MLB Power Rankings: Where Does Your Favorite Team Stand?

After taking a week off to take on a different Monday morning assignment, I'm back at the wheel of this week's MLB power rankings, my first updated look at all 30 teams since my post-deadline rankings back on July 31.

A good deal has happened since deadline day, and with a month-and-a-half to go, the playoff picture remains a blurry one at best, as things are shaping up for a fantastic stretch run.

This week's ranking, aside from updating where all 30 teams stand, takes a look at each team's best candidate to take home one of the three major awards of MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year.

Only six guys can win those respective awards, so, obviously, not all of these choices are front-runners for the honor or even have a legitimate chance of winning. But they represent the best candidate for one of the three that the team has to offer.

With that, here is an updated look at the MLB scene. Be sure to check back here each Monday for the latest MLB power rankings.

30. Houston Astros (37-79, Previous: 30)

Last Week's Results: 1-5

vs. Boston Red Sox (1-2)
vs. Texas Rangers (0-3)

Top Major Award Candidate: SP Jarred Cosart (AL Rookie of the Year)

Not surprisingly, the Astros are without any legitimate award contenders this season, as they continue to play with a gutted roster in the early stages of their rebuild.

That said, if the 23-year-old Cosart keeps pitching like he has since being called up, he could garner some AL Rookie of the Year votes. In five starts, he's 1-0 with a 1.36 ERA and 1.273 WHIP. It looks like he'll be a core piece of the team's future.

This Week's Opponents

vs. Texas Rangers (1)
at Oakland Athletics (3)
at Los Angeles Angels (3)

29. Miami Marlins (44-72, Previous: 28)

Last Week's Results: 1-5

at Pittsburgh Pirates (0-3)
at Atlanta Braves (1-2)

Top Major Award Candidate: SP Jose Fernandez (NL Rookie of the Year)

Were it not for a pair of injuries in the final days of spring training to the Marlins, 21-year-old Jose Fernandez almost certainly would have opened the year in Double-A after advancing to the High-A level in 2012.

Instead, he broke camp with the team, and he's not only the NL Rookie of the Year front-runner right now, but also a legitimate Cy Young candidate as well. An innings limit may lead to him being shut down and inevitably cost him the award in a deep NL rookie class, but as of now, he's 8-5 with a 2.58 ERA and 143 strikeouts in 132.2 innings of work.

This Week's Opponents

at Kansas City Royals (3)
vs. San Francisco Giants (3)

28. Chicago White Sox (44-72, Previous: 29)

Last Week's Results: 4-3

vs. New York Yankees (3-0)
vs. Minnesota Twins (1-3)

Top Major Award Candidate: SP Chris Sale (AL Cy Young)

After selling off guys like Jake Peavy and Alex Rios, it looks like the White Sox are headed for a full-scale rebuild. One piece they do have to build around is the 24-year-old Chris Sale, who signed a five-year, $32.5 million extension in the offseason.

His 7-11 record doesn't paint the whole picture this season, as he has a 2.77 ERA, 1.058 WHIP and 9.7 K/9. Those peripheral numbers are better across the board than last season, when he went 17-8 in his first year as a starter and finished sixth in AL Cy Young voting.

This Week's Opponents

vs. Detroit Tigers (3)
at Minnesota Twins (4)

27. Milwaukee Brewers (51-67, Previous: 27)

Last Week's Results: 4-3

at San Francisco Giants (2-2)
at Seattle Mariners (2-1)

Top Major Award Candidate: CF Carlos Gomez (NL MVP)

After finally breaking out last season and earning a three-year, $24 million extension in the process, Gomez has taken his game to another level entirely this season.

He's currently hitting .286/.337/.519 with 18 home runs and 30 steals, and coupled with his stellar defense in center field, his 5.7 FanGraphs WAR is tied for tops in the NL. Fellow breakout star Jean Segura may earn some MVP consideration as well, though neither guy has a real chance of winning it.

This Week's Opponents

at Texas Rangers (2)
vs. Cincinnati Reds (4)

26. San Francisco Giants (52-65, Previous: 25)

Last Week's Results: 3-4

vs. Milwaukee Brewers (2-2)
vs. Baltimore Orioles (1-2)

Top Major Award Candidate: SP Madison Bumgarner (NL Cy Young)

The 2013 season has seen the reigning champion Giants take a huge step backward, and a big reason has been the fall off of their once dominant starting pitching. That said, the 24-year-old Bumgarner is having the best season of his young career and is among the best arms in the game.

