Dodgers fans can take a sigh of relief. Clayton Kershaw was ruled out as an Opening Day option weeks ago, and it was recently announced that Rich Hill won't start the season on time, either.

A lot of young talent and a lot of hope in a clubhouse that hasn't seen much success lately. 2) Red Sox The World Series champs should have no problem landing in the top 5 of the Power Rankings for the foreseeable future. Giancarlo Stanton has had time to get healthy. Luis Severino, Dellin Betances, CC Sabathia and Aaron Hicks will not be starting the season on time, with Severino's return not expected until May. The 1-2 pitching duo of Shane Bieber and Mike Clevinger is as good as there is in the major leagues. David Ross is in. Dean Kremer's first two big-league starts: 11 IP, 2 ER, 14 strikeouts.

The Mariners haven't made the playoffs since 2001, the longest drought in professional sports.

The two are expected to be side by side in the batting order. During a time when life for all of us has changed in immeasurable ways, it sure does feel good to dust off the old laptop and put together the first Power Rankings of 2020 -- an exercise that is sure to delight a few of you, while infuriating the rest. The fight between baseball's owners and players seemed at times like it would never end. The youth is eventually coming, but it's not here just yet. It feels like a transition year in the Hub. Pray for AL East pitching staffs. They have some bullpen questions to answer before the season opens, including who will close games, but the candidates are all strong and appear up to the task of filling the void created by Craig Kimbrel's departure. 4) DodgersThe National League champs get the benefit of the doubt here, mainly because we don't have any regular-season results on which to base our rankings. The Yankees will open the season with the most health questions of the three powerhouse teams in the AL, which is mostly why they are ranked third. Rotation's 6.64 ERA through 45 games was worst in the majors. Reliever Devin Williams has 39 strikeouts in 19 innings. Meanwhile, the Astros added one of the game's best contact hitters in Michael Brantley to a lineup that already employs Alex Bregman, who, like Brantley, rarely strikes out. Previous: 3, Team Rating: 89, Strength: Bullpen, Starting Pitching, Offense, Weakness: None. Remember when the biggest storyline of the 2020 MLB season was how much the Astros would get booed in each road stadium? But the two sides finally came to an easy peace, and now the 2020 season is scheduled to start around July 24. 3) YankeesWho's ready for another American League East showdown? The A's are just a well-constructed team. Three-game set in Oakland this weekend could determine season's outcome.

They have arguably the best outfield in baseball in Andrew Benintendi, Jackie Bradley Jr. and reigning AL Most Valuable Player Mookie Betts, three core players who were part of last year's 108-win regular-season juggernaut. Realmuto and Andrew McCutchen. Take a look at ESPN.com's 2019 Week 1 Power Rankings to see which teams reigned supreme in the MLB The Giants are in a weird kind of limbo. Tyler Glasnow is 3-0 with a 3.19 ERA and 46 strikeouts in his last five starts. Do you think the average American sports fan can name even one Oriole? Watch. They have arguably the best outfield in baseball in Andrew Benintendi, Jackie Bradley Jr. and reigning AL Most Valuable Player Mookie Betts, three core players who were part of last year's 108-win regular-season juggernaut. Jeff McNeil went 33 games without a home run – then went deep four games in a row. Our first Power Rankings of 2019 reflect the only concrete criteria available at this point -- how teams fared in '18, how much progress they made constructing their rosters during the offseason, and how healthy they are coming out of Spring Training (which makes our No. If he regains his Cy Young form, Texas could rocket up this list. They gave Zack Wheeler big money in the offseason in hopes he can help. They could be scrappy enough to screw up the hopes of the Braves, Nationals or Mets in a short season. Ranking all 30 MLB teams. With that said, our preseason Power Rankings Top 5 reflect a lot of what we saw in '18, which was a lot of wins by the Astros, Red Sox and Yankees -- 311, collectively.

