MLB Power Rankings: Dodgers are back, Yankees too?

Where would the Yankees be with Carlos Rodón and Frankie Montas healthy? If the Mets had a healthy Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and Jose Quintana all year, how different would their season be right now?

Whether it’s the pitch clock, improved sticky checks, or complete randomness in a world where velocity remains at an all-time high, pitchers have fallen at a relatively alarming rate earlier this year. Odds are decent that your favorite team has faced it at some point this year.

This week’s power rankings also provide an update on some of the league’s latest pitching injuries.

1) Tampa Bay Rays (11-31; last week 1)

A Rays rotation that was already missing Tyler Glasnow to start the season has now lost Jeffrey Springs (2-0, 0.56 ERA) to Tommy John surgery and Drew Rasmussen (4-2, 2.62 ERA) to ‘a flexor strain. At some point, you’d think they can’t go on like this while dealing with all these injuries, right? … Right?

2) Los Angeles Dodgers (26-15; LW 3)

The Dodgers had bad luck to start the year with both their bullpen and starting pitchers: Tony Gonsolin sprained his ankle coming off the mound in the spring and Ryan Pepiot suffered an oblique injury after winning a spot in the rotation, but they’ve stayed pretty healthy since then. , except Noah Syndergaard’s bloody finger.

3) Atlanta Braves (25-15; LW 2)

Yes. It’s not exactly Rays-ian, but the Braves have had little starting pitching injury luck. Kyle Wright’s shoulder is bad; exited his start on May 3 with a shoulder strain. Days later, the Braves found out Max Fried strained his forearm and will be out for months. The former was a 21-game winner last year; the latter was second in the Cy Young voting. It’s unclear when either will return.

4) Baltimore Orioles (26-14; LW 4)

The Orioles have gotten their first hit despite a 4.81 starters ERA. John Means could join that group at some point this summer as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. The bullpen could also get a boost from Dillon Tate (flexor strain) before the end of this month.

5) Toronto Blue Jays (24-16; LW 5)

Five pitchers have made all 40 starts for the Blue Jays this year. Soon, Kevin Gausman, Alek Manoah, Chris Bassitt, Yusei Kikuchi and Jose Berrios will get some help as Mitch White prepares to return from elbow inflammation potentially at the end of the month. The Blue Jays should also get Hyun-Jin Ryu back from Tommy John rehab sometime this summer.

6) Texas Rangers (25-15; LW 7)

Suddenly, there’s a Gromian-sized hole atop the Rangers’ rotation. Luckily, Nathan Eovaldi is doing everything possible to fill it. Jacob deGrom is likely out at least a couple more weeks with forearm strain. The Rangers’ rotation already took a big hit with trade acquisition Jake Odorizzi missing for the year due to shoulder surgery.

7) New York Yankees (23-19; LW 13)

Carlos Rodón has thrown again. Is this… something? It’s unclear at this point how long the big free agent signing will need in his pitching program before he returns to the mound and can help a Yankees rotation that is also missing Frankie Montas (60-day IL) and Luis Severino (15 days). IL), which could soon return from a strain lat.

8) Twins from Minnesota (23-18; LW 14)

Remember when the Twins finally had their entire starting stable back in April? Well, that’s not the case anymore. Tyler Mahle was pulled from his start on April 27 and needs Tommy John surgery. Meanwhile, Kenta Maeda, who returned from TJ in early April, returned to IL at the end of the month with a triceps strain. Instead of Maeda, Bailey Ober it looked great.

9) Arizona Diamondbacks (23-18; LW 9)

The bullpen has seen hits, most notably in 2022 All-Star Joe Mantiply, but key members of the rotation have stayed healthy young talent is infused. Zach Davies is recovering from an oblique injury and could return this month.

10) Houston Astros (21-19; LW 11)

One step forward, two steps back. Lance McCullers Jr. is recovering from an elbow strain, now back to pitching bullpens, but Luis Garcia is undergoing Tommy John surgery and Jose Urquidy was shut down earlier this month due to shoulder inflammation. He may not return until around the All-Star break, thinning out an already lighter rotation. JP France to the rescue.

11) Milwaukee Brewers (23-17; LW 12)

The Brewers’ rotation has performed admirably considering Brandon Woodruff hasn’t pitched in over a month due to shoulder inflammation, Corbin Burnes hasn’t quite looked like himself, and the rotation already it was without Aaron Ashby, 24, who underwent shoulder surgery. surgery

12) Boston Red Sox (22-19; ​​LW 6)

Mostly positive news here. Brayan Bello is back and hitting better, and Garrett Whitlock is approaching a rehab assignment as he recovers from an elbow problem. Joely Rodriguez returns from his oblique injury, ready to help a Red Sox bullpen that just had two saves this weekend.

