MLB Power Rankings: Reigning World Series champs open season at No. 1

Welcome to the first edition of theScore's MLB Power Rankings for the 2018 season. Rankings will be published every second Monday throughout the season with the next installment coming April 9.

1. Houston Astros

No team has repeated as World Series champions since the Yankees won three straight from 1998-2000. However, no defending champ roster has looked as dynastic as the Astros, with 24.5 percent chance of repeating, per FanGraphs.

2. Los Angeles Dodgers

Once again, the Dodgers came up short of a World Series title in 2017. And, once again, they'll have a pretty good chance to snap their drought this season, as they're bringing back virtually everyone from last year's 104-win juggernaut (plus Matt Kemp!)

3. New York Yankees

Judge, Stanton, and Sanchez, oh my! The daunting Yankees are back, they're the favorites in the AL East, and look poised for a World Series run.

4. Chicago Cubs

Cubs pitchers were running on fumes during the postseason, so the front office loaded up on arms this winter signing Yu Darvish, Tyler Chatwood, Brandon Morrow, and Steve Cishek. Wade Davis is no longer closing games on the North Side, but the Cubs are a deeper team than the one that won 92 games and the division a season ago.

5. Boston Red Sox

The Yankees have already been crowned the kings of the East, but not so fast. The Red Sox arguably have the deeper rotation, and J.D. Martinez expects to give the lineup the added thump it was missing in 2017.

6. Washington Nationals

Washington didn't do much to improve their station this offseason, but who can blame them? When you play in the NL East and already have Harper and Scherzer, you're bound to win 90 games.

7. Cleveland Indians

It's hard to imagine the Indians being better in 2018 than they were last year, having lost Carlos Santana and Jay Bruce to free agency, but they'll probably win 100 games anyway, seeing as they make their home in the embarrassingly weak AL Central.

8. Los Angeles Angels

Shohei Ohtani's spring may not have gone swimmingly, but Mike Trout and the Angels haven't looked this dangerous since 2014 when they won 98 games.

9. Arizona Diamondbacks

Second-half savior J.D. Martinez now resides in Boston, but there's still a lot to like about the D-Backs. Injuries will be the biggest potential obstacle from another postseason appearance, and an early injury to Steven Souza Jr. is less than ideal to start the season.

10. Milwaukee Brewers

Bringing in Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain created a surplus of outfield riches, but there has to be concerns about the rotation which will miss Jimmy Nelson until later in the season.

11. St. Louis Cardinals

Back in 2015, the NL Central produced the three best records in baseball - the first time that happened. With the Cardinals restocking and the Brewers building, could it happen again?

12. Colorado Rockies

If the Rockies hope to earn a second successive playoff berth for the first time in franchise history, they're going to need more offense up and down the lineup: excluding Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon, their regulars averaged an 89 OPS+ in 2017.

13. Toronto Blue Jays

If Toronto can stay healthy and get MVP numbers from Josh Donaldson again, they'll have a chance at the postseason, but it'll be tough playing in the same division as Boston and New York.

14. Minnesota Twins

After shocking everyone by claiming the second wild-card spot last season, the Twins won't take anyone by surprise this time around. Logan Morrison, Jake Odorizzi, Lance Lynn, Fernando Rodney, Addison Reed, and Zack Duke were all brought in and now all of a sudden the AL Central isn't a cakewalk for the Indians.

15. New York Mets

Projecting the Mets is always difficult. Atlanta was better than them last year, but they had a sneakily-great offseason. Their rotation is incredible, but only if it's healthy. Who knows what this team will accomplish?

16. Seattle Mariners

The indefatigable Jerry Dipoto acquired Dee Gordon this winter to play center field, putting the Mariners squarely in position to *checks notes* finish a couple games below .500, their solidly above-average lineup notwithstanding.

17. Texas Rangers

This could be the last season for Adrian Beltre in a Rangers uniform and they'd certainly like to send him off on a high note. Too bad a shaky looking rotation might prevent them from doing that.

18. Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies are nearing the end of their rebuild and signaled their intention of soon being competitive by dropping $169 million on free agents. Carlos Santana, Jake Arrieta, Tommy Hunter, and Pat Neshek are all on board and suddenly baseball is fun again in Philadelphia.

19. Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles mystified onlookers by giving Alex Cobb a ton of money on a four-year contract a year before Manny Machado hits free agency. It's not the typical move for a team entering a rebuild, which losing Machado could signify.

20. San Francisco Giants

Uh oh. Losing Madison Bumgarner and Jeff Samardzija to injuries in the span of a day will make the early portion of the season tough sledding for the Giants. By the time they come back, it may be too little, too late.

21. Atlanta Braves

Apart from service-time manipulation to one of baseball's future stars, Ronald Acuna, there's a lot to like about the Braves' rebuild, which could put them on track for contention as early as 2019.

22. San Diego Padres

"See, I told you Eric Hosmer would come. Just like I said. Hehe. He's gonna bring us food and water and smite our enemies!" - Padres GM A.J. Preller (February 2018)

23. Oakland Athletics

Injuries to Jharel Cotton, A.J. Puk, and Paul Blackburn left the A's rotation decimated before the season began. Looks like another season of watching Khris Davis hit homers and nothing else in Oaktown.

24. Pittsburgh Pirates

It was only three years ago that the Pirates were 98-game winners and boasted the best outfield in baseball. Now, Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole are gone and fans are already looking forward to 2019.

25. Tampa Bay Rays

Building one of baseball's top farm systems (Willy Adames, Brent Honeywell, Brendan McKay) should dull the bitter taste of losing hot corner stalwart Evan Longoria via trade this offseason. Just don't expect it to pay dividends right away.

26. Chicago White Sox

Say what you will about the non-competitive AL Central, but Chicago should at least be fun to watch with full seasons from Yoan Moncada, Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, and potential debuts from Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert.

27. Cincinnati Reds

Just because the Reds are destined to finish last in the NL Central again doesn't mean they're not moving in the right direction. Jesse Winker, Luis Castillo, and Tyler Mahle are all primed to be major contributors this year, and top prospect Nick Senzel isn't far off, either.

28. Kansas City Royals

The losses of Eric Hosmer and Lorenzo Cain were big ones for a KC club that looks like a shadow of the team that made back-to-back World Series appearances less than five years ago.

29. Detroit Tigers

Jordan Zimmermann admitted he was shocked he was named the Opening Day starter, and rightly so. The former All-Star posted a 6.08 ERA last season and is still owed $74 million. It's never too early to showcase.

30. Miami Marlins

Marlins fans - those who are left - have entered the darkest timeline. Lewis Brinson might be fun to watch. It's going to be a long season in South Florida.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)