The left-hander is 11-7 with a 2.75 ERA and 150 strikeouts in 154 innings of work. That should be enough for him to finish higher in NL Cy Young voting than Buster Posey (.300/.372/.489, 14 HR, 61 RBI) does in NL MVP voting, but both have a real chance at cracking the top 10.

This Week's Opponents

at Washington Nationals (3)
at Miami Marlins (3)

25. Minnesota Twins (52-63, Previous: 26)

Last Week's Results: 4-3

at Kansas City Royals (1-2)
at Chicago White Sox (3-1)

Top Major Award Candidate: C Joe Mauer (AL MVP)

With one of the worst pitching staffs in baseball and an offense that ranks 20th in runs scored, the noteworthy performances have been few and far between in Minnesota this season.

Mauer remains one of the best in the business at the plate, though, as he's hit .318/.402/.462 and should receive some AL MVP consideration. Closer Glen Perkins (28-of-31 SV, 2.35 ERA, 11.0 K/9) has an outside chance at a Cy Young vote or two, but Mauer should finish higher in MVP voting.

This Week's Opponents

vs. Cleveland Indians (3)
vs. Chicago White Sox (4)

24. Philadelphia Phillies (52-65, Previous: 24)

Last Week's Results: 2-4

vs. Chicago Cubs (2-1)
at Washington Nationals (0-3)

Top Major Award Candidate: SP Cliff Lee (NL Cy Young)

After a strange 2012 season in which he went just 6-9 despite a 3.16 ERA over 30 starts, Lee has once again put together a successful season, despite the ongoing struggles of the team around him.

The workhorse is 10-5 with a 3.18 ERA and 1.060 WHIP on the season, and he remains one of the best left-handers in all of baseball. Breakthrough star Domonic Brown (.857 OPS, 26 HR, 75 RBI) should get some MVP votes, but Lee will likely finish higher on the Cy Young ballot if he can finish strong.

This Week's Opponents

at Atlanta Braves (3)
vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (3)

23. Los Angeles Angels (53-63, Previous: 23)

Last Week's Results: 2-4

vs. Texas Rangers (0-3)
at Cleveland Indians (2-1)

Top Major Award Candidate: CF Mike Trout (AL MVP)

The debate between Miguel Cabrera and Mike Trout for AL MVP honors last season was one of the best in recent memory, seemingly splitting the MLB community down the middle. With the way both guys have played so far this year, it may very well come down to them once again this season.

Trout has actually improved his triple slash across the board this year with a .330/.425/.572 line, and he's added 20 home runs and 26 steals to boot. Cabrera remains the best hitter on the planet and the clear front-runner for the award, but with an MLB-best 7.8 FanGraphs WAR and a more complete all-around game, Trout will likely receive serious consideration once again.

This Week's Opponents

at New York Yankees (4)
vs. Houston Astros (3)

22. Chicago Cubs (52-65, Previous: 22)

Last Week's Results: 3-3

at Philadelphia Phillies (1-2)
at St. Louis Cardinals (2-1)

Top Major Award Candidate: SP Travis Wood (NL Cy Young)

The future is incredibly bright for the Cubs, but the present has been a struggle at times. The team lacks a true star player at the moment, with Starlin Castro and Jeff Samardzija battling through rough patches and Anthony Rizzo still working toward his potential.

Wood was the team's lone All-Star representative, and he continues to quietly have a terrific season. He's 7-8 with a 3.04 ERA and 19 quality starts in 24 appearances. Whether that's enough to earn him any Cy Young votes remains to be seen, but he has the best chance of any Cubs player of earning some major award consideration.

This Week's Opponents

vs. Cincinnati Reds (3)
vs. St. Louis Cardinals (3)

21. Seattle Mariners (54-63, Previous: 19)

Last Week's Results: 2-4

vs. Toronto Blue Jays (1-2)
vs. Milwaukee Brewers (1-2)

Top Major Award Candidate: SP Felix Hernandez (AL Cy Young)

Hernandez entered the season with plenty of pressure to perform after signing a massive seven-year, $175 million extension in the offseason, and he has once again pitched like one of the elite arms in the game.

