Cubs No. 1, Red Sox rising in MLB Power Rankings

The Cubs are the only team with its starting staff to post an ERA under 3.00, and they are sitting at 2.24! Jason Hammel (1.77) and Jon Lester (1.88) join Jake Arrieta( 1.29) with an ERA under 2.00.

Key Injuries: LF Kyle Schwarber (knee)

The Red Sox lineup is unstoppable. They have scored 78 runs while winning seven of the past eight games, lead baseball with a .848 OPS and are 30 of 32 in stolen base attempts.

Key Injuries: RHP Eduardo Rodriguez (knee), RHP Joe Kelly (shoulder)

That Mat Latos ride was fun while it lasted. After starting the season with a 0.74 ERA in his first four starts, he's recorded a 7.63 ERA in the past three starts.
Key Injuries: None

The Nationals are going to make opponents pay for walking Bryce Harper. He's already been walked intentionally 11 times, after he was walked intentionally 15 times, total, in 2015.
Key Injuries: None

Staff ace Chris Tillman's increased use of a cutter is making him into true ace, with a strikeout rate (9.33 K/9) that is easily the best of his career.
Key Injuries: RHP Yovani Gallardo (shoulder), SS J.J. Hardy (foot)

Four straight losses, including a three-game sweep at the hands of the Rockies in Colorado, knocks the Mets down a few slots. Their most dangerous hitter, LF Michael Conforto, is slumping (.468 OPS in May).
Key Injuries: RHP Zack Wheeler (elbow), C Travis d'Arnaud (shoulder)

23-year-old RHP Taijuan Walker has broken out this season; his 6.33 walk-strikeout ratio is best in the American League.
Key Injuries: None.

How do we know that RHP Adam Wainwright is having problems (beyond his 6.80 ERA and career-low 5.2 K/9)? His curveball, which used to be best in baseball, is getting hit now too.

Key Injuries: SS Jhonny Peralta (thumb)

Winners of five straight, the Giants have allowed just 11 runs in those five wins.

Key Injuries: None.

There haven't been enough good offensive contributions for the Dodgers, but OF Trayce Thompson has hit .292 with a .949 OPS, including five home runs in the past eight games.
Key Injuries:  LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (shoulder), RHP Brandon McCarthy (elbow), LHP Brett Anderson (back)

RF Giancarlo Stanton is great, but the Marlins have two outfielders -- CF Marcell Ozuna (.877) and LF Christian Yelich (.931) with an even better OPS than Stanton (.874).

Key Injuries: None

Pirates starters have managed a 4.56 ERA this season, after posting a 3.53 ERA last season. It's tough to make up for that extra run against per game.

Key Injuries: None

The Rockies have won four straight and they're getting better (a little bit better!) pitching from the likes of Jon Gray and Eddie Butler.
Key Injuries: LHP Jorge De La Rosa (groin), C Nick Hundley (oblique)

The dust-up in Texas didn't necessarily bring the team together (since they got clobbered the next game by Tampa Bay), but losing three straight has the Blue Jays on the wrong side of break-even. They're still not hitting as expected, and continue to search for bullpen answers.
Key Injuries: 2B Devon Travis (shoulder)

Since opening the season 6-9, the Phillies are playing at a .667 clip (16-8),. They're doing it with a lineup full of holes and not enough pitchign depth, but their top-end starters and end-game relievers have been really strong.

Key Injuries: RF Aaron Altherr (wrist), RHP Charlie Morton (hamstring)

Injuries have hit the rotation, and the Royals have stumbled to a 6-13 record after starting the year with a 12-6 record.

Key Injuries: LHP Jason Vargas (elbow), 3B Mike Moustakas (thumb), RHP Chris Young (forearm), RHP Kris Medlen (shoulder)

With a 3.47 ERA in four starts, RHP Trevor Bauer is making a case to keep a spot in the rotation. With a 8.28 ERA in six starts, Cody Anderson is offering reason to be removed.
Key Injuries: RHP Carlos Carrasco (hamstring), LF Michael Brantley (shoulder)

CF Cameron Maybin has returned to action, and the Tigers have won a couple in a row after losing 11 of 12.

Key Injuries: RHP Shane Greene (finger)

Losing their most productive player, Logan Forsythe, is a big hit for a team that has lost five of seven games. 
Key Injuries: RHP Alex Cobb (elbow), 2B Logan Forsythe (shoulder)

C Chris Hermann is hitting so well (4 HR, .919 OPS in 67 plate appearances) that the Diamondbacks have resorted to trying him in the outfield to keep his bat in the lineup.
Key Injuries: CF A.J. Pollock (elbow)

Padres pitching has been getting better, putting up a 2.82 ERA in May, as LHP Drew Pomeranz has allowed one earned run in 18 innings over his past three starts.
Key Injuries: RHP Tyson Ross (shoulder), 3B Yangervis Solarte (hamstring), 2B Cory Spangenberg (quad), RHP Andrew Cashner (hamstring)

The pitching staff has been rocked by injuries, but the Angels have emerged from a six-game losing streak with a four-game winning streak.
Key Injuries: LHP Andrew Heaney (forearm), LHP C.J. Wilson (elbow), RHP Huston Street (oblique), RHP Garrett Richard (elbow), SS Andrelton Simmons (thumb), SS Cliff Pennington (hamstring)

RHP Dan Straily is taking advantage of his opportunity, posting a 3.00 ERA in six starts for the Reds, though he's going to have to cut down on walks (16 in 33 IP as a starter). 
Key Injuries: RHP Anthony DeSclafani (oblique), RHP Raisel Iglesias (shoulder), C Devin Mesoraco (shoulder)

Lost three of four in Boston, but the Astros are 8-7 in May and got RHP Lance McCullers back in the rotation. Even if his first start wasn't great, McCullers' 2015 season offers lots of reason for optimism.
Key Injuries: None

The A's have won back-to-back games, after losing 10 of 12, and 3B Danny Valencia has blasted five homers in the past four games.

Key Injuries: RHP Chris Bassitt (elbow), 2B Jed Lowrie (shin), 
 

Improved pitching (a 4.40 ERA in May), okay relatively improved pitching, is making the Brewers a little more competitive, and they're 8-7 this month.
Key Injuries: RHP Matt Garza (lat)