Baseball fans were treated to an appetizer last week when the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers played a pair of regular-season games in Seoul, South Korea.

Now it's time for the main course.

All 30 teams will be in action this Thursday for a more traditional Opening Day, and that means it's time to finalize our MLB power rankings for the start of the new season, setting a baseline for our weekly updates to come throughout the year.

These rankings have been shuffled throughout the offseason as notable free agents have signed and teams have completed blockbuster trades. Now, it's time for one final tweak with spring training wrapped up and Opening Day rosters set.

Along with a writeup for all 30 teams, you'll find picks for each major award in the American League and National League, as well as a breakout hitter and pitcher prediction for each league.

The new baseball season is finally here.

Nos. 30-26

30. Oakland Athletics

If newcomers Alex Wood and Ross Stripling can chew through some league-average innings and J.D. Davis can slug 20 home runs, the Athletics might only lose 105 games this season instead of 112 as they did in 2023. After a promising rookie season and with significant long-term upside, Zack Gelof will almost certainly be on the trade block by July.

29. Colorado Rockies

The Rockies remain one of the most directionless organizations in professional sports. No long-term plans for building toward contention, no short-term plans to improve on last year's 59-103 finish. Just the status quo and another one-way ticket to the NL West cellar. A move to first base might at least help keep $182-million man Kris Bryant healthy for more than a few weeks at a time.

28. Chicago White Sox

The White Sox finally seemed to accept that a full rebuild was necessary when they shipped Dylan Cease to the San Diego Padres, and it wouldn't be surprising to see anyone not named Luis Robert Jr. on the move during the next year. They have quietly assembled a nice collection of young pieces down on the farm, and we could see shortstop Colson Montgomery in the big leagues before 2024 is over.

27. Washington Nationals

A strong spring from top prospect James Wood (57 PA, .364/.509/.705, 4 HR, 7 RBI) gave Nationals fans a glimpse of a bright future, but the present still looks like a team a few years removed from contention. After hitting on Jeimer Candelario last offseason, they cast a wide net for buy-low additions once again, and anyone from the group of Joey Gallo, Jesse Winker, Eddie Rosario, Nick Senzel, Dylan Floro and Matt Barnes could prove useful to a contender by the summer.

26. Los Angeles Angels

It's hard to see how an Angels team that finished 73-89 a year ago doesn't get worse with AL MVP Shohei Ohtani subtracted from the roster. The front office focused its offseason efforts on upgrading a bullpen that finished 25th in the majors with a 4.88 ERA, and that group should be significantly improved. Still, that doesn't move the needle enough to buy this team as anything but an also-ran.

Nos. 25-21

25. Pittsburgh Pirates

It's easy to forget that the Pirates went 20-8 to start the 2023 season before crashing back to earth and finishing 10 games below .500, but there is potential for another step forward from this group. Oneil Cruz is healthy, Marco Gonzales and Martín Pérez should help stabilize the rotation, and a lot of young players gained valuable MLB experience last year that they can build off in 2024.

24. Kansas City Royals

This may seem like an optimistic ranking for a team that lost 106 games last year, but the Royals quietly went 15-12 over the season's final month, and they have a nice core in place built around rising superstar Bobby Witt Jr. Even if they don't legitimately contend, this could still be the most improved team in baseball in terms of win total.

23. Miami Marlins

With Sandy Alcántara, Edward Cabrera, Braxton Garrett and Eury Pérez all expected to start the season on the injured list, a Marlins team that leaned heavily on its pitching staff en route to a surprise wild-card berth last year could dig an early hole in the standings. Will full seasons of Jake Burger and Josh Bell be enough to bolster a lackluster offense?

22. Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox did virtually nothing to improve this offseason, and now Lucas Giolito is sidelined following elbow surgery. And with Justin Turner and Adam Duvall gone from the middle of the lineup, there's a case to be made that they actually got worse. Brayan Bello and Triston Casas are rising stars, but this looks like the worst team in the AL East by a decent margin.

