After playing 17 games in 17 days, the Chicago Cubs have reached a much-needed (and well-earned) scheduled day off today. So what will we do with our free time? Rank every player on the team, of course! Why not.
It’s been a while since our last Cubs Power Rankings, so I’m not going to include any of the previous placements, as they’re wildly out of date. Today, we start fresh. As a reminder, this is ranking only the Cubs’ healthy, active players. So no Ben Brown, Justin Steele, Daniel Palencia, Edward Cabrera, and so on. Likewise, this isn’t a ranking of each player’s future or overall talent, but rather how well they’re contributing to the team right now with a sprinkle of my internal projection (eg., Clay Holmes has had only one meh start to his Cubs career so far, but I suspect he’ll be quite critical very soon).
It’s all quite subjective, but here’s where I landed.
Cubs Power Rankings: Aug 10, 2026
1. Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
Who else? Pete Crow-Armstrong isn’t just the best player on the Cubs; he might be the best player in MLB right now. For the season, he’s slashing .286/.388/.544 (155 wRC+) with 8.0 fWAR, far more than anyone else, including Shohei Ohtani (6.5 fWAR). PCA is also four homers away from his second consecutive 30-30 season, he’s tripled his walk rate, and his defense is as elite as ever.
Everything you could possibly want him to be, he’s been that and more. This is one of the greatest Cubs seasons of all time. I hope you’re enjoying it.
2. Kevin Gausman, RHP
Ranking Kevin Gausman second on the Cubs is probably a little insulting to some of the guys just behind him … but I can’t help myself. Not only did Gausman have a brilliant debut for the Cubs on Friday night against the Royals (7.0 IP, 4H, 2ER, 1BB, 4K), but he also seems to be a leading candidate for a Game 1 start in the postseason. Or, at least, that’s how I see him.
Gausman has the track record and experience to pitch in a big game like that. And his peripherals this year are as strong as ever. When you throw in the Cubs’ defense and the team’s even more splitter-heavy approach for him, Gausman just feels like a good bet to be a CRITICAL piece of this team the rest of the way.
3. Jacob Webb, RHP
This ranking may seem high to some, but I don’t think it is. On the one hand, a reliever can impact the game only so much. He doesn’t pitch every day, and when he does pitch, it’s usually one inning at a time. But where would the 2026 Chicago Cubs be without Jacob Webb? He has been — by FAR — the team’s most important reliever this season, stepping into a vacant closer’s role and absolutely running with it: 2.44 ERA over 51.2 IP.
Webb won’t stay at closer when Daniel Palencia returns — and he should even have some high-leverage innings taken off his plate by way of Ryan Zeferjahn — but through today, Webb has been huge for this team. They’d have been lost without him.
4. Seiya Suzuki, OF
Seiya Suzuki had a DEEP slump earlier this year, but he put that sh*t in the rearview and never looked back. For the season, the Cubs primary right fielder is slashing .269/.361/.470 (129 wRC+), which is just slightly better than his career mark (127 wRC+).
My Cubs Power Rankings will always skew more recent than this, but I think it’s worth pointing out that since May 29 (his last 260 PAs), Seiya Suzuki is slashing .290/.381/.522 (149 wRC+). That’s 12th-best in baseball for a loooooong time. With his improved defense in right field, there’s no doubt that Suzuki has, once again, become a hugely impactful player.
5. Matthew Boyd, LHP
If the postseason started today, Matthew Boyd would probably be second in line for a start (it’s honestly pretty close between Boyd, Gausman, and Shota Imanaga). Since coming off the Injured List on June 25, the Cubs veteran lefty has a 2.43 ERA over nine starts and 55.2 IP.
The peripherals give you a little pause, but the results have been outstanding. Also, since July 7, nobody in baseball has thrown more innings than Boyd (46.0 IP). That has its own significant value (rest for the bullpen). Great bounce-back for a guy who spent most of the first half injured.
Chicago Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd | Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images6. Shota Imanaga, LHP
If I wasn’t constantly worried that the home run issues were going to pop back up, Shota Imanaga would probably move up 2-3 spots on my updated Cubs Power Rankings. He has just been lights out for ten straight starts, featuring a 2.06 ERA over his last 56.2 IP (fourth lowest in MLB over that stretch).
Keep it up the rest of the way, Shota.
7. Nico Hoerner, 2B
Nico Hoerner’s early-season slump rivaled any other slump on this team (and there have been a LOT of slumps), but he has turned his season almost entirely around. Aside from the ongoing defensive excellence at second base, Hoerner has been hitting everything in sight since the All-Star break: .370/.389/.511 (151 wRC+).
That’s the third-highest AVG in baseball since the break, and the two guys ahead of him have fewer PAs. Hoerner also has 17 RBI over that same stretch, second on the Cubs only to Seiya Suzuki (18).
