, Buster Posey returns after opting out last season and they added Tommy La Stella this winter, but their rotation is one of the worst in baseball and that doesn’t bode well in the loaded NL West.

22. Royals: They made some intriguing additions this winter with Andrew Benintendi, Mike Minor and Carlos Santana, but this team is still a while away from contending for a playoff spot.

23. Diamondbacks: They have some intriguing arms, with Madison Bumgarner and Luke Weaver both looking to bounce back, and promising Zac Gallen. But their lineup lacks firepower and this is a group likely destined for a sub-.500 record.

24. Marlins: Miami got through an early COVID-19 scare to make a surprise playoff appearance last season, led by promising starters Sandy Alcantara, Pablo Lopez and Sixto Sanchez. But this franchise is still in rebuilding mode.

25. Mariners: This is a young team still at least a year away from contending for a return to the playoffs. But it will be exciting to watch Kyle Lewis build off winning Rookie of the Year in 2020 and the rest of their young talent.

26. Tigers: Detroit made a bold move by hiring ex-Astros manager A.J. Hinch to lead them after his 2020 suspension from Houston’s cheating scandal, and he’ll have a lot of work to do.

27. Rangers: The worst offense in the AL last season now has some pop in the middle of the order after adding Davis to join Joey Gallo, but there’s not a lot else to be excited about here.

28. Orioles: Trey Mancini’s return after announcing he is cancer-free is the best feel-good story in baseball this season, and he’ll be a candidate for Comeback Player of the Year.

29. Rockies: There are questions at the top of this organization after making a puzzling trade of Arenado. Their 2021 prospects aren’t great, to say the least.

30. Pirates: Already the worst team in baseball, Pittsburgh somehow got worse by trading Josh Bell, Joe Musgrove and Taillon. Don’t expect much.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3lWInke