2016 MLB Power Rankings

— -- After one week of the regular season, the top three teams in our rankings remain unchanged from the preseason, with the Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Royals and San Francisco Giants occupying the top spots. The Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Dodgers each moved up a number of spots to round out the top five.

The Baltimore Orioles, MLB's last undefeated team, made the biggest jump up in the rankings, moving from No. 23 all the way to No. 11. With teams in front of them struggling, they could be even higher next week. The Cincinnati Reds were another big mover, going from No. 28 up to No. 19.

This week's voters are Jim Bowden of ESPN Insider, Eric Karabell of ESPN Fantasy, Tim Kurkjian of ESPN, David Schoenfield of the SweetSpot Blog Network/ESPN.com and Jayson Stark of ESPN.com. Most of the team comments come courtesy of the bloggers on the SweetSpot Blog Network.

Preseason rankings: 1-10 | 11-20 | 21-30

1. Chicago Cubs

Record: 5-1
Preseason ranking: No. 1

While the loss of Kyle Schwarber for the season because of a torn ACL and LCL is a big blow, the Cubs have the depth in the outfield to weather the storm and continue to put up silly amounts of runs. -- Joe Aiello ( @VFTB), View from the Bleachers

2. Kansas City Royals

Record: 4-1
Preseason ranking: No. 2

Defense of their title began with three of their four wins coming by one run, including two late-inning comebacks against the Twins. Wade Davis has a win and two saves in his three appearances -- with, of course, no runs allowed. -- David Schoenfield ( @dschoenfield), SweetSpot

3. San Francisco Giants

Record: 5-2
Preseason ranking: No. 3

The Giants are off to a strong start, led by a surging offense. Brandon Crawford, Buster Posey, Joe Panik and Matt Duffy are all off to healthy starts. Johnny Cueto's first start was a success, throwing seven innings of one-run ball. Overall, San Francisco's first week of the season has them looking solid. -- Jeff Wiser ( @OutfieldGrass24),   Inside the 'Zona

4. Pittsburgh Pirates

Record: 4-2
Preseason ranking: No. 11

The legend of pitching coach Ray Searage continues: Pickup Juan Nicasio allowed just one run in his first Pirates start, with seven strikeouts and no walks in a six-inning debut. Neftali Feliz also has seemed to benefit from a first offseason of Searage's tutelage, facing the minimum in three appearances to start the year. -- Ryan P. Morrison ( @ryanpmorrison), Inside the 'Zona

5. Los Angeles Dodgers

Record: 4-3
Preseason ranking: No. 10

On Friday, in his big league debut, Ross Stripling tossed 7? no-hit innings against the Giants before being removed from the game. The Dodgers eventually lost the game 3-2 in 10 innings, despite yielding only two hits. It was only the 14th time in history that a team lost an extra-inning game while yielding two or fewer hits (per Baseball Reference). -- Diane Firstman ( @dianagram), Value Over Replacement Grit

6. New York Mets

Record:  2-3
Preseason ranking: No. 4

The Mets bullpen did not issue a walk or allow an earned run this year until Sunday against the Phillies. Mets relievers have struck out 16 in 14 innings. -- Joe Janish ( @metstoday), Mets Today

7. Boston Red Sox

Record: 3-2
Preseason ranking: No. 8

Weather delayed a highly anticipated start to a highly anticipated season, but despite hit-or-miss performances from the starting rotation, the bats have shown up hot for Boston (at least until Sunday). The Red Sox scored 28 runs in their first four games, and Brock Holt already has tied his 2015 home run total with two in his first three games. -- Ryan P. Morrison ( @ryanpmorrison), Inside the 'Zona

8. Washington Nationals

Record: 3-1
Preseason ranking: No. 12

They've played only four games but Bryce Harper has picked up where he left off: .385, 2 HR, 2 2B, 5 BB, 0 SO. Can he hit 42 home runs again? Sure. Can he hit .330 again? That seemed less likely but if he's going to cut down on his strikeouts (131 last year), he could go even higher.  -- David Schoenfield ( @dschoenfield), SweetSpot

9. Houston Astros

Record: 2-4
Preseason ranking: No. 5

Dallas Keuchel's six walks on Sunday (five unintentional) was a strange result in a lackluster opening week, but the good news is rookie first baseman Tyler White is off to a great start with a .556 average (10-for-18) and three home runs and two doubles.  -- David Schoenfield ( @dschoenfield), SweetSpot

