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MLB Power Rankings: Chicago Cubs Tops on Opening Day

By Aaron Huizenga

Oct 15, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals second baseman Omar Infante (left) celebrates with catcher Salvador Perez (right) with the American League championship trophy after game four of the 2014 ALCS playoff baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals swept the Orioles to advance to the World Series. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals second baseman Omar Infante (left) celebrates with catcher Salvador Perez (right) with the American League championship trophy after game four of the 2014 ALCS playoff baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals swept the Orioles to advance to the World Series. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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Taking a look at all 30 teams in Major League Baseball on the eve of opening day. Power rankings will be posted every Monday throughout the season.

Oct 15, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals second baseman Omar Infante (left) celebrates with catcher Salvador Perez (right) with the American League championship trophy after game four of the 2014 ALCS playoff baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals swept the Orioles to advance to the World Series. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals second baseman Omar Infante (left) celebrates with catcher Salvador Perez (right) with the American League championship trophy after game four of the 2014 ALCS playoff baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals swept the Orioles to advance to the World Series. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

The 2016 MLB Season opens today with a small 4 game teaser before the full opening day slate runs on Monday. Excitement is all around in every city as each team technically has a chance to win the World Series when the first pitch is thrown tomorrow. I am here this week and every week all season to provide you with my personal MLB Power Rankings. The hard truth of where your team sits is going to be here on Monday’s to set you straight.

Some of you won’t be surprised that the Phillies or the Braves sit near the bottom of the rankings as we get started. You may also not be surprised that they stay buried there throughout the entire 2016 campaign. Many teams will be contenders as the year goes on, but there also will be many pretenders as well. Come here each and every week to see which one you are cheering for along with a little dose of reality.

Our hometown Detroit Tigers find themselves opening up the inaugural rankings right in the middle of the pack at 16th. The truth is, I love the talent on this team and I love the moves they made this off season to prepare them to make a playoff run. However, a reality check will tell you that this is a squad that lost 87 games a year ago and is riddled with health concerns.

I could easily see them moving up the rankings rather quickly as they open this season at near full strength and ready to make amends for last season’s disappointment. We will see come August how they have held up and if their bullpen is as good as promised. The Tigers start out with two on the road in Miami, a team with a bit of star power but not much else.

The Kansas City Royals will kick of this season trying to fight through that inevitable championship hangover. They return virtually the same lineup and will be a contender from day one as there is no reason this team can’t repeat what they did last year. They open on Sunday night with what should be a great test for both squads as they take on the Mets at home.

Despite winning the title last year, the Royals are not opening the year out at the top of the rankings. That prestigious honor goes to none other than the Chicago Cubs. Not only did they have a breakout last year, they also had arguably the best off season of anyone in baseball.

The Cubs are generating a ton of excitement heading into the year with a cast of young up and comers that have now been bolstered by some solid veterans. They easily are the most talented team in baseball which gives them a chance to open up at the top.

Without further ado, here goes the first edition of my weekly MLB power rankings…

Next: MLB Power Rankings 26-30

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