MLB power rankings: Athletics take top spot with nine-game winning streak
The 2020 Major League Baseball season has already had its ups and downs but entering its third week, the league seems like it is starting to settle into a routine.
Admittedly, there is still cause for concern. The St. Louis Cardinals' COVID-19 outbreak continues and it will have resulted in at least 15 of their games being postponed, making it look increasingly unlikely that the team will be able to play a full 60-game schedule.
On the field, the Oakland Athletics won nine in a row through Sunday and their 12-4 record is the best in baseball. The team won 97 games and lost in the wild-card game each of the past two seasons and was a popular back to dethrone the Astros in the AL West.
The Athletics' unbeaten streak – including a sweep of those Astros – earned them the top spot in our first in-season power rankings for 2020.
Here's how Paste BN Sports' seven-person panel voted this week:
Rank (movement from preseason)
1, Oakland Athletics (+5)
- Frankie Montas (1.57 ERA in four starts) looking like an ace after 2019 suspension.
2. New York Yankees (-1)
- Giancarlo Stanton (1.038 OPS in 14 games) hits the IL with a hamstring strain.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers (-1)
- Reigning MVP Cody Bellinger (.167/.232/.281 in 14 games) struggling to start the year.
4. Minnesota Twins (+1)
- Addition of Kenda Maeda flew under the radar in Mookie Betts trade drama.
5. Chicago Cubs (+13)
- David Ross already starting to replace Craig Kimbrel in the ninth.
6. Colorado Rockies (+17)
- Kyle Freeland looking great (2.41 ERA in three starts) after miserable 2019 season.
7. Tampa Bay Rays (-4)
- Blake Snell hasn't gone further than three innings in his three starts.
8. Cleveland Indians (+6)
- Zach Plesac (1.29 ERA, 24 strikeouts in 21 IP) dominant through three starts.
9. Atlanta Braves (-2)
- Nick Markakis returns to lineup after opting back in to 2020 season.
10. San Diego Padres (+9)
- We would all like to watch Fernando Tatis Jr. highlights on loop.
11. Miami Marlins (+16)
- Won first four games in return after COVID-19 outbreak.
12. Houston Astros (-8)
- Dusty Baker says injured Justin Verlander is “not progressing as quickly as he’d like to."
13. New York Mets (-3)
- Twenty-one-year-old Andres Gimenez (11-for-33, three SB) making most of his opportunity with Robinson Cano injured.
14. Philadelphia Phillies (-1)
- J.T. Realmuto off to a great start in his shortened contract year.
15. Chicago White Sox (+5)
- Rookie Luis Robert hit .357 in his first seven games batting leadoff.
16. Cincinnati Reds (-1)
- Trevor Bauer (0.93 ERA, 32 K in three starts) has been untouchable.
17. Milwaukee Brewers (-5)
- Brandon Woodruff (2.53 ERA in four starts) proving 2019 was no fluke.
18. St. Louis Cardinals (-9)
- Team with title aspirations has only played five games due to COVID-19 outbreak.
19. Washington Nationals (-11)
- Max Scherzer racked up 22 strikeouts in his first 13 ⅔ innings.
20. Baltimore Orioles (+9)
- Hanser Alberto and Jose Iglesias raking to start the season.
21. Detroit Tigers (+9)
- When will top prospect Casey Mize get called up?
22. Texas Rangers (-1)
- Lance Lynn (1 ER in 18 IP) building on 246-strikeout 2019 campaign.
23. Arizona Diamondbacks (-12)
- Madison Bumgarner has given up 18 earned runs in 17 ⅓ innings
24. Boston Red Sox (-8)
- Andrew Benintendi started the season 2-for-36.
25. Toronto Blue Jays (-3)
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. only has one homer in his last 40 games, dating back to Aug. 23, 2019.
26, Los Angeles Angels (-9)
- Shohei Ohtani's pitching season over after 1⅔ innings, seven earned runs and eight walks
27. San Francisco Giants (-3)
- Trevor Gott converted his first four save opportunities.
28. Seattle Mariners (-3)
- Kyle Lewis (.355 in 62 AB) building on powerful 2019 debut.
29. Kansas City Royals (-1)
- Trevor Rosenthal (no walks in first 7 IP) has emerged as team's closer.
30. Pittsburgh Pirates (-4)
- Trevor Williams has been a bright spot in team's rotation.