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MLB Power Rankings: Can the Chicago Cubs be stopped?

By Stephen Forsha

May 7, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (17) is congratulated for hitting a home run by second baseman Ben Zobrist (18) during the fourth inning against the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
May 7, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (17) is congratulated for hitting a home run by second baseman Ben Zobrist (18) during the fourth inning against the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /
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How good will the Chicago Cubs become? The Cubs just completed a four-game sweep of the Washington Nationals this weekend, and the Nationals are no slouches this season as they are battling at the top of the NL East with the New York Mets, who are also one of the better teams in the National League.

Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

As for the Cubs, they have scored 184 runs this season, the most in the majors, and their pitching and defense have allowed 83 runs for a +101 run differential, by far the best in the majors, as the St. Louis Cardinals are second in that category at +45.

This upcoming week, the Cubs will host the San Diego Padres Monday through Wednesday at Wrigley Field, then from Friday-Sunday they host the Pittsburgh Pirates for three straight with the Cubs entering the week with a 24-6 record, good enough for a 7.5 game lead over the Pirates in the NL Central.

The Chicago White Sox are the leaders in the American League with a 22-10 mark, coming off a three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins this weekend at US Cellular Field. Chris Sale of the White Sox is the lone pitcher in the majors to win his first seven starts with a 7-0 record. The White Sox will face the Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees on the road.

Spoiler alert, neither the Cubs or White Sox lost a spot in these rankings from last week (they are the only two teams in the majors with 20-plus wins), but watch out for the likes of the Boston Red Sox (who defeated the White Sox twice this past week) and the Baltimore Orioles, as they are making an argument that the two best teams in the AL East are two of the best teams in majors as well.

There was a lot of good baseball this past week, and like always, there are teams that make you wonder if they even want to win any more games this season, because there are two teams still in single digits in the win column.

There was some movement in this week’s MLB Power Rankings, including one team dropping 10 spots and another falling eight places. On the other hand, one team jumped seven spots this week, with a couple teams moving up five positions.

Without any more wait, here are this week’s rankings.

Next: MLB Power Rankings: 30-27

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