MLB Power Rankings: Dodgers as good as advertised, Astros crumbling

Welcome to the second edition of theScore's MLB Power Rankings for the 2020 campaign and first since summer camp. Here, our editors rank each team after the first two weeks of what has already been a highly unusual season.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers are playing as advertised, and despite missing a couple of games already, Mookie Betts is a big part of their success. Betts, the National League's second-best hitter by wRC+, might have to step up beyond his .935 OPS if Corey Seager (.989 OPS) misses time.

2. New York Yankees

After starting the season 8-1, the Yankees have stumbled a bit, dropping four of their last five games. The rotation has been a bit of an issue behind Gerrit Cole. The right-hander has been great, posting a 3.22 ERA and 26 strikeouts over his first four starts, but the rest of the starters have combined to post a 7.22 ERA over 46 1/3 innings. Meanwhile, Aaron Judge is the early favorite for AL MVP after bashing eight home runs to go with a 1.045 OPS.

3. Oakland Athletics

Look out! The A's are the hottest team in baseball thanks to nine straight wins, including sweeping the AL West-favorite Astros. Somewhat surprisingly, Oakland is relying almost entirely on their pitching, which leads MLB in WAR thanks in part to a resurgent Frankie Montas. Meanwhile, the team's hitters have combined for a pretty average 101 wRC+.

4. Minnesota Twins

The Twins' elite offense is sputtering a bit. After scoring 27 runs in the first three games of the season, the club has scored just 51 times in their last 13 games. While the production isn't nearly at a crisis level, the loss of Josh Donaldson, combined with dropping four straight to the Royals and Pirates, could sound some early alarm bells.

5. Chicago Cubs

The Cubs are off to a hot start, and because the pieces are all there to be a contender, it feels maintainable. The team's best hitter so far, though, has been the ever-streaky Ian Happ, who ranks among the league leaders in average exit velocity and hard-hit rate. Has the 25-year-old outfielder finally turned a corner, or is a regression due - and will Chicago trend in the same direction?

6. Atlanta Braves

Freddie Freeman and Ronald Acuna Jr. continue to be one of the best duos in the majors. Through 17 games, the pair have combined for seven home runs, 10 doubles, and 27 runs while posting an identical .382 OBP. The pitching has also been excellent, with the team posting MLB's third-lowest ERA in August. However, there is some long-term concern surrounding ace Mike Soroka, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury.

7. Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays sit comfortably at .500 due to their dominance at home - including topping the Yankees three of four times this past weekend - but they still have not won a game on the road this season. Overall, the club is under-performing, ranking 21st by wRC+ and 11th in pitcher WAR. Tampa Bay will need to improve both its run-scoring and prevention if the team hopes to repeat its Cinderella run from 2019.

8. Cleveland Indians

Cleveland's rotation has been incredible. The club's starters have allowed just 27 runs over 108 1/3 innings (2.24 ERA), striking out 132. As good as the pitching has been, the offense is on the other end of the spectrum. The Indians rank 22nd in runs and home runs, 29th in OPS, and last in average. All-Star first baseman Carlos Santana is slugging .239.

9. Colorado Rockies

The Rockies are atop the NL West seemingly out of nowhere due to their elite run prevention, placing them a half-game up on the Dodgers. Colorado's pitching ranks only behind L.A. in the Senior Circuit, boasting a collective 2.84 ERA. The team has struggled at Coors Field during the pandemic, but if German Marquez is truly the ace he showed flashes of in 2018, this offense should compete with anyone.

10. Houston Astros

The loss of ace Justin Verlander and closer Roberto Osuna is cataclysmic for the Astros. They left Oakland with their tails between their legs on the heels of a three-game sweep, as their division rival racked up a nine-game winning streak. Houston has already used 20 different pitchers and has eight rookies in the bullpen.

11. Chicago White Sox

The White Sox have shown flashes that they're on the verge of becoming a real force. Chicago is loaded with power throughout the lineup, with five players having gone deep three times, and rank ninth in the majors in team OPS. Luis Robert is off to an excellent start to his rookie year, hitting .302/.362/.460 with six extra-base hits in 16 games.

12. San Diego Padres

If the Padres haven't been the best team, they've certainly been the most fun. Fernando Tatis Jr. is blooming into a superstar before everyone's eyes, sitting in a tie with Aaron Judge for the MLB lead in homers, and holding sole possession of the league lead in OPS (1.226). To top it off, Dinelson Lamet is the real deal post-Tommy John, authoring a 1.61 ERA over three starts.

13. Cincinnati Reds

Nick Castellanos is making a lot of teams look bad for not signing him this winter. The outfielder has been a one-man show, leading the team with seven home runs, 16 RBIs, and a 1.103 OPS. The rest of the position players need to step up to help out an elite pitching staff. Joey Votto and Eugenio Suarez are both hitting under .200, while Mike Moustakas has been on the injured list twice.

14. Philadelphia Phillies

It's tough to gauge where the Phillies really are after the club had multiple games postponed following a series against the virus-stricken Miami Marlins. When they have played, J.T. Realmuto and Bryce Harper have looked fantastic (6 homers, 14 RBIs). Right-hander Zack Wheeler, who was the team's big offseason addition, owns a 2.08 ERA in two starts.

