MLB Power Rankings

You look at the baseball standings, see the Orioles at the bottom of the AL East and the Red Sox at the top and automatically decide to bet on Boston. That's not an example of powerful handicapping and not a smart way to make bets. Standings give you part of the picture, not the whole frame.

MLB power rankings help complete the picture and make it more realistic. Does Baltimore's strengths play into Boston's weaknesses? Are the standings masking an issue that you can exploit as a baseball bettor? Check out the MLB Power Rankings here at OddsShark.com each week to see how teams climb the ratings ladder, then fall down it. Compare it against the live baseball odds. See below the ratings chart for details on the math that underlies the rankings.

Tampa Bay

6

8

2

139.29

.496

69.06

Detroit

7

10

3

129.68

.516

66.89

Chi White Sox

8

6

-2

128.38

.514

66.00

Kansas City

9

12

3

130.40

.493

64.29

LA Angels

10

7

-3

120.10

.527

63.24

Oakland

12

13

1

120.18

.497

59.75

Cleveland

13

9

-4

126.53

.464

58.74

St. Louis

1

2

1

158.48

.480

76.14

LA Dodgers

2

1

-1

161.23

.466

75.12

Atlanta

3

4

1

148.44

.491

72.87

Washington

4

7

3

142.72

.486

69.33

Cincinnati

5

6

1

134.94

.513

69.18

Colorado

6

9

3

135.49

.497

67.32

Philadelphia

7

11

4

136.16

.493

67.11

Houston

8

3

-5

125.19

.535

66.99

Chi Cubs

9

5

-4

120.06

.555

66.66

San Francisco

10

8

-2

137.55

.482

66.23

Miami

11

10

-1

132.20

.488

64.57

Milwaukee

12

15

3

124.50

.506

62.96

Pittsburgh

13

14

1

115.61

.523

60.50

San Diego

14

12

-2

115.81

.505

58.52

NY Mets

15

13

-2

118.97

.489

58.18

Last Updated: 2012-05-15 07:08:29

How are MLB Power Rankings calculated?

OddsShark.com boasts tons of baseball handicapping data from matchup reports to umpire stats, but some of the most important numbers you will find are in the MLB Power Rankings chart. There are sortable stats for team offense, such as runs per game, hits, walks and strikeouts, along with defensive equivalents based on runs per game, team ERA and more. We take the home and road factors of each and include the all-important factor for MLB moneyline bettors - wins - and come up with a powerful number.

We take the overall baseball power stat and multiple it against a strength-of-schedule factor to achieve a final rating. If the Orioles are 40-70 but have played half their games in a division that includes the Yankees, Red Sox, Rays and Jays, they might not be as bad as their record. Chances are, their power rank might indicate they are a great bet outside the AL East.

Importantly, some of the numbers may be odd early in the year until all teams have completed a few road and home series. A bad home series or one against a top team may unfairly skew their ranking, so handle with care in April each year. But stick with it. In time, the numbers provide a solid, true glimpse into the quality of teams and can help you find line value (and ultimately win more wagers).

Good luck with your MLB baseball handicapping this year!