MLB Power Rankings: Cubs Climbing, Reds Retreating

Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome to the Week Eight edition of the MLB Power Rankings. Let's look at the action of the past week.

One had to expect that the Chicago Cubs would not struggle all season. Quite simply, the roster is too talented for this early season malaise to take hold over the course of the year. Unsurprisingly, the Cubs have started to get out of that funk, and are back above .500.

On the other side of the coin, there are the Cincinnati Reds. They were the darlings of baseball over the first month of the season, getting off to a surprising start and leading the Central. However, they have come crashing back to Earth of late, losing eight of their last ten games and falling three games under .500.

Naturally, these were not the only teams to move this week. There was another change atop the MLB Power Rankings, and the standings drew even tighter than they had been. Of course, there are some things that have not changed, such as the Padres struggles, but for the most part, we are starting to know what these teams are. Unless one of the bottom teams has a run like the 1914 Miracle Braves, the most excitement may involve what comes back in the fire sale.

Let us take a look at the MLB Power Rankings for this week. Let us know if there is a team you feel is ranked too highly, or one that is too low in our standings.

Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

San Diego Padres

Last week: 2-5 recordLast rank: 30

The San Diego Padres biggest trade chip at the deadline may be Clayton Richard. He just had a complete game five hitter against the Diamondbacks, and has displayed the form that could make him a solid back of the rotation arm. For a contending team in need of rotation help, Richard may be the perfect fit.29

Miami Marlins

Last week: 1-6 recordLast rank: 25

Giancarlo Stanton is getting frustrated with the losing in Miami, and who can blame him? Unfortunately, given their lack of impact pitching and a bullpen that has vastly underperformed this year, the losing may not end soon.28

San Francisco Giants

Last week: 4-2 recordLast rank: 29

Matt Cain is the only Giants starter with an ERA below 5.00, and his is at 4.91. The Giants have had zero production in left, and slightly more than that in right since Hunter Pence was hurt. However, they did have a solid week to show some signs of life.27

Kansas City Royals

Last week: 2-4 recordLast rank: 24

So much for Esky Magic. Even putting Escobar atop the lineup could not save the Royals from Jason Hammel and Al Alberquerque. At least one of those two is no longer with the club. Virtually everything that could have gone wrong for the Royals has thus far.26

Philadelphia Phillies

Last week: 1-5 recordLast rank: 22

The loss of Jeremy Hellickson is a tremendous blow to the Phillies, both this year and for the future. He had five of the team's 15 wins on the year, and as a potential trade chip, could have brought back a solid return. He hopes to make his next start, but will he be healthy?Next: Hoping for a miracle

Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

New York Mets

Last week: 2-4 recordLast rank: 23

On the positive news front, Steven Matz could be back at the beginning of June. Since the rest of the Mets rotation has been a dumpster fire thus far, they will take any help they can get. And getting Tommy Milone out of the rotation would be a great start.24

Oakland Athletics

Last week: 4-3 recordLast rank: 26

Chad Pinder, for a moment, reminded everyone of Mark McGwire when he blasted a 460 foot homer on Saturday. A solid beginning to their home stand, where they took three of four from the Red Sox, is a good sign for the future.23

Toronto Blue Jays

Last week: 2-5 recordLast rank: 20

Every time it looks like the Blue Jays flipped that switch, they falter. Maybe it is time we admit that Toronto does not have that run in them, and will spend the deadline selling. Given some of their pieces, a rebuild could be quick.22

Atlanta Braves

Last week: 5-2 recordLast rank: 27

The strange Braves season has continued this week. After looking like a AAA team, they have won seven of their past ten games, including a series victory against the Nationals. Another good week could put them at .500, and with series against the Pirates and Giants, it's certainly possible.21

Pittsburgh Pirates

Last week: 4-2 recordLast rank: 28

Should the Pirates start to be concerned with Tony Watson? So far in May, he has a 4.82 ERA and a 1.61 WHiP, hardly the numbers one expects from a shutdown closer. Although his overall numbers are still solid, one has to wonder if he is wearing down a bit.Next: Sort of hanging around

Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports

Seattle Mariners

Last week: 3-4 recordLast rank: 19

The Mariners looked like they were approaching the light at the end of the tunnel. Turns out that was the injury train, as Robinson Cano has gone on the disabled list for the first time in eleven years. 2017 looks like a lost year in Seattle at this point.19

Cincinnati Reds

Last week: 1-5 recordLast rank: 11

The Reds had been the surprise of baseball, hovering around first place up to a week ago. Then, reality hit in the form of the Cubs and Rockies. Cincinnati may well be better than expected this year, but they are not ready for MLB contention just yet.18

Los Angeles Angels

Last week: 4-2 recordLast rank: 21

Mike Trout is one of the greatest players in MLB history already. He is doing things that are reminiscent of Mickey Mantle, and he is just 25 years old. If he stays healthy, we are going to have the pleasure of seeing one of the true greats blossom before our eyes.17

