Power Rankings: Big tests coming for April's hot starters

Just one more week into the season, we're starting to see some stronger teams emerge. But we're also ready to crown a new No. 1, as the Astros rode their nine-game win streak to the top of rankings, earning three first-place votes to replace the Dodgers in the top slot. But that was just the start of some major reshuffling by our voters.

It shouldn't surprise anyone that the Indians fell from the top 10, or that the Cardinals might move in. The biggest surprise is that the Dodgers and Phillies were so quickly crowded out of the top two spots. As a result, we have three new teams in the top five, as the Astros and Rays moved into the top two rungs, and the Mariners moved up to No. 5.

The Astros' jump up to claim the top slot may have been the most impressive gain of the week, but the Cardinals and Reds made even bigger gains over Week 1, advancing seven spots apiece. And can the teams that declined rally? The Red Sox, our No. 1 team on Opening Day, slipped down to No. 12, while the injury-wracked Yankees almost fell from the top 10. The biggest drop was suffered by the Rockies (nine spots).

The challenge for the week to come is how well the hot teams can consolidate their gains. This early, you're going to see some big swings in the rankings -- anyone remember last year's Mets? But last year also showed us how teams such as the Rays and A's can rise high late in the season. Which teams will make this week's results stick?

For Week 2, our panel of voters was composed of Bradford Doolittle, Christina Kahrl, Eric Karabell, Tim Kurkjian and David Schoenfield.

Previous: Preseason | Week 1

1. Houston Astros

2019 record:11-5

Week 1 ranking:7

This week's matchups: 2 games at Oakland, 3 at Texas

What to watch: Houston will head into Tuesday night's game against the A's riding a nine-game win streak after consecutive sweeps of the A's, Yankees and Mariners. Like their 42-16 start in 2017, this is the kind of run that could put away the AL West race by June -- if they can keep it going. And keep an eye on Jose Altuve. After homering in five straight games last week, he saw his bid to tie the team record of six straight come up short. But who says the former MVP won't keep raking?

2. Tampa Bay Rays

2019 record:12-4

Week 1 ranking:5

This week's matchups: 3 games vs. Baltimore, 3 vs. Boston

What to watch: Friday's series opener against Boston potentially pits Blake Snell and Rick Porcello in a showdown between former Cy Young winners. Austin Meadows is enjoying a breakout season after six early-season homers and 17 RBIs, reminding people why he was once a top Pirates prospect. Watch for Joey Wendle too; the Rays' best position player via WAR last year is expected back from the IL.

3. Milwaukee Brewers

2019 record:10-6

Week 1 ranking:3

This week's matchups: 3 games vs. St. Louis, 4 vs. L.A. Dodgers

What to watch: It's a tough week on the schedule, but it's also an opportunity to climb higher. Winning last weekend's series against the Dodgers was nice, but next weekend both teams return to the site of the Brewers' National League Championship Series Game 7 loss to L.A. And you know you want to see if Christian Yelich can continue his career ownage of Clayton Kershaw now that the Dodgers ace is back in action. Yelich has two homers and a 1.240 OPS in 23 plate appearances, but he also has seven strikeouts.

4. New York Mets

2019 record:9-6

Week 1 ranking:4

This week's matchups: 3 games at Philadelphia, 3 at St. Louis

What to watch:While some might wonder ifPete Alonsocan keep up his early-season hitting exploits, fantasy fans already know this should be a two-start week for Noah Syndergaard, with turns on Monday night and next weekend. So far, Thor is throwing his fastball more often than he has since 2015, with velocity sitting at about 98 mph, while generating an eye-popping 20-2 ratio of strikeouts to walks in his first three starts. Hitters are managing an exit velocity of just 83.9 mph against him, tied for second lowest in baseball.

5. Seattle Mariners

2019 record:13-5

Week 1 ranking:10

This week's matchups: 3 games vs. Cleveland, 4 at L.A. Angels

What to watch:Suffering a sweep at the hands of the Astros may have reminded Seattle who the big dogs of the AL West are, but the Mariners' surprising hot start is creating new heroes on the national stage. Start with Marco Gonzales, still 4-0 despite Seattle's loss in his last start. Also, what has gotten into Daniel Vogelbach? The beefy backup 1B/DH has ripped 10 extra-base hits, six of them home runs in just 12 games, slugging .973.

