Starting Nine (Week of April 10th)
The MLB season is in full swing and it is time to update our starting nine as teams begin to take shape. Let’s take a look at the changes to our top nine after roughly ten games in the season.
Starting Nine (Week of April 10th)
#9. Toronto Blue Jays (+550/+1100) - The Jays have started the season at 6-4 after winning five of their last six games. The Blue Jays' offense came alive on Sunday with 12 runs. Last Week’s Rank: 6th
#8. LA Dodgers (+400/+900) - After winning over 100 games in each of the last two seasons, a 5-5 start is disappointing. The Dodgers’ pitching had a rough weekend after allowing 23 runs and 33 hits in the last two games. Last Week’s Rank: 5th
#7. Milwaukee Brewers (+900/+2000) - After fading down the stretch in 2022 and making just a few changes this offseason, expectations weren’t sky-high for the Brewers. They have come out of the gates strong at 7-2 and have the second-best run differential in the league at +25. Last Week’s Rank: Unranked.
#6. New York Mets (+475/+900) - The Mets are just 5-5 on the season but recovered to take two of three over Miami at home after being demolished by the Brewers in Milwaukee. Last Week’s Rank: 7th
#5. San Diego Padres (+450/+1000) - The Padres are now 6-4 after dismantling the Braves on the road over the weekend. Juan Soto launched his first home run over the weekend and Tatis Jr. is close to returning. Last Week’s Rank: 6th
#4. Houston Astros (+320/+650) - The Champs are off to a slow start at just 4-6 but have a series with the Pirates this week followed by a 7-game homestand. Expect the Astros to get over .500 this week. Last Week’s Rank: 1st
#3. Atlanta Braves (+320/+650) - The Braves were swept by the Padres over the weekend but are still 6-4. The Braves are 5-1 on the season and still have a +7 run differential. Last Week’s Rank: 2nd
#2. New York Yankees (+390/+750) - Despite several injuries to the rotation, the Yankees are off to a 6-3 start. The Bombers have hit at least one home run in all nine games. Last Week’s Rank: 6th
#1. Tampa Bay Rays (+550/+1200) - The Rays are off to the best start in franchise history at 9-0. They are also off to a historic start in run differential at +57. The names change on the back of the jerseys but the wins keep coming in Tampa. Last Week’s Rank: Unranked
AL/NL MVP Candidates:
Let’s take a look at the favorites to win the major awards in MLB through the first ten games of the season.
Top-five AL MVP Candidates
#1. Shohei Ohtani (+165) - The Angels have gone 6-5 out of the gate and Ohtani has had two strong starts and is hitting .333 with three home runs at the plate. Last Week’s Rank: 1st
#2. Aaron Judge (+500) - Judge belted two home runs on Sunday vs. the Orioles and already has four home runs to start the season for the 6-4 Yankees. Last Week’s Rank: 2nd
#3. Mike Trout (+1000) - Like Ohtani, the Angels’ decent start only helps Trout’s case to win the award yet again. Last Week’s Rank: 4th
#4. Yordan Alvarez (+1100) - Alvarez is already near the top of most of the AL slugging categories. With limited defensive skills, he may need extraordinary numbers to pass the top three. Last Week’s Rank: 5th
#3. Julio Rodriguez (+1200) - The Mariners’ burgeoning superstar has two home runs and 10 runs scored to start the year. The Mariners’ fortunes will be tied to his MVP campaign as he establishes himself as one of the league’s elite players. Last Week’s Rank: 4th
Top-five NL MVP Candidates
#1. Ronald Acuna (+400) - Acuna jumped up the ranks this week after a hot start. He leads off for one of the best team’s in baseball and is another year removed from a major knee injury. Last Week’s Rank: 3rd
#2. Mookie Betts (+900) - The Dodgers have started slowly but they will be in the hunt for sure and Betts will be the team catalyst. Last Week’s Rank: 2nd
#3. Juan Soto (+800) - Soto blasted his first home run this weekend and his free-agent status could propel him to the kind of year that led Judge to the AL MVP in 2022. Last Week’s Rank: 1st
#4. Trea Turner (+700) - Turner’s numbers will climb as soon as Schwarber heats up and with the return of Harper in the coming weeks. Last Week’s Rank: 4th
#5. Nolan Arenado (+1000) - While his power numbers have been quiet, he is hitting .351 to start the season and, as always, is playing exceptional defense at third base. Last Week’s Rank: 5th
Top-three AL Cy Young Candidates
#1. Gerrit Cole (+600) - Cole is off and running with two straight wins and 19 strikeouts in two starts. Last Week’s Rank: 1st
#2. Dylan Cease (+600) - Cease hasn’t disappointed through two starts with 18 strikeouts and a 1.59 ERA. Last Week’s Rank: 2nd
#3. Jacob deGrom (+700) - After a rough start against the Phils, deGrom bounced back with six innings while allowing two hits and 11 strikeouts in his next outing. Last Week’s Rank: 3rd
Top-three NL Cy Young Candidates
#1. Sandy Alcantara (+500) - Alcantara’s odds dipped slightly after two starts, one win, and an ERA of 1.84 entering this week. Last Week’s Rank: 1st
#2. Julio Urias (+800) - Two quality starts, two wins, and a sub 2.00 ERA for the high-profile Dodgers is a good start for Urias’ Cy Young resume. Last Week’s Rank: Unranked
#3. Spencer Strider (+600) - In just his second big league season, Strider is already catching the eyes of the oddsmakers. He is 1-0 with 18 K’s through two starts for Atlanta. Last Week’s Rank: Unranked
*All odds courtesy of Draftkings.com
By Mark Ruelle