8. Alex Bregman, 3B
It absolutely warms my heart to have Alex Bregman up this high on the Cubs Power Rankings. His overall season numbers, while above average, are still meh (103 wRC+, 2.5 WAR). But lately, he’s been extremely productive. Let’s use June 29 as our convenient cutoff date. In 157 PAs since then, Bregman is slashing .271/.344/.486 (129 wRC+) with 12 doubles and six home runs, while striking out just 15.3% of the time. And he’s only getting better.
Since July 11: 146 wRC+Since July 27: 168 wRC+
It took him a very long time to get going offensively, but boy has it been nice to have this version of Alex Bregman in the top half of the Cubs lineup.
9. David Peterson, LHP
I think, by the time the playoffs begin, David Peterson will probably be on the outside looking in among Cubs starters (I’m sure he’ll be available out of the pen). But the fact that it’s even kind of a question says so much for his performance in Chicago since being acquired in late June. He had the one bad start against the Cardinals, but has otherwise allowed just 7ER over 34.1 innings and six other starts.
In that sense, he reminds me a lot of what I had to say about Jacob Webb: Where would the Cubs be without Peterson? Such a stabilizing presence exactly when the Cubs needed it most.
Again, when Clay Holmes gets going and Edward Cabrera returns, who knows where Peterson would fall on a list like this. But for now, for lately, Peterson has been huge.
10. Ryan Zeferjahn, RHP
Ryan Zeferjahn has thrown just 2.2 innings for the Cubs, so ranking even this high is a little aggressive. But he’s clearly uber-talented and will likely be among the Cubs’ top-2 options to set up for Daniel Palencia by the time the calendar flips to October. He has a lot to prove to us, still, but clearly the Cubs front office has bought in completely. They wouldn’t have traded Moises Ballesteros and Mason McGwire if they doubted his ability to impact key games.
11. Ryan Rolison, LHP
Ryan Rolison is probably having more fun playing baseball right now than he has throughout his entire career. The 29-year-old lefty has emerged from obscurity as a legitimate weapon for a World Series-hopeful team, earning a 2.35 ERA (3.52 FIP) over 46.0 IP. He’s also allowed just one earned run in the last month (0.75 ERA since July 9).
Huge, huge season and a big part of this Cubs bullpen.
Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Ryan Rolison | David Frerker-Imagn Images12. Michael Busch, 1B
Michael Busch isn’t really having the season I envisioned for him at the start of the year, particularly in the power department (14 HRs, .147 ISO, sub-.400 SLG). But his defense has been great, and he’s still getting on base a ton.
He also seems to be heating up a little bit here lately, with a 117 wRC+ over his last 115 PAs with a .440 SLG. I just don’t know how the guy goes from hitting 34 bombs last year to almost no power this season. It’s weird.
On the bright side, he has completely shored up his weakness versus LHP this season: 111 wRC+ (last year: 81 wRC+).
13. Clay Holmes, RHP
If Clay Holmes had a better debut for the Cubs, I’d probably have ranked him higher on this list. But clearly he has some rust to shake off from his 3-month absence from big-league competition. But based on the quality of his work last season and early this season, Holmes is probably going to be one of the most important Cubs pitchers in August, September, and October.
In fact, I think he has a chance to leapfrog Boyd and Imanaga in a playoff rotation. It’ll just depend on how quickly he can bounce back.
14. Colin Rea, RHP
Colin Rea. Enough said.
Anyone who doesn’t pay close enough attention to this team would think I’m crazy for ranking a 4.59 ERA swing man this high. But I think we all know how positively crucial Rea has been in each of his two seasons with the Cubs. I’m just grateful he’s finally set to be used how he was originally intended: as a multi-inning relief weapon. Not a mop-up man, but a guy you actually WANT in tight games when you have long stretches to cover. In that role, both in the regular season and playoffs, he could again prove his value.
15. Javier Assad, RHP
The story for Assad is similar to Rea, but to a lesser extent. Forced into a bigger role than maybe we expected, Assad has been nothing but dependable this season (and throughout his entire career). It is a pleasure to have a guy like him NOT used as, like, a third starter just because you have to.
That said, his immediate role from here is increasingly unclear. Will he stay stretched out in the big leagues? Will he head back to Iowa? If he moves into the big-league bullpen, will he cover multiple innings or be more of a traditional single-inning guy? etc. I don’t know which route the Cubs will take, but I am thrilled to have Assad around. He’s a pro.
16. Carson Kelly, C
The best thing you can say about Carson Kelly is that you just don’t have to think about him at all. He’s slightly above average offensively (109 wRC+), which makes him well above average among catchers. He calls a good game. He can throw runners out. He receives well. He challenges well. And he’s been healthy all year. Just a straightforward great guy to have on your team.
