Chicago Cubs make massive leap in the latest MLB power rankings

When the Chicago Cubs kicked off the 2025 season, there were plenty of questions about just how good they would be. There were even more questions after they started 0-2 thanks to a sweep at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers in Japan. And yet, since those season opening losses, Craig Counsell’s squad has been a bit of a juggernaut.

Even more impressive than their 9-4 record since returning stateside is that they’ve built it mostly by knocking off other teams with otherwise sparkling records. Wins are one thing, wins against teams considered among the best in baseball is another and it’s likely the reason behind the Cubbies making a rather massive leap in ESPN’s latest power rankings.

The last time the site put out its power rankings, the Chicago Cubs were ranked very middle of the road, at No. 14 in Major League Baseball. However the rankings released on Thursday morning saw them jump all the way up to No. 6 on the list. That puts them behind only the Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres (who they recently took 2-of-3 from), New York Mets and New York Yankees.

Chicago Cubs make big leap in the new ESPN MLB power rankings

Interestingly enough, the No. 7 team in the new power rankings is the Texas Rangers who are the most recent opponent that the Cubs won a series against. In explaining how Chicago is suddenly so high in the rankings, Jesse Rogers wrote that the team has managed to win games thanks to getting on base, speed and defense. 

“They're resembling some of manager Craig Counsell's teams in Milwaukee,” Rogers wrote. “It has come in handy so far at frigid Wrigley Field.”

Rogers added that the offense has definitely been the hero of the early season:

“The Cubs have scored seven or more runs in half their games, handing their bullpen big leads. That might be necessary more often than not, as closer games have resulted in some poor high-leverage performances at the back end.”

The Chicago Cubs can certainly prove they belong high in the power rankings if they can continue to win games amidst a killer April schedule that includes five more games against the Dodgers, three more against the Padres, three more against the Arizona Diamondbacks and three against the Philadelphia Phillies before they finally play a team with a losing record when they take on the Pittsburgh Pirates at the end of the month.