6. Los Angeles Dodgers

2019 record:9-8

Week 1 ranking:1

This week's matchups: 3 games vs. Cincinnati, 4 at Milwaukee

What to watch: Welcome back the Dodgers' inconsistency that bedeviled them in years past. Their six-game losing streak they finally snapped Sunday was their longest since they tumbled 11 straight times in 2017. But now thatClayton Kershawis due back from the IL to pitch Monday night, L.A. might be able to flip the script and reel off a winning streak.

7. St. Louis Cardinals

2019 record:9-6

Week 1 ranking:14

This week's matchups: 3 games at Milwaukee, 3 vs. N.Y. Mets

What to watch:It's early, but the slight improvement Marcell Ozuna is showing in his average launch angle (up three points) is showing bigger dividends in his power, as he's slugging almost 200 points higher. A trip to Miller Park should give him a good venue to see how well those improvements will pay off against the Brewers in an already important NL Central showdown.

8. Atlanta Braves

2019 record:9-6

Week 1 ranking:8

This week's matchups: 3 games vs. Arizona, 3 at Cleveland

What to watch:A little later than teammates Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies, shortstop Dansby Swanson might be having his own breakout season at the plate in his age-25 season; his .995 OPS is best among NL shortstops. And with three games against the team that traded him to lead off the week, he might be able to show off what Arizona missed out on after sending Swanson to Atlanta in the now-infamous Shelby Miller trade.

9. Philadelphia Phillies

2019 record:9-5

Week 1 ranking:2

This week's matchups:3 games vs. N.Y. Mets, 4 at Colorado

What to watch:Everybody knew when the Phillies signed Bryce Harper that they were getting an OBP machine. What was less expected was that Andrew McCutchen would slide into the leadoff role and be just as potent at getting aboard -- the duo of free-agent additions are tied for the MLB lead with 14 walks apiece. How that grinding approach works out against the Mets should bear watching in the first series between the teams this season.

10. New York Yankees

2019 record:6-9

Week 1 ranking: 6

This week's matchups:2 games vs. Boston, 4 vs. Kansas City

What to watch: The banged-up Yankees aren't in great shape for their first matchups with the Red Sox. New York enters the week having lost five of six, and has lost six of nine at home against teams that can't be considered the iron of the AL -- the Orioles, Tigers and White Sox. This is a big week for left-hander James Paxton, who gets his first taste of the rivalry when he faces Chris Sale. Paxton (1-2, 6.80) said he thought he was tipping pitches in Houston when he allowed five runs and eight hits, including two homers, in four innings last Wednesday.

11. Washington Nationals

2019 record:7-7

Week 1 ranking:12

This week's matchups:3 games vs. San Francisco, 3 at Miami

What to watch: The Nationals will want to take advantage of two weaker foes as their present .500 record isn't going to cut it in the ultra-competitive NL East. Doing his part so far is Anthony Rendon, who entered Sunday ranked as follows: tied for second in slugging (.922), second in isolated power (.510), third in wOBA (.553) and third in WRC+ (242).

12. Boston Red Sox

2019 record:6-10

Week 1 ranking:11

This week's matchups: 1 game vs. Baltimore, 2 at N.Y. Yankees, 3 at Tampa Bay

What to watch: The weekend series against the Rays takes on a bit of importance as the Red Sox dig out from their slow start, and having their Cy Young-winning trio of Rick Porcello, David Price and Chris Sale lined up to pitch might still look good on paper, but Boston's starters have an MLB-worst 7.34 ERA, and their rotation's strikeout rate of 18.8 percent ranks 27th.

13. San Diego Padres

2019 record:11-6

Week 1 ranking:13

This week's matchups:2 games vs. Colorado, 4 vs. Cincinnati

What to watch: The Padres head home in first place after a 7-3 road trip despite having a minus-3 run differential on the season. Part of the reason is their pitchers have been great at stranding runners (NL-high 108), but of course that also means they're letting a lot of guys on in the first place.Fernando Tatis Jr. came alive on the trip, posting a 1.180 OPS. Now he'll try to impress the home fans, in front of whom his OPS is just .619.