10. Detroit Tigers

Record: 3-1
Preseason ranking: No. 15

Is this a bad time to mention the Tigers started 6-0 last year, were 11-2 and finished April at 15-8 before plummeting to a sub-.500 record each of the next five months? -- David Schoenfield ( @dschoenfield), SweetSpot

11. Baltimore Orioles

Record: 5-0
Preseason ranking: No. 23

The Orioles talked up Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard during spring training, and so far, he has produced with several hits and even a surprising home run. The O's will welcome any kind of offensive production in left field after a rough year from their corner outfielders last season. -- Matt Kremnitzer ( @mattkremnitzer), Camden Depot

12. Toronto Blue Jays

Record: 3-4
Preseason ranking: No. 6

Bullpen through first six games: 0-3, 6.17 ERA, two saves in five opportunities with three homers allowed in 11 2/3 innings. Jose Bautista's two-homer game on Saturday was the 29th multihomer game of his career. His 174 homers since the beginning of 2011 are the most in the majors. -- Diane Firstman ( @dianagram), Value Over Replacement Grit

13. New York Yankees

Record: 3-2
Preseason ranking: No. 13

The Yankees dealt with cold temperatures and short starts from their rotation all week, and one almost assuredly had something to do with the other. But they also got a strong collective contribution from their mostly remade bullpen and hot offensive starts from veteran bats Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran and newcomer Starlin Castro.   -- Brad Vietrogoski  (@BradVietro ), It's About the Money

14. Texas Rangers

Record: 3-4
Preseason ranking: No. 9

After a stretch in which the bullpen gave up 15 earned runs in 17? innings pitched, the unit has begun to settle in nicely. Moving forward, Rangers relievers figure to form one of the stronger bullpens in baseball. --  Brandon Land ( @one_strike_away), One Strike Away

15. St. Louis Cardinals

Record: 3-3
Preseason ranking: No. 7

The Cardinals have gotten off to a slow start out of the gate, but the pitching staff hadn't allowed a home run until Sunday. Problem is, they had yielded the third-most walks in MLB -- 22 -- before Sunday and allowed eight more in a 12-6 win over the Braves.  -- Matt Philip ( @fungoes), Fungoes

16. Chicago White Sox

Record: 4-2
Preseason ranking: No. 20

Despite winter refusing to leave the Midwest, the Chicago pitching staff has looked mostly excellent after its first full run through the rotation. Chris Sale, Jose Quintana, Mat Latos and Carlos Rodon all posted strong outings in their first starts as Chicago has kept pace with Detroit and Cleveland early on. --  Jeff Wiser ( @OutfieldGrass24),  Inside the 'Zona

17. Cleveland Indians

Record: 2-2
Preseason ranking: No. 17

Despite the snow, rain and freezing temperatures, the Indians actually managed to play a couple of ball games this past week. Even though they lost on the coldest Opening Day in team history, the Indians still managed to go 2-2 this week thanks to two seven-run outbursts from the offense. -- Stephanie Liscio ( @stephanieliscio), It's Pronounced Lajaway

18. Seattle Mariners

Record: 2-4
Preseason ranking: No. 19

What a difference a year makes -- finally healthy, Robinson Cano is off to a scorching hot start for the Mariners. With four home runs in the team's first three games, Cano has started the season on a tear. The pitching and defense has been solid, keeping the M's competitive in what will surely be a tight American League West. -- Jeff Wiser ( @OutfieldGrass24),   Inside the 'Zona

19. Cincinnati Reds

Record: 5-1
Preseason ranking: No. 28

The first-place Reds are off to a hot start, and no one is hotter than third baseman Eugenio Suarez. Suarez is making Cincinnati fans forget about Todd Frazier, hitting .435/.500/.957 with four home runs in the first week. Is it time to print World Series tickets yet? --  Chad Dotson ( @dotsonc), Redleg Nation

