Cleveland Indians hold No. 4 spot in FanSided’s MLB power rankings

The Cleveland Indians have had a solid week, and remain in the No. 4 spot in the most recent edition of FanSided’s MLB power rankings.

The Cleveland Indians are back to their winning ways after picking up a third straight win today against the Minnesota Twins.

Things got a bit shaky last week when the team played at home for the first time in 2017, but a sweep of the Twins should be enough to get this team back on a winning path. Jason Kipnis is also due back tomorrow, so that shouldn’t hurt either.

While just 8-7, the Indians remain a World Series favorite and come in as the No. 4 team in the latest edition of FanSided’s MLB power rankings. They are behind the Washington Nationals, Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros.

Being in the No. 4 spot is still a great mark for this team, and more series’ like the one just finished up in Minnesota will keep this team ranked among the best for the duration of 2017. A hot streak from someone like Edwin Encarnacion could do wonders, as explained in the power rankings article:

"The team’s big splurge over the offseason, Edwin Encarnacion, has yet to heat up as he settles into his new surroundings. When EE does start hitting, it will make life difficult for the Tigers and White Sox, who shut them down last week."

He picked up hits in all three games against the Twins, so it appears that he is indeed beginning to heat up.

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The return of Kipnis should also help this offense, as his absence is rather overlooked when talking about the group’s collective struggles.

It also helps when the starting pitching can keep things close to allow for a comeback attempt, which has been the case over the past few games.

These power rankings make it clear to Indians fans that the Astros are a team to watch all year, and may slot in as the Indians’ main competition in the quest to win another American League crown.

The Boston Red Sox also remain a top competitor, and other teams may even emerge as the season goes on.

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The Indians have only played 15 games this year, but an 8-7 record and a No. 4 ranking show that they are in great position to build upon last year’s success.