Can the No. 2 Washington Nationals make up any ground this week when the two teams meet in Washington for a three-game series? The Cubs swept the Nats in a four-game series earlier this season in Chicago.
The biggest moves up in the rankings come from the St. Louis Cardinals (No. 13 to No. 8) and New York Yankees (No. 19 to No. 14), who each jumped five spots in the rankings. The Cardinals went 5-1 on the week, finishing with a three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Yankees, after winning their first five games to start the week, ended the week on a sour note, dropping two straight to the Detroit Tigers.
This week's voters are Jim Bowden of ESPN Insider, Eric Karabell of ESPN Fantasy, Tim Kurkjian of ESPN, David Schoenfield of the SweetSpot Blog Network/ESPN.com and Jayson Stark of ESPN.com. Most of the team comments come courtesy of the SweetSpot Blog Network.
Past rankings: Week 9 | Week 8 | Week 7 | Week 6 | Week 5 | Week 4 | Week 3 | Week 2 | Week 1 | Preseason
1. Chicago Cubs
Record: 43-18Week 9 ranking: No. 1
With their win Sunday, the Cubs are now 25 games over . 500. To put that in perspective, if they played one game over .500 for the rest of the season (51-50), they'd finish with 94 wins. Big series to start the week, with three games in Washington. -- ESPN.com
2. Washington Nationals
Record: 39-24Week 9 ranking: No. 4
Who needs Bryce Harper? The Nationals have won 10 of 13 while averaging 6.5 runs per game, including 25 home runs -- even though Harper is homerless in this stretch with just six runs and five RBIs. -- David Schoenfield (@dschoenfield), SweetSpot
3. Boston Red Sox
Record: 36-26Week 9 ranking: No. 3
Now in his third full MLB season at age 23, Xander Bogaerts is fulfilling the promise that once made him one of the game's top prospects -- he leads the majors in fWAR at 3.7, with above-average defense and a stellar .358/.405/.529 batting line. -- Ryan P. Morrison (@ryanpmorrison), Inside the 'Zona
4. Texas Rangers
Record: 39-24Week 9 ranking: No. 5
The Rangers still possess the best record in the American League but will hold their breath that an MRI on Yu Darvish (neck/shoulder stiffness) doesn't end up bringing bad news. -- Brandon Land (@onestrikeaway), One Strike Away
5. San Francisco Giants
Record: 38-26Week 9 ranking: No. 2
A mid-week split with the Red Sox saw Madison Bumgarner and David Price face off Wednesday with the Giants getting the edge. After Sunday's 2-1 win over the Dodgers, San Francisco hasn't played a game decided by more than two runs since June 5 as it clings to the NL West lead. -- Jeff Wiser (@OutfieldGrass24), Inside the 'Zona
6. Baltimore Orioles
Record: 36-26Week 9 ranking: No. 8
When Chris Davis gets on a roll, not many players are better. After a quick start to the season but then a subpar May, Davis is on fire in June. He already has hit six home runs this month, including homering in five straight games. -- Matt Kremnitzer (@mattkremnitzer), Camden Depot
7. New York Mets
Record: 34-28Week 9 ranking: No. 6
The Mets are tied for second in the NL in homers but are third to last in runs scored. Wilmer Flores is hitting .406 with three doubles, three runs and three RBIs in 10 games since replacing the injured David Wright at third base. -- Joe Janish (@metstoday), MetsToday.com
8. St. Louis Cardinals
Record: 35-28Week 9 ranking: No. 13
Since falling to 24-24 in late May, the Cards have gone 11-4 as the offense has averaged 6.1 runs per game while hitting 20 home runs. Matt Holliday is hitting .373 with four home runs and 12 RBIs in that span. -- David Schoenfield (@dschoenfield), SweetSpot
9. Seattle Mariners
Record: 34-29Week 9 ranking: No. 7
The Mariners spoiled two excellent starts by James Paxton last week, both against the division-leading Rangers. The lefty tallied 12.1 innings of one-earned-run, 17-strikeout ball over his two starts, culminating in losses (3-1 and 2-1) in both. Texas leads Seattle by five games in the AL West. -- Jeff Wiser (@OutfieldGrass24), Inside the 'Zona
10. Cleveland Indians
Record: 35-27Week 9 ranking: No. 10
