Perhaps the time has come to take the Seattle Mariners seriously.
Oh, it's possible their .631 winning percentage and first place standing in the AL West is as much about schedule - they've played 26 games against the Rays, Tigers and Rangers and zero against the Yankees and Red Sox - as it is sustainability.
And perhaps at some point they'll actually feel the loss of Robinson Cano to an 80-game drug suspension, rather than whistling on up the standings without their franchise player.
For now, however, the Mariners are 41-24, in a virtual tie with the Houston Astros atop the West and have reached a season-high fourth in USA TODAY Sports' power rankings.
They trail only those beasts of the East - the Yankees (back at No. 1), Red Sox and Astros. And now, they're embarking on a 13-game run against the Angels, Red Sox and Yankees.
Be sure to check back next week. For now, from 1 to 30, how they stack up based on voting from USA TODAY Sports' nine-person panel:
TEAM | MOVEMENT
1. New York Yankees (+1)
►Tanaka injury a reminder starting pitching depth a relatively urgent need.
2. Boston Red Sox (-1)
►Just eight runs scored in their last four games, but series at Baltimore could cure that.
3. Houston Astros (--)
►George Springer has five leadoff home runs already.
4. Seattle Mariners (+2)
►Could be biggest beneficiaries of Shohei Ohtani's injury.
5. Milwaukee Brewers (-1)
►Per Inside Edge, hitters are 0-for-80 with 64 strikeouts on 0-2, 1-2, 2-2 counts vs. Josh Hader.
6. Chicago Cubs (+1)
►"Slumping" Kris Bryant takes a turn in the leadoff spot.
7. Washington Nationals (-1)
►Daniel Murphy should return this week.
8. Atlanta Braves (-3)
►Mike Soroka ready for return from DL.
9. Los Angeles Angels (+2)
►Thought: If Shohei Ohtani needs Tommy John surgery, he should return in 2019 as hitter, 2020 as pitcher.
10. Cleveland Indians (-2)
►Klubot, indeed: Corey Kluber has allowed three or fewer runs in 26 consecutive starts.
11. Arizona Diamondbacks (+2)
►Back in first, and the Goldschmidt impostor wearing 44 has also vanished.
12. St. Louis Cardinals (-3)
►Carlos Martinez's return from DL - seven walks, five earned runs - not too encouraging.
13. Los Angeles Dodgers (+1)
►Go 9-4 in stretch where relievers pitched nearly 20 more innings than starters.
14. Philadelphia Phillies (-4)
►Lost four of five after Jake Arrieta's "Something has to change" tirade.
15. Oakland Athletics (+1)
►24-10 when they score first.
16. San Francisco Giants (+2)
►Brandon Crawford on six-week tear: 57-for-131 (.435) since May 1, pushing average to .335.
17. Colorado Rockies (-1)
►They could get left behind quickly - everyone else in NL West playing well at the moment.
18. Pittsburgh Pirates (-3)
►Jung Ho Kang joins Class AAA Indianapolis as big league return nears.
19. Toronto Blue Jays (+4)
►A mere 56 hits in four-game series vs. Orioles.
20. Detroit Tigers (+1)
►Jeimer Candelario on a nifty 23-home run pace.
21. Tampa Bay Rays (+3)
►Jake Bauers joins Willy Adames as top prospect making season debut.
22. Minnesota Twins (--)
►Shortstops produce respectable .753 OPS in Jorge Polanco's absence. He's back July 2.
23. San Diego Padres (+1)
►Should they be considered legit contenders for NL West crown?
24. New York Mets (-4)
►Is Dominic Smith ready to stick? We'll find out.
25. Texas Rangers (--)
►GM Jon Daniels gets contract extension as re-tooling looms in July.
26. Cincinnati Reds (+1)
►Billy Hamilton open to giving up switch-hitting.
27. Chicago White Sox (+2)
►.306 on-base percentage ranks 14th in AL.
28. Kansas City Royals (-2)
►Danny Duffy turning it around: 2-0, 2.10 ERA in last four starts.
29. Miami Marlins (-1)
►25th anniversay get-together a reminder those teal unis were pretty solid.
30. Baltimore Orioles (--)
►Have given up at least 10 runs nine times.
