With the first full week of the 2024 MLB season in the books, there was plenty of shuffling to be done in our weekly power rankings, including a decision on whether the New York Yankees should be moved into the No. 1 spot.

How much weight should preseason expectations still carry against the small sample size of 10 or fewer games in the case of most teams?

That's the balancing act of April baseball.

If your favorite team is not as high as you'd like it to be, take a deep breath, relax and remember that none of this matters. It's just meant to be a fun weekly discussion on where things stand across Major League Baseball.

These rankings will be updated every Monday morning for the next six months. If a team is winning, it will inevitably climb; if a team is losing, it will inevitably slide.

After a few weeks, the line between contenders and non-contenders will start to take shape. For now, just sit back and enjoy the chaos.

Nos. 30-28

30. Chicago White Sox (1-8)

Last Week: 1-1 vs. ATL, 0-4 @ KC

The White Sox have scored just 16 runs while hitting .196 as a team through their first nine games, undercutting a pitching staff that has performed better than expected. Left-hander Garrett Crochet has a 2.00 ERA and a 21-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 18 innings over his first three starts.

29. Miami Marlins (1-9)

Last Week: 0-3 vs. LAA, 1-2 @ STL

The Marlins finally won their first game of the season on Sunday with a 10-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Former first-round pick Max Meyer allowed three hits and one earned run over six innings for the first quality start of his career as he looks to get back on track after missing much of 2022 and all of 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.

28. Colorado Rockies (2-8)

Last Week: 0-3 @ CHC, 1-2 vs. TB

The Rockies pitching staff has served up a 7.50 ERA and 1.86 WHIP while allowing a .312 opponents' batting average through 10 games, and getting quality innings out of their staff could be a struggle all season. Ryan McMahon (1.063 OPS, 2 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI) has been an early bright spot offensively.

Nos. 27-25

27. Washington Nationals (3-6)

Last Week: 1-2 vs. PIT, 1-2 vs. PHI

The Nationals have a budding star in shortstop CJ Abrams, who is hitting .321/.387/.607 with one triple, two home runs, five RBI and three steals to start the year following a strong second half last season. The continued development of their young players will again be the focal point this year amid an ongoing rebuild.

26. Oakland Athletics (3-7)

Last Week: 0-3 vs. BOS, 2-1 @ DET

The Athletics didn't pick up their first series win of the season last year until May 5-7 against the Kansas City Royals, so they are already way ahead of where they were a year ago after taking two of three from the Tigers over the weekend. Veteran Paul Blackburn has tallied 13 shutout innings over his first two starts, and the 2022 All-Star could be an in-demand trade chip this summer if he keeps rolling.

25. Seattle Mariners (4-6)

Last Week: 1-2 vs. CLE, 1-2 @ MIL

Only the Rockies (-34), White Sox (-26) and Marlins (-25) have a worse run differential than the minus-21 mark the Mariners have posted their year. A lackluster offense (.589 OPS, 28th in MLB) and a shaky starting rotation (5.63 ERA, 26th in MLB) has sent them tumbling down these rankings, but there is still plenty of time for them to right the ship.

Nos. 24-22

24. Toronto Blue Jays (4-6)

Last Week: 1-2 @ HOU, 1-2 @ NYY

The Blue Jays finally get to play a home game on Monday after starting the season with a 10-game road trip, so take their 4-6 start with a grain of salt. Ace Kevin Gausman was knocked around for four hits, two walks and six runs (five earned) on Saturday against the New York Yankees, and getting him on track will be important in the coming weeks.

23. New York Mets (3-6)

Last Week: 1-2 vs. DET, 2-1 @ CIN

After an 0-5 start to the year, the Mets have won three of their last four games, securing a series win over the Reds on Sunday behind Francisco Lindor's first home run of the season and five strong innings from Sean Manaea. A big four-game series on the road against the rival Braves awaits this week.

22. Houston Astros (3-7)

Last Week: 2-1 vs. TOR, 1-2 @ TEX

After getting swept by the New York Yankees to open the year, the Astros got an early-season highlight courtesy of Ronel Blanco when he tossed the year's first no-hitter last Monday. They needed a victory Sunday to avoid getting swept by the Texas Rangers, and it was Blanco on the mound again for that win.

Nos. 21-19

21. San Diego Padres (5-7)

Last Week: 1-2 vs. STL, 1-2 @ SF

The Padres are still searching for their first series win of the year, and a rematch with the Dodgers, who they split two games with during the Seoul Series, awaits this weekend in Los Angeles. Rookie Jackson Merrill is hitting .324/.395/.471 with three extra-base hits and eight runs scored while learning how to play center field on the fly.

20. San Francisco Giants (4-6)

Last Week: 0-3 @ LAD, 2-1 vs. SD

The Giants bounced back from getting swept by the rival Dodgers to take two of three from the Padres over the weekend, with ace Logan Webb scattering 10 hits over seven innings while allowing just two runs in Sunday's 3-2 victory. Veteran Michael Conforto is hitting .351/.415/.703 with four doubles, three home runs and 10 RBI and looking more like the player he was during his time with the Mets.

