Cubs rise in ESPN's MLB Power Rankings |
ESPN released their latest article with their major league power rankings and had the Chicago Cubs up one spot to No. 3 overall behind the surging Washington Nationals and Houston Astros. The Cubs had a preseason ranking of No. 1 and currently have an average 13-12 record on the year as they were just blitzed 10-2 at home against the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night.
The Cubs were ranked No. 1 in the rankings 25 out of 27 weeks last season. More importantly, they won their first World Series in over 108 years and trying to go for back-to-back titles this year. "The Cubs are managing to stay afloat despite a league-worst 9.39 ERA in the first inning this season," ESPN said. "Kris Bryant (.907 OPS) and Anthony Rizzo (.877 OPS) already appear to be rounding into midseason form, while the bullpen has picked up its end of the bargain (NL-best 2.87 ERA). The champs hope to improve on a slow 4-5 start at Wrigley Field this season as they start a seven-game homestand on Monday against the Phillies." The Top 10 teams in the rankings were the Washington Nationals, Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles, Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, and Colorado Rockies.
