Power rankings are a cool way to analyze a team’s recent form combined with elements such as preseason expectations and performance at the start of the season.
Teams that have a high ranking are usually the hottest in baseball, but have also been good or at least somewhat consistent for the whole year.
MLB, of course, posted its initial second half power rankings.
It’s still an unofficial exercise, but remains very useful as we analyze what could happen in the second half.
Published on Thursday, there is a clear top dog: the Atlanta Braves.
Which teams make up your top 10 at the halfway point?
Drop your lists in the comments ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ifH2kOvbjE
— MLB (@MLB) July 13, 2023
The power rankings don’t use tiers to classify the teams, but you could very well say that the Braves are on a tier of their own.
Not even the Tampa Bay Rays are as good, and that’s even considering the fact they opened the year with a 13-0 record.
Atlanta is just too good, deep, and powerful.
They have three legitimate MVP candidates in Ronald Acuna Jr., Sean Murphy, and Matt Olson, and a deep collection of arms that has helped them replace key injured hurlers when they have had the need.
They are 60-29 and hold an 8.5-game advantage over the second-placed team in the NL East, the Miami Marlins.
The rest of the top five is comprised of the Rays, the Texas Rangers, the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Baltimore Orioles, in that order.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, who are fighting with the D-Backs for the top spot in the NL West, are sixth and have the potential to climb up the rankings.
Top teams such as the Toronto Blue Jays or the New York Yankees are not in the top ten, while the exciting Cincinnati Reds are seventh.
NEXT: Ronald Acuna Jr. Continues To Chase Must-See MLB History