21. Detroit Tigers

How many baseball fans outside of Detroit noticed that the Tigers went 39-34 after the All-Star break last year? A starting rotation of Tarik Skubal, Kenta Maeda, Jack Flaherty, Casey Mize and Reese Olson has a chance to be a major strength, and continued development from Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene alongside hyped rookie Colt Keith could mean an improved offense. If you're looking for a dark-horse wild-card contender, look no further.

Nos. 20-16

20. Milwaukee Brewers

With Corbin Burnes gone, Brandon Woodruff sidelined for the year and Devin Williams out indefinitely with a stress fracture in his back, the Brewers need to find a way to replace three of the best pitchers in baseball. The offense should be improved with Rhys Hoskins and several young players as potential breakout candidates, but it could wind up being a net negative with the step backward the pitching staff is likely to take.

19. Cleveland Guardians

No team in position to potentially contend did less to improve this offseason than the Guardians, and this spot in the rankings reflects that inactivity. Outside of José Ramírez, Josh Naylor and Steven Kwan, the lineup again looks wildly mediocre, and that puts a ton of pressure on a young starting rotation. A third-place finish in the AL Central seems just as likely as a division title.

18. Cincinnati Reds

Starting the season without Matt McLain, TJ Friedl and Nick Lodolo is less than ideal, and the Reds also lost potential starting third baseman Noelvi Marte to an 80-game PED suspension, but there is still a ton of upside in Cincinnati. The lineup is loaded with exciting young bats, the rotation should be improved and the bullpen looks deeper. They might still be a year away from seriously contending, but the arrow is pointing straight up.

17. San Francisco Giants

The Giants did well cleaning up the free-agency scraps, landing Blake Snell and Matt Chapman on short-term deals after their markets never fully materialized. That said, the offense still looks middle-of-the-pack at best, and the starting rotation remains a question mark behind Snell and Logan Webb. Honestly, anywhere between 70 and 90 wins seems plausible.

16. San Diego Padres

Despite losing Juan Soto, Blake Snell, Josh Hader and several others, the Padres are more than capable of improving on last year's 82-80 finish. There is star power in the lineup, while Joe Musgrove, Yu Darvish and Dylan Cease atop the rotation could be as good as any trio in baseball. Don't underestimate the value of having a new lead voice in the clubhouse either with Mike Shildt replacing Bob Melvin in the manager's seat.

Nos. 15-11

15. New York Mets

With a starting rotation of José Quintana, Luis Severino, Tylor Megill, Sean Manaea and Adrian Houser penciled in to open the year while Kodai Senga recovers from a shoulder strain, and the late addition of J.D. Martinez the only thing done to bolster an offense that ranked 20th in the majors in runs scored, it's hard to slot the Mets any higher than this in the rankings. They look destined for a distant third place in the NL East standings.

14. St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals are never down for long, and after finishing with a losing record for the first time since 2007, they look poised for a solid bounce-back campaign after rebuilding the starting rotation. The continued development of young players such as Jordan Walker, Nolan Gorman, Masyn Winn and Zack Thompson will be the X-factor.

13. Toronto Blue Jays

It was a disappointingly quiet offseason for the Blue Jays, but they still have the pieces to contend in the AL East. If Bowden Francis carries over the success he found in the bullpen last year to the No. 5 starter job, and Justin Turner has a season similar to what he did in Boston last year, this team could make a push for the division crown.

12. Chicago Cubs

It's easy to forget the Cubs were 71-62 and comfortably in position for a wild-card spot before collapsing in September last year. All the key pieces from last year's team are back outside of Marcus Stroman, who was replaced by Japanese League star Shōta Imanaga. Slugger Christopher Morel is the X-factor offensively if he can hold down the everyday third base job.

11. Seattle Mariners

The Mariners return one of baseball's best starting rotations after an offseason of trade rumors surrounding their young arms, and continued development from George Kirby, Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo could make that staff even better. There are plenty of new faces in the lineup, though it remains to be seen if all of those new pieces will add up to an improved offense.

Nos. 10-6

10. New York Yankees

There is a case to be made that no player was more important to his team's 2024 outlook than Gerrit Cole was atop the Yankees rotation, so losing the 2023 AL Cy Young winner for an extended period with nerve inflammation in his elbow is a major blow. The performance of Carlos Rodón and Marcus Stroman now becomes extremely important, and both veterans ended 2023 on a sour note. Do they realistically have the arms to contend?

