MLB Power Rankings: Braves top the list after season’s first two weeks
By Matt Shetler
10. Boston Red Sox (8-4): The Red Sox offense hasn’t been great, but the pitching staff hasn’t had the same issues, with Clay Buchholz (3-0, 0.41 ERA, 23 K, 22 IP) and Jon Lester (2-0, 1.42 ERA) pitching like aces. Their 1.99 ERA for their starters leads all of baseball. The return of David Ortiz should help out the Boston offense.
9. Arizona Diamondbacks (8-4): The Diamondbacks made a lot of moves in the offseason and are getting contributions from everyone at the moment. The strength of the team right now though could be their bullpen, whose 2.25 ERA is good for second in the NL.
8. Colorado Rockies (8-4): Sure six of the Rockies eight wins have been against the Padres, but they have hit an MLB-high 21 home runs so far and are getting great production from the likes of Dexter Fowler, Wilin Rosario, Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez and Michael Cuddyer. Pitching could hold this team back in the long run, but Jhoulys Chacin has been great, going 2-0 with a 1.96 ERA through his first three starts.
Apr 14, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Prince Fielder (28) in the dugout before the game against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum. Tigers won 10-1. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
7. Detroit Tigers (7-5): Prince Fielder (.429 BA, 4 HR, 19 RBI) is looking like an MVP candidate early on and the Tigers as a whole lead all of baseball with a .307 average. They also have pitching as Anibal Sanchez (2-0, 1.42 ERA), Justin Verlander (2-1, 1.96 ERA) and Doug Fister (2-0, 2.77 ERA) have all been outstanding. Can they fix the bullpen problems though?
6. Washington Nationals (8-5): Bryce Harper (.320 BA, 5 HR, 10 RBI) is off to a hot start, but the rest of their offense is off to rather slow starts. After being swept by the Braves, the Nats have taken an early back seat to their division rivals.
5. St. Louis Cardinals (8-5): The Cards have a plus-31 run differential, second in baseball to only the Braves, but the story to their success has been their starting rotation, which has a 2.13 ERA, third in all of baseball. The bullpen has been a different story though as they have posted a 5.92 ERA, which is the worst mark in the game.
4. Texas Rangers (8-5): The Rangers lost a lot in the offseason, but newcomers Lance Berkman (.389 BA, 1.111 OPS) and A.J. Pierzynski (.342 BA, .918 OPS) have carried the team’s offense. However it has been the pitching that has been the biggest bright spot. Even with Matt Harrison’s struggles, the Rangers have the fourth best ERA in the majors at 2.92.
3. Oakland A’s (10-4): Despite the struggles of Jarrod Parker (11.2 IP, 23 H, 14 R), the rest of the A’s pitching has been pretty solid. But the A’s offense leads the majors with 85 runs scored through 14 games.
2. San Francisco Giants (9-4): If you look at the stats, the Giants rank in the middle of the pack in both pitching and hitting, but the defending champs always find different ways to win.
1. Atlanta Braves (11-1): The Braves outstanding start has them on a nine-game winning streak. While the offense has been nice, especially the starts of Justin Upton, who is hitting .348/.415/.891 with seven home runs and 11 RBI, and Evan Gattis, who has four home runs and 10 RBI with a .324 average, the story of this team is pitching. The Braves lead all of baseball with a 1.82 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and a .200 batting average against.