He's 12-5 with an AL-best 2.28 ERA, and he's also pitched an AL-high 173.2 innings. His walk rate (1.7 BB/9) and strikeout rate (9.2 K/9) are both career bests, as he's stepped his already phenomenal game up a bit. It looks like Hernandez and Max Scherzer are the front-runners for AL Cy Young honors as of now, but Scherzer's phenomenal record may trump Hernandez's peripherals in the voters' eyes.

This Week's Opponents

at Tampa Bay Rays (3)
at Texas Rangers (3)

20. San Diego Padres (53-64, Previous: 17)

Last Week's Results: 1-4

vs. Baltimore Orioles (0-2)
at Cincinnati Reds (1-2)

Top Major Award Candidate: 2B Jedd Gyorko (NL Rookie of the Year)

It's been an up-and-down season for the rebuilding Padres, who looked like legitimate contenders in the NL West for a brief time in the first half. In the grand scheme of things, they're a team on the rise, but they look to still be a few years away.

After back-to-back 100-RBI seasons in the minors, the team handed Gyorko the everyday second base job out of camp in an effort to get his bat in the lineup. He's posted a .702 OPS with 10 home runs and 31 RBI on the season, and that may be enough for him to get a vote or two for NL Rookie of the Year.

This Week's Opponents

at Colorado Rockies (3)
vs. New York Mets (4)

19. Toronto Blue Jays (54-63, Previous: 20)

Last Week's Results: 3-3

at Seattle Mariners (2-1)
vs. Oakland Athletics (1-2)

Top Major Award Candidate: 1B Edwin Encarnacion (AL MVP)

The Blue Jays have been as big a disappointment as any team in baseball this season, but at least 2012 breakout star Edwin Encarnacion has not regressed. The 30-year-old is once again one of the top sluggers in the game.

He's hit .277/.368/.542 with 30 home runs and 89 RBI so far this year, and if he finishes the season with something like 40 home runs and 110 RBI, he could crack the top 10 in AL MVP voting, even with the Blue Jays' struggles. If nothing else, the three-year, $29 million extension the Blue Jays gave him last July looks like a stroke of genius.

This Week's Opponents

vs. Oakland Athletics (1)
vs. Boston Red Sox (3)
at Tampa Bay Rays (3)

18. Colorado Rockies (55-64, Previous: 18)

Last Week's Results: 3-3

at New York Mets (0-3)
vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (3-0)

Top Major Award Candidate: LF Carlos Gonzalez (NL MVP)

Long considered at least a beneficiary of his home park, if not a product of it, Carlos Gonzalez has actually hit better on the road this season, proving he is one of the game's elite hitters in the process.

He's on the DL at the moment with a sprained finger, but he's hit .302/.367/.591 on the year with 26 home runs, 70 RBI and 21 steals for his third straight 20/20 season. Teammate Troy Tulowitzki is the front-runner for NL Comeback Player of the Year, but among major awards, CarGo looks to have the best chance of finishing high in the voting.

This Week's Opponents

vs. San Diego Padres (3)
at Baltimore Orioles (3)

17. New York Mets (54-61, Previous: 21)

Last Week's Results: 5-1

vs. Colorado Rockies (3-0)
at Arizona Diamondbacks (2-1)

Top Major Award Candidate: SP Matt Harvey (NL Cy Young)

David Wright (.309/.391/.512) has a chance at cracking the top five in NL MVP voting, but Mets ace Matt Harvey could legitimately take home NL Cy Young honors with the season that he's having.

The 24-year-old right-hander is 9-3 on the year with a 2.09 ERA and NL-high 178 strikeouts in 159.2 innings. His 0.858 WHIP and 10.0 K/9 also lead the NL, and there's not questions he's one of the best pitchers in all of baseball already. The question instead is, will he be able to beat Clayton Kershaw (11-7, 1.88 ERA) out for Cy Young honors?

This Week's Opponents

at Los Angeles Dodgers (3)
at San Diego Padres (4)

16. Washington Nationals (57-60, Previous: 16)

Last Week's Results: 3-3

vs. Atlanta Braves (0-3)
vs. Philadelphia Phillies (3-0)

Top Major Award Candidate: SP Jordan Zimmermann (NL Cy Young)

Entering the season, Zimmermann was regarded as just the third-best pitcher on his own staff. But he has stepped his game up this season and emerged as the ace of a disappointing Nationals team.

