MLB Power Rankings: May 2022 American League Edition
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We are about a month of the way through the 2022 MLB Season. Some teams have overperformed expectations thus far, some have underperformed expectations thus far, and other teams have performed as expected. I want to rank the 15 American League teams based on their performance in the first month of the season. I will be considering not only the teams' Win-Loss records but also the way the individual parts of the teams have performed. Let's dive into it, shall we? (Yes, I will be doing a National League Edition too, probably tomorrow or Sunday)
15. Detroit Tigers (8-16)
The Tigers have been awful in the first month of the season. Offensively, they rank 29th in Runs Scored, 27th in Team OPS, and T-24th in Team wRC+. Their pitching staff has been decent, ranking 10th in Team ERA, T-10th in Team WHIP, and 13th in Team Pitching ERA-. However, the decent performance of the pitching staff has not been able to make up for the godawful performance of the offense.
14. Kansas City Royals (8-15)
The Royals have stunk in the first month of the season. Offensively, they rank 30th in Runs Scored, T-28th in Team OPS, and T-28th in Team wRC+. Their pitching staff hasn't been any better, ranking 27th in Team ERA, 26th in Team WHIP, 28th in Team ERA-, and 28th in K%.
13. Baltimore Orioles (10-16)
This Orioles team which was expected to be bad has been bad. Offensively they rank 26th in Runs Scored, 21st in Team OPS, and 25th in Team wRC+. On the pitching side they rank 19th in Team ERA, T-24th in Team WHIP, and 27th in K%.
12. Oakland Athletics (10-15)
The A's have been terrible offensively in the first month of the season, ranking 22nd in Runs Scored, 29th in Team OPS, and 26th in Team wRC+. Their pitching staff hasn't been any better, ranking 25th in Team ERA, T-18th in Team WHIP, and 25th in Team ERA-.
11. Texas Rangers (10-14)
The Rangers, despite some of their aggressive offseason moves, have not been a good team. Offensively, they rank 17th in Runs Scored, 23rd in Team OPS, and 22nd in Team wRC+. While their offense hasn't been great, their pitching staff has been dreadful, ranking 25th in Team ERA, T-22nd in Team WHIP, and 26th in Team ERA-.
10. Boston Red Sox (10-16)
The Red Sox had one of MLB's most explosive offenses in 2021. This group, however, has greatly disappointed thus far in 2022, ranking 24th in Runs Scored, 26th in Team OPS, and 29th in Team wRC+. On the pitching side they've been better but still not good, ranking 18th in Team ERA, 13th in Team WHIP, and 17th in Team ERA-.
9. Seattle Mariners (12-14)
The Mariners have been league average offensively. Their offense ranks T-15th in Runs Scored, 16th in Team OPS, and T-6th in Team wRC+. Their pitching staff has been average to slightly above, ranking T-12th in Team ERA, 16th in Team WHIP, and 18th in Team ERA-.
8. Chicago White Sox (11-13)
The White Sox have been arguably the most disappointing team in the league thus far in the season. Offensively, they rank T-27th in Runs Scored, 24th in Team OPS, and 23rd in Team wRC+. On the pitching side, they've been about league average, ranking 16th in Team ERA, 24th in Team WHIP, 15th in Team ERA-, and 4th in K%.
7. Cleveland Guardians (12-13)
Unlike many Guardians teams of the recent years, the offense has been the highlight for these Guardians. Offensively, they rank 8th in Runs Scored, 6th in Team OPS, and T-4th in Team wRC+. Also unlike many Guardians teams of the recent years, the pitching staff has been the lowlight for these Guardians. Their pitching staff ranks 21st in Team ERA, (surprisingly) 10th in Team WHIP, 23rd in ERA-, and 18th in K%.
6. Toronto Blue Jays (16-11)
Toronto has been the definition of mediocre. They've been average offensively, ranking 9th in Team OPS, 18th in Runs Scored, and 14th in Team wRC+. Their pitching staff has also been average, ranking T-17th in Team ERA, 13th in Team WHIP, and T-16th in Team ERA-.
5. Minnesota Twins (15-11)
The Twins' pitching staff has been surprisingly good in the first month of the season, ranking 8th in Team ERA, 8th in Team WHIP, and 9th in Team K%. Offensively they've been above average, ranking 13th in Runs Scored, 10th in Team OPS, and 6th in Team wRC+.
4. Houston Astros (15-11)
The Astros' pitching staff has been superb through the first month of the season, ranking 5th in Team ERA, 5th in Team WHIP, and T-6th in Team ERA-. Their offense, however, has not been as good, ranking T-20th in Runs Scored, T-19th in Team OPS, and 15th in Team wRC+.
3. Los Angeles Angels (17-10)
The Angels have been excellent offensively, ranking T-1st in Runs Scored, 3rd in Team OPS, 2nd in Team wRC+, and 8th in Team Offensive WAR. Pitching has been an issue for Angels teams of the recent years, but thus far their pitching staff has been above average, ranking 14th in Team ERA, 4th in Team WHIP, 14th in Team ERA-, and 13th in Team Pitching WAR.
2. Tampa Bay Rays (16-10)
The Rays have been led by their pitching staff which ranks 6th in Team ERA, 3rd in Team WHIP, and 5th in Team K%. Offensively they aren't as strong but still are respectable, ranking 11th in Team OPS, 11th in Runs Scored, T-4th in Team wRC+, and T-4th in Team Offensive WAR.
1. New York Yankees (18-7)
This Yankees team has been firing on all cylinders thus far. Offensively, they rank 2nd in Team OPS, 6th in Runs Scored, T-1st in Home Runs, T-1st in Team wRC+, and 2nd in Team Offensive WAR. On the pitching side, they rank 2nd in Team ERA, 2nd in Team ERA-, 7th in Team WHIP, 6th in K%, and 2nd in Team Pitching WAR.
Those are my rankings. What are your rankings? Share them below!
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