MLB Power Rankings: Nationals rise with Harper in MVP form

The first month of the 2017 campaign is a week from completion, and while the Chicago Cubs still sit atop theScore's weekly power rankings, a new contender is hot on their tails thanks to the resurgence of 2015 National League MVP Bryce Harper.

While Harper keeps mashing in the American capital, the San Francisco Giants continue their slide and must now deal with the loss of ace Madison Bumgarner.

With so much movement in this week's power rankings, let's take a closer look at how each team stacks up.

1. Chicago Cubs

Shockingly, the Cubs - with Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, and Kyle Hendricks - are fifth-last in the majors in quality-start rate (33 percent). If they weren't averaging nearly five runs per game, that might be an issue.

2. Washington Nationals

There's maybe only one person in Washington more dangerous than Bryce Harper, who has five homers in his last seven games and entered Sunday leading the majors in WAR (1.6), OPS (1.362), and walk rate (21.8 percent).

3. Cleveland Indians

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Cleveland's big offseason addition is starting to pay dividends following a slow start, as Edwin Encarnacion is hitting .290/.421/.484 with a pair of home runs over his last eight games.

4. Houston Astros

Outside of George Springer's wonky hamstring, Houston really doesn't have any problems. Three weeks into the season, the Astros are among the top three in the majors in offense (117 wRC+), and top five in run prevention (3.29 ERA; 3.58 RA/game).

5. Los Angeles Dodgers

Clayton Kershaw has accrued 0.8 WAR thus far in 2017. The Dodgers' other starters have combined for minus-0.3 WAR. Dave Roberts was cryptic about it last week, but you better believe Julio Urias is on his way up from Triple-A.

6. Boston Red Sox

Dave Dombrowski ought to consider supergluing David Price's elbow ligaments together, because Boston's non-Chris Sale starters have combined for a 5.63 ERA so far.

7. Baltimore Orioles

War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength. And the Orioles' starters are good, leading the American League in WAR with the fourth-lowest ERA (3.50) heading into Sunday.

8. Colorado Rockies

The Rockies aren't going to win every close game they play this year, but their 7-0 record in one-run contests does illuminate just how dominant their bullpen (1.93 FIP; MLB-best 3.51 WPA) has been.

9. New York Yankees

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What year is it? The Yankees are 8-1 at home, CC Sabathia is pitching like an ace, and they're one of the best clubs in the AL. Aaron Judge's long home runs are reason enough to watch this team.

10. New York Mets

Given that Curtis Granderson, Neil Walker, Jose Reyes, and Travis d'Arnaud are a combined 6-for-74 (.081) over the past week, it's not hard to see why the Mets have won just one game since last Friday.

11. Arizona Diamondbacks

What a week for Yasmany Tomas. The 26-year-old slugged .720 and drove in a combined eight runs against the Padres and Dodgers. Tomas, Jake Lamb, and Paul Goldschmidt have combined for 43 of the team's 98 RBIs.

12. Detroit Tigers

If you think Sunday's 13-run explosion is evidence the Tigers' lineup can survive Miguel Cabrera's absence, it's not. They were playing the Twins.

13. Miami Marlins

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Marcell Ozuna may have cooled off, but Superman Giancarlo Stanton has his teammates' backs. Stanton posted a ridiculous 1.211 OPS with four big knocks this past week and raised his average to .300.

14. Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays - yes, the ones from Tampa - are hitting the ball with some authority. They lead the AL in RBIs (87), and sit behind only the Yankees in slugging percentage (.427). Too bad their 204 strikeouts are 36 clear of anyone else in their league.

15. Texas Rangers

Nine players who appeared in a game for the Rangers this past week hit under .188. The only players who exceeded that mark were Carlos Gomez (.250), Delino DeShields (.250), and Robinson Chirinos (.333 in just two games). Somehow, they're winners of four straight.

16. St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals are awake. After starting the season 3-9, St. Louis has won 6-of-7 thanks to a solid week from infielders Kolten Wong and Jedd Gyorko. Oh, and big knocks from Adam Wainwright are back!

17. Oakland Athletics

Khris Davis continues to mash monster dingers and the young rotation has remained remarkably steady. With no expectations surrounding the A's, being at all competitive should hearten their fans.

18. Milwaukee Brewers

Eric Thames is the feel-good story of the MLB season no matter what John Lackey insinuates. But don't sleep on Chase Anderson (who?); the Brewers' best starter has a 1.13 ERA through four outings.

19. San Francisco Giants

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MadBum is out after getting hurt in a dirt bike accident. That's terrible news for the slumping Giants, who continue to sit in the NL West basement despite a payroll north of $175 million.

20. Los Angeles Angels

The Angels received more bad news about Garrett Richards, who was moved to the 60-day DL after nerve irritation was discovered in his biceps, but hey, at least Albert Pujols is now the all-time RBI leader among Dominican-born players.

21. Pittsburgh Pirates

Did losing Starling Marte to an 80-game suspension ruin the team's already shaky playoff aspirations? Sitting dead last in the NL Central and losing three consecutive 2-1 games to the Cardinals suggest it's likely.

22. Cincinnati Reds

OK, the Reds' out-of-the-box bullpen strategy may work for them, but their relievers have already thrown 81.2 innings. Cincinnati's played 19 games and is on pace for 692 innings from the bullpen for the season.

23. Minnesota Twins

The Twins had quite a Saturday after Miguel Sano appeared ready to take on the entire roster of the Detroit Tigers following a near-beaning by Matt Boyd. Benches cleared, and Sano's finger point at Boyd will forever live on in the southpaw's nightmares.

24. Seattle Mariners

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All hail Mitch Haniger! With the rest of the bats still stirring from winter hibernation, Haniger has helped keep the Mariners' offense afloat as he leads the team in runs scored, home runs, RBIs, and batting average.

25. Philadelphia Phillies

Phillies fans worried about Maikel Franco's .171 batting average should take solace in the fact that he's striking out only 12.8 percent of the time while posting a 9.0 percent walk rate. He's been the victim of some horrendous luck and should see a turnaround soon.

26. Toronto Blue Jays

At least Jose Bautista finally hit a home run, but sitting in the AL East basement - by a wide margin for April - is a huge departure from the Blue Jays' preseason expectations. A third consecutive playoff berth already appears out of reach.

27. Kansas City Royals

No team has scored fewer runs than the Royals' 46 through 18 games. Eric Hosmer is batting only .203. Alex Gordon has been even worse and remains without a home run.

28. Chicago White Sox

Three consecutive losses brought the White Sox back below .500 on the season, though they have a winning record away from Guaranteed Rate Field. In a transition year, it's all about looking for silver linings.

29. Atlanta Braves

The bright spot is the 4-3 home record to open SunTrust Park, but the Braves are already six games behind the division-leading Nationals and have lost five straight. Poor Freddie Freeman.

30. San Diego Padres

The Padres are a miraculous 8-12 and not last in the NL West despite having a MLB-worst minus-33 run differential. San Diego is building a bright future around Manuel Margot, Hunter Renfroe, and seasoned vet Wil Myers (he's 26), but it'll be a rough couple of seasons.