After going 12-8 with a 2.94 ERA in 32 starts last year, he's currently 13-6 with a 3.10 ERA through 24 starts this year. He's also posted a career-best 1.086 WHIP and made his first All-Star appearance. The NL field is deep, but he has a chance at cracking the top 10 in Cy Young voting if he finishes well.

This Week's Opponents

vs. San Francisco Giants (3)
at Atlanta Braves (3)

15. Arizona Diamondbacks (59-57, Previous: 15)

Last Week's Results: 3-2

vs. Tampa Bay Rays (2-0)
vs. New York Mets (1-2)

Top Major Award Candidate: SP Patrick Corbin (NL Cy Young)

This was a tough call, because Paul Goldschmidt is still very much in the running for NL MVP. But given the fact that the slugger has hit just .224 since the break, my guess is that Partick Corbin winds up finishing higher in Cy Young voting when all is said and done.

Corbin entered camp on the roster bubble, battling for the No. 5 starter spot, but quickly became the ace of the Diamondbacks staff with a hot start. He's avoided a letdown to this point, and through 23 starts, he's 12-3 with a 2.36 ERA and 1.023 WHIP. If the season ended today, he'd likely finish a distant third to Clayton Kershaw and Matt Harvey in voting.

This Week's Opponents

vs. Baltimore Orioles (3)
at Pittsburgh Pirates (3)

14. New York Yankees (59-57, Previous: 13)

Last Week's Results: 2-4

at Chicago White Sox (0-3)
vs. Detroit Tigers (2-1)

Top Major Award Candidate: SP Hiroki Kuroda (AL Cy Young)

While Mariano Rivera has AL Comeback Player of the Year locked up, even with his recent struggles, it's unlikely he'll receive any serious Cy Young consideration. Robinson Cano is having his usual solid season and could finish in the top 10 in AL MVP voting. He's not the pick here either, though, as Kuroda looks to have the best chance at finishing high in major award voting.

The 38-year-old has gone 10-7 with a 2.45 ERA and 1.050 WHIP on the season, and his 165 ERA+ leads the AL. He's never received a single Cy Young vote in his career, but that will no doubt change this year, as he has a real shot at cracking the top five if he can keep it up.

This Week's Opponents

vs. Los Angeles Angels (4)
at Boston Red Sox (3)

13. Cleveland Indians (63-55, Previous: 10)

Last Week's Results: 1-6

vs. Detroit Tigers (0-4)
vs. Los Angeles Angels (1-2)

Top Major Award Candidate: SP Justin Masterson (AL Cy Young)

The Indians have fallen back in the AL Central race, but it's been a successful season for them nonetheless, and they still have a shot at earning a wild-card spot and sneaking into the playoffs.

It's been largely a team effort in Cleveland this year, but Masterson has emerged as a bona fide staff ace, going 13-8 with a 3.59 ERA and throwing three shutouts. Second baseman Jason Kipnis (.290/.370/.483, 15 HR, 21 SB) should get some MVP consideration, but Masterson looks like a solid bet to crack the top 10 in Cy Young voting. 

This Week's Opponents

at Minnesota Twins (3)
at Oakland Athletics (3)

12. Kansas City Royals (61-54, Previous: 14)

Last Week's Results: 5-2

vs. Minnesota Twins (2-1)
vs. Boston Red Sox (3-1)

Top Major Award Candidate: RP Greg Holland (AL Cy Young)

For a guy in his first full season as a closer, Greg Holland has more than held his own in the ninth inning, ranking as one of the most dominant relievers in all of baseball this season.

He's converted 32 out of 34 save chance with a 1.57 ERA, 0.891 WHIP and 74 strikeouts in just 46 innings of work. His 2.3 WAR is tops among all relievers, and with the Royals' recent push toward relevance, his impressive numbers carry that much more weight. He's the type of guy who could be overlooked given his lack of name recognition and the team he plays for, but his numbers speak for themselves to this point. 

This Week's Opponents

vs. Miami Marlins (3)
at Detroit Tigers (5)

11. Oakland Athletics (66-50, Previous: 5)

Last Week's Results: 2-3

at Cincinnati Reds (0-2)
at Toronto Blue Jays (2-1)

Top Major Award Candidate: SP Bartolo Colon (AL Cy Young)

Despite his 2012 season being cut short by a PED suspension, the A's still opted to re-sign Colon to a one-year, $3 million deal in the offseason after he went 10-9 with a 3.43 ERA in 24 starts last year.

