Brett's Playoff Lineups Power Rankings
Brett's Playoff Lineups Power Rankings
Who will surge come October?
Similar to my post yesterday. I am putting together power rankings of the top offenses that are projected to be in the 2024 MLB playoffs (again as of this moment)!
12) Tigers
Detroit is a fun team to support—tons of youth and promise. Riley Greene is having a respectable season and is looking like he will be a staple of this core for a while. Round that out with Kerry Carpenter, Colt Keith, and Parker Meadows. This core might be a problem for the rest of the American League Central shortly. As hot as this team has been, I don't think they have the firepower to beat a more complete team. Who knows? They will get an auto W with Tarik Skubal on the mound for Game 1 against anyone.
Key Contributors - Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter, Colt Keith
#10 BA in the American League, #24 in MLB (.235)
#26 SB MLB (76)
#1 in 3B MLB (46)
X-Factor = Spencer Torkelson
11) Royals
The Royals are easily one of the most fun teams for an outsider to support. Management set out and aggressively assembled a winning ball club the best way they knew. They were not shy about hitting the free-agent market in the offseason, and I loved that. My big issue with the lineup is depth. If Bobby Witt Jr. has a bad night, the Royals might find themselves in a pickle. On the bright side, Bobby Witt Jr. does not have many off nights.
Key Contributors - Bobby Witt Jr., Salvador Perez, Hunter Renfroe
#3 Team BA in American League, #7 in MLB (.250 AVG)
#10 SB in MLB (133)
#3 in 3B MLB (35)
X-Factor = MJ Melendez
10) Guardians
Cleveland doesn’t do anything particularly well offensively besides being aggressive on the bases, and they don’t strike out. Two key parts of the game for sure, but it is interesting that they are mid when it comes to team average, OBP, SLG, OPS, and, most importantly, hitting bombs! That being said, they clinched their division and won 92 games this season. Led by future HoFer, Jose Ramirez, this team is no pushover and can win a quick series if you let them sneak up on you.
Key Contributors - Jose Ramirez, Josh Naylor, Steven Kwan
#8 BA in American League, #20 BA in MLB (.238 AVG)
#5 in MLB in Stolen Bases (147)
#4 lowest in strikeouts (1177)
X-Factor = Jhonkensey Noel
9) Mets
Honestly, I am super impressed with the Mets. The way they have been able to wither the storm of bad signings as well as a fair share of injuries and still put out a winning team. The other impressive part is they have done so without moving their top talent while bolstering their farm system over the past year. Not only does this team walk a considerable amount, but they are also in the top 10 in multiple hitting categories across the board. It’s not the Mets hitting that I would be concerned with heading into the playoffs!
Key Contributors - Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, Mark Vientos
#6 BA in the National League, #12 in MLB (.247)
#8 in MLB in BB (504), OBP (.321), SLG (.418), & OPS (.739)
X-Factor = Jose Iglesias or Francisco Alvarez (Pat M)
8) Brewers
Chourio is coming into his own all the while Contreras and Adames simply keep mashing. It is such a bummer that Yelich was lost to injury as this lineup is a different animal with a healthy Yelich. If Joey Ortiz, Rhy Hoskins, and Brice Turang all heat up for the playoffs this team will be an incredibly tough out on the National League side of the bracket.
Key Contributors - Willy Adames, William Contreras, Rhys Hoskins
#5 BA in National League, #8 in MLB (.249)
#6 RBI in MLB (729)
#5 OBP in MLB (.326)
X-Factor = Jackson Chourio
7) Yankees
It is known that this lineup relies on the magic of Juan Soto and Aaron Judge. The two alone can carry a team as they have all season, but the playoffs require input from everyone. Gleyber Torres has started to hit at the perfect time. After clinching the American League East in that beatdown last night, hopefully, the rest of the lineup can rally for October baseball. With Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Austin Wells’s contributions, the Yankees have solidified themselves as the top dog in the east. They will require guys like Anthony Volpe, Anthony Rizzo, and Alex Verdugo to step it up if they want to be the top dog in baseball.
