ESPN ranks Cubs outside Top 5 in MLB Power Rankings |
Opening Day will finally be here on Thursday.
The Chicago Cubs will face off against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas. Since the season is cranking up, ESPN released their initial MLB power rankings for 2019. The Cubs were ranked No. 6 out of the 30 teams. "Catcher Willson Contreras is a key on several fronts," ESPN.com said. "First off, he's catching a low-velocity, high-pitchability staff. Cubs starters simply aren't going to be blowing anyone away, which means he'll have to steal as many strikes as he can -- an area of the game on which he has been working. He's also very important on offense simply because he needs to make up for a lack of production in the outfield." The MLB frontrunners ahead of the Cubs were the Red Sox, Astros, Yankees, Dodgers, and Brewers. The National League Central division should be one of the tops in all of baseball with the Brewers (5), Cubs (6), Cardinals (11), Reds (18), and Pirates (19) all inside ESPN's top 20 rankings.
