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MLB Opening Day Power Rankings Dodgers s
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Some things are worth the wait, and baseball absolutely is one of those things.
With Opening Day almost here, a friendly reminder from your friends atThe Sporting News:No one knows anything.
Did anyone think Atlanta would win the World Series after Ronald Acua Jr. blew out his ACL? What about the 107-win Giants, who were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs? Or what about the return of Tony LaRu sa, steering the White Sox to a great season? Did anyonereally thinkthe Diamondbacks would lose over 100 games?
(Well, yeah.)
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Baseball is a fickle, heartle s wench a rudderle s ship of a sport that's solely designed to drive sane Jeff Okudah Jerseys men cruel. But that's why we love it and that's why we will try to make sense of it with the first Power Rankings of the 2022 season.
The usual suspects are at or around the top: The defending champion Braves jockey with the Dodgers for the top spot, as the Yankees and Rays take two of the top 10 spots in the early rankings of this year. At the bottom, you'll also find the typical cellar-dwelling squads: Abandon all hope, ye Orioles fans who enter here.
So here are this year's Opening Day Power Rankings. And, as always, do not @ us.
MLB Power Rankings1. Dodgers
2021 record:106-56
2022 TSN projections:98-64
The Dodgers are still the best, deepest and most well-rounded team in baseball. That's not something that's going to change this season.
Sure, they have one World Series to show for their recent succe s, and it came in a pandemic-shortened season. But there's a reason they're consistently in the dance and a threat to take it all: Their deep, deep farm system and their timely, always active front office help to keep them at the top of the league.
This offseason, the Dodgers signed Freddie Freeman, lengthening their already deep lineup, and traded for Craig Kimbrel, solidifying the back end of the bullpen.
They'll stick here all season, unle s something goes very, very sideways.
2. Braves
2021 record:88-73
2022 TSN projections:92-70
The 2022 World Series champions would have caught a lot of flak for simply lettingFreddie Freeman walk, but having the Plan B of Matt Olson (5.0 fWAR in 2021) was a stroke of genius.
Atlanta will still be in the World Series repeat hunt this year, as they're getting back Ronald Acua Jr. and Marcell Ozuna to pair with Olson in the lineup.
Outside of the lineup, the bullpen is a tad better with Kenley Jansen tacked on, and their rotation should be good enough, even in an improved NL East (and the Nationals).
3. Blue Jays
2021 record:91-71
2022 TSN projections:91-71
The Blue Jays finished on a 22-9 streak at the end of 2021, which was more of a sign of things to come than a flash in the pan.
Toronto isn't hiding from contention this season: Adding Kevin Gausman and Yusei Kikuchi to the rotation gives them quality and depth and, arguably, the best rotation in the AL East.
Trading for Matt Chapman will absolutely help on defense, and there's hope that he can revert to his ascending offensive self from earlier in his career. If he doesn't, there's plenty of offensive firepower in the Jays lineup to mash with the best teams in the AL as they make a push for October.
4. White Sox
2021 record:93-69
2022 TSN projections:94-68
The White Sox have a really good lineup, their rotation is solid and the bullpen should still be really good even with the departure of Craig Kimbrel.
Still, they need some things to go right to reach their ceiling:
Dallas Keuchel needs to bounce back and have a much better year than his 5.28 ERA in 2021;Eloy Jimenez has to stay healthy to give them enough thump in the lineup;
In the meantime, they'll have to navigate the Lance Lynn injury, but the White Sox are every bit as good as they were in 2021, and they may even be better this year.
5. Brewers
2021 record:95-67
2022 TSN projections:83-79
The Crew had a sneaky-good 95-win season in 2021, and they're still probably the best team in the NL Central. So much of their succe s is going to again rely on how good Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff are.
We all know the Brewers can pitch, but the lineup around Christian Yelich is the question that'll persist all season: Are the additions of Andrew McCutchen and Hunter Renfroe enough to give their potentially elite staff some run support? On paper, maybe not, but they're a better offensive team with those two guys in the lineup this year.
6. Yankees
2021 record:92-70
2022 TSN projections:86-76
Say what you want about the Yankees' offseason moves (or lack thereof), but they're still a good team on paper. The "on-paper" thing is the important part here.
While the Yankees still boast one of the AL's better lineups, they're going to need to stave off the injury bug in order to reach their full potential. Josh Donaldson, the Bombers' marquee acquisition this offseason, is no stranger to the IL. Neither are Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.
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Entering the 2022 season, the Yankees might lead MLB in "IFs"
IF Josh Donaldson/Aaron Judge/Giancarlo Stanton stays healthy,IF Luis Severino is a good No. 2 coming back from a few injury-plagued seasons,IF Aroldis Chapman and Zack Britton can hold it together at the back end of the bullpen,
then there's a good chance they're a 95-win team again. IF not, then it'll be the same song and dance at this point next offseason.
7. Rays
2021 record:100-62
2022 TSN projections:87-75
The Rays should still be able to pitch, but with Wander Franco and Randy Arozarena at the top, they can hit, too.
Tampa Bay will have to work through the season with the very, very slim hope that Tyler Glasnow pitches in 2022 after undergoing Tommy John Surgery in August of last year.
Still, they'll look to Shane McClanahan to build on a stellar rookie season, something that will likely be a given considering Tampa Bay's history with pitchers.
8. Phillies
2021 record:82-80
2022 TSN projections:86-76
How do you spell "Phillies?" "R-A-K-E."
Maybe we're higher on the Phillies than some, Michael Brockers Jerseys but a lineup that features Bryce Harper, Rhys Hoskins, Nicholas Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber means bombs away.
That offense should more than support their rotation, and a remade bullpen that features Corey Knebel at the back end could be serviceable enough to lock down games when needed.
Still, the Phillies are hoping to bludgeon teams in order to win games. Not a bad strategy, after all.
9. Mets
2021 record:77-85
2022 TSN projections:87-75
The Mets are a tremendously well-balanced team. Their biggest rival, though, is the injured list.
Already, Jacob deGrom is going to mi s more than a month with a stre s reaction in his shoulder, while prized free agent get Max Scherzer is dealing with a balky hamstring.
When healthy if healthy the Mets have the best 1-2 rotation punch in baseball. That's not really up for debate. Their lineup, which now features Starling Marte, is going to be very good, though they'll need a big-time bounce-back season from Francisco Lindor.
10. Padres
2021 record:79-83
2022 TSN projections:85-77
San Diego is a just-add-water championship contender, and that water turned out to be manager Bob Melvin. And Melvin took Oakland lefty Sean Manaea with him.
The Dads are going to have to navigate the injury to San Diego's favorite son in the early goings: Fernando Tatis Jr. underwent offseason wrist surgery th
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