9. Minnesota Twins

The Twins might have more room for in-house improvement than any team in baseball, with Byron Buxton, Carlos Correa, Royce Lewis, Alex Kirilloff and Chris Paddack all slowed by injuries last year and capable of far more production. They look like clear front-runners in the AL Central, even after a relatively quiet offseason.

8. Tampa Bay Rays

Who's ready for one or more of Tyler Alexander, Ryan Pepiot or Jacob Waguespack to emerge as an AL Cy Young contender? The Rays always seem to cobble together one of baseball's best rotations, and those are the notable newcomers set for a key role on the staff. They might not have a top-tier roster on paper, but no organization does more with less on a yearly basis.

7. Arizona Diamondbacks

The D-backs had a busy offseason following last year's surprise run to the World Series, headlined by the addition of Eduardo Rodríguez to bolster a starting rotation that was a revolving door behind Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly last year. Did they catch lightning in a bottle, or is this team's contention window just opening?

6. Texas Rangers

The Rangers will have to tread water a bit from a pitching standpoint while Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer and Tyler Mahle get healthy, but the offense is still one of the best in baseball and the bullpen should be improved. The head-to-head battle between Wyatt Langford and Evan Carter for AL Rookie of the Year will be fun to watch, and don't sleep on Jared Walsh as a legitimate AL Comeback Player of the Year candidate after a terrific spring.

Nos. 5-1

5. Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles' starting pitching depth will be put to the test early with Kyle Bradish and John Means both sidelined by elbow issues, though the addition of Corbin Burnes as a bona fide staff ace helps things considerably. Not many teams have guys like Jackson Holliday, Heston Kjerstad and Coby Mayo waiting in the wings offensively, so expect this lineup to be one of the best in baseball.

4. Houston Astros

With seven straight ALCS appearances, the Astros have earned the mantle of team to beat in the American League, even if it was the division-rival Texas Rangers that hoisted the trophy in 2023. The starting rotation is banged up to start the year, but Houston has a ton of quality depth while it waits on Justin Verlander, Jose Urquidy and Lance McCullers Jr. to return, and the addition of Josh Hader makes the entire bullpen that much stronger.

3. Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies have one of the most complete rosters in baseball top-to-bottom, and that was the case from the moment they re-signed Aaron Nola at the beginning of the offseason. Center fielder Johan Rojas and starter Cristopher Sánchez still have something to prove after strong rookie campaigns, and Taijuan Walker will start the year on the injured list with a shoulder issue, but this group looks poised to give the Atlanta Braves a serious run for their money in the NL East.

2. Atlanta Braves

Speaking of the Braves, they are still the clear favorites in the NL East until proved otherwise, and they also have a roster that is lacking any glaring holes. The starting rotation was a revolving door for much of last year amid a long list of injuries, so starting the year with a fully healthy group that includes newcomers Chris Sale and Reynaldo López could make them even more dangerous.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

It's fair to say the Dodgers have three of baseball's 10 best players in Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, and the roster behind them is stacked with All-Star talent. The health of the starting rotation is the big question mark, but they have so many potential rotation pieces that even if guys like Tyler Glasnow and James Paxton miss time again, the next man up is also capable of making an impact. It's World Series or bust after their offseason spending spree.

Complete Rankings

Complete Rankings

1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. Atlanta Braves
3. Philadelphia Phillies
4. Houston Astros
5. Baltimore Orioles
6. Texas Rangers
7. Arizona Diamondbacks
8. Tampa Bay Rays
9. Minnesota Twins
10. New York Yankees
11. Seattle Mariners
12. Chicago Cubs
13. Toronto Blue Jays
14. St. Louis Cardinals
15. New York Mets
16. San Diego Padres
17. San Francisco Giants
18. Cincinnati Reds
19. Cleveland Guardians
20. Milwaukee Brewers
21. Detroit Tigers
22. Boston Red Sox
23. Miami Marlins
24. Kansas City Royals
25. Pittsburgh Pirates
26. Los Angeles Angels
27. Washington Nationals
28. Chicago White Sox
29. Colorado Rockies
30. Oakland Athletics

AL Award Predictions

AL MVP: Julio Rodríguez, Seattle Mariners

After following up his stellar rookie campaign with a 32-homer, 37-steal, 5.3-WAR season last year, there is little doubt J-Rod has MVP upside. Few players in baseball are capable of the August he had, when he hit .429/.474/.724 with 17 extra-base hits and 11 steals in 23 games. At 23 years old, it still feels like he is just scratching the surface.

