MLB Power Rankings: The Evil Empire Rules

Four weeks into the 2022 season, and there’s a new king of my MLB Power Rankings. From outside of the Top 10 just three weeks ago to No. 5 last week, the New York Yankees are now at the top of the chart.

Elsewhere, three teams dropped out of the top 10: the Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, and the Chicago Cubs. They’ve been replaced by the Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, and Tampa Bay Rays.

Before breaking it all down, let’s explain how these rankings emerged. When preparing for the MLB Power Rankings this season, I forced myself to fight the urge of subjectivity. I wanted to create a list of the top 10 teams by relying on numbers.

Utilizing pitcher WAR, batter WAR, team record, and run differential, I created a spreadsheet. Teams with the highest combined score are ranked at the top.

Let’s look at the top 10 teams in Week 4 of the 2022 MLB season.

2022 MLB Power Rankings

10. St. Louis Cardinals (-2)

The Cardinals have steadily been dropping since our first list. This could be due in large part to the surging Brewers, who now have sole possession of first place in the NL Central.

In their last 10 games, the Cards are hovering around .500. They’re going to have to do a lot better than break even if they want to remain one of the 10 best teams in the game.

9. Los Angeles Angels (-2)

The Halos appear to be the real deal this season. With a healthy Mike Trout dominating the game again and Shohei Ohtani making history seemingly on a weekly basis, the AL West may have a new team to beat going forward. Look out, Astros!

8. Tampa Bay Rays (+4)

The Rays finally make their debut in our rankings as they continue to play sound baseball. Offensively, the team has a top three fWAR. This is due in large part to their ability to create runs. As of today, the Rays (117 wRC+) trail only the Yankees (122 wRC+), Angels (120 wRC+), and Mets (118 wRC+) in wRC+.

7. San Francisco Giants (-5)

For the first time since we started the rankings, the Giants have dropped out of the top three. Currently, in the midst of a five-game losing streak, the Giants have dropped to fourth place in the NL West. My hunch is that this is just a blip on the screen. Eventually, they will bounce back to normal.

6. Minnesota Twins (+10)

Despite losing two straight to the Baltimore Orioles, the Twins managed to jump 10 spots and into the Top 10. This is mostly because they are 7-3 in their last 10 games and have the third-best run differential (+22) in the American League. With Carlos Correa heating up, the Twins look like they may be the team to beat in the AL Central.

The Top Five

5. San Diego Padres (+5)

After dropping to the 10-spot last week, the Padres enter the Top Five this week. The Pads are 7-3 in their last 10 games and trail the Dodgers by just a half-game in the NL West. Things will only get better when Fernando Tatis Jr. finally returns sometime next month.

4. Milwaukee Brewers (+13)

The Brewers made biggest jump in our rankings this week. Their pitching continues to dominate and the hitters are getting hot making for a recipe for success. Currently, the Brewers have a +41 run differential, third-best in the Majors.

A Three-Headed Monster

3. New York Mets (0)

The Mets stayed put this week at No. 3 as they have come back to life a bit. In their last 10 games, they are hovering around .500. Still, they boast a top-three run differential in the NL and play in a weak division. Look for the Mets to stay in the Top 3 moving forward

2. Los Angeles Dodgers (-1)

Like the Mets, the Dodgers are without question a powerhouse. They have consistently hovered around the Top 3. They have the best roster – on paper – in baseball. As a result, they boast an MLB best +57 run differential and the second-best record in baseball.

1. New York Yankees (+4)

After riding an 11-game win streak, the Yankees burst into the top spot like the Kool-Aid man broke through walls in those old-school commercials. The Bombers have the best record in baseball and the second-best run differential. If they continue along this path, a Dodgers vs. Yankees World Series might be in order.