The Indians have spent the past week in first place in the AL Central, and they're starting to play as if they actually believe they belong there. Corey Kluber pitched his ninth career complete game in a three-hit victory over the Angels on Friday. -- Susan Petrone, It's Pronounced Lajaway
11. Los Angeles Dodgers
Record: 33-31Week 9 ranking: No. 14
Clayton Kershaw is 7-0 in his past eight starts and has 122 strikeouts against only six walks on the season. His victory Friday in AT&T Park raised his lifetime record there to 10-3 with a 1.30 ERA. Yasiel Puig will head to Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga on Monday to begin a rehab assignment. -- Diane Firstman (@dianagram), Value Over Replacement Grit
12. Pittsburgh Pirates
Record: 32-31Week 9 ranking: No. 9
After getting swept at home by division-rival St. Louis, the Pirates slipped to 32-31 with a five-game losing streak. Now 12 games behind the division-leading Cubs, it's looking like a dogfight for the Pirates to earn one of the NL's wild-card spots. -- Ryan P. Morrison (@ryanpmorrison), Inside the 'Zona
13. Toronto Blue Jays
Record: 35-30Week 9 ranking: No. 12
In the first 13 games subbing for injured Troy Tulowitzki, Darwin Barney hit .341/.396/.477. The Jays have managed to survive Tulo's absence, going 12-6 through Saturday. -- Diane Firstman (@dianagram), Value Over Replacement Grit
14. New York Yankees
Record: 31-32Week 9 ranking: No. 19
The weekend ended on a sour note with two losses to the Tigers, but overall it was a good week in Yankeeland. The Bombers swept the Angels in a four-game set that featured a brief offensive resurgence, and the starting pitching as a whole continues to be strong. The injuries and lack of middle relief are still problems, but with nobody running away in the AL East, the Yankees are just managing to keep their heads above water. -- Brad Vietrogoski (@BradVietro), It's About the Money
15. Kansas City Royals
Record: 32-30Week 9 ranking: No. 11
The Royals have won two in a row to end an eight-game losing streak, during which the offense suffered through one of the worst droughts in franchise history. In the middle six losses they scored just four runs and hit .192. -- David Schoenfield (@dschoenfield), SweetSpot
16. Miami Marlins
Record: 32-31Week 9 ranking: No. 15
Miami has an opportunity to pile up some wins over the next nine games, with series against the Padres, Rockies and Braves. However, the Braves have won five of the first six matchups this season. Giancarlo Stanton from May 7 to June 10: .120/.206/.217. -- Diane Firstman (@dianagram), Value Over Replacement Grit
17. Detroit Tigers
Record: 32-30Week 9 ranking: No. 17
He's not the most heralded name in the lineup, but Ian Kinsler is second among Tigers regulars in each slash stat, going .316/.370/.534. He also has missed only 12 games in the last three seasons. Meanwhile, the Prince (Fielder) he was traded for has battled injury and ineffectiveness during his Rangers reign. Chalk one up for the commoners. -- Richard Bergstrom (@rbergstromjr), Rockies Zingers
18. Chicago White Sox
Record: 31-32Week 9 ranking: No. 16
The White Sox are refusing to go quietly after ceding the lead in the ultra-competitive AL Central. After trading for James Shields a week ago, the team called up No. 2 prospect Tim Anderson on Friday, and the rookie recorded a double in his first at-bat. He'll replace light-hitting shortstop Tyler Saladino in Chicago's lineup for now. -- Jeff Wiser (@OutfieldGrass24), Inside the 'Zona
19. Houston Astros
Record: 30-35Week 9 ranking: No. 18
Carlos Correa has missed the past three games with an ankle sprain. One reason his numbers are down from last season: His strikeout rate has climbed from 18.1 percent to 25.4 percent. He already has six three-strikeout games after having just one as a rookie. -- David Schoenfield (@dschoenfield), SweetSpot
20. Tampa Bay Rays
Record: 29-32Week 9 ranking: No. 23
The Rays turned around their five-game losing streak, winning six of their last eight. Some parts of the rotation are showing some signs of improvement but struggle to go deep into games, leading to members of the bullpen being overworked. -- Jason Collette, The Process Report
