Before we get into this next iteration of our weekly power rankings for the 2024 MLB season, a reminder is in order of how early it still is.

The Kansas City Royals, who are "hot" off a 106-loss season in 2023, entered Sunday with twice as many wins as the purportedly mighty Houston Astros.

Clearly, early-season weirdness is in full swing. But that's also the beauty of it. As a good doctor once said, "Yesterday's weirdness is tomorrow's reason why."

With these rankings, preseason expectations for how things would go have ceded yet another chunk of ground to what's actually happening. Never mind where they're supposed to be. If a team is doing well, they rank high. If not, they don't.

As always, bear in mind that these rankings are only valid for the next week. And per the aforementioned weirdness, chances are that things will look very different when they're updated next Monday morning.

In the meantime, prepare yourself for outrage, satisfaction and everything in between.

Nos. 30-28

30. Chicago White Sox (2-13)

Previous Rank: 30

Last Week: 1-2 @ CLE, 0-3 vs. CIN

Talk about a rough week for the Pale Hose. Yoán Moncada joined Luis Robert Jr. and Eloy Jiménez on the injured list, and even flamethrowing southpaw Garrett Crochet finally ate humble pie amid a five-run dud on Saturday. It's going to be a long season on the South Side.

29. Miami Marlins (3-13)

Previous Rank: 29

Last Week: 1-2 @ NYY, 1-2 vs. ATL

After finally collecting their first win last Sunday, the Marlins proceeded to boost their total in the win column into crooked-number territory. Good job, guys! You love to see Max Meyer's return from Tommy John surgery going so well. Six one-run innings on Saturday lowered his ERA to 2.12.

28. Colorado Rockies (4-12)

Previous Rank: 28

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

It's probably not a great sign that the Rockies have only played six of their 16 games at home and yet they still have the league's highest ERA at 6.29. Or that the next-closest team is about a run lower at 5.32. Alas, it's causing a much-improved offense to go to waste.

Nos. 27-25

27. Washington Nationals (6-9)

Previous Rank: 27

Last Week: 2-1 @ SFG, 1-2 @ OAK

Jesse Winker lives! The erstwhile Red, Mariner and Brewer is off to a start marked by a .982 OPS. Also keep an eye on MacKenzie Gore, who's now whiffed 35.4 percent of the batters he's faced after punching out 11 A's on Saturday. Contention remains a ways off, but such things are the Nats taking further steps into watchability.

26. Seattle Mariners (6-10)

Previous Rank: 25

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

At what point should the Mariners start to panic over their offense? It's third from the bottom of MLB with a .590 OPS, not to mention 29th in strikeout rate. Nobody needs to get going more than Julio Rodríguez, who's batting just .186 with one extra-base hit and 21 strikeouts next to three walks.

25. San Francisco Giants (6-10)

Previous Rank: 20

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

It hasn't been the best start for Blake Snell, who was rusty in his Giants debut last Monday and then got shelled for seven runs in four innings against his former team the Rays on Sunday. Yet the Giants should be more concerned about an offense that's been feast or famine, scoring seven plus-runs four times and four or fewer 12 times.

Nos. 24-22

24. Los Angeles Angels (7-8)

Previous Rank: 17

Last Week: 1-2 vs. TBR, 1-2 @ BOS

In combining for a .974 OPS and 11 home runs, Mike Trout and Taylor Ward have been perhaps the best offensive duo of 2024. And don't overlook Reid Detmers, who's allowed just two runs in 17.1 innings. It's the rest of this roster that's lacking, particularly with regard to an offense that's produced only five non-Trout, non-Ward homers.

23. Oakland Athletics (7-9)

Previous Rank: 26

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

Shea Langeliers is persona non grata in Arlington after what he did to the Rangers on Tuesday, mixing in a go-ahead blast with his three home runs that day. And is Mason Miller your new favorite closer yet? Dude throws 104 mph and is on a run of five straight scoreless appearances.

22. Houston Astros (6-11)

Previous Rank: 22

Last Week: 0-3 @. KCR, 2-1 vs. TEX

With Framber Valdez on the IL and Hunter Brown nursing a 16.43 ERA, Justin Verlander's return can't come soon enough. Yet Houston's .000 winning percentage in one-run games won't last forever, and an offense that's already fourth in OPS will become even more formidable whenever José Abreu (.313 OPS, 0 HR) gets going.

Nos. 21-19

21. St. Louis Cardinals (7-9)

Previous Rank: 14

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

The Cardinals must have been relieved to get scoreless outings from offseason signees Sonny Gray and Lance Lynn last week. Now, if only the wait for Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado to get going would end. They have a combined .608 OPS and one long ball apiece, with Goldschmidt also working on his highest strikeout rate since 2011.

20. Minnesota Twins (6-8)

Previous Rank: 18

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

Having Carlos Correa join Royce Lewis on the IL is the last thing the Twins wanted, but the signs of life are starting to come after a stretch in which they lost six out of seven. The most promising has come straight from Edouard Julien, who's emerged from a brutally cold start to go 6-for-18 with three homers in his last five games.

19. New York Mets (7-8)

Previous Rank: 23

Last Week: 2-1 @ ATL, 2-1 vs. KCR

Wins are starting to come consistently for the Mets, in large part because runs are as well. After they pushed 16 runs across the plate in their first seven games, 53 have followed in their last eight games. And they're still waiting for Francisco Lindor to get hot and for J.D. Martinez to join up as their everyday DH.

Nos. 18-16

18. Boston Red Sox (9-7)

Previous Rank: 7

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

The Red Sox are continuing to get excellent pitching, as their 2.60 ERA leads MLB. But their defense already misses Trevor Story, who's done for the year after having left shoulder surgery. Boston co-leads MLB with 16 errors and is also fourth from the bottom of MLB in Outs Above Average.

17. Toronto Blue Jays (8-8)

Previous Rank: 24

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

Much has been made of how thin—the apparently ageless Justin Turner notwithstanding, of course—Toronto's offense is looking, but let's not overlook that their pitching has a 4.92 ERA with an MLB-high 27 home runs allowed. They should be especially worried about Kevin Gausman, whose average fastball is down 1.3 mph.

16. Philadelphia Phillies (8-8)

Previous Rank: 19

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

This Phillies offense has no business ranking among the dregs of MLB with a .664 OPS, but the lasting power of that is obviously suspect. And with Aaron Nola and José Alvarado having righted their ships since both got off to slow starts, this pitching staff is rolling with a 2.78 ERA over the team's last 12 games.

Nos. 15-13

15. San Diego Padres (9-9)

Previous Rank: 21

Last Week: 2-1 vs. CHC, 2-1 @ LAD

The Padres' series win against the Cubs was made possible by an eight-run comeback on Monday. Between that and a series win over the Dodgers, you get a sense of the chip this team has on its shoulder. What they need is for their vaunted starting rotation to live up to its billing, though they must be thrilled with Dylan Cease's 2.16 ERA.

14. Detroit Tigers (9-6)

Previous Rank: 16

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

The Tigers are having a heck of a time getting their offense going, hitting only 12 home runs and tallying a .618 OPS. And yet here they are with a winning record, for which one of MLB's better bullpens must not be denied credit. So if the offense ever does come, watch out for these guys.

13. Cincinnati Reds (9-6)

Previous Rank: 15

Last Week: 1-2 vs. MIL, 3-0 @ CHW

Losing a series to the Brewers is nothing to be ashamed of with the way they're going. Meanwhile, the Elly De La Cruz hype train is chugging again after he went 8-for-23 with four home runs last week. And after nearly a year since his last MLB start, it was great to see Nick Lodolo return with 10 strikeouts over 5.1 scoreless innings on Saturday.

Nos. 12-10

12. Arizona Diamondbacks (8-8)

Previous Rank: 13

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

Eduardo Rodriguez and Jordan Montgomery, who's now formerly a Scott Boras client, are badly needed in a rotation that's gotten a 5.89 ERA from starters not named Zac Gallen or Merrill Kelly. Yet the Snakes continue to hang in there, and now Corbin Carroll may be on an upswing. He's hit safely in seven of eight games.

11. Tampa Bay Rays (9-7)

Previous Rank: 11

Last Week: 2-1 @ LAA, 2-1 vs. SFG

The Rays still have major issues in their bullpen and they also need a lot more offensively from Yandy Díaz and Randy Arozarena, who have a .572 OPS between them. That this team nonetheless has a winning record—in part thanks to early surprises like José Caballero, Ben Rortvedt and Zack Littell—is the most Rays thing ever.

10. Texas Rangers (8-8)

Previous Rank: 4

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

Back-to-back series losses has the defending champs back at .500 after a 6-2 start. The offense and starting rotation are hanging in there well enough, but it's not the best that last year's regular-season bullpen has made an unwelcome return to the tune of a 5.17 ERA. Notably, José Leclerc has been scored on in four of six outings.

Nos. 9-7

9. Chicago Cubs (9-6)

Previous Rank: 8

Last Week: 1-2 @ SDP, 2-1 @ SEA

Following a 6-1 run between March 31 and April 7, the Cubs' momentum definitely leveled off last week. Yet there are enough bright sides to cover up such things as Cody Bellinger's coldness, including Shōta Imanaga's 0.00 ERA and Michael Busch's ongoing ascension. He has five homers in his last 10 games.

8. Cleveland Guardians (10-5)

Previous Rank: 6

Last Week: 2-1 vs. CHW, 1-2 vs. NYY

The first of many weeks without Shane Bieber started out well enough for the Guardians, but then rain and the Yankees came to town and blunted the buzz. Yet it's hard to be down on a bullpen with a 1.88 ERA, and even harder to be down on Josh Naylor. After another strong week, he's now hitting .346 since May 12 of last year.

7. Pittsburgh Pirates (11-5)

Previous Rank: 5

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

Though the Bucs are still searching for consistency on the offensive side, their pitching staff just continues to erase question marks. They got at least six innings from their starters in five of their six games last week, helping bring the rotation's ERA down to 3.48. That's second among National League teams.

Nos. 6-4

6. Baltimore Orioles (9-6)

Previous Rank: 10

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

Colton Cowser sure put a hurting on the Red Sox in that three-game sweep at Fenway Park, going off for 10 runs batted in and also making some sweet plays in the outfield. Then the Brewers marched right into Baltimore and exposed how badly the Orioles need Kyle Bradish and John Means back. Their third, fourth and fifth starters have a 6.05 ERA.

5. Kansas City Royals (10-6)

Previous Rank: 12

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

Even after losing two out of three (not to mention Salvador Perez to injuries on Sunday) to the Mets, the Royals still have nine wins in their last 12 games. Bobby Witt Jr. (1.086 OPS, 13 XBH) is playing like he wants the AL MVP award, while Kansas City's pitching is pulling off more than a two-run improvement on last year's 5.17 ERA.

4. Milwaukee Brewers (11-3)

Previous Rank: 9

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

The Brewers are tied for second in scoring and are all alone in second place for home runs. Not what I saw coming, but the numbers are the numbers and last week saw Milwaukee continue to rack 'em up against two good teams. They'd just better hope that the return of Christian Yelich's back issues is nothing serious.

Nos. 3-1

3. Atlanta (9-5)

Previous Rank: 3

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

Officially losing Spencer Strider for the year on Saturday really, really hurts. It suffices to say there's now that much more pressure on Atlanta's offense to carry the load, but that's eminently doable. It's already tied for second in the majors in runs even with Ronald Acuña Jr. still sitting on a goose egg in the home run department.

2. Los Angeles Dodgers (11-7)

Previous Rank: 2

Last Week: 2-1 @ MIN, 1-2 vs. SDP

It continues to be hit or miss for Dodgers starters not named Tyler Glasnow, and the rotation lost a good one when Bobby Miller went on the IL. The runs, though, were there in bunches even before Shohei Ohtani got hot with a 1.383 OPS and 12 extra-base hits, including four long balls, in his last 10 games. It's as if something is allowing him to breathe easier.

1. New York Yankees (12-4)

Previous Rank: 1

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

After a 6-0 start, the Yankees finally lost a one-run game on Sunday. That was inevitable, but let's be real that any win this team gets while it awaits Gerrit Cole's return ought to count double. What they need is for Aaron Judge to really get locked in, for which yesterday's 450-foot tank in Cleveland certainly qualifies as a good sign.

Stars of the Week

Hitter of the Week: Josh Naylor, Cleveland Guardians

Stats: 9-for-20, 6 BB, 2 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 6 R

Naylor has hit safely in 11 of the 14 games he's played in, and he's otherwise among the season's biggest gainers in walk rate. After drawing free passes in 6.7 percent of his plate appearances in 2023, he's at 13.1 percent in 2024.

Plus, Naylor teamed up with his brother, Bo, to give us arguably last week's best highlight: brothers hitting home runs in the same inning on National Siblings Day.

Pitcher of the Week: José Berríos, Toronto Blue Jays

Stats: 2 GS, 2-0, 13.2 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 13 K

Remember when Berríos posted a 5.23 ERA back in 2022, leading the American League in both earned runs and hits allowed in the process?

That continues to look even weirder in retrospect, as the two-time All-Star is now pitching like he has eyes on the AL Cy Young Award. And against some quality competition, too. Facing the Rockies on Sunday was his first shot against a team that didn't make the playoffs in 2023.

Rookie of the Week: Colton Cowser, Baltimore Orioles

Stats: 10-for-23, 3 BB, 4 2B, 4 HR, 12 RBI, 6 R, 2 SB

Should it have been Cowser who got Hitter of the Week honors? Probably, yeah. But what's for sure is that no rookie had a better week than he did. Indeed, to do so would have basically been impossible.

This time last week, Cowser had no home runs and one run batted in. Now he has as many of both as Kyle Tucker and Michael Conforto.

Complete Rankings

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

Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant.