MLB Power Rankings: Cubs on a hot streak, and welcome to the MLB Nick Senzel

By Sean Sears | May 9, 2019

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MAY 07: (L-R) Members of the Chicago Cubs mob Kris Bryant #17 (center) after he hit the game-winning three run home run in the bottom of the 9th inning against the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field on May 07, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. The Cubs defeated the Marlins 5-2. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 07: Clint Frazier #77 of the New York Yankees in action against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium on May 07, 2019 in New York City. New York Yankees defeated the Seattle Mariners 5-4. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

4. New York Yankees, 21-14, 2nd in the AL East (ranked 5th last week)

Winners of seven of their last 10 games, the Yankees sit just 1.5 games out of first place and are playing some of their best baseball without their two best bats in Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. Starter James Paxton did hit the 10-day IL with left knee inflammation and is expected to be out for three weeks, but with Masahiro Tanaka, Domingo German and CC Sabathia in tow, the Yankees should be alright without Paxton for the moment. Luckily, the Yankees should be getting healthier as Aaron Hicks is expected to back by this weekend, while both Judge and Stanton should return sometime this month along with Troy Tulowitzki. They’ve been able to survive 12 men on the IL; the Yankees could take this division once finally at full strength later this month.

3. Houston Astros, 21-15, 1st in the AL West (ranked 4th last week)

Justin Verlander and Wade Miley have been as stable as they come in the Astros’ rotation, churning out quality start after quality start. But the rest of the rotation has been through ups and downs, however, and the bullpen has been lights-out behind Roberto Osuna and Ryan Pressley this season. The offense has a ton of high-percentage on-base guys with pop, but the Astros aren’t super reliant on the long ball, giving them one of the more balanced offenses in baseball. Jose Altuve has cooled off some, but Alex Bregman has been electric since returning from an early IL stint. The Astros pitching is good enough to carry them during stretches when the offense struggles, but when Houston is swinging the bats well, there are few better.

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