21. Colorado Rockies
Record: 30-33Week 9 ranking: No. 24
The Rockies went 5-2 this past week. The offense and starting pitching were up to task, but a cylinder still misfired as both losses came from the bullpen. One of those losses went to Charlie Sheen's Twin-In-Name-Only, Carlos "Wild Thing" Estevez. His triple-digit fastball and slight propensity for walks will split closing duties with Jason Motte while Jake McGee recovers from injury. -- Richard Bergstrom (@rbergstromjr), Rockies Zingers
22. Philadelphia Phillies
Record: 29-34Week 9 ranking: No. 22
Facing the Nationals and Cubs for two weeks straight would be rough on any team, but for the Phillies it was downright brutal. Against those two teams, the Phillies went 1-11, scoring more than four runs only once while giving up more than four runs in every game except in the single contest they won. -- Richard Bergstrom (@rbergstromjr), Rockies Zingers
23. Milwaukee Brewers
Record: 30-33Week 9 ranking: No. 25
Wily Peralta finally claimed a victory Saturday against the Mets, hitting his first career home run in the process. However, the right-hander was sent down to Triple-A Colorado Springs as Matt Garza is set to return to the rotation in the coming days. -- Gabe Stoltz (@Stoltzy3), Disciples of Uecker
24. Los Angeles Angels
Record: 27-36Week 9 ranking: No. 21
Mike Trout appears to be OK after leaving Sunday's game with a bruised thumb. Here's a bright spot: Matt Shoemaker may have rediscovered the feel on his splitter, as he has a 2.85 ERA in seven starts since returning from the minors, with 54 K's and just four walks. -- David Schoenfield (@dschoenfield), SweetSpot
25. Arizona Diamondbacks
Record: 28-37Week 9 ranking: No. 26
After a horrendous April, Zack Greinke has looked much more like the pitcher the D-backs hoped to land with a record-setting contract in the offseason. He has yet to yield an earned run in June (two starts, 16 innings) after a 3.82 ERA in May -- Ryan P. Morrison (@ryanpmorrison), Inside the 'Zona
26. Oakland Athletics
Record: 26-36Week 9 ranking: No. 20
Marcus Semien hit his 12th home run Sunday and is now on pace for 31. The only shortstop in A's history -- Oakland, K.C. or Philly -- to hit 25 in a season is Miguel Tejada, who did it four times (34, 31, 30, 27). -- David Schoenfield (@dschoenfield), SweetSpot
27. San Diego Padres
Record: 26-38Week 9 ranking: No. 27
San Diego's first-round draft pick, Cal Quantrill, is the son of former big leaguer Paul. Erik Johnson, acquired in the James Shields trade, made his first start for the Padres on Saturday night, yielding five runs and nine hits in 4⅔ innings. -- Diane Firstman (@dianagram), Value Over Replacement Grit
28. Cincinnati Reds
Record: 24-39Week 9 ranking: No. 28
Don't look now, but the Reds have won seven of their last 10 and are actually playing an entertaining brand of baseball at the moment. Jay Bruce, Zack Cozart and Adam Duvall continue to hit, but the story of the year may be Dan Straily. Picked up off the waiver wire just days before the season began, Straily has been Cincinnati's most dependable starter, going 4-2 with a 3.15 ERA. -- Chad Dotson (@dotsonc), Redleg Nation
29. Minnesota Twins
Record: 19-43Week 9 ranking: No. 29
A matchup between the league's best offense and the league's worst pitching staff at Target Field over the weekend went about as you'd expect. The Red Sox piled up 27 runs over three games while taking two of three from the Twins, who are on pace for 112 losses as we approach the season's halfway point. -- Nick Nelson (@NickNelsonMN), TwinsDaily
30. Atlanta Braves
Record: 18-44Week 9 ranking: No. 30
The Braves continued unloading veterans on short contracts this past week as they shipped Kelly Johnson to the Mets. Jason Grilli was sent to Toronto the week before, and more are likely to follow. Eight-year veteran pitcher Bud Norris may be next. Norris has a 1.78 ERA since the beginning of May while making impressive starts against contending teams like the Dodgers and Cubs. -- Martin Gandy (@gondeee), Chop County
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