Perhaps the San Francisco Giants’ back to the future approach really is paying off.
A new regime led by franchise legend Buster Posey intent on returning the club to its strong pitching, solid defense, timely hitting and esprit de corps of their three-championship run one decade ago is seeing immediate results this season. The Giants have won their first three series, capped by a sweep of the Seattle Mariners in their first set at Oracle Park this season, and leaped 11 spots in USA TODAY Sports’ power rankings.
At 8-1, the Giants are in a virtual tie with the – gulp – Los Angeles Dodgers atop the National League West, part of a divisional wrecking ball that’s seen West teams other than the Colorado Rockies race out to a 29-10 record. Willy Adames, whose $182 million contract broke Posey’s record as the largest in franchise history, won their home opener with a two-run walk-off single; Wilmer Flores walked the Mariners off in extra innings again on Sunday. And the club ranks atop the majors in fielding percentage and are fourth in ERA.
A familiar look in China Basin.
A look at our updated rankings:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (-)
- Blake Snell’s barking shoulder lands him on IL, leaving club with – hmm – roughly eight rotation options.
2. Philadelphia Phillies (+1)
- Marquee bullpen acquisition Jordan Romano struggling (2.50 WHIP, 15.75 ERA) in first five appearances.
3. New York Yankees (-1)
- Will Warren with a pair of rough starts at back of rotation.
4. San Diego Padres (-)
- Despite hitting just eight home runs, they’re averaging nearly five runs a game.
5. Texas Rangers (+1)
- Kumar Rocker joins Jack Leiter in the ‘completed five innings’ club.
6. New York Mets (+2)
- Pete Alonso starting red-hot – three homers, 11 RBI, and ninth-inning heroics are back.
7. Arizona Diamondbacks (-)
- Corbin Burnes’ cutter not as sharp, hard in first two starts.
8. San Francisco Giants (+11)
- Jordan Hicks with 11 strikeouts, three walks in his first two starts.
9. Detroit Tigers (+1)
- Tarik Skubal struggling early, but they still know how to punish White Sox.
10. Baltimore Orioles (-5)
- Have scored two or fewer runs in five of 10 games.
11. Boston Red Sox (-)
- Starters not named Garrett Crochet have a 6.42 ERA.
12. Chicago Cubs (+2)
- Their new center fielder has Tucked away a few more million in his .319/.458/.745 start.
13. Kansas City Royals (+4)
- They seem to have Baltimore’s number.
14. Toronto Blue Jays (+7)
- We’ll see what a Vlad Guerrero Jr. extension does to kickstart this squad.
15. Houston Astros (-6)
- Catcher Yainer Diaz off to a 2-for-26 (.077) start.
16. Tampa Bay Rays (+2)
- Brandon Lowe, with three homers and an .898 OPS, digging Steinbrenner Field.
17. Atlanta Braves (-5)
- Catcher Sean Murphy is back, but promising rookie Drake Baldwin sticks on big league roster.
18. Seattle Mariners (-3)
- Offensive stat of the weak: DH Rowdy Tellez is 1-for-15 with five strikeouts and one walk.
19. Minnesota Twins (+4)
- OK, so they’re not that horrible.
20. Los Angeles Angels (+5)
- Only Aaron Judge has hit more home runs than Logan O’Hoppe.
21. St. Louis Cardinals (-1)
- Catcher Ivan Herrera crushes four homers – and then irritates knee.
22. Milwaukee Brewers (+2)
- A young man by the name of Chad Patrick collects his first major league win.
23. Cleveland Guardians (-7)
- A rough 1-5 West Coast swing, but White Sox+home opener should be an elixir.
24. Cincinnati Reds (-11)
- Losing series at Milwaukee kinda dampens the ‘this year will be different’ vibes.
25. Washington Nationals (-3)
- Mitchell Parker sporting a 0.73 ERA after two starts.
26. Miami Marlins (+1)
- A multi-homer game for former Cub prospect Matt Mervis.
27. Pittsburgh Pirates (+1)
- David Bednar shipped to minor leagues, but ninth inning still an adventure.
28. Athletics (-2)
- Ball already flying in Yolo County as club gives up 35 runs in first three home games.
29. Colorado Rockies (-)
- Chase Dollander wins major league debut – surviving Coors Field, no less.
30. Chicago White Sox (-)
- Michael Tauchman returns, but Andrew Benintendi now slowed by injury.