Our MLB power rankings for Aug. 21

1. Chicago Cubs (1, last week): It’s a team thing: At least two players have started a dozen games at every position but first base.

2. Washington Nationals (2): Reynaldo Lopez on Thursday became fourth rookie pitcher in Nats’ history to produce 10-K gem.

3. Texas Rangers (3): In addition to his big-time bat, catcher Jonathan Lucroy has quickly developed kinship with pitchers.

4. Cleveland Indians (4): Manager Terry Francona is pushing all the right buttons with playoff-bound Tribe.

5. Toronto Blue Jays (6): Edwin Encarnacion is first MLB hitter to reach 100 RBIs.

6. Los Angeles Dodgers (7): Dodgers will be dangerous once — er, if — rotation reunites at full health.

7. Baltimore Orioles (8): O’s hoping Chris Davis can replicate his late-season numbers from 2015, when he hit 22 homers in August and September.

8. Boston Red Sox (11): During five-day span last week, Red Sox played in four different cities.

9. San Francisco Giants (5): Fears of epic collapse somewhat quelled by recalling 9-21 stretch Giants endured in 2014, when they went on to win their third World Series in five years.

10. Seattle Mariners (9): A big-league contender can survive only so long while relying on a rotation assembled with Triple-A glue.

11. St. Louis Cardinals (14): Cards on pace to finish with most home runs since Mark McGwire-Jim Edmonds tandem led team to franchise-record 235 in 2000.

12. Detroit Tigers (10): Comeback from 3-1, eighth-inning deficit against Red Sox on Thursday might have been season saver.

13. Pittsburgh Pirates (15): Bucs’ revival began with apparent “white flag” deadline trades of closer Mark Melancon and opening-day starter Francisco Liriano.

14. Miami Marlins (12): Nine days of rest didn’t prevent Jose Fernandez from making shortest start since 2014 last week.

15. New York Yankees (16): The “Baby Bombers” — Gary Sanchez, Aaron Judge and Tyler Austin — combined to hit seven homers during last five games of recent homestand.

16. Houston Astros (13): Center fielder Carlos Gomez, released Friday, never resembled two-time All-Star he was in Milwaukee.

17. Kansas City Royals (19): You can’t write off the defending champs until they are mathematically eliminated.

18. New York Mets (17): Definition of “wishful thinking”: When season-ticket holders of 60-60 team are sent ticket strips to purchase for postseason home games.

19. Colorado Rockies (18): Rox need to exercise patience with 23-year-old reliever Carlos “Wild Thing” Estevez, who throws 100 mph.

20. Chicago White Sox (20): Todd Frazier after Chicago’s record in one-run games fell to 20-24 during recent road trip: “Just an emptiness leaving all these parks.”

21. Philadelphia Phillies (21): If Ryan Howard continues to swing hot bat, he might end up hitting his weight.

22. Milwaukee Brewers (22): Going into weekend series at Safeco Field, shortstop Jonathan Villar had 46 stolen bases — 11 more than entire Mariners team.

23. Oakland Athletics (23): Promoted prospect Chad Pinder figures to be infield fixture for remainder of season.

24. Cincinnati Reds (27): Unwanted by Astros and Padres in late March, Dan Straily has emerged as dependable rotation anchor.

25. Los Angeles Angels (24): Slumping, snake-bitten Angels gave hot Mariners team all it could handle last week.

26. Tampa Bay Rays (28): Ex-Mariner Brad Miller on the long-ball binge that gave him 25 homers going into weekend: “I’m picking the right pitches to swing at.”

27. Arizona Diamondbacks (26): Recent power surge suggests defensively challenged outfielder Yosmany Tomas might not be $68.5 million bust after all.

28. San Diego Padres (25): Speedy center fielder Travis Jankowski, who led Stony Brook to 2012 College World Series, has stolen home twice this month.

29. Minnesota Twins (29): Paul Molitor giving 23-year-old Jorge Polanco an extended audition to prove himself as everyday shortstop.

30. Atlanta Braves (30): Atlanta-area native Dansby Swanson celebrated eagerly awaited Braves debut on Wednesday with two hits at Turner Field.

This story was originally published August 20, 2016 at 2:38 PM with the headline "Our MLB power rankings for Aug. 21."