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MLB Power Rankings: Cubs still on top

By Joshua Sadlock

Apr 4, 2017; St. Louis, MO, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jake Arrieta (49) walks off the field after the top of the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2017; St. Louis, MO, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jake Arrieta (49) walks off the field after the top of the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 3, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Felix Hernandez (34) delivers a pitch during the third inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Felix Hernandez (34) delivers a pitch during the third inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
14

Seattle Mariners (0-3)

Last week: N/A
Last rank: 14

An 0-3 start against the Astros is not nearly enough to write off the Mariners this season. They are a trendy pick for good reason. While their lineup is underrated, it is one of the best in the league. Can they pitch it, though? That’s a big question that cannot be answered this early in the season.

Seattle’s ace Felix Hernandez left his Opening Day start early with a groin injury. That’s bad. Offseason pickup Drew Smyly began the year on the disabled list. That’s bad. The Mariners do not have enough depth in their rotation to get by if either pitcher ends up on the shelf for an extended period of time. Be cautiously optimistic about this team’s chances to contend for now.

Apr 4, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers third baseman Joey Gallo (13) hits a home run during the second inning against the Cleveland Indians at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers third baseman Joey Gallo (13) hits a home run during the second inning against the Cleveland Indians at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
13

Texas Rangers (0-3)

Last week: N/A
Last rank: 12

My, oh my! The things the Rangers lineup has done to baseballs through the first two games of the season are enough to make a grown man blush. Joey Gallo, Carlos Gomez, and Rougned Odor have hit some tape-measure shots. Words don’t really do these bombs justice.

Unfortunately, the team the Rangers have been playing to open the season, the Indians, have hit just as many of their own home runs. Texas’s pitching staff has struggled to contain Cleveland’s offense. Yu Darvish struggled with his command on Opening Night. Closer Sam Dyson has looked awful so far, allowing eight runs in his first inning of the season. His velocity is down, which is an even bigger problem considering MLB has changed the way it measures velocity out of a pitcher’s hand.

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