BY Cam Ellis - Ranking all 30 MLB teams. Hopes were high for the Pale Hose coming into 2020. Zack Wheeler signed a free-agent deal in Philadelphia. The Pirates went 25-48 in the second half last season. Star slugger Charlie Blackmon and two other teammates have reportedly tested positive for  COVID-19. If Jorge Soler hit a home run into the fountains, but there's no one to fish it out, did it even really happen? Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. After a .500 season in 2019, the Phillies must prove they have what it takes to displace the Braves and Nationals at the top of the NL East. Bo Bichette back in action after missing nearly a momth. 1. It may be a tossup between the National League East, which boasts four legitimate contending teams, and the NL Central, primed for another three-way dogfight between the Cardinals, Cubs and Brewers -- with the added twist of an improved Reds team. Seattle fans probably wouldn't look down on a berth this year, even if comes from a shortened season. The addition of Luis Robert to a core that includes Eloy Jimenez (above), Tim Anderson and Yoan Moncada make the White Sox a team to watch. Do you know these lucrative Social Security secrets? Incredible Blanket Puts Humans In A Deep Sleep, Melting Stress Away. Not many bright spots this year, but first baseman Christian Walker proving he's an everyday player. Which divisions will be the most compelling in 2019? We like Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha as much as the next people, but that duo can't fully replace what the Mets rotation has lost. The Rangers added Corey Kluber in the offseason. 1) AstrosThe Astros bowed out earlier than anticipated in last year's postseason when mounting injuries to key players became too much to overcome. Like us on Facebook to see similar stories, As pandemic raged and thousands died, government regulators cleared most nursing homes of infection-control violations, This Beloved Coffee Chain Just Closed 687 Locations For Good. With most of the team returning, including a rotation anchored by ace lefty Chris Sale, the Sox are set up for a big year, again. Ke'Bryan Hayes' first weeks in the majors have Pirates fans excited. The Phillies may be primed to take the biggest leap in the win column, after adding a crop of proven difference-makers in Bryce Harper, Jean Segura, J.T. The Braves have already won two straight NL East titles, and now they just need to start consistently winning in the postseason. With a 60-game season, the Blue Jays' young core won't stand any danger of running into the wall. Wouldn't surprise anyone if they outkicked the Astros for the AL West title in a shortened season. The champs are back! MLB power rankings: Postseason races going down to the wire. Houston Astros. The Yankees should be deep enough -- especially in the bullpen, which is still one of the best in baseball, even without Betances -- to compensate for a lot of what they'll be missing early, and they also have a favorable schedule to start with, as 16 of their first 21 games are against the Orioles, Tigers, White Sox and Royals. Shane Bieber (62 ⅓ innings) is fastest to 100 Ks since 1900. Can new manager Derek Shelton pull the team together in an abbreviated first season?

The Reds are a lot like the White Sox. The Indians should contend for a wild-card spot. That doesn't leave us much time to get reacquainted with the teams. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Dusty Baker says Justin Verlander would slot into team's rotation if he makes it back. They are the team to beat in my eyes, but a few teams are breathing down their neck. Ozzie Albies had three steals in first four games back off injured list. Sonny Gray goes on injured list with strained back. Is this the year the Yankees end their World Series drought (now at 11 years)? Compare and contrast MLB player ratings to help optimize your fantasy baseball team! Sixto Sanchez has been dazzling through four starts: 1.80 ERA, 25 K, 2 BB. And maybe they'll throw their fans a bone and bring up P Casey Mize (the first overall pick in 2018) and 1B Spencer Torkelson (the first overall pick in 2020). Good news: The Tigers won't be able to lose 114 games like they did last season. They already had a great pitching staff; now, they've added two big bats in Hunter Renfroe and Yoshitomo Tsutsugo to the lineup. That could make them dangerous. A fully healthy Carlos Carrasco (above) makes the starting rotation even better.

Can the Cubs grab another title despite not adding anyone of consequence to a roster that already had a lot of questions? Alec Mills tosses 16th no-hitter in franchise history.

The D'Backs flew under the radar and won 85 games last year. Theoretically, every squad has a chance over this 60-game sprint of a season, but who has a better chance than others? 2) Red SoxThe World Series champs should have no problem landing in the top 5 of the Power Rankings for the foreseeable future. USA TODAY. Injuries to Walker Buehler and Dustin May turn rotation into a question mark. Rookie Bobby Dalbec had six homers in his first 10 games. in a normal season we'd be talking much more about Daniel Bard's comeback story. Walker Buehler is making progress from the early-spring arm tenderness that hampered him for a spell, but the Dodgers may be in for a slow April. Desperately need to address pitching this winter to get Mike Trout back to the postseason. Max Scherzer's 98th career game with 10 strikeouts passes Sandy Koufax for fifth all time. Follow her on Twitter @alysonfooter.

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