Chicago Cubs Power Rankings: North Siders inching closer to top five

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CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 20: Javier Baez #9 of the Chicago Cubs beats a tag at home plate by Raffy Lopez #1 of the Toronto Blue Jays to score the winning run during the tenth inning at Wrigley Field on August 20, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

In the latest MLB.com power rankings, the Chicago Cubs continue to inch closer to a spot in the top five after a solid homestand performance last week. But a familiar face occupies the top spot on the list.

Capped with an extra-inning walk-off win, last week ended up a high note for the Chicago Cubs. The team ended a homestand by sweeping the Toronto Blue Jays and winning five-of-seven overall.

Entering a road trip against the lowly Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago holds its biggest division lead to-date at 2 1/2 games. As the reigning World Series champions trend up, several other NL Central clubs are headed south.

The Cubs are far from the best team in baseball. In fact, that’s a title they won’t hold at all this season, no matter how well they finish the season. Just like no team could hold a match to Joe Maddon‘s club in 2016, no one seems capable of hanging with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who already boast 88 wins on the season with over a month left to play.

So how does the rest of the top five play out? Let’s take a look.

HOUSTON, TX – AUGUST 20: Jake Marisnick #6 of the Houston Astros is caught looking a called strike three to end the game as Dustin Garneau #12 of the Oakland Athletics walks away at Minute Maid Park on August 20, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

MLB.com Power Rankings: 5) Houston Astros

At 76-48, the Houston Astros enjoy a comfortable 12 1/2 game lead in the American League West. This team is going to make the postseason. Yet, there’s a feeling of unease in the air surrounding this club.

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Why?

Comments made by multiple players after the front office was relatively quiet at the deadline turned some heads. Ace Dallas Kuechel chimed in – calling the lack of action ‘disappointing.’

“I mean, I’m not going to lie, disappointment is a little bit of an understatement,” Keuchel told ESPN the day after the deadline. “I feel like a bunch of teams really bolstered their rosters for the long haul and for a huge playoff push, and us just kind of staying pat was really disappointing to myself.”

With an extremely young, talented core, Houston is set up for long-term success. But injuries have mounted at times – with key players like Kuechel, Carlos Correa and Evan Gattis all on the DL. That’s not to mention the handful of relievers currently sidelined.

Houston is a quality ball club. But in the next month-plus, it’s about getting healthy ahead of October.

CLEVELAND, OH – AUGUST 21: Andrew Miller #24 of the Cleveland Indians reacts as he leaves the game during the seventh inning against the Boston Red Sox at Progressive Field on August 21, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

MLB.com Power Rankings: 4) Cleveland Indians

After falling in one of the most exciting World Series in recent memory – maybe ever – the Cleveland Indians immediately turned focus to 2017.

And it shows.

The starting rotation, according to MLB.com, owns a sub-3.00 ERA in the last month. Jay Bruce has been white-hot since joining the Tribe from the Mets. Cleveland is finally starting to separate from the rest of the American League Central.

With a 5 1/2 game lead in the division, the Indians look poised to finish the job in 2017. An injury to left-hander Andrew Miller is cause for concern, as he is arguably one of the most important players on the roster.

“He threw one pitch and really felt it,” Terry Francona told FOX Sports after the game Monday. “We’ll go back to the drawing board. That’s not what we were hoping for, but we’ll let the medical people put their heads together and see what they can do.”

But, Corey Kluber is still superhuman and can carry this team – especially with a reloaded offense behind him.

SAN DIEGO, CA – AUGUST 19: Stephen Strasburg #37 of the Washington Nationals pitches the ball during the 2nd inning against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on August 19, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kent Horner/Getty Images) /

MLB.com Power Rankings: 3) Washington Nationals

When Bryce Harper slipped on a wet first base a few weeks back, Nationals fans held their collective breath. Thankfully, he’s expected back this season and should be ready for the postseason.

Meanwhile, Washington continues to steamroll the rest of the National League East. No other team in the division is above .500 and the Nats have won seven of their last 10 games. The relief corps seems to be solid – at least for the time being – and the rotation is a monster.

Former Cubs skipper Dusty Baker is at the helm in D.C. and had this to say about his team overcoming challenges of-late.

