The wait is over: Baseball is back.
The 2021 season begins Thursday. The prospect of jumping from a 60-game sprint to a typical 162-game slog feels akin to preparing for a 10K and then deciding to run a marathon. For players and fans alike about to embark on the journey, remember to stay hydrated.
To commemorate what should be a national holiday, it’s time for the first MLB Power Rankings of the new season. To kick things off, we’ll identify what success looks like for each team—from World Series contenders to rebuilding basement-dwellers and everyone in between.