MLB Power Rankings: Was Jacob deGrom right about the Texas Rangers?

We're a month into the season and the rankings seem to be steadying. The Rangers have held on to the number 2 spot for two installments now, and was top 5 in our first ranking. We all thought for sure when the GOAT Jacob deGrom left my dearest Mets for the Rangers, he went for the bag. But could the Rangers really be World Series bound after all?

deGrom believes he and the #Rangers’ brass shared the same vision — bringing home a World Series title to Arlington, Texas.pic.twitter.com/Mq3eMlHjTC

— John Sparaco™ (@JohnSparaco) December 8, 2022

Glossary: SU - W/L wise | RD - run differential | Early - Games played before 4:00 PM | PM - Games played between 4:00 PM - 7:59 PM | Night - Games played 8:00 PM and later |

Notes: Tiebreakers in RD are settled by team with more wins and edges are given only for top half of teams

First Ranking | Second Ranking

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1. Tampa Bay Rays (23-5 SU, 14-11-3 O/U, 106 RD) - Last Week (1)
   • Edge: I don't even look at Tampa bets anymore, it's not fun and it's expensive. It'll be a minute before they're dethroned.
2. Texas Rangers (16-11 SU, 16-10-1 O/U, 59 RD) - Last Week (2)
   • Edge: As a Mets fan, all I can do is hope this IL stint for deGrom isn't a sign of things to come because this Rangers team is special. This team is good money as a home fave and anyone not in the NL Central.
3. Pittsburgh Pirates (20-8 SU, 13-14-1 O/U, 53 RD) - Last Week (6)
   • Edge: From 19, to 6 to 3. What a climb! They're also a perfect 7 for 7 as faves, home or away.
4. Chicago Cubs (14-12 SU, 13-12-1 O/U, 44 RD) - Last Week (3)
   • Edge: No other way to phrase it this team is consistent. 6 of 12 as dogs and 8 of 13 as faves, wherever you can get value and you like the pitching matchup, take 'em.
5. Atlanta Braves (18-9 SU, 16-10-1 O/U, 43 RD) - Last Week (7)
   • Edge: I'd stay away from the Braves as home favorites but away favorites - 9-2 straight up - especially if they're facing an NL team - 15-6 SU - is solid money.
6. Milwaukee Brewers (18-9 SU, 12-14-1 O/U, 31 RD) - Last Week (4)
   • Edge: This is a team built around picking your spots. They're 12-2 when facing the AL West, NL East, and NL Central.
7. Baltimore Orioles (18-9 SU, 16-10-1 O/U, 23 RD) - Last Week (11)
   • Edge: Love when nice things happen for the O's. As a favorite, home or away, they're 12-3 SU. As a dog, take the over, they're 9-3 O/U in those contests.
8. Minnesota Twins (16-12 SU, 11-14-3 O/U, 22 RD) - Last Week (12)
   • Edge: They play in the AL Central, who they are 7-2 against.
9. Houston Astros (14-13 SU, 15-11-1 O/U, 21 RD) - Last Week (5)
   • Edge: As long as they are not a home favorite they should be a solid choice. But, oddly, I'd stay away when going up against the AL Central. Not sure how but they are 4-6.
10. Toronto Blue Jays (18-9 SU, 9-16-2 O/U, 16 RD) - Last Week (17)
    • Edge: Home favorite or away dog, the Jays are your friend at 12-3. Glad to see this team has woken up a bit.
11. New York Yankees (15-13 SU, 9-18-1 O/U, 15 RD) - Last Week (8)
    • Edge: This team still has not won a game as an away dog at 0-5. They're also 11-11 against the AL. If they don't wake up they'll be out of the Top 15 entirely.
12. Los Angeles Angels (14-14 SU, 13-13-2 O/U, 15 RD) - Last Week (14)
    • Edge: Their top 4 pitchers aren't looking too bad and for a team that hasn't had a home dog game yet, they're holding stead as home favorites at 8-6. They're also 7-3 against the AL West so there's always those games to feast on.
13. Los Angeles Dodgers (15-13 SU, 16-11-1 O/U, 14 RD) - Last Week (10)
    • Edge: This team has only faced NL teams throughout the first month of the year. They've also only been a dog once, and have yet to be a away dog. There's value fading them if you like the matchup against them.
14. Arizona Diamondbacks (16-12 SU, 13-13-2 O/U, 13 RD) - Last Week (16)
    • Edge: They're kind of a a less consistent version of the Pirates. But we're definitely rooting for the Snakes. They're also sneakily 5-1 as favorites, home and away.
15. New York Mets (15-12 SU, 11-15-1 O/U, 8 RD) - Last Week (9)
    • Edge: Sigh. They're 7-12-1 O/U as favorites so that's always a Mets go-to. But hopefully once this team get's their old men pitchers back in the fray they can climb back to the top 10 of these rankings.
16. Boston Red Sox (14-14 SU, 19-9 O/U, 6 RD) - Last Week (13)
17. Seattle Mariners (11-16 SU, 13-12-2 O/U, -1 RD) - Last Week (15)
18. Philadelphia Phillies (15-13 SU, 12-16 O/U, -3 RD) - Last Week (20)
19. St. Louis Cardinals (10-18 SU, 12-14-2 O/U, -10 RD) - Last Week (16)
20. Cincinnati Reds (12-15 SU, 14-13 O/U, -13 RD) - Last Week (24)
21. Cleveland Guardians (13-14 SU, 11-15-1 O/U, -14 RD) - Last Week (19)
22. San Diego Padres (14-14 SU, 12-14-2 O/U, -15 RD) - Last Week (21)
23. San Francisco Giants (11-15 SU, 13-12-1 O/U, -16 RD) - Last Week (22)
24. Washington Nationals (9-17 SU, 10-14-2 O/U, -31 RD) - Last Week (23)
25. Miami Marlins (15-13 SU, 12-15-1 O/U, -36 RD) - Last Week (25)
26. Detroit Tigers (10-16 SU, 12-13-1 O/U, -45 RD) - Last Week (27)
27. Kansas City Royals (7-21 SU, 13-13-2 O/U, -60 RD) - Last Week (28)
28. Colorado Rockies (8-20 SU, 12-14-2 O/U, -54 RD) - Last Week (29)
29. Chicago White Sox (7-21 SU, 14-11-3 O/U, -31 RD) - Last Week (26)
30. Oakland Athletics (5-23 SU, 18-9-1 O/U, -103 RD) - Last Week (30)