The Pittsburgh Pirates are making noise early this season, and after a wild week of divisional play, they've cracked the top ten in the latest power rankings. The NL Central is proving to be the most competitive division in baseball—the only one where all five teams boast winning records—and the Pirates are right in the thick of it.

It's been a balanced effort for Pittsburgh so far. The pitching staff has been solid, and the offense looks rejuvenated with the additions of Brandon Lowe and Ryan O'Hearn. If Marcell Ozuna finds his groove, this lineup could become a real headache for opposing pitchers.

Last week was a true rollercoaster. The Pirates hit a rough patch in a four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals, getting swept by one of the season's surprise teams. But true to form, they bounced back in a big way, sweeping the Cincinnati Reds in a three-game set. That resilience didn't go unnoticed. Despite the ups and downs, Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller bumped them up one spot to No. 8 in the rankings.

"With the Pirates, it just kind of makes sense to slot them directly behind the team who swept them," Miller noted. "Prior to Sunday's 1-0 win over the Reds, the Buccos had one heck of a week at the plate, triple-slashing .313/.406/.516 in those first six games with eight different players homering."

Now, the Pirates have a golden opportunity to keep climbing. They face the Arizona Diamondbacks early this week, followed by a series against the struggling San Francisco Giants. Then come matchups with the Colorado Rockies and the Philadelphia Phillies. If they can keep that momentum going, don't be surprised to see them rise even higher in the rankings. For Pirates fans, this is a team worth watching—and repping.