Chicago Cubs Make a Jump in Latest MLB Power Rankings
This week, the Chicago Cubs made a small leap in Sports Illustrated's weekly MLB power rankings on Inside the Phillies.
In Monday's edition of the power rankings, Chicago rose two spots from last week, climbing up to No. 11. The Cubs went 5-2 over the past week, picking up series victories against the Detroit Tigers and Pittsburgh Pirates. Chicago capped off the week with a pair of offensive outbursts Saturday and Sunday, outscoring the Pirates 20-7 over both games.
Prior to the offensive explosion over the weekend, the Cubs found difficulty playing what might have been the softest part of their schedule all season. Through ten games against the Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals, the Tigers and Pirates, the North Siders went 6-4, with a run-differential of +2, not winning a single game by more than two runs. Thankfully for David Ross' club, Chicago rediscovered their offensive groove over the weekend as the schedule begins to tighten up. Their next 14 games will come against playoff hopefuls, as the Cubs prepare for battle with the Milwaukee Brewers, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks. Chicago will not have an off-day until Sept. 14.
If the Cubs are able to take care of the Brewers, Reds, Giants and Diamondbacks, they will position themselves nicely to clinch their first playoff berth since 2020 and continue to moving up in the power rankings.
Here's a look at where Chicago stands, as well as the ten teams that sit in front of them:
11) Chicago Cubs (69-61; +79 DIFF, 29-36 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 13 [up 2])
10) Toronto Blue Jays (71-60; +55 DIFF, 38-42 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 9 [down 1])
9) Arizona Diamondbacks (69-62; -3 DIFF, 31-41 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 12 [up 3])
8) Philadelphia Phillies (72-58; +68 DIFF, 39-37 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 10 [up 2])
7) Houston Astros (74-58; +88 DIFF, 32-38 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 6 [down 1])
6) Milwaukee Brewers (73-57; +19 DIFF, 37-36 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 7 [up 1])
5) Seattle Mariners (74-56; +102 DIFF, 32-33 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 5 [no movement])
4) Tampa Bay Rays (80-52; +174 DIFF, 36-32 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 4 [no movement])
3) Baltimore Orioles (81-49; +86 DIFF, 42-31 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 3 [no movement])
2) Los Angeles Dodgers (80-49; +152 DIFF, 38-30 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 2 [no movement])
1) Atlanta Braves (84-45; +219 DIFF, 44-27 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 1 [no movement])
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