MLB power rankings: New-look Giants join prosperity party in NL West

[ASFN Admin]

Perhaps the San Francisco Giants' back to the future approach really is paying off.

A new regime led by franchise legend Buster Posey intent on returning the club to its strong pitching, solid defense, timely hitting and esprit de corps of their three-championship run one decade ago is seeing immediate results this season. The Giants have won their first three series, capped by a sweep of the Seattle Mariners in their first set at Oracle Park this season, and leaped 11 spots in USA TODAY Sports' power rankings.

At 8-1, the Giants are in a virtual tie with the - gulp - Los Angeles Dodgers atop the National League West, part of a divisional wrecking ball that's seen West teams other than the Colorado Rockies race out to a 29-10 record. Willy Adames, whose $182 million contract broke Posey's record as the largest in franchise history, won their home opener with a two-run walk-off single; Wilmer Flores walked the Mariners off in extra innings again on Sunday. And the club ranks atop the majors in fielding percentage and are fourth in ERA.

A familiar look in China Basin.

A look at our updated rankings:

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1. Los Angeles Dodgers (-)​

• Blake Snell's barking shoulder lands him on IL, leaving club with – hmm – roughly eight rotation options.

2. Philadelphia Phillies (+1)​

• Marquee bullpen acquisition Jordan Romano struggling (2.50 WHIP, 15.75 ERA) in first five appearances.

3. New York Yankees (-1)​

• Will Warren with a pair of rough starts at back of rotation.

4. San Diego Padres (-)​

• Despite hitting just eight home runs, they're averaging nearly five runs a game.

5. Texas Rangers (+1)​

• Kumar Rocker joins Jack Leiter in the "completed five innings" club.

6. New York Mets (+2)​

• Pete Alonso starting red-hot – three homers, 11 RBI, and ninth-inning heroics are back.

7. Arizona Diamondbacks (-)​

• Corbin Burnes' cutter not as sharp, hard in first two starts.

8. San Francisco Giants (+11)​

• Jordan Hicks with 11 strikeouts, three walks in his first two starts.

9. Detroit Tigers (+1)​

• Tarik Skubal struggling early, but they still know how to punish White Sox.

10. Baltimore Orioles (-5)​

• Have scored two or fewer runs in five of 10 games.

11. Boston Red Sox (-)​

• Starters not named Garrett Crochet have a 6.42 ERA.

12. Chicago Cubs (+2)​

• Their new center fielder has Tucked away a few more million in his .319/.458/.745 start.

13. Kansas City Royals (+4)​

• They seem to have Baltimore's number.

14. Toronto Blue Jays (+7)​

• We'll see what a Vlad Guerrero Jr. extension does to kickstart this squad.

15. Houston Astros (-6)​

• Catcher Yainer Diaz off to a 2-for-26 (.077) start.

16. Tampa Bay Rays (+2)​

• Brandon Lowe, with three homers and an .898 OPS, digging Steinbrenner Field.

17. Atlanta Braves (-5)​

• Catcher Sean Murphy is back, but promising rookie Drake Baldwin sticks on big league roster.

18. Seattle Mariners (-3)​

• Offensive stat of the weak: DH Rowdy Tellez is 1-for-15 with five strikeouts and one walk.

19. Minnesota Twins (+4)​

• OK, so they're not that horrible.

20. Los Angeles Angels (+5)​

• Only Aaron Judge has hit more home runs than Logan O'Hoppe.

21. St. Louis Cardinals (-1)​

• Catcher Ivan Herrera crushes four homers - and then irritates knee.

22. Milwaukee Brewers (+2)​

• A young man by the name of Chad Patrick collects his first major league win.

23. Cleveland Guardians (-7)​

• A rough 1-5 West Coast swing, but White Sox+home opener should be an elixir.

24. Cincinnati Reds (-11)​

• Losing series at Milwaukee kinda dampens the "this year will be different" vibes.

25. Washington Nationals (-3)​

• Mitchell Parker sporting a 0.73 ERA after two starts.

26. Miami Marlins (+1)​

• A multi-homer game for former Cub prospect Matt Mervis.

27. Pittsburgh Pirates (+1)​

• David Bednar shipped to minor leagues, but ninth inning still an adventure.

28. Athletics (-2)​

• Ball already flying in Yolo County as club gives up 35 runs in first three home games.

29. Colorado Rockies (-)​

• Chase Dollander wins major league debut - surviving Coors Field, no less.

30. Chicago White Sox (-)​

• Michael Tauchman returns, but Andrew Benintendi now slowed by injury.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB power rankings: Giants and Dodgers fight atop NL West standings

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