Now that the All Star break is over, the contenders will start to shine bright while the pretenders fade into the background. In the last two weeks, teams that have shown signs of life have again faded into the background while others have shot to the top or stayed steady at the top. So let’s take a look at how the teams stand after the unofficial midpoint of the season.
30. Houston Astros (Last Time 29, Down 1)
There isn’t much good you can say about the Astros, they are in last place in their division, and now last in the league. After spending most of the season in the 29th slot, they have finally fallen to the bottom. Things are so bad that even their All Star, Jason Castro, did not get in the midsummer classic last week.
29. Miami Marlins (Last Time 30, Up 1)
The Marlins are no longer the worst team in the league, thanks to the Astros. That isn’t saying much, though, because they still stink. If you think I’m just being mean, then you should hear what their own players have to say about them. In a SportsCenter tweet, Logan Morrison was quoted as saying, “You know we’re clean. We haven’t scored a run in 37 innings.” While they’re no longer the worst team in the league, that says it all.
28. Chicago White Sox (Last Time 27, Down 1)
The White Sox have fallen and fallen hard this season. It is hard to point at any one thing and say, “That’s what’s wrong with this team,” because it is easier to list the few things right. Thanks to the many things wrong, they sit 14 games back of the division and 16 back of the wild card. They are almost assuredly out of the running, and the only thing that has really gone right for this team this season has been Chris Sale. He continues to be dominant, and he showed the world just how dominant he can be in his two innings of work in the All Star game. Too bad he only pitches every fifth game, and the other few bright spots on this team will probably be traded away soon.
27. Minnesota Twins (Last Time 23, Down 4)
The Twins have been up and down this season, and right now they are once again down. The biggest issue is the pitching staff. They are a Houston Astros team away from being the worst team in the league in ERA. This is a team that was built on starting pitching and defense for years, and now they cannot pitch. The defense is still solid, they are in the top five in fielding percentage. The problem with the bad pitching is that they have just as bad of an offense, they are in the bottom third of most major offensive statistics, and if you’re that bad it doesn’t matter how well you field.
26. Milwaukee Brewers (Last Time 27, Up 1)
The poor Brew Crew have had it bad enough this season. If not playing well, taking a chance on signing Kyle Lohse only to have him struggle, and then have their ace starting pitcher, Yovani Gallardo, struggle after pitching in the World Baseball Classic wasn't enough, now they have to deal with the suspension of Ryan Braun. On top of that, the signing of Lohse will cost them their first round pick next season. It seems like everything the Brewers have done this season has backfired. At least they still have Jean Segura right?
25. San Diego Padres (Last Time 17, Down 8)
It seems like just a short time ago that the Padres were fighting for first place and Everth Cabrera was playing at a top tier level. Now they are eight games back, which isn’t too far to make a run at the division, but it’s a far cry from where they were just one month ago. This division is tight, though, and one great run could put them right back into it. You only have to look at the team that is now first in that division to see what can be done in one month.
24. Chicago Cubs (Last Time 24)
The Cubs know what they are, a rebuilding team with nowhere to go this season. In the last two weeks the Cubs have traded away two of their starting pitchers and gotten quite a nice haul of minor leaguers along with a solid relief pitcher and a young MLB ready starting pitcher, and they're not done yet. The Cubs are rumored to be nearing a trade with the Yankees for Alfonso Soriano, and while the Yankees don’t have the best farm system to pick from, it will be great for the Cubs to get anything for Soriano. The Cubs are not good this year, and they probably won’t be next year either, but when they get good they will be good for a long time.
23. New York Mets (Last Time 26, Up 3)
At least the Mets were able to showcase Matt Harvey on the big stage right? The Mets set up the rotation perfectly to get Harvey the start in the ASG and it worked out perfectly for them. If only the season worked out how the fans had hoped it would. Much like the Cubs, the Mets know what they are, and while they are not trading off players like the Cubