Week 5 MLB power rankings: Are the Yankees for real?
The Washington Nationals were the unanimous choice this week for the No. 1 rank in Paste BN MLB power rankings.
But don't look now, the New York Yankees, who just swept the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, moved up to the No. 3 spot -- its best ranking this season.
From 1 to 30, how they stack up based on voting from our 10-person panel:
TEAM. MOVEMENT
1. Washington Nationals: --
►14-6 vs. NL East opponents.
2. Houston Astros: +2
►21-11 start matches '73, '04 teams for best in club history.
3. New York Yankees: +2
►Cubs not even a speed bump for these Bombers.
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4. Baltimore Orioles: +2
►Four games with neighboring Nationals will be good measure.
5. Chicago Cubs: -3
►Brett Anderson has failed to complete four innings in three of six starts.
6. Cleveland Indians: -3
►Shocker: Andrew Miller has a 0.00 ERA, a 0.77 WHIP, seven holds, no blown saves.
7. Los Angeles Dodgers: +1
►Cody Bellinger latest reminder this club will bludgeon the NL with depth.
8. Colorado Rockies: +1
►Ian Desmond is back, but Mark Reynolds (11 homers, 1.040 OPS) isn't going anywhere.
9. Boston Red Sox: -2
►5-2 in Chris Sale's starts.
10. St. Louis Cardinals: +1
►Sam Tuivailala (1.50 ERA, 1.17 WHIP) surprise MVP of bullpen thus far.
11. Arizona Diamondbacks: -1
►Shelby Miller's Tommy John surgery may prompt Archie Bradley's rotation return.
12. Detroit Tigers: +2
►Days Since A Tigers Bullpen Meltdown: 0
13. Tampa Bay Rays: +3
►Kevin Kiermaier (.205, .297 OBP) dropped toward bottom of lineup.
14. Cincinnati Reds: +13
►Are they for real? Ask again after 12 of 16 vs. Yankees, Cubs, Indians, Rockies.
15. Milwaukee Brewers: --
►Beer leaguers, indeed: Lead NL in home runs (50), third in slugging (.453).
16. New York Mets: +5
►"Queens Is Burning" doesn't quite have the same ring.
17. Minnesota Twins: +6
►In 2016, did not win 15th game until May 29.
18. Chicago White Sox: -5
►Who knew Avisail Garcia - batting a team-best .349 - might be best trade chip?
19. Los Angeles Angels: +1
►Two days with Mike Trout on shelf shows how nondescript they are without him.
20. Pittsburgh Pirates: -1
►In 17 games since Marte suspension, Josh Bell batting .316 with five homers, .409 OBP.
21. Seattle Mariners +4
►James Paxton joins Felix Hernandez, Drew Smyly on disabled list.
22. Texas Rangers: -10
►With Cole Hamels out eight weeks, bullpen (5.47 ERA) will have to pick up even more slack.
23. Philadelphia Phillies: -6
►Carlos "Chooch" Ruiz to play first road game at Citizens Bank Park, with Mariners.
24. Miami Marlins: -6
►Giancarlo Stanton has 20 homers in 49 career games at Citi Field.
25. Oakland Athletics: +1
►Yonder Alonso's power surge not enough to overcome their many flaws.
26. San Francisco Giants: -5
►Got outscored 31-5 at Cincinnati. If that's not rock bottom, it's scary to think what might be.
27. Toronto Blue Jays: +1
►Where would they be without Kevin Pillar's .313/.358/.500 performance?
28. Kansas City Royals: +1
►Last in AL in runs scored, as well as batting (.212), on-base (.271) and slugging (.336).
29. San Diego Padres: +1
►1-9 vs. Dodgers and Braves, 11-11 vs. everyone else.
30. Atlanta Braves: -7
►Sunday's 14-inning loss took 4 hours, 6 minutes - or, the average commute to SunTrust Park.
Gallery: MLB photo of the day