After kicking off the season ranked 7th, a strong opening series against the Colorado Rockies propelled the Arizona Diamondbacks up one notch in Bleacher Report’s MLB Power Rankings.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Diamondbacks currently lead the NL West with a record of 3-1, they have outscored their opponents by 18 runs, which is tied for 1st with the Cleveland Guardians.
Furthermore, they lead the league in runs per game, averaging eight. This offensive power was highlighted by a record-setting Opening Day performance against the Rockies, where they amassed 14 runs in a single inning.
At the forefront of the offense is Lourdes Gurriel Jr., whom Arizona re-signed this offseason. Gurriel Jr. is leading with a .471 batting average and tops the charts with 10 RBIs.
Joel Reuter at Bleacher Report provided insight into why the Diamondbacks have climbed to the 6th spot: “The D-backs racked up 45 hits and 32 runs against the Colorado Rockies pitching staff. Those numbers have to be taken with a grain of salt considering their opponent, but it’s still a great way to start their NL pennant defense. Zac Gallen (5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER), Merrill Kelly (6.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER) and Brandon Pfaadt (5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER) were all lights out on the mound, and the rotation will only get better once Eduardo RodrÃguez returns from a lat strain.”
Reuter’s top five power rankings list the Rangers at 5th, Orioles at 4th, Yankees at 3rd, Braves at 2nd, and the Dodgers in 1st.
Starting Monday, the Diamondbacks are set to host the New York Yankees at Chase Field for the first time since 2019. The Yankees enter this matchup following a decisive sweep of the Houston Astros.
The first pitch of this three-game series is scheduled for 6:40 PM, with Ryne Nelson taking the mound for Arizona and Luis Gil slated to start for New York.