The 40-year-old has been even better this season, going 14-4 with a 2.75 ERA and making his first All-Star appearance since he won AL Cy Young honors pitching for the Angels back in 2005. He's tied with Justin Masterson with three shutouts, and he's been an invaluable veteran presence in a young A's rotation.

This Week's Opponents

at Toronto Blue Jays (1)
vs. Houston Astros (3)
vs. Cleveland Indians (3)

10. Tampa Bay Rays (66-50, Previous: 1)

Last Week's Results: 0-5

at Arizona Diamondbacks (0-2)
at Los Angeles Dodgers (0-3)

Top Major Award Contender: RF Wil Myers (AL Rookie of the Year)

When the Rays' starting rotation struggled early, the decision to trade James Shields to the Royals was no doubt second guessed. However, now that the staff has rounded into form and prized acquisition Wil Myers has reached the majors, the move is looking more and more like a great one.

After winning Minor League Player of the Year honors last season, Myers opened the year in the minors. He was called up on June 18, and in 44 games he's hit .325/.376/.509 with eight home runs and 31 RBI. More importantly, the Rays are 30-17 since calling Myers up, and he's stormed to the head of a weak AL rookie class as a result.

This Week's Opponents

vs. Seattle Mariners (3)
vs. Toronto Blue Jays (3)

9. St. Louis Cardinals (67-50, Previous: 8)

Last Week's Results: 2-5

vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (1-3)
vs. Chicago Cubs (1-2)

Top Major Award Candidate: C Yadier Molina (NL MVP)

Though he's been shelved with a knee injury since July 31, Molina remains a legitimate NL MVP candidate. Look no further than the fact that the Cardinals are just 5-7 since he was injured to see just how much he means to the team's success.

Adam Wainwright (13-7, 2.66 ERA) is a legitimate NL Cy Young candidate and Shelby Miller (11-7, 2.89 ERA) is among the NL Rookie of the Year front-runners, but Molina still has the best chance of any Cardinals player to take home one of the three major awards as of right now.

This Week's Opponents

vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (3)
at Chicago Cubs (3)

8. Baltimore Orioles (65-52, Previous: 9)

Last Week's Results: 4-1

at San Diego Padres (2-0)
at San Francisco Giants (2-1)

Top Major Award Candidate: 1B Chris Davis (AL MVP)

It speaks volumes about the caliber of seasons that Miguel Cabrera and Mike Trout are having that Davis would likely finish third in AL MVP voting if the season ended today. But that's the unfortunate position he finds himself in.

After breaking out with an .827 OPS and 33 home runs last season, the 27-year-old has taken things to another level this year, hitting .300/.376/.676 with 42 home runs and 109 RBI in just 423 at-bats. He's cooled off some since the break, but he still looks like a decent bet to reach 50 home runs, and it's hard to see him falling out of the top five in MVP voting.

This Week's Opponents

at Arizona Diamondbacks (3)
vs. Colorado Rockies (3)

7. Cincinnati Reds (65-52, Previous: 11)

Last Week's Results: 4-1

vs. Oakland Athletics (2-0)
vs. San Diego Padres (2-1)

Top Major Award Candidate: 1B Joey Votto (NL MVP)

He may not have prototypical first baseman power, but no one in baseball works a count and gets on base better than Joey Votto, as his .437 on-base percentage has him in position to lead the NL for a fourth straight season, and his 88 walks are tops in the MLB.

Overall, he's hit .322/.437/.509 with 17 home runs and 55 RBI, and while that may not be enough for him to take home MVP honors, it should allow him to crack the top five in voting. 

This Week's Opponents

at Chicago Cubs (3)
at Milwaukee Brewers (4)

6. Pittsburgh Pirates (70-47, Previous: 2)

Last Week's Results: 3-3

vs. Miami Marlins (3-0)
at Colorado Rockies (0-3)

Top Major Award Candidate: CF Andrew McCutchen (NL MVP)

The Pirates have managed to avoid a second-half meltdown to this point, and for the time being they find themselves in first place in the ultra-competitive NL Central. At the heart of it all once again is superstar center fielder Andrew McCutchen.

On the strength of a hot second half, the 26-year-old is hitting .313/.386/.507 with 16 home runs, 66 RBI and 24 steals. That makes him the front-runner for NL MVP as of today, and he has a real chance to take home the honor with Yadier Molina still on the shelf. Francisco Liriano could receive some Cy Young votes, but McCutchen is in the best position to take home some hardware.

