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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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ATLANTA, GA – JULY 16: Matt Adams #18 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates a home run during the third inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at SunTrust Park on July 16, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – JULY 16: Matt Adams #18 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates a home run during the third inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at SunTrust Park on July 16, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /
20

Atlanta Braves 46-48

Last week: 4-3
Last rank: 17

The Braves reached .500 for the first time this season by winning three in a row over Arizona to start the second half. They followed that up by getting swept by the Chicago Cubs at home by a score of 17-6. There is still plenty of reason for optimism about what the Braves have accomplished in 2017, but it was too early to start the talk about them chasing a playoff spot in the second half.

Without many elite position players coming up through the minor leagues, the Braves may be want to seriously consider attempting to ink Matt Adams to a long-term deal rather than flipping him for prospects at the trade deadline. Freddie Freeman has not been awful at third base, and given a full offseason to work at the position, could get to above-average defense.

19

Texas Rangers 45-50

Last week: 2-5
Last rank: 16

There is no moment that better sums up the Rangers 2017 season than outfielder Shin Soo Choo losing an easy fly ball in the sun and allowing the winning run to come around to score. Seemingly every 50-50 game or close play went Texas’ way last year. The baseball gods have not been so kind when doling out luck this year.

Maybe it’s not luck. The Rangers are an all-or-nothing team. They hit home runs and they strike out. That’s about it. Eighty of their 141 home runs have come with the bases empty. The Rangers have struck out 178 times with men in scoring position, including 35 in 117 at-bats with men on third and less than two outs.

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