Key Contributors - Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Giancarlo Stanton
#4 BA in American League, #9 in MLB (.249 AVG)
#1 HR MLB (235)
#1 BB MLB (656)
X-Factor = Jasson “The Martian” Dominguez
6) Diamondbacks
Can last year’s National League champions get back to the World Series? After looking at the numbers…I think they absolutely can. The lineup is loaded and has the numbers to back it up. Ketel Marte is one of the best players in baseball. If Corbin Carroll puts it all together, watch out! His OPS over the last month is .908 while stealing 11 bags and hitting .275 AVG. Looks like he is heating up at the right time.
Key Contributors - Ketel Marte, Eugenio Suárez, Christian Walker
#2 BA in MLB (.263)
#1 OBP MLB (.337)
#2 SLG MLB (.440)
#1 OPS MLB (.777)
#1 RBI MLB (831)
X-Factor = Corbin Carroll
5) Astros
Well, Houston is right behind where we left them. They are American League West champions and surging at the right time. Gosh, I hate this team, lol. They are not super aggressive on the bases, they do not walk much…, and they just hit baseballs. It’s rather impressive that the Astros management and core have put together this run (even with some cheating). This team does not strike out, which is such a key component of hitting and why they have been so good over the past few years.
Key contributors = Yordan Alvarez, Jose Altuve, Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman
#1 BA American League, #3 in MLB (.261 AVG)
#3 MLB (fewest SO) (1155)
#7 MLB OBP (.321)
X-Factor = Chas McCormick
4) Phillies
Ladies and gentlemen, this is the moment we have all been waiting for…weighing in at 210lbs and ready to destroy baseballs…Playoff Bryce! I don’t think there is anyone more electric during the playoffs than Bryce Harper. Dean and I discussed this in the last episode of the podcast, and we are ecstatic to watch him and the Phillies mash. Eight guys on this team have double-digit home runs this season. Four of which have 20+. Imagine being a manager and game-planning to stop Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Nick Castellanos, Alec Bohm, J.T. Realmuto, Bryson Stott, and Brandon Marsh. It does not sound like a fun job!
Key Contributors = Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Nick Castellanos
#4 BA in MLB (.258) | OPS (.753) | R (774) | #4 RBI (740)
#5 SLG. MLB (.427)
#3 in 2B (284)
X-Factor = Bryson Stott
3) Padres
It is an exciting time to be a Padres fan. All the trades and signings are looking good. Jackson Merrill will fight for ROY in the National League with Paul Skenes. Tatis Jr., Arraez, Cronenworth, and Profar are all contributing and making this team a scary wild card series for anyone who is going to get in their way.
Key Contributor - Manny Machado, Jackson Merrill, Fernando Tatis Jr.
#1 BA in MLB (.264)
#6 OBP in MLB (325) | OPS (.746)
#1 fewest SO MLB (1050)
X-Factor = Xander Bogaerts
2) Orioles
The youth has arrived and is delivering. Gunnar Henderson is unbelievable and looks like he will earn an MVP at some point. Colton Cowser is then odds on favorite to win American League Rookie of the Year. Anthony Santander has hit 44 bombs! The depth in the lineup with guys like Rutschman (19 HR), Westburg (18 HR), Mullins (18 HR), O’Hearn (13 HR), Mountcastle (13 HR), and Urias (11 HR) is insane.
Key Contributors = Gunnar Henderson, Anthony Santander, Colton Cowswer
#5 BA in American League, #10 in MLB (.248 AVG)
#5 RBI MLB (737)
#5 R MLB (764)
X-Factor = Jackson Holliday (if he starts to hit….)
1) Dodgers
Will they justify their Mickey Mouse World Series win in Year 1 of the Ohtani era? The bats are surely looking the part. The fact I am not listing Will Smith or Teoscar Hernandez as a “Key Contributor” should say enough about the talent in this lineup. They can mash. The question is will their pitching be able to do the job?
Key Contributors = Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts
#4 BA in National League, #5 in MLB
#3 HR MLB (227)
#2 RBI MLB (792)
X-Factor = Gavin Lux