14. Cleveland Indians

2019 record:8-7

Week 1 ranking:9

This week's matchups:3 games at Seattle, 3 vs. Atlanta

What to watch:As if getting swept by the Royals over the weekend wasn't bad enough, seeing Corey Kluber get crushed Sunday while walking five batters in a turn for the first time in his career doesn't bode well. And when will Jose Ramirez's bat come to life? Between a .373 OPS and no homers so far, last year's MVP-worthy breakout seems like a distant memory.

15. Oakland Athletics

2019 record:10-9

Week 1 ranking:16

This week's matchups:2 games vs. Houston, 3 vs. Toronto

What to watch:Fueled in part by Khris Davis' MLB-leading 10 home runs, the A's will have to run their streak of seven straight games with multiple home runs up against the Astros, but will at least miss both Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole in their abbreviated series.

16. Chicago Cubs

2019 record:5-9

Week 1 ranking:19

This week's matchups:3 games at Miami, 3 vs. Arizona

What to watch:Following a snow postponement Sunday in Chicago, the Cubs head to warmer climates having somewhat righted their ship following a 1-6 start. Offense hasn't been an issue, especially if Jason Heyward can continue his resurgence. Heyward has a .375/.460/.700 slash line with four homers and 10 RBIs. Two big changes from his recent struggles: an improved launch angle (19 degrees this year after being at 9.0 from 2015-18) and a K rate of just 8.0 percent (second best in baseball).

17. Minnesota Twins

2019 record:8-4

Week 1 ranking:15

This week's matchups:4 games vs. Toronto, 3 at Baltimore

What to watch:The surprising first-place Twins have a chance to pad their AL Central lead against the AL East's bottom-feeders. Eddie Rosario has helped fuel Minnesota with an 1.187 OPS over the past nine games, but his combined career OPS against Toronto and Baltimore is just .647.

18. Pittsburgh Pirates

2019 record:8-6

Week 1 ranking:18

This week's matchups:2 games at Detroit, 3 vs. San Francisco

What to watch:The Pirates, who were 15-5 in interleague play last season, dive in against the AL for the first time this season Tuesday and Wednesday at Detroit. Pittsburgh's surprising pitching staff (2.69 ERA) faces a pair of teams hitting below .210 for the season.

19. Los Angeles Angels

2019 record:8-7

Week 1 ranking:21

This week's matchups: 3 games at Texas, 4 vs. Seattle

What to watch: Getting Mike Trout back from his strained groin, because after five homers and a 1.529 OPS in his first dozen games, nobody who doesn't pitch for a living wanted to see his hot start come to an end. He's supposed to travel to Texas, not a moment too soon for an injury-wracked Angels team trying to stay over .500.

20. Cincinnati Reds

2019 record:5-9

Week 1 ranking:27

This week's matchups:3 at L.A. Dodgers, 4 at San Diego

What to watch:Yasiel Puig hit his first home run as a Red on Sunday, just in time to get off the schneid as he faces his former teammates in his former home ballpark. Will a return to Dodger Stadium cure what has been ailing Puig's bat? As bad as Puig's season has been (.502 OPS), it's almost 100 points better than fellow former Dodger Matt Kemp (.405).

21. Detroit Tigers

2019 record:8-7

Week 1 ranking:23

This week's matchups: 2 vs. Pittsburgh, 4 vs. White Sox

What to watch:Tune in Tuesday to see how Matthew Boyd -- whiffing batters at an MLB-best 15.1 K/9 clip -- fares against the Pirates, who beat him badly in both of his previous starts against them. And then stay tuned to see if he draws the assignment against the White Sox on Sunday -- Boyd has an 18-inning scoreless streak against them ever since Chicago inflicted a five-run inning on him on Aug. 27, 2017.

