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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OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 7: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Mike Fiers (50) is doused with Gatorade in celebration for his no-hitter game against the Cincinnati Reds in the ninth inning of a MLB game at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, May 7, 2019. The A’s won 2-0.(Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) /

24. Oakland Athletics, 16-21, last in the AL West (ranked 21st last week)

The A’s are on a terrible 2-8 stretch over their last 10 games that includes back-to-back sweeps by the Blue Jays and Red Sox. And while it looked like Oakland had ended their six-game losing streak with a 14-1 dubbing of Pittsburgh, the Pirates took the next two games and the Athletics’ struggles continued. They did dodge a bullet with Khris Davis’ hip apparently fine after banging into the railing in Pittsburgh, but closer Blake Treinen’s status is up in the air at the moment with elbow discomfort. The starting pitching is expected to get better with Chris Bassitt and Brett Anderson healthy, while Mike Fiers has also pitched much better recently. But while A’s fans expected their team to take another step towards competing, Oakland is sitting in last place in the AL West with an offense that needs the long ball to score.

23. Detroit Tigers, 15-17, 3rd in the AL Central (ranked 26th last week)

The Tigers won their first series since the first week of April this past weekend against the Royals, despite only scoring 12 runs. Starters Matthew Boyd and Spencer Turnbull have been excellent this season, as has Daniel Norris, who’s had to step in as a starter while Jordan Zimmerman recovers from a UCL sprain. Ronny Rodriguez has stepped up while Josh Harrison is on the 10-day IL, with three home runs and a 1.091 OPS, albeit in small sample size of just 12 games. But Detroit will take it, given how poor their offense has been. With the third-worst runs-per-game, the Tigers still lack bats to pair with their impressive pitching.

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