Fansided

MLB Power Rankings: Here come the Cubs

By Joshua Sadlock

ATLANTA, GA - JULY 17: Anthony Rizzo #44 of the Chicago Cubs reacts after hitting a solo homer in the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at SunTrust Park on July 17, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 17: Anthony Rizzo #44 of the Chicago Cubs reacts after hitting a solo homer in the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at SunTrust Park on July 17, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
15 of 15
Next
LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 20: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is seen during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on July 20, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 20: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is seen during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on July 20, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images) /
2

Houston Astros 63-32

Last week: 3-4
Last rank: 1

Losing All-Star shortstop and MVP candidate Carlos Correa to a thumb injury is a major blow to the Astros, but it means nothing to their World Series aspirations in the long run. Correa will be back by the middle of September at the earliest, giving him close to a month to get his swing right before the playoffs.

Good news for the Astros — ace Dallas Keuchel is nearly back from the nerve injury that has had him on the disabled list since June 5. Prior to the injury, the left-hander was 9-0 with a 1.67 ERA in 11 starts. Keuchel threw three scoreless innings in his rehab start this week and his velocity and command are right where they need to be.

1

Los Angeles Dodgers 66-30

Last week: 5-1
Last rank: 2

The Dodgers are the only team in baseball with two 10-game winning streaks and have won 30 of their last 34 games entering Wednesday’s games. They have also won 25 straight games started by either Clayton Kershaw or Alex Wood. What they are doing to the National League is just flat-out silly.

Justin Turner has finally taken enough trips to the plate to qualify as the MLB leader in batting average and on-base percentage. He has a 20-point lead over the competition in both categories and has walked more than he has struck out this season.

Next: 15 MLB trades that need to happen now

It has been an epic year on all fronts for the Dodgers who were 15-14 on May 3. If they had played at their pace over the past three months for the entire year, Los Angeles would be on pace to win over 120 games. Instead, they will likely settle for a mediocre 110 wins. The only question that remains is will all of the wins go for naught or can the Dodgers win their first World Series since 1988?

Home/MLB