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) /
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MIAMI, FL – JULY 19: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the Miami Marlins hits a solo home run in the first inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Marlins Park on July 19, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – JULY 19: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the Miami Marlins hits a solo home run in the first inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Marlins Park on July 19, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
24

Miami Marlins 42-51

Last week: 1-5
Last rank: 21

Giancarlo Stanton is not happy about the current state of the Marlins. Who can really blame him? The All-Star right fielder hit four home runs in Miami’s recent series against the Phillies, but the Marlins lost two of the three games.

"“If you can’t win a series against the worst team in the league, there’s not much going for you, right there,” Stanton said, according to MLB.com."

The Marlins are the National League team deserving of the total rebuild treatment, and not for financial reasons this time around. There is plenty of talent assembled in Miami, but the Marlins have a weak farm system and an owner who is not about to spend the necessary funds to build a rotation good enough to capitalize on Stanton, Marcell Ozuna, Christian Yelich, Dee Gordon, J.T. Realmuto and Justin Bour.

23

Toronto Blue Jays 44-51

Last week: 3-4
Last rank: 22

Any real hope that the 2017 Blue Jays could find some magic and set themselves on a path to contention in the second half should be totally dashed at this point. After going 18-10 in May to create a sense of momentum, the Jays are just 17-22 with the same issues that left them 8-17 at the end of April.

Josh Donaldson’s down year all but spelled the end for the Blue Jays. The 2015 AL MVP is batting .234/.353/.411 since coming off the disabled list at the end of May. Not even a career year for Justin Smoak has seemed to help get Donaldson going. The swaggering Blue Jays that trampled through the AL East the past two years are gone. Losing Edwin Encarnacion and the continued decline of Jose Bautista has left the team without a real identity or direction.

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