A mock MLB power rankings and where do the Astros stand?

20. San Francisco Giants
The Giants finished last season with a 64-98 record. Not good. That stated, San Francisco is likely to rebound somewhat as everything that could go wrong last season pretty much did go wrong. Unfortunately, the lose of Madison Bumgarner and Jeff Samardzija will likely prevent the Giants from completely bouncing back early on in 2018. Regarding talent, this a team prime for a rebuild. Unfortunately, plenty of long-term contracts remain on the books for a few more years, which usually puts off a rebuild.

19. Texas Rangers
The Rangers will have some powerful hitters in the lineup. Joey Gallo and eventually Willie Calhoun should hit plenty of home runs. I am interested to see if Nomar Mazara takes the next step in his development. I am not as confident in the makeshift starting rotation. Side note: this is also the last season of Adrian Beltre’s current contract, and I tip my hat to the future Hall of Famer if this is his last rodeo.

18. Philadelphia Phillies
For a team with so much payroll to use in the coming years, Jake Arrieta and Carlos Santana were solid acquisitions. The lineup is young and full of promise. They could surprise as early as this season, but the NL East belongs to the Nationals for at least one more year.

17. Oakland Athletics
I like the Athletics’ roster for what it is on paper. The lineup should keep this team in games. The pitching staff needs help but could improve as the season wears on. A.J. Puk’s impending Tommy John is majorly disappointing.

16. Minnesota Twins
I am not sure how I should feel about the Twins in 2018. They exceeded their projections with a Wild Card berth last year. The front office improved the roster with Logan Morrison, Lance Lynn, and Jake Odorizzi. The team could probably contend for a Wild Card this year. It helps that outside of the Indians, the rest of the AL Central is projected to be quite dreadful.

15. New York Mets
The Mets could go either way in 2018. It is not outlandish to think they can overtake the Nationals in the NL East if everything mostly breaks their way. The starting rotation led be  Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom will be paramount.

14. Seattle Mariners
There is talent on this Mariners’ roster. Sure, the roster is top-heavy. But this team has the potential to claim a Wild Card spot. The question likely comes down to their pitching staff, especially the health of James Paxton and Felix Hernandez.

13. Colorado Rockies
For the first time in ever(?), the Rockies’ offense may be the weakest link in the club. FanGraphs currently projects the offense to post a 14.5 fWAR. Only four teams have a lower projected fWAR for their offense. The pitching staff, and to a greater extent the bullpen, will be key in their pursuit of another Wild Card berth. This could be the last go-around of Charlie Blackmon in Denver.

12. Toronto Blue Jays
The Vladimir Guerrero Jr. clock starts now. Injuries were probably the biggest deterrent to a team that made the ALCS two years in a row (2015 to -16). This team has potential to make some noise if they clinch a Wild Card berth.

11. Arizona Diamondbacks
It was a bit of pipe dream to keep J.D. Martinez going forward. He always looked prime for Boston once it became clear that he would hit the open market. But I like the moves the front office made to the roster. Just not sure if they have enough to compete with the Dodgers in the NL West this season, especially if Steven Souza is out for a long period of time. A Wild Card berth is a possibility.

10. Los Angeles Angels
Mike Trout. Simple enough. Seriously though, the Angels added quality players to the roster to help Trout in the last few years of his existing contract. Ian Kinsler and Zack Cozart were solid additions. The pitching staff should benefit if Garrett Richards remains healthy. Shohei Ohtani is immensely talented, but will take time to develop. If Ohtani can improve as the season goes along, look out for the Angels.

9. St. Louis Cardinals
Once again, the Cardinals continue to turn prospects we never heard before into legit everyday players. While they do lack a “true” star, this team is solid across the board. Ozuna will be the big bat in the lineup. While they may not win the division, a Wild Card berth is definitely in play.

8. Milwaukee Brewers
I may be higher on the Brewers than others, but this team has the wonderful opportunity to prove that last year’s resurgence wasn’t a mirage. The additions of Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain stabilize the outfield. Former Astro Domingo Santana remains underrated. Legitimate questions abound about the pitching staff and Ryan Braun, but I believe they have enough talent to stay within the Wild Card race. Plus, they are the Astros of the NL. Oh, wait a second.

7. Cleveland Indians
Thanks to a weak AL Central, the Indians should have little issues taking another division title. The majority of the talent is still there from last season’s 102-win team. Jose Ramirez is one of my favorite non-Astros. The true test to their AL Central supremacy may begin next offseason. Alas, this year’s Cleveland team is no joke.

6. Boston Red Sox
So much of their true potential rides on the arm of David Price and the bat of Martinez. If both perform at a high level, the Red Sox may very well overtake the Yankees in the AL East. If not, then another season like their 93-win showing last year may be accurate. Whether that should be viewed as a success or not depends on the eyes of the beholder.

5. Washington Nationals
Could this be the Nationals’ year? It very well may be the last year with Bryce Harper’s looming free agency. This season, though, Washington will have to deal with a stronger NL East as the Mets and Phillies are projecting to be better. Even the Braves may give their NL East compatriots fits. The Marlins, unfortunately, will not be much of a thorn. Maybe an annoying grass sticker?

4. New York Yankees
Aaron Judge. Gary Sanchez. Giancarlo Stanton. Enough said about the lineup. You already know about the bullpen. If the Yankees’ starting rotation can hold up over the course of a full season, there is little reason to expect anything less than an AL East title. The Indians and Yankees are once again two potential roadblocks in Houston’s way.

3. Chicago Cubs
The Cubs may have had a bit of a hangover from their 2016 championship run last year. The Brewers sort of gave the Loveable Losers a good scare. But a full year of Jose Quintana should help matters from the start. Of course, the loss of Jake Arrieta is going to be noticeable despite his gradual decline. Theo Epstein and company are putting a lot of faith into the advanced metrics of former Rockie pitcher Tyler Chatwood. The lineup still figures to be one of the best in the NL.

2. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers are good. The good people in Los Angeles know this much. Heck, the good people in Houston, Chicago, and Pheonix know this especially well following the postseason. This team could conceivably lead all of baseball in wins once again. The lineup will perform quite well, but the starting rotation contains the biggest variables. If health permits, this staff has the potential to be one of the best in baseball. If health doesn’t permit, the bullpen may get taxed earlier in the season. As constructed though, the Dodgers are probably the team to beat in the NL.

1. Houston Astros
Never a doubt, right? The Astros arguably had the best offseason of any contender this winter. This team is built to contend again. Outside of a sudden rash of injuries, the Astros are in prime position to defend their title.

Next: Looking at the risk in the Jose Altuve contract

There you have it. Those are my power rankings. I am probably wrong on a couple of fronts, oh well. This little exercise was fun. Baseball is all about fun, right?

**Statistics and information courtesy of FanGraphs**