MLB Power Rankings: Zimmermann propels Tigers into top 10

The calendar has flipped over to May, which means the "It's early" defense isn't quite as strong as it was a couple weeks ago. So, maybe it's time to start worrying about the Astros, who dropped another spot in our rankings, or start believing in the White Sox, a red-hot club flirting with a top-10 spot following a strong road trip through the northeast.

The composite rankings were compiled by theScore MLB editors Jonah Birenbaum, Bryan Mcwilliam, Simon Sharkey-Gotlieb, George Halim, and Dan Toman.

1. Chicago Cubs

Baseball's best team will finally get something of a test this week with series against the Pirates and Nationals.

2. Washington Nationals

Bryce Harper recorded just two hits this week, and the Nats got swept by the Phillies. Even the best have off-weeks.

3. New York Mets

Michael Conforto officially arrived this week, as did the rest of the Mets' lineup. Imagine if consistent hitting teams up with that staff?

4. Los Angeles Dodgers

Six straight losses - to the Marlins and Padres (!) - dropped them under .500 briefly, but they're still tied for first place thanks to Clayton Kershaw.

5. Toronto Blue Jays

The pitching's been great, but several of the potent bats haven't woken up yet, which has caused problems.

6. Pittsburgh Pirates

Road series against the Cubs and Cardinals will go a long way to figuring out where the Bucs stand in the NL Central.

7. San Francisco Giants

A dominating sweep of the Padres was followed by crushing losses to the Mets. What is going on in the NL West?

8. Boston Red Sox

Maybe David Ortiz should reconsider retirement, because he's pacing the league in doubles, fourth in OPS, and keeping the Red Sox in first place.

9. Detroit Tigers

Jordan Zimmermann's loving life in Motor City. The feeling is mutual, since he's quickly looking like the steal of the winter.

10. Kansas City Royals

Royals pitchers are holding opponents to a .228 average, which should get a team out of third place eventually.

11. Texas Rangers

Good thing Yu Darvish is coming back, because this patchwork rotation is going to crumble soon: the Rangers' starters have the worst FIP (4.76) in the league.

12. St. Louis Cardinals

Though their offense has been fine, their rotation's inability to miss bats (18.2-percent strikeout rate) could be a real problem.

13. Chicago White Sox

Their rotation has been superb, but their relievers deserve tons of credit, too: Chicago's bullpen leads baseball with a 1.60 ERA.

14. Baltimore Orioles

They exceeded expectations in April, but the injuries are starting to mount and Mark Trumbo isn't going to have a .929 OPS all year.

15. Houston Astros

A three-game set with the Twins may be the cure for a floundering rotation that ranks last in the AL in strikeout rate and second-last in ERA.

16. Seattle Mariners

Quit sleeping on the team with five wins in their last seven games, and a 1-2 punch of King Felix and Taijuan Walker that looks seriously legit.

17. New York Yankees

Can't blame any Yankees fans reaching into the closet for their tattered, neglected Mets hats: the Bronx Bombers have the second-worst run differential (-31) in the AL.

18. Cleveland Indians

Shocker: the quintessential .500 team ranks eighth in the AL in runs scored and 11th in runs allowed.

19. Colorado Rockies

Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story have combined for 21 homers, and the Rockies have still allowed more runs than they've scored.

20. Los Angeles Angels

Even with Mike Trout heating up, it's hard to get excited about the Angels' offense, which sits among the bottom four in the league in OBP and isolated power.

21. Tampa Bay Rays

Who is Tampa Bay's best hitter? Trick question! Nobody. The Rays have been limited to three runs or fewer a league-high 18 times already this year.

22. Arizona Diamondbacks

How bad has Arizona's revamped staff been? Well, the D-Backs boast five regulars with a wRC+ above 124 and still have a losing record.

23. Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers' team ERA of 5.65 actually isn't that bad when you look at the pitchers on their payroll!

24. Oakland Athletics

Jesse Hahn shined on the mound in his season debut, but the A's ought to see if he can hit a bit, too. Nobody else on their team can.

25. Miami Marlins

Giancarlo Stanton has five homers in his last seven games. Not coincidentally, the Marlins have six wins in their last seven games.

26. Cincinnati Reds

Joey Votto said he'd rather quit than play at a poor level. Hopefully his teammates don't feel the same way, or there won't be a team in Cincinnati.

27. Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies should probably take their ball and go home now, because their record very much belies their total inability to hit (.286 wOBA).

28. San Diego Padres

Sure, they got embarrassed by Clayton Kershaw on Sunday, but would they have fared much better against a different pitcher? Their 77 wRC+ is fourth-worst in baseball.

29. Minnesota Twins

Miguel Sano sending his club to a fourth straight loss Sunday by getting thrown out trying to stretch a double into a triple pretty much encapsulates the Twins' year so far.

30. Atlanta Braves

It's now May, and the Braves are slugging .287. Could be worse, though ... Actually, scratch that, it literally can't be any worse.

*Pythag record is a formula invented by Bill James in an attempt to determine how many games a team should have won based on runs scored and allowed.