After more than two full weeks of baseball, the sample sizes are still small but there some real takeaways as to what we can expect over the next 6-7 months of baseball.
Notably: The New York Yankees are going to compete in the American League East.
Even with ace Gerrit Cole sidelined, the Yankees are off to a torrid 12-4 start. While the Baltimore Orioles were heavy favorites in the division entering the season, the Yankees look like a genuine AL contender.
After missing out on the postseason last year, the Yankees have gotten some tremendous offensive performances so far. The greatness of Juan Soto (1.009 OPS) was to be expected but second-year shortstop Anthony Volpe (.382 average, 1.009 OPS, 5 SB) is taking his game to the next level.
The USA TODAY Sports power rankings are always fluid this early in the season as we operate on a combination of vibes and small sample sizes, but here’s how things shape up this week:
MLB SALARIES: Baseball’s top 25 highest-paid players in 2024
1. New York Yankees (+4)
- Clay Holmes (0.00 ERA in eight innings) leads the majors with six saves.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers (-)
- Right-hander Bobby Miller heads to IL with shoulder inflammation, but Walker Buehler could return next week.
3. Atlanta Braves (-2)
- Spencer Strider officially done for the year.
4. Baltimore Orioles (-)
- Colton Cowser’s last six games: .435 average, four homers and 12 RBI.
5. Milwaukee Brewers (+7)
- The Brewers’ .480 slugging percentage is second only to Atlanta.
