Nats new leaders in the MLB Power Rankings

The Nationals have added a major speed weapon with infielder Trea Turner coming up. The 23-year-old has swiped 39 bases and been caught four times in 131 games at Triple-A over the past two seasons.
Key Injuries: 1B Ryan Zimmerman (rib)

The Cubs had been slumping, but won their first two series after the All-Star break, and rookie C Willson Contreras (.891 OPS in 29 games) has added another productive bat to an already imposing lineup.

Key Injuries: LF Kyle Schwarber (knee), LF Jorge Soler (hamstring), CF Dexter Fowler (hamstring)

Adding LHP Drew Pomeranz was a worthwhile risk for the Red Sox, even if his first start results (5 ER in 3 IP) were less than ideal, and if he adds stability to the rotation, the Red Sox are going to be tough to beat down the stretch.

Key Injuries: RHP Craig Kimbrel (knee), RHP Koji Uehara (pectoral)

Rookie CF Tyler Naquin has slugged 12 home runs in 176 at-bats, on his way to a team-leading 1.023 OPS.
Key Injuries: LF Michael Brantley (shoulder), C Yan Gomes (shoulder)

It didn't take long to fall from top spot, as the Giants emerged from the All-Star break, then promptly lost five games in a row, getting outscored 31-17.

Key Injuries: RF Hunter Pence (hamstring), 3B Matt Duffy (Achilles), 2B Joe Panik (concussion)

11 wins in the past 14 games has the Blue Jays within a game of the Red Sox for the lead in the American League East. With the return of RF Jose Bautista around the corner, Toronto's ready for a playoff push, but that probably requires a bullpen upgrade.
Key Injuries: RF Jose Bautista (toe)

The Dodgers have been getting good starts out of RHP Brandon McCarthy (2-0, 1.69 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 22 K, 16 IP in 3 starts), but if Clayton Kershaw's back injury is going to keep him out long-term, this is going to be a major uphill fight.
Key Injuries:  LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (shoulder), LHP Brett Anderson (back), RHP Alex Wood (elbow), LHP Clayton Kershaw (back)

Closer Jeurys Familia has successfully converted all 33 of his save attempts this season. Along with Addison Reed, Jerry Blevins and Hansel Robles, that's some late-inning insurance for the Mets' impressive starting pitchers.
Key Injuries: RHP Zack Wheeler (elbow), 1B Lucas Duda (back), 3B David Wright (neck), RHP Matt Harvey (shoulder)

Injuries have knocked some bats out of the Cards' lineup. They have eight double-digit home run hitters, and two of them (Carpenter and Moss) are on the DL.

Key Injuries: 3B Matt Carpenter (oblique), 3B Jhonny Peralta (thumb), 1B Brandon Moss (ankle)

How amazing is Ichiro? He has 2,994 major-league hits and, at 42, he's hitting .341 with a .818 OPS, and then there's this.

Key Injuries: 1B Justin Bour (ankle)

Second-year SS Carlos Correa isn't quite hitting for the same power that he did as a rookie (.512 slugging percentage down to .465), but he's also lifted his on-base percentage from .345 to .363.
Key Injuries: None

One a four-game losing streak, the Orioles have fallen out of the lead in the AL East. Until they find some starting pitching answers -- Dylan Bundy struggled in his first start recently -- it's hard to figure that Baltimore can keep pace with Boston and Toronto.
Key Injuries: None

Dealt lefty reliever Mike Montgomery to the Cubs for 23-year-old 1B prospect Dan Vogelbach, who has a .972 OPS at Triple-A this season.
Key Injuries: RHP Taijuan Walker (foot)

With the Pirates seeking answers in the starting rotation, they've turned to 23-year-old rookie Chad Kuhl, who had a 2.58 ERA in 14 starts at Triple-A, and has a respectable 4.19 ERA in four major-league starts.

Key Injuries: None

1B Miguel Cabrera is still really good, but it's fair to wonder how this plays out over the long haul for the Tigers. At 33, he has a .860 OPS, his lowest since his rookie season, and is signed through at least 2023.

Key Injuries: RF J.D. Martinez (elbow), RHP Jordan Zimmermann (neck)

This sure doesn't look like a team capable of defending their World Series title, but the Royals have surprised before. They need some bats if they're going to get back into the race.

Key Injuries: LHP Jason Vargas (elbow), 3B Mike Moustakas (knee), CF Lorenzo Cain (hamstring)

Losing five of six coming out of the All-Star break leaves the White Sox in a hole, seven games out of a playoff spot with a bunch of teams -- probably too many -- in the way.
Key Injuries: CF Austin Jackson (knee), LHP Carlos Rodon (wrist), C Alex Avila (hamstring)

Nolan Arenado, Trevor Story and Carlos Gonzalez have combined for 65 home runs, the best by a trio in the National League. Baltimore's Mark Trumbo, Chris Davis and Manny Machado have combined for 69 and Toronto's Josh Donaldson, Edwin Encarnacion and Michael Saunders (or Troy Tulowitzki) have combined for 66. 
Key Injuries: LF Gerardo Parra (ankle)

1B Tommy Joseph leads the Phillies with a .815 OPS, but has driven in just 23 runs despite slugging 13 homers. Tough to drive in runs for a team with a .293 on-base percentage.

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

The A's have some interesting trade pieces including LHP Rich Hill (provided he can get past blister problems) and RF Josh Reddick, who has a career-high .825 OPS this season.

Key Injuries: RHP Chris Bassitt (elbow), RHP Henderson Alvarez (shoulder)
 

LF Ryan Braun can still hit -- hist .885 OPS this season is his best since 2012 -- but he's a 32-year-old without a lot of help in the Brewers lineup.
Key Injuries: RF Domingo Santana (elbow)

The Angels appeared to be sinking (or even sunk), but won six straight after the All-Star break, outscoring opponents 40-16.
Key Injuries: LHP Andrew Heaney (forearm), LHP C.J. Wilson (elbow), RHP Garrett Richards (elbow), 1B C.J. Cron (hand)

RHP Anthony DeSclafani is the one Reds starting pitcher who's delivering the goods - a 2.50 ERA in eight starts, for a team whose starters have combined for a 5.22 ERA this season.
Key Injuries: RHP Alfredo Simon (shoulder), C Devin Mesoraco (shoulder)

23-year-old rookie LHP Blake Snell has been a nice addition to a disappointing starting rotation, posting a 3.11 ERA in seven starts.
Key Injuries: RHP Alex Cobb (elbow), LF Desmond Jennings (hamstring)

It's not easy to invest as much as the Diamondbacks did to acquire starting pitchers Zack Greinke and Shelby Miller in the offseason, but it didn't provide the expected improvement. Greinke has been okay, but is hurt, and Miller has been a mess, posting a 7.14 ERA in 14 starts, and is now in Triple-A.
Key Injuries: CF A.J. Pollock (elbow), RHP Zack Greinke (oblique)m RF David Peralta (foot), CF Chris Owings (foot), RHP Rubby De La Rosa (elbow)

Drew Pomeranz had been the Padres' ace this season, so he's a significant loss, but for a team looking long-term, San Diego can aim for upside with RHP Anderson Espinoza, an 18-year-old who has 73 strikeouts in 79 innings at Single-A.
Key Injuries: RHP Tyson Ross (shoulder), 2B Cory Spangenberg (quad), CF Jon Jay (forearm)