Detroit Tigers

Last week: 3-2 recordLast rank: 18

The Tigers may have gotten their bullpen in order by using the Wilsons, Justin and Alex, to close games for them. While the closer platoon is a unique approach, desperate times call for desperate measures.16

Boston Red Sox

Last week: 3-3 recordLast rank: 14

Chris Sale just keeps dominating. He struck out double digit batters again in his last start, giving him eight consecutive outings with ten or more whiffs. Just imagine if he got run support from the Red Sox when he took the mound.Next: Poised to move into contention

Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota Twins

Last week: 3-3 recordLast rank: 13

Jose Berrios has been a different pitcher since he was recalled from Rochester. He has displayed far better command, and appears to trust his stuff more this time around. The results have been there, as he has allowed just one run and six baserunners in 15.1 innings. 14

Chicago White Sox

Last week: 3-4 recordLast rank: 16

For all the talk about how the White Sox are going to be sellers, they are hanging around .500 and have the eighth best run differential in the game. Maybe, if the White Sox go on a run, they could be the MLB surprise team this year.13

Tampa Bay Rays

Last week: 4-2 recordLast rank: 15

The Rays are another team that has outplayed their record. Although they are at .500 on the year, the Rays have the ninth best run differential in the game. As the rotation is rounding into form, and the bullpen gets healthy, the Rays could make some noise.12

Chicago Cubs

Last week: 4-1 recordLast rank: 17

Eventually, the Cubs talent would have to win out, and they would start to return to form. That may have begun to happen, as Chicago is starting to look like themselves again. The test will come late this week, as they have a three game set with the Dodgers.11

St. Louis Cardinals

Last week: 1-4 recordLast rank: 5

The Cardinals were riding high, having knocked off the Cubs in their three game set to establish themselves as contenders once more. Then came this week, where the same issues with the bullpen came back to light. The Cardinals have holes, and it will be interesting to see how they are addressed.Next: In the hunt

Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland Indians

Last week: 4-2 recordLast rank: 10

Cleveland is 5-1 against Houston this year, and .500 against the rest of MLB. This bodes well for the Tribe should they get into the postseason and have to face the Astros, but they are not exactly inspiring confidence that they will make it back to the playoffs.9

Texas Rangers

Last week: 5-1 recordLast rank: 12

Amazing what a ten game winning streak will do for a team. After being dead n the water, the Rangers look like a contender once again. And with Adrian Beltre coming closer to a return, Texas may be ready to rise up and go on another run to October.8

Baltimore Orioles

Last week: 3-3 recordLast rank: 9

Not much has changed with the Orioles. They will need to batter their opponents into submission, since the pitching staff has been mediocre at best. The eventual return of Zach Britton should help, but the pitching staff once again appears to be the weak link.7

Colorado Rockies

Last week: 4-2 recordLast rank: 8

The Rockies continue to surprise, and it all comes back to their pitching staff. The starters have been able to work deep into games, and the bullpen has been phenomenal. Greg Holland has not missed a beat in his return from Tommy John surgery. Colorado may prove to be a legitimate contender by the end of the year,6

Milwaukee Brewers

Last week: 4-2 recordLast rank: 7

Even with Eric Thames and Ryan Braun out of the lineup, the Brewers have still found ways to win. Corey Knebel has been exactly what Milwaukee needed as a closer, and the pitching staff has held their own. Should Josh Hader get his command under control, and give the rotation a boost, it will be an interesting summer.Next: Dreaming of the World Series

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Arizona Diamondbacks

Last week: 5-1 recordLast rank: 6

Fernando Rodney is always going to be an adventure at closer, but he looks to have righted the ship this month. So far in May, he has yet to give up a run, while allowing just three baserunners in 5.2 innings. He bought himself a little more time in the closer role with that performance.4

Washington Nationals

Last week: 2-4 recordLast rank: 3

Maybe the Nationals are just playing down to their competition. They have struggled with the Phillies all year, and had issues with the Pirates and Braves last week. Or, maybe the Nationals bullpen issues are worse than even they had imagined.3

Los Angeles Dodgers

Last week: 4-3 recordLast rank: 4

Julio Urias was crushed in his last outing, allowing seven runs, six earned, on seven hits and three walks in 2.1 innings of work on Saturday. Yesterday, he was sent to AAA. Urias is a part of the future, but he still needs to work on a few things before that future comes.2

New York Yankees

Last week: 3-3 recordLast rank: 1

No Aroldis Chapman? No problem. Dellin Betances has proven more than capable of taking over the closer role for the Yankees, as even Randy Levine admitted that Betances can close for virtually any other team. It's a safe bet that Betances will remember those words in arbitration this offseasonNext: Wright suffers another setback1

Houston Astros

Last week: 3-3 recordLast rank: 2

The Astros are 28-10 against teams not from Cleveland. Armed with a top offense, and a pitching staff that has the lowest ERA in baseball, the Astros are in the driver's seat in the American League. Maybe this will be the year they finally win a World Series.