AL Cy Young: Corbin Burnes, Baltimore Orioles

There is a case to be made that Burnes is the best pitcher in baseball based on the numbers he has posted over the past four seasons, including his 2021 NL Cy Young performance. The 29-year-old has the added motivation of pitching for a massive payday in a contract year, and the injury to Gerrit Cole has to make him the AL front-runner.

AL Rookie of the Year: Wyatt Langford, Texas Rangers

I was almost certain heading into spring training that 2023 postseason hero Evan Carter would be my AL Rookie of the Year pick, but his teammate Langford looks like he is going to be an instant star. The No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 draft hit .360/.480/.677 with 29 extra-base hits in 44 games across four minor league levels in his pro debut, and he posted a 1.242 OPS with six home runs and 19 RBI in 17 games this spring to win an Opening Day roster spot.

NL Award Predictions

NL MVP: Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers

If Betts makes a smooth transition to shortstop defensively while continuing to post the elite-level offensive numbers he did a year ago, it's going to be difficult not to call him the most valuable player in baseball. How many guys could realistically make that transition this late in their MLB career?

NL Cy Young: Freddy Peralta, Milwaukee Brewers

With Corbin Burnes gone and Brandon Woodruff sidelined, Peralta is now the unquestioned ace of the Milwaukee staff. The 27-year-old has always had elite stuff, and after posting a 2.81 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and a 103-to-16 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 73.2 innings during the second half last year, he could be ready for a Cy Young-caliber season.

NL Rookie of the Year: Shōta Imanaga, Chicago Cubs

While there are some clear front-runners in the American League, the National League Rookie of the Year race is wide open. Imanaga has struck out 19 of the 41 batters he has faced this spring, and it's not out of the question to think he could outperform fellow Japanese League star Yoshinobu Yamamoto in their respective stateside debuts this year.

Breakout Player Predictions

AL Hitter: Riley Greene, Detroit Tigers

Still only 23 years old, Greene took a nice step forward in his second season in the big leagues last year, hitting .288/.349/.447 for a 117 OPS+ with 19 doubles, 11 home runs and 37 RBI in 416 plate appearances. With the hit tool to be a batting title contender and the raw power to be a 30-homer threat, there could be a few more steps forward in the coming years.

NL Hitter: Jordan Walker, St. Louis Cardinals

Walker was the seventh-youngest player to appear in a big league game last season, and he hit .276/.342/.445 for a 114 OPS+ with 19 doubles, 16 home runs and 51 RBI at an age when most players are still in the lower minors. Poor defensive metrics undercut his overall value as he learned to play outfield on the fly, but he is capable of improvements across the board in his second big league season. He won't turn 22 years old until May 22.

AL PItcher: Grayson Rodriguez, Baltimore Orioles

After struggling to a 7.35 ERA over his first 10 starts, Rodriguez was demoted to the minors in late May. The 24-year-old returned to the majors on July 17 and posted a 2.58 ERA and 1.10 WHIP over his final 10 starts, which should serve as a springboard to a true breakout season in 2024. The O's could have a legitimate co-ace alongside Corbin Burnes by the end of the year.

NL Pitcher: Brandon Pfaadt, Arizona Diamondbacks

Pfaadt struggled mightily during the first half last season, but things started to click after he was recalled from the minors on July 22. He logged a 4.22 ERA with 73 strikeouts in 70.1 innings down the stretch, and showed enough during that time to earn the No. 3 starter job during the playoffs. The 25-year-old had a 3.27 ERA, 1.09 WHP and 26 strikeouts in 22 innings over five October starts, and his performance under those bright lights has his stock trending up in a big way.