“They’re getting better. The main thing is that we pitched well, and if you pitch well, then you don’t need as much offense, which you’ve seen lately, we haven’t had the same kind of offense that we usually have but we’re finding a way to win the games. But it starts with the pitching and we’ve got good pitching every day, and so these guys are just trying to find a way to win.”

Max Scherzer, Gio Gonzalez and Stephen Strasburg have all won more than 10 games. Injuries, similar to Houston, have dogged the Nationals all season. Still, they’re going to cruise into the postseason. The only question now is whether or not they can finally put it all together and make a deep October run.

CLEVELAND, OH – AUGUST 21: Andrew Benintendi #16 celebrates with Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox after both scored on Benintendi’s home run during the first inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on August 21, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

MLB.com Power Rankings: 2) Boston Red Sox

In the first half, New York Yankees’ rookie Aaron Judge was the toast of baseball. He won the Home Run Derby in Miami, ahead of what many hoped would be another staggeringly-solid half of baseball.

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Instead, Judge has been atrocious, as opposing pitchers exploit holes in his swing. In his place, Boston Red Sox rookie Andrew Benintendi is leading his club to the top of the East – and, hopefully, a World Series title.

Boston is 5 1/2 up on the Bombers in the division, thanks to a 17-10 stretch over the last month. Benintendi, meanwhile, owns a 24-for-64 stretch in his last 16 contests. On the year, he’s batting .279 with an .806 OPS.

Like the Cubs and Astros, Boston is a young team. But they know how to win.

In the first year of the post-David Ortiz era, the club hopes it will start a new stretch in team history – another full of winning in October.

PITTSBURGH, PA – AUGUST 21: Curtis Granderson #6 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with Justin Turner #10, Chris Taylor #3 and Corey Seager #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers after hitting a grand slam in the seventh inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on August 21, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

MLB.com Power Rankings: 1) Los Angeles Dodgers

When you eliminate teams in your division by mid-August, you’re doing something right.

The Dodgers have already knocked out the rival San Francisco Giants thanks to a staggering 88-win total entering play Tuesday. This team seemingly has it all. Cody Bellinger looks like a lock for Rookie of the Year – maybe even an MVP contender.

The team has to get healthy – especially in the rotation. Yu Darvish and Alex Wood are both battling injuries of-late. If Los Angeles’ rotation is healthy come the postseason, the Dodgers will be a tough matchup for any team in the league.

“Since the Arizona start Aug. 9, it flared up and we’ve been managing it. Nothing I can’t pitch with,” Wood told MLB.com. “Been taking a lot of modalities, a lot of treatment. We’ll talk tomorrow and see where we go from here.”

Clayton Kershaw is nearing a return from his injury – giving the rotation ace plenty of time to fine-tune things before October. With his team over 20 games up in the West, Kershaw will no-doubt look to keep LA focused as the season winds down. The main question now: how many games will Los Angels win before the postseason?

MLB.com Power Rankings: 6) Chicago Cubs

We’ll wrap things up with the Cubs, who hope their low strength-of-schedule plays into their favor over the next five or so weeks. Chicago controls their own fate – but needs the bullpen to figure things out – and soon.

Virtually every arm in the pen is capable of turning in shutdown frames. They’re also capable of getting themselves into trouble. Newcomer Justin Wilson has not pitched well since joining the team at the deadline and Carl Edwards Jr. has been the definition of inconsistent.

Still, there’s a lot to like about this team. With Addison Russell sidelined, Javier Baez seizes every opportunity, playing like his life depends on it each and every time he steps on the diamond.

“Javy runs hard,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said after the team’s win Sunday. “For the group that wants to criticize the guy, that’s a ball in the dirt, about 15 feet from the catcher, and the catcher just blanked out on it. If Javy does not run hard, it’s a different result. That’s why he was safe. By the time Lopez figured it out, [Baez] had already beat it down to first base.”

Kris Bryant is playing better than most would have you believe and Anthony Rizzo is coming off NL Player of the Week honors.

Is it enough to win the Central and take aim at a second-straight title? We’ll know soon enough.

Next: Most likely Cubs' September call-ups who can contribute

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