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MLB power rankings: Red-hot Chicago Cubs power into September, NL wild-card race
By Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY,
1 day ago
As September dawns, a surprise guest has imposed on the National League playoff race.
And the Chicago Cubs are proving that, with the exception of their crosstown rivals, it's never too late to make a meaningful run.
The hottest team in baseball just completed an 8-1 road trip and will take a season-high six-game winning streak into the week, extending a stretch of quality play that has moved them up six spots in USA TODAY Sports ' power rankings.
Chicago has gone 20-8 since July 31 and 32-18 in its last 50 games, pulling within three games of the final NL wild-card berth. The Cubs have done it on the strength of a once moribund and suddenly unstoppable offense that's produced 99 runs in their last 10 games, ranking first in the major leagues in batting average and OPS in that span.
"It’s like a tale of two seasons, right?" says shortstop Dansby Swanson, who was batting .201 on July 9 but .293 (46 for 157) in 45 games since. "Y’all are saying we stink, and we can’t score runs, and everyone’s putting so much pressure to try to score runs and produce.
"Right now it feels like the opposite: Everybody’s free and confident, whether it’s themselves or the guy on deck or in the batter’s box."
While they still need to leapfrog the New York Mets and Swanson's former Atlanta squad, beware the bear in the woods: Just nine of the Cubs' last 25 games are against teams with winning records.
Nico Hoerner celebrates in the dugout after scoring a run against the Washington Nationals on Sunday. Rafael Suanes, USA TODAY Sports
A look at our updated rankings:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (-)
Toe injury might end Clayton Kershaw's season after just eight starts.
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