15. Miami Marlins

The Marlins might be the best story in baseball right now after rallying from a COVID-19 outbreak that sidelined the team for over a week. Miami sits in first place in the NL East despite nine different pitchers starting games. Pablo Lopez is the only pitcher to make more than one start. Still, the club ranks 11th in the majors in starters ERA.

16. Washington Nationals

The Nationals' offense was a mess without Juan Soto, who's only played three games after dealing with COVID-19 testing issues. Washington has hit the second-fewest home runs in the majors, with Michael A. Taylor the only player to have gone deep more than once. The starting pitching remains solid and should be boosted further by Stephen Strasburg's return, despite the right-hander being shelled in his season debut Sunday.

17. St. Louis Cardinals

A COVID-19 outbreak derailed St. Louis' season, so the amount of data to work with is limited. Before the virus broke out, they weren't inspiring much confidence, having lost three straight contests. Once they're able to resume play, they could be without stalwarts Yadier Molina and Paul DeJong, who were among the positive tests.

18. New York Mets

The Mets have dealt with a lot of issues already. Reigning home run champion Pete Alonso has gone deep just twice while slugging a meager .311. Yoenis Cespedes shockingly opted out after going 5-for-31 with 15 strikeouts in his return. Injuries continue to pile up, with Robinson Cano, Michael Wacha, Jed Lowrie, and Marcus Stroman among the notable names sidelined.

19. Los Angeles Angels

Even an expanded postseason might not be enough to get Mike Trout to the playoffs. Shohei Ohtani's return from Tommy John surgery lasted just two starts, and now the 26-year-old won't throw another pitch this season due to a forearm injury. Meanwhile, Anthony Rendon is off to a 4-for-39 start (.103), and Justin Upton has become an expensive platoon player who's striking out in 41% of his at-bats.

20. Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee's offense has been in a funk to start the year. The team ranks 22nd in runs and average, and doesn't have a single qualified hitter batting over .250. Luckily, superstar Christian Yelich is heating up after an awful start. The superstar outfielder has three home runs in his last four games. Brandon Woodruff is making some early Cy Young noise, posting a 2.53 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 26 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings.

21. Detroit Tigers

The Tigers are among the biggest surprises thus far, with a weekend sweep of the Pirates pushing them within a half-game of first place in the AL Central. After starting the year in an 0-for-17 slump, Jeimer Candelario has been Detroit's best hitter in August. He leads the team with eight hits and a 1.196 OPS.

22. Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona's season is not going as planned. The Diamondbacks' offense is currently averaging 3.5 runs per game and has hit 11 home runs in 16 games - just three more than Fernando Tatis Jr. The pitching has also been awful. Offseason expenditure Madison Bumgarner's 9.35 ERA is the worst of any qualified starter in MLB, and he's also allowed a league-leading seven home runs.

23. Boston Red Sox

Boston's pitching struggles have gotten all the headlines for posting the fourth-worst ERA in MLB, but the offense has arguably been worse. J.D. Martinez hasn't collected an RBI in his last 13 games and has yet to homer this season, Andrew Benintendi is 2-for-36 on the year - with one of those hits coming as a bunt single - and Rafael Devers has struck out in 37% of his at-bats, while drawing just three walks.

24. Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays just can't seem to win close games. Five of their eight losses have been by two runs or less. Baserunning and defensive miscues have been highlighted during those losses, causing manager Charlie Montoyo to call out young stars Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette. One early surprise has been the work of the bullpen. Jordan Romano hasn't allowed a hit in seven innings, striking out 10.

25. Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore is one of the biggest surprises to start the year, already claiming series wins against the Red Sox, Rays, and Nationals. Renato Nunez has been a force with five home runs, while right-hander Alex Cobb has impressed with a 2.51 ERA through three starts.

26. Texas Rangers

The Rangers got off to a slow start, but a sweep of the Angels suddenly has them in second place in what's been a very poor AL West. Lance Lynn (2-0, 1.16 ERA) continues to make the Rangers look like geniuses for signing him to a three-year, $30-million deal before last season. Lynn's .128 opponent batting average is the best mark in the AL.

27. San Francisco Giants

For a minute there, Mike Yastrzemski was the most valuable player in the sport. While that's no longer true, the Giants' offense has been surprisingly potent. Donovan Solano can't seem to stop hitting either, with a .452 average in 31 at-bats. Unfortunately, though, only the Mariners have allowed more runs as a team.

28. Kansas City Royals

Reigning AL home run king Jorge Soler has picked up where he left off with five homers already in 2020. The bullpen has been good, with closer Trevor Rosenthal rediscovering the form that made him an All-Star in the past. The right-hander has allowed just one run over seven innings while striking out 10. While the bullpen ranks eighth in ERA (3.33), the rotation sits 22nd (4.91).

29. Seattle Mariners

The Mariners were the first team to allow 100 runs this year, doing so before scoring their 70th. With a minus-38 run differential, even Kyle Lewis' hot start - which has cooled due to a problematic strikeout rate - couldn't keep this team entertaining.

30. Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates are off to an ugly start. Not only are they ranked last in win percentage, but their pitchers have surrendered the second-most runs in the majors thus far. Starters Derek Holland and Joe Musgrove have already combined to allow 10 home runs in 31 innings. Rookie Phillip Evans, who had been one of their early bright spots, is likely done for the season after a collision with teammate Gregory Polanco on Saturday left him with a concussion and broken jaw.