MLB Power Rankings: Trouble for Cubs?

Several surprise teams jumped up the MLB power rankings last week — can they keep climbing?

As the MLB season enters its third week, the standings still appear to have been turned upside down in several divisions. The Cincinnati Reds hold onto first place in the NL Central, and have now been in first place for more days than they have the past three years combined. North of the border, the Toronto Blue Jays are off to the worst start in franchise history with an anemic offense.

With teams still tightly bunched, there is still no reason for most slumping contenders to panic. There are positive signs for most of the 30 MLB teams to cling to, even if they were projected as potential 100-game losers to start the year.

A dozen games are now in the books for every team in the league, and some more concrete conclusions can be drawn about the surprise teams off to good starts, as well as the slumping playoff contenders. Could we finally see a new number-one for the first time this year in the FanSided MLB Power Rankings? Read on to find out

*All stats reflective of games prior to start of action on April 18. Records current.

Apr 6, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) reacts at bat against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

At 2-11 through 13 games, there is no more benefit of the doubt for the Blue Jays. They are the worst team in baseball right now. That does not necessarily mean they will be the worst team in baseball at the end of the season, but it doesn’t look good for MLB’s oldest roster. With Josh Donaldson set to miss up to a month with another calf injury, the lineup will continue to struggle. Toronto is batting just .220/.289/.340. This rapidly aging version of Jose Bautista cannot carry a team in Donaldson’s absence.

No team has ever battled back from such a deep hole at the start of the season to make the playoffs, and it’s hard to project the Blue Jays playing close to 30 games over .500 for the rest of the year to pull themselves back into playoff contention. With Aaron Sanchez and J.A. Happ on the disabled list, the Jays can’t even count on their starting pitching to pull them through the offensive slump.

Apr 15, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; San Diego Padres first baseman Wil Myers rounds first on a double against the Atlanta Braves in the fifth inning at SunTrust Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

After a few competitive weeks to start the season, the Padres have begun looking more like the terrible team everyone expected they would be in 2017. They have scored only 47 runs through 15 games and are batting .211/.287/.365 as a team. Rookie Manuel Margot cooled considerably over the past week, picking up only two hits. On the plus side, Wil Myers remains red-hot at the plate.

The Padres pitching staff has flirted with competency, and Clayton Richard is pitching himself into a potentially valuable trade chip for later this season (provided he can keep it up). Richard’s FIP of 5.55, however, would indicate that his 3.60 ERA is likely more of a mirage than predictive of sustained success over the next two months. Still, if he stays anywhere near a 4.00 ERA, the Padres will be able to flip the left-hander for a decent prospect or two.