MLB Power Rankings: Team Rankings 2023

The 2023 MLB season is officially underway, and teams are fighting their way to the top of the standings.

During the offseason, MLB odds had the reigning title-holder Houston Astros as favorites to repeat as World Series champions (+650), but they’ve now fallen behind the Atlanta Braves (+500) and Los Angeles Dodgers (+500).

MLB Power Rankings 2023

1. Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays began 2023 by tying the record for most wins to start a season with 13, and they still have the best record in MLB. This is a team to watch for World Series contention — if they can keep up their momentum.

In 2022, the Rays finished third in the AL East with a record of 86-76. They advanced to the postseason as a Wild Card team, but were eliminated in a two-game sweep by the Cleveland Guardians in the first round. Now back with a vengeance, Tampa Bay is looking to go a lot further this season.

Kicking off the week with a home series against the Minnesota Twins, the Rays should be able to bag a few more wins, with their rotation of Shane McClanahan, Zach Eflin, Jeffrey Springs, Drew Rasmussen, and Josh Fleming keeping them in a great spot. The team ends the week with a home series against the Rangers, so it’ll be interesting to see how they perform against a more evenly-matched team.

Record: 42-19

2. Atlanta Braves

The Braves are tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers to lead World Series odds with +500, and with the way they’re playing so far, contention for the title certainly isn’t out of the question.

In 2022, Atlanta finished the regular season with an incredible 101-61 record, winning the NL East and getting a bye in the first round of the playoffs. Despite high expectations, the team was upset by the Philadelphia Phillies in the Division Series, so they’re back in 2023 with a lot to prove.

Atlanta starts this week with a home series against the New York Mets, and posting a few wins against a struggling division rival is very likely. The Braves then stay at home for a series against the Washington Nationals, so it’s looking to be a good week for Atlanta.

Record: 35-24

Ronald Acuña Jr. has set a Statcast record with 10 consecutive 420+ ft home runs.

Here they are in all their glory.

(h/t @SlangsOnSports | @JasonBernard_) pic.twitter.com/ISv7a4lYmq

— Baseball GIFs (@gifs_baseball) June 5, 2023

3. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers had a bit of a slow start to 2023, but now they’re in the swing of things, they’re proving to be a team to watch. Currently tied with the Arizona Diamondbacks to lead the NL East at 35-25, the Dodgers are very much in the conversation for World Series contention.

In 2022, the Dodgers finished the regular season with the best record in the league at 111-51, becoming one of only five teams in MLB history to record at least 111 wins in a season. After receiving a bye from the first round of the playoffs, they were upset by their division rival, the San Diego Padres, in the NL Division Series, ending a season of incredible highs on a very low note.

This week, the Dodgers start with an away series against the Cincinnati Reds before flying to Philadelphia for a series against the Phillies. Julio Urías, Dustin May, Clayton Kershaw, Noah Syndergaard, and Tony Gonsolin are a fierce rotation, which will hopefully continue to make up for shortstop Gavin Lux being out for the season with a torn ACL. The team’s slower-than-usual start to the season seems to be a thing of the past, so it’ll be exciting to see if they get back on top of their record enough to contend with their 2022 numbers.

Record: 35-25