20. Tampa Bay Rays

Record: 2-4
Preseason ranking: No. 18

The Rays picked up mostly where they left off in 2015, leaving too many men on base. Corey Dickerson has been the lone bright spot of the new names in the lineup, homering three times while the other newbies (Pearce, Conger, Morrison, Miller) were a combined 7-for-60. Combine the offensive struggles with a 5.67 ERA for the starters thus far, and the Rays should be thankful for the two wins in their ledger - - Jason Collette ( @jasoncollette), The Process Report

21. Arizona Diamondbacks

Record: 2-5
Preseason ranking: No. 14

Through one turn, the revamped Arizona rotation was battered for an 8.23 ERA in 27? innings. The biggest disappointment so far has been offseason prize Zack Greinke, who now holds a 9.90 ERA after 10 innings. -- Ryan P. Morrison ( @ryanpmorrison),  Inside the 'Zona

22. Miami Marlins

Record: 1-3
Preseason ranking: No. 22

Miami pitchers issued 16 walks in their first 29 innings. Wei-Yin Chen, dealing with a batted-ball welt above his pitching elbow, is scheduled to pitch Wednesday versus the Mets. Defending National League batting champ Dee Gordon started 2016 going 6-for-15 in his first three games. -- Diane Firstman ( @dianagram), Value Over Replacement Grit

23. Los Angeles Angels

Record: 2-4
Preseason ranking: No. 16

Jered Weaver's fastest pitch on Sunday was 84 mph, but he baffled the Rangers, holding them to one run in six innings. It's not the usual script for success for a major league pitcher, but maybe Weaver can Jamie Moyer his way to a good season. -- David Schoenfield ( @dschoenfield), SweetSpot

24. Colorado Rockies

Record: 3-3
Preseason ranking: No. 25

A week into the season, and Trevor Story (homers in his first four MLB games) has been The Story. But the overall tale of woe remains. Rockies starting pitching isn't going deep into games and the "new" bullpen hasn't been good and is already exhausted. -- Richard Bergstrom ( @RockiesZingers), Rockies Zingers

25. Milwaukee Brewers

Record: 3-3
Preseason ranking: No. 27

Though they weren't blown out in every game, it's a known fact that the Brewers won't be contending this season. Opening Day starter Wily Peralta has struggled by going 0-2 with a 10.80 ERA, lowering hopes of a bounce-back year. Fans in Milwaukee have accepted the inevitable rebuilding phase, as new GM David Stearns commences a new era of Brewers baseball. -- Gabe Stoltz ( @Stoltzy3), Disciples of Uecker

26. Oakland Athletics

Record: 4-3
Preseason ranking: No. 26

They swept the Mariners in Seattle, allowing just four runs in three games. Marcus Semien and Coco Crisp homered on Sunday for a 2-1 win -- after King Felix had tossed seven scoreless innings. Another solid week and they're a team that should be higher up the rankings. -- David Schoenfield ( @dschoenfield), SweetSpot

27. San Diego Padres

Record: 2-4
Preseason ranking: No. 24

San Diego became the first team in history to be shut out in each of its first three games. They then exploded for 29 runs over their next two games at Coors Field. It is the most runs they've ever scored in any two-game stretch. Tyson Ross went on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation. -- Diane Firstman ( @dianagram), Value Over Replacement Grit

28. Minnesota Twins

Record: 0-6
Preseason ranking: No. 21

Twins hitters have struck out a whopping 72 times through six games to lead the majors. Combine that with a leaky bullpen, and it's easy to see why they're off to the worst start in franchise history at 0-6. -- Nick Nelson ( @NickNelsonMN), Twins Daily

29. Atlanta Braves

Record: 0-5
Preseason ranking: No. 29

The Braves are rebuilding, and the poor early returns on the season are a painful reminder of that. But as a rebuilding team, they're in first place so far for the No. 1 draft pick in 2017. The drop-off in shortstop defense has been a big storyline, with many in Atlanta missing Andrelton Simmons, and begging for either Ozzie Albies or Dansby Swanson. --  Martin Gandy ( @gondeee), Chop County

30. Philadelphia Phillies

Record: 2-4
Preseason ranking: No. 30

Hey, they took two of three on the road against the Mets after getting swept by the Reds. Vincent Velasquez showed electric stuff in Saturday's 1-0 win with a 94-95 mph fastball, hard curve and changeup, striking out nine in six innings. -- David Schoenfield ( @dschoenfield), SweetSpot