Cubs Catcher Carson Kelly | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images17. Pedro Ramirez, UTL
This is where my version of Cubs Power Rankings really diverges from any sense of “future value.” If we were basing this list solely on how good I think a guy might be in the future, Ramirez would be WAY higher up. As it stands, however, he’s just an awesome bench bat.
But that’s just “for now.” Because, yeah, Ramirez has made me into a true believer of his potential, and I am beyond thrilled the Cubs kept him through the trade deadline.
Ramirez mixes into games occasionally at third, second, and DH, giving guys off while handling big-league pitching way better than a 22-year-old rookie in a playoff race should be: .295/.350/.438 (117 wRC+).
18. Dansby Swanson, SS
I don’t think anyone will forget the absolutely torrid heater Dansby Swanson went on in June/July, but his production at the plate has fallen off here in the second half: 75 wRC+.
His defense — and the ever-present homer threat (17 on the year) — are more than enough for the bottom of the Cubs order. But until he locks back in, Swanson won’t be moving up the rankings.
Actually, I hate ending it there, because Swanson is still a critical part of this team. So I’ll add this: Defense is a cornerstone characteristic of the 2026 Chicago Cubs. And shortstop Dansby Swanson is right there at the center of it all, just behind all-world defender PCA.
19. Miguel Amaya, C
Just another ho-hum solid season for the Cubs backup catcher, who’s been an above-average hitter (107 wRC+) and a nice complement to Carson Kelly behind the plate. To my eye, Amaya is getting better at managing the running game and utilizing the ABS challenge system. And when you can do all that while being a net-positive offensively, you’re all right in my book.
20. Ian Happ, LF
His defense is still great, and the last two days have been productive offensively, but it has been a season to forget at the plate for Ian Happ. And not a great time with free agency looming. Hopefully, with Tyrone Taylor available to take away some of Happ’s chances against lefties (as a righty), Happ’s numbers will start to come back up. But he’s going to need quite the heater to get back to that 120 wRC+ range where he’s sat for much of his career.
Again, the 20 homers and excellent defense in left are seen and appreciated, but the production versus lefties and overall strikeout rate have been very, very bad.
It’s time for one of those heaters, Happ. One last time?
Cubs left fielder Ian Happ | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images21. Michael Conforto, OF
In the Jed Hoyer era, the Cubs have always had a guy like Michael Conforto on their rosters, but he may be the most effective of the bunch. Despite getting sporadic starting opportunities, Conforto has a 115 wRC+ this season. And as we’ve all seen, his ability to deliver as a pinch-hitter has been an enormous lift to this team’s ability to come back late in games. Quality stuff.
22. Aaron Civale, RHP
Aaron Civale was not a high-profile pickup in mid-July, but he was an inspired addition to this team nonetheless. The veteran righty has covered 9.1 innings over five outings, with a 2.89 ERA and the peripherals to match. I suspect he’s going to be a very useful tool in Craig Counsell’s bag down the stretch, resting guys with his multi-inning appearances.
23. Tyrone Taylor, OF
Not a ton of potential for an outsized impact on this team, but Taylor’s ability to spell Happ versus lefties and give PCA some days off in center field has been a very welcome addition to this roster.
24. Trent Thornton, RHP
Very few people on this team can fire me up with their energy the way Trent Thornton can. And if you look exclusively at his results (2.72 ERA over 36.1 IP), it’s wild to rank him this low. But his peripherals are WAY behind (12.0 K%, 10.6 BB%), and I suspect he’s going to lose his job as so many injured Cubs pitchers are planning their returns.
In addition to adding Clay Holmes, Kevin Gausman, and Ryan Zeferjahn, the Cubs should soon get back Edward Cabrera, Daniel Palencia, Hoby Milner, and maybe even Hunter Harvey. And after that, Justin Steele and Ben Brown.
I just have a hard time imagining Trent Thornton surviving all that.
25. Caleb Thielbar, LHP
And, unfortunately, the same goes for Caleb Thielbar. His contributions last season (2.64 ERA over 58.0 IP) were enormous. And he stepped in as the interim closer when the Cubs needed him earlier this year. But this has just not been his season (5.30 ERA, 5.36 FIP).
The strikeout and walk rates are both still very good, but he’s getting barreled up a TON. He also has a 7.13 ERA since June 15. Given how heavily the Cubs have been leaning on him lately, I do wonder if they’re anticipating not leaning on him very much at all in September and October (if you follow me).
26. James Triantos, UTL
Did you remember he was on the team? The final spot on the active roster only ever gets so much usage. So there’s nothing against Triantos here. He’s just been a non-factor. Perhaps a bigger role exists for him next season. But for now, he’s just keeping Matt Shaw’s seat warm. And that’s okay.
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