19. Philadelphia Phillies (4-5)

Last Week: 1-2 vs. CIN, 2-1 @ WAS

The Phillies finally strung together back-to-back wins behind strong starts from Aaron Nola (5.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER) and Ranger Suárez (6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER) on Friday and Saturday, while Bryce Harper shook off a slow start at the plate with a three-homer game on Tuesday. The Phillies rank ninth in the majors with a 3.23 ERA from their starting staff.

Nos. 18-16

18. Minnesota Twins (3-4)

Last Week: 1-1 @ MIL, 0-2 vs. CLE

With a rainout Sunday, the Twins have played fewer games than any other team in baseball, but now they kick off a stretch of 23 contests in 24 days with a three-game series against the Dodgers. They lead the majors with a 0.98 ERA from their bullpen, and that's without closer Jhoan Duran, who is nursing a strained oblique.

17. Los Angeles Angels (5-4)

Last Week: 3-0 @ MIA, 1-2 vs. BOS

The Angels have gotten an AL-worst 5.58 ERA from their pitching staff, even with a strong start from Reid Detmers (2-0, 1.64 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 19 K, 11.0 IP). On the offensive side, young catcher Logan O'Hoppe (31 PA, .407/.484/.630, 3 XBH, 6 RBI) has picked up right where he left off during an injury-shortened rookie season and looks like a star on the rise.

16. Detroit Tigers (6-3)

Last Week: 2-1 @ NYM, 1-2 vs. OAK

A 5-1 start to the year had the Tigers trending up, but losing a series at home to the Athletics over the weekend makes it difficult to slot them any higher in the rankings. Closer Jason Foley has allowed just one hit over 4.1 scoreless innings while nailing down both of his save opportunities, and he has some of the most electric stuff in baseball with a sinker that has averaged 98.3 mph and generated a 31.6 percent whiff rate.

Nos. 15-13

15. Cincinnati Reds (5-4)

Last Week: 2-1 @ PHI, 1-2 vs. NYM

Spencer Steer is hitting .406/.500/.813 with two doubles, one triple, three home runs and 12 RBI in nine games this season, helping to shoulder the offensive load while TJ Friedl and Matt McLain are on the injured list. Newcomer Frankie Montas is 2-0 with a 0.77 ERA in 11.2 innings over his first two starts in a Reds uniform.

14. St. Louis Cardinals (5-5)

Last Week: 2-1 @ SD, 2-1 vs. MIA

The foursome of JoJo Romero, Andrew Kittredge, Giovanny Gallegos and Ryan Helsley combined for one win, seven holds and three saves last week out of the St. Louis bullpen while allowing just one earned run in 11.1 innings. The bullpen has a chance to be a real strength this season in support of a veteran rotation.

13. Arizona Diamondbacks (4-6)

Last Week: 1-2 vs. NYM, 0-3 @ ATL

Despite a losing record and a pair of series losses last week, the D-backs have a plus-16 run differential that trails only the Braves (+26) and Pirates (+18) among NL teams early in the season. The bullpen had three losses and two blown saves last week, and closer Paul Sewald can't return soon enough from an oblique strain.

Nos. 12-10

12. Kansas City Royals (6-4)

Last Week: 1-2 @ BAL, 4-0 vs. CWS

The Royals outscored the White Sox by a 20-5 margin in a four-game sweep over the weekend, and the foursome of Bobby Witt Jr., Salvador Pérez, MJ Melendez and Maikel García are all off to terrific starts at the plate. After an off day on Monday, they welcome the Astros to town as they look to keep their momentum rolling.

11. Tampa Bay Rays (5-5)

Last Week: 1-2 vs. TEX, 2-1 @ COL

The Rays are playing .500 baseball despite an MLB-worst 7.47 ERA from the bullpen, which is generally one of their biggest strengths. Right-hander Ryan Pepiot allowed just three hits over six shutout innings while piling up 11 strikeouts on Sunday in a 3-2 victory over the Rockies at Coors Field.

10. Baltimore Orioles (5-4)

Last Week: 2-1 vs. KC, 1-2 @ PIT

After a 5-2 start to the year, the Orioles suffered an extra-inning loss to the Pirates on Saturday and another one-run loss on Sunday. The trio of Corbin Burnes (2 GS, 2.31 ERA, 14 K, 11.2 IP), Grayson Rodriguez (2 GS, 2.19 ERA, 16 K, 12.1 IP) and Dean Kremer (2 GS, 2.19 ERA, 11 K, 12.1 IP) have been great atop the starting rotation while the club continues to wait on Kyle Bradish and John Means to return from the injured list.

Nos. 9-7

9. Milwaukee Brewers (6-2)

Last Week: 1-1 vs. MIN, 2-1 vs. SEA

The new-look Brewers starting rotation ranks fifth in the majors with a 2.72 ERA in 39.2 innings as they continue to sort out roles behind Freddy Peralta at the top of the staff. Rookie Oliver Dunn has played his way into a larger role than expected at third base and designated hitter after he hit .343/.455/.616 over 88 plate appearances in the Arizona Fall League.

