The First MLB Power Rankings of 2019 Are Out; Where Do the Indians Rank?

The Indians are a day away from starting the road to trying to win their fourth straight American League Central Division Title, and while many have them winning the title again, many think after that it will be a short road in the postseason.

Power rankings around Major League Baseball are out, and here’s the first look this season at both ESPN and CBS’s baseball power rankings and where the Tribe fits in.

ESPN has the Indians at 7th in baseball in their first power rankings, having the Indians still winning 92 games despite some thinking that their offense isn’t good enough to get it done.

2019 projected record: 92-70 (first in AL Central)
World Series odds: 10-1

Best case: If the Indians’ rotation lives up to its billing, and if the Cleveland front office is motivated by a little pressure from the other clubs in the AL Central, Cleveland has plenty of time to identify and fill the remaining holes on its roster before the postseason. Once the Indians are back in October, hot streaks from that star-studded rotation and elite hitters Jose Ramirez and Francisco Lindor can steer Cleveland past the rugged AL playoff field and to its first title in 71 years.

Worst case: An injury to one of the stud starters and a mushrooming of the potential signs of a Corey Kluber decline could put Cleveland in an early hole, opening the door for the Twins. Even that might not be enough, and given the Indians’ talent edge, an off season from Ramirez or Lindor may have to play a part as well. In any event, if the Indians are facing a sizable deficit in the division when we hit July, we might see the front office decide to reset.

Make-or-break player: The Indians gambled by trading away veteran catcher Yan Gomes, which puts Roberto Perez squarely under the gun. Perez has been one of baseball’s better defensive catchers in a part-time role for a few years. But can he continue that work with the vaunted Cleveland staff in a larger role? Forget his bat — if there is any drop-off in Cleveland’s pitching stemming from the loss of Gomes, that’s a major problem. — Bradford Doolittle

CBS Sports has their first power rankings of 2019 out, and the Indians are about the middle of the pack, ranked 13th overall.

Here’s what CBS has to say about the Tribe, like most questioning their offense.

They will probably still win the division, but this offense is atrocious outside Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez, both of whom have injury concerns at the moment.

CBS has the Yankees, Red Sox and Astros, three teams that the Indians will have to challenge to win the American League in 2019, at the top of their power rankings.