22. San Francisco Giants

2019 record:7-10

Week 1 ranking:26

This week's matchups:3 games at Washington, 3 at Pittsburgh

What to watch:After suffering their third shutout loss of the season Sunday, the Giants have been held to one run or none in seven of their first 17 games, they're below the Mendoza line at the plate, last in the league in OPS (.572) and OBP (.259), and next-to-last in runs (averaging just 2.76 per game). All of that has combined to mute the excellent start from the pitching staff, whose 2.75 ERA ranks third in the majors.

23. Arizona Diamondbacks

2019 record:7-9

Week 1 ranking:20

This week's matchups:3 at Atlanta, 3 at Cubs

What to watch:Coming off a 4-5 homestand, the D-backs open a 10-game trip looking to build some positive momentum.Robbie Rayis scheduled to start Tuesday's opener at Atlanta, and though he has allowed three or fewer hits in three straight starts to begin the season, he also has 11 walks. Pitch count issues have prevented him from going deeper than 5 innings.

24. Texas Rangers

2019 record:7-7

Week 1 ranking:22

This week's matchups:3 games vs. Angels, 3 vs. Astros

What to watch:This figures to be a challenging week for the Rangers, who scored just four runs in suffering a three-game sweep at the Angels earlier this month, then tangle with the red-hot Astros. Texas' rotation, which was held together with bubble gum and shoestrings to begin with, could use some good signs from Shelby Miller, who is scheduled to make two starts, including Monday. His first two starts haven't gone well (5 IP, 8 walks, 3.18 WHIP, 9.53 ERA).

25. Toronto Blue Jays

2019 record:5-11

Week 1 ranking:24

This week's matchups:4 games at Minnesota, 3 at Oakland

What to watch:The combination of a slow start, an injury-wracked pitching staff and a long road trip may not sound like a great week to watch them, but the window for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to get called up without being credited with a full season of service time should soon open. He already has hit his first home run at Triple-A Buffalo, so it's only a matter of time.

26. Colorado Rockies

2019 record:4-12

Week 11 ranking:17

This week's matchups:2 games at San Diego, 4 vs. Philadelphia

What to watch:Needless to say, the Rockies are in scramble mode, having lost 12 of 13 before German Marquez one-hit the Giants on Sunday. They're tied with the Marlins for last in the NL with 46 runs (which can't last, right?), and start the week with two games at the first-place Padres. Then they host the Phillies at Coors Field, where they still haven't won a game this season (0-5).

27. Chicago White Sox

2019 record:5-9

Week 1 ranking:25

This week's matchups: 3 games vs. Kansas City, 4 at Detroit

What to watch: Check out Tim Anderson 's see-ball, hit-ball approach while he's still hot: his MLB-high .500 BABIP while seeing just 3.27 pitches per plate appearance (185th out of 188 players). What the White Sox need to see is their rotation get turned around; their 6.78 ERA is second-worst in the majors, with both Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez combining to allow 31 runs in 29 IP.

28. Baltimore Orioles

2019 record:6-10

Week 1 ranking:30

This week's matchups: 1 game at Boston, 3 at Tampa Bay, 3 vs. Minnesota

What to watch: The O's might be mired in a 2-8 skid, but they've been more competitive than expected, Chris Davis finally did end his epic oh-fer, and they should get Alex Cobb back from the IL to shore up the rotation this week.

29. Kansas City Royals

2019 record:5-10

Week 1 ranking:28

This week's matchups: 3 games at White Sox, 4 at N.Y. Yankees

What to watch:Brad Keller is showing that his strong rookie season was no fluke, opening the season with four straight quality starts, five if you count back to last season. With a 1.8 ground ball/fly ball ratio that rates in the top five and a strikeout rate that's going up, he might take the injured Salvador Perez's place as a legit Royals All-Star.

30. Miami Marlins

2019 record:4-12

Week 1 ranking:29

This week's matchups:3 games vs. Cubs, 3 vs. Washington

What to watch:The lineup may be struggling to score, averaging just 2.9 runs per game, and they may not have won a series yet this season, but they finally reached five figures in attendance for a home game in both of their weekend games. Will the marquee power of the Cubs and Nationals keep that streak going? Having Trevor Richards and Caleb Smith going strong in the rotation might also help.