8. Chicago Cubs (6-3)

Last Week: 3-0 vs. COL, 2-1 vs. LAD

The Cubs made the most of a bad-weather weekend, taking two of three from the Dodgers behind a nine-run offensive outburst on Friday and a solid outing from Shōta Imanaga on Sunday before a rain delay chased him early. After a terrific second half last year, Seiya Suzuki is hitting .350/.444/.700 with two home runs and 10 RBI and looking like a potential All-Star.

7. Boston Red Sox (7-3)

Last Week: 3-0 @ OAK, 2-1 @ LAA

Who would have guessed the Red Sox would be leading the majors with a 1.53 ERA from the starting rotation over the first 10 games of the season? Right-hander Tanner Houck could be headed for a post-hype breakout after tossing 12 scoreless innings with a 17-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his first two starts.

Nos. 6-4

6. Cleveland Guardians (7-2)

Last Week: 2-1 @ SEA, 2-0 @ MIN

With 5.9 runs per game, the Guardians offense has been much better than expected, and that has been the key to their early success. They will need to continue putting up runs with ace Shane Bieber headed for season-ending Tommy John surgery, but they have a deep stable of starting pitching talent.

5. Pittsburgh Pirates (8-2)

Last Week: 2-1 @ WAS, 2-1 vs. BAL

The Pirates went 20-8 to begin the 2023 season before going 56-78 the rest of the way, so they need to prove they can sustain their early success this time around, but a series win over the Orioles was a good place to start. Rookie Jared Jones looks like a budding ace with a 17-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 11.2 innings in his first two starts, and he recorded his first career quality start Friday.

4. Texas Rangers (6-3)

Last Week: 2-1 @ TB, 2-1 vs. HOU

The Rangers went just 4-9 with a minus-19 run differential against the Astros during the regular season last year before sending them packing in the ALCS, and they took two of three in their first matchup of the 2024 season. The offense ranks second in the majors in batting average (.281) and OPS (.813), while the starting rotation has a 3.02 ERA that checks in sixth leaguewide.

Nos. 3-1

3. Atlanta Braves (6-2)

Last Week: 1-1 @ CWS, 3-0 vs. ARI

The Braves' stacked offense leads the majors in batting average (.300) and OPS (.886), and Marcell Ozuna (9-for-21, 2 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI) is coming off a huge week at the plate. The question for this team is on the pitching side now that Spencer Strider is sidelined with a sprained UCL and awaiting further evaluation on whether Tommy John surgery will be necessary.

2. Los Angeles Dodgers (8-4)

Last Week: 3-0 vs. SF, 1-2 @ CHC

Even after dropping two of three to the Cubs over the weekend, the Dodgers still belong in the conversation of top-tier teams. They lead the majors with 15 home runs, average 5.8 runs per game, and the starting rotation has a 3.62 ERA with 61 strikeouts in 49.2 innings while they continue to wait on several key arms to return from injury. The depth and overall talent of this roster is elite.

1. New York Yankees (8-2)

Last Week: 2-1 @ ARI, 2-1 vs. TOR

The Yankees went 6-1 against the Astros and D-backs on the road to start the year before kicking off their first home stand of the season with a series win over the Blue Jays, and for now they have staked their claim to the No. 1 spot. Newcomer Marcus Stroman has logged back-to-back quality starts to kick off his time in pinstripes, including six scoreless innings of three-hit ball on Friday, and he has a chance to be a real X-factor.

Complete Rankings

Complete Rankings

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

Stars of the Week

Hitter of the Week: Spencer Steer, Cincinnati Reds

Stats: 9-for-22, 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 5 R, SB

Steer may not get the same level of hype as some of the other exciting young players on the Cincinnati roster, but after posting a 119 OPS+ with 37 doubles, 23 home runs and 86 RBI during his rookie season, he has been the team's most productive hitter in the early going.

"He just continues to mature and develop and gain even more confidence in himself," Reds manager David Bell told reporters. "And he's really believing, no matter who he is facing, no situation is too big and he wants to be up in those spots."

Pitcher of the Week: Ronel Blanco, Houston Astros

Stats: 2 GS, 2-0, 15.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 6 BB, 11 K

Only part of the Opening Day rotation due to injuries in the Houston rotation, Blanco tossed the first no-hitter of the season against the Toronto Blue Jays last Monday night. The 30-year-old then took the mound again on Sunday Night Baseball against the Texas Rangers and tossed another 5.2 no-hit inning before finally surrendering his first hit of the year.

Tip of the cap to Boston Red Sox right-hander Tanner Houck who tossed 12 scoreless innings with 17 strikeouts in his two starts last week.

Rookie of the Week: Shōta Imanaga, Chicago Cubs

Stats: 2 GS, 1-0, 10.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 12 K

So far, so good for Imanaga in his stateside debut after starring in the Japanese League for the past several seasons. He allowed two hits and racked up nine strikeouts over six scoreless innings in his MLB debut against the Colorado Rockies, then logged four shutout frames in a rain-shortened start against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.