This Week's Opponents

at St. Louis Cardinals (3)
vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (3)

5. Boston Red Sox (71-49, Previous: 3)

Last Week's Results: 3-4

at Houston Astros (2-1)
at Kansas City Royals (1-3)

Top Major Award Candidate: DH David Ortiz (AL MVP)

He may wind up splitting votes with teammates Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury, but it's hard to say Ortiz has not been the most valuable player on the resurgent Red Sox this season.

Though he missed time early, the slugger has managed to hit .326/.406/.580 with 22 home runs and 74 RBI in just 99 games. He's still one of the best run producers in the game, even at 37 years old, and he's showing that once again this season.

This Week's Opponents

at Toronto Blue Jays (3)
vs. New York Yankees (3)

4. Detroit Tigers (69-47, Previous: 7)

Last Week's Results: 5-2

at Cleveland Indians (4-0)
at New York Yankees (1-2)

Top Major Award Candidate: 3B Miguel Cabrera (AL MVP)

This one is a tossup between Cabrera and Max Scherzer, and if the season ended today I think they'd take home MVP and Cy Young honors, respectively.

In the end, Cabrera is the smarter money bet, as he's simply the best hitter on the planet and having a ridiculous season once again. With a line of .365/.459/.686 he leads all of baseball in each of those categories. His 110 RBI are also tops in the MLB, and he trails just Chris Davis with 36 home runs.

This Week's Opponents

at Chicago White Sox (3)
vs. Kansas City Royals (5)

3. Los Angeles Dodgers (67-50, Previous: 4)

Last Week's Results: 6-1

at St. Louis Cardinals (3-1)
vs. Tampa Bay Rays (3-0)

Top Major Award Candidate: SP Clayton Kershaw (NL Cy Young)

Rookies Yasiel Puig (.376/.442/.598) and Hyun-Jin Ryu (11-3, 2.99 ERA) have been huge for the Dodgers, and both have a real chance at NL Rookie of the Year honors. But they may also wind up splitting votes and losing out to someone like Jose Fernandez.

Instead, the choice here is Clayton Kershaw, who is the consensus best pitcher in the game as of right now. The 25-year-old already has 72 career wins and a 2.64 ERA in his six-year career. This season, he's 11-7 with a minuscule 1.88 ERA as he looks to take home his second NL Cy Young.

This Week's Opponents

vs. New York Mets (3)
at Philadelphia Phillies (3)

2. Texas Rangers (68-50, Previous: 12)

Last Week's Results: 6-0

at Los Angeles Angels (3-0)
at Houston Astros (3-0)

Top Major Award Candidate: SP Yu Darvish (AL Cy Young)

After a brief slide, the Rangers have been hot of late, winning 12 of their last 13 games to pull a game ahead of the Oakland A's in the AL West. The recent acquisition of Alex Rios should only help in their pursuit of a playoff spot.

As for awards, Adrian Beltre (.320/.367/.533, 25 HR, 71 RBI) will likely get some AL MVP love, but Yu Darvish seems like a safe bet for a top-five Cy Young finish. The second-year import has gone 11-5 with a 2.72 ERA, and his 192 strikeouts lead all of baseball.

This Week's Opponents

at Houston Astros (1)
vs. Milwaukee Brewers (2)
vs. Seattle mariners (3)

1. Atlanta Braves (72-46, Previous: 6)

Last Week's Results: 5-1

at Washington Nationals (3-0)
vs. Miami Marlins (2-1)

Top Major Award Candidate: SP Julio Teheran (NL Rookie of the Year)

When they're firing on all cylinders, the Braves have all the pieces to be a legitimate World Series contender, and they've been as hot as any team in baseball of late. Fresh off a 14-game winning streak, they've opened up a 14.5-game lead in the NL East.

Freddie Freeman (.313/.393/.482, 14 HR, 79 RBI) should crack the top 10 in NL MVP voting, and Craig Kimbrel (36-of-39 SV, 1.19 ERA, 14.3 K/9) will likely receive MVP and Cy Young consideration, but rookie right-hander Julio Teheran has the best chance to take home a major award. The 22-year-old is 9-5 with a 2.96 ERA in 22 starts, including 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA in four starts since the All-Star break.

This Week's Opponents

vs. Philadelphia Phillies (3)
vs. Washington Nationals (3)