13) Pittsburgh Pirates (22-19 LW 10)

This is a team that can handle pitching injuries, although there haven’t been many. Vince Velásquez will only need the minimum 15 days on the disabled list with elbow inflammation, and young talents Johan Oviedo and Luis Ortiz are getting their chance while Mitch Keller dominates.

14) Philadelphia Phillies (20-20; LW 22)

Losing Jose Alvarado to an elbow problem is a huge blow considering the way he pitched a bullpen earlier this year. He could start pitching again next week. Meanwhile, Ranger Suarez returns to action in the rotation.

15) Seattle Mariners (20-20; LW 17)

Losing Robbie Ray to Tommy John surgery was not part of the plan. On the bright side, Bryce Miller is here to ease the pain. The bullpen has managed to post the lowest ERA in the MLB despite being without flamethrower Andrés Muñoz (deltoid strain) for the past month.

16) Angels of Los Angeles (21-20; LW 15)

It’s been a miserable start to the season for Jose Suarez, who had a 9.62 ERA when he was pulled from a start on May 7 with shoulder discomfort and placed on the disabled list. Shohei Ohtani (4-1, 2.74 ERA) and Patrick Sandoval (3-2, 3.22) have anchored an Angels rotation that currently has a 4.85 ERA.

17) San Diego Parents (19-22; LW 8)

Blake Snell, Yu Darvish, Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha have each made seven or more starts. The biggest losses have been in the bullpen, where the Padres are still without Robert Suarez, who signed a five-year extension in November.

18) Chicago Cubs (19-21; LW 18)

This is a healthy group, and MLB’s top 10 starters’ ERA reflects that. Kyle Hendricks also looks close to returning.

19) Guardians of Cleveland (19-21; LW 19)

Triston McKenzie is nearing a rehab assignment, which is great news for a Cleveland rotation that is missing Aaron Civale because of an oblique strain and has seen eight different pitchers start this year. The Guardians starters are 9-12 with a 4.08 ERA as a group despite encouraging starts from rookies Tanner Bibee and Logan Allen.

20) New York Mets (20-21; LW 16)

Finally, both Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander look healthy. I feel nervous even writing this.

21) Miami Marlins (20-21; LW 21)

Marlins saves leader AJ Puk was placed on the disabled list Sunday with elbow irritation. Miami has been without Johnny Cueto (biceps tendinitis/sprained ankle) and Trevor Rogers in the rotation for most of the past month, but It’s Eury Perez time, baby!

22) San Francisco Giants (17-23; LW 20)

Outside of relievers Luke Jackson and Thomas Szapucki, this group is healthy. The Giants’ bullpen (5.95 ERA) has been a problem, though.

23) Cincinnati Reds (18-22; LW 24)

Starter Nick Lodolo was placed on the disabled list with left calf tendinosis. Lodolo was scratched from his start on Saturday, a game in which reliever Casey Legumina was also injured. The Reds currently have nine pitchers from the 40-man roster on the injured list.

24) Detroit Tigers (18-21, LW 23)

Tarik Skubal (flexor tendon surgery) and Matt Manning (fractured foot) may return from the 60-day disabled list this summer. Until then, enjoy Eduardo Rodríguez breaking the league.

25) Saint Louis Cardinals (16-25; LW 28)

Jake Woodford could return from his shoulder problem sometime this month. With Adam Wainwright back, the Cardinals rotation is healthy. Now, it’s all about performance. Jordan Montgomery (4.11 ERA) is the only Cardinals starter with an ERA under 4.50.

26) Colorado Rockies (17-24; LW 27)

It was a scary sight on Saturday as starter Ryan Feltner suffered a fractured skull and concussion on a groundout on the mound. The Rockies said it has been discharged from the hospital. Colorado’s rotation took a big hit with Germán Marquez undergoing Tommy John surgery.

27) Washington Nationals (17-23; LW 25)

Starter Chad Kuhl could return from his right big toe injury sometime this month. Cade Cavalli Tommy John news puts a damper on a rebuilding year in Washington.

28) Chicago White Sox (14-28; LW 26)

Watching Liam Hendricks again in a mound it was simply delicious. He is expected to return to the White Sox this month, which will be a wonderful show when he returns from cancer. He should be a great addition for a Chicago bullpen that has a 5.97 ERA.

29) Kansas City Royals (12-30; LW 29)

Kris Bubic underwent Tommy John surgery in late April, a blow to one of the few promising stories in Kansas City’s rotation.

30) Oakland Athletics (9-33; LW 30)

Mason Miller always provided a reason to tune into athletics games. now, we can’t achieve that either.

Rowan Kavner covers the Dodgers and NL West for FOX Sports. He was previously the Dodgers’ digital and print publisher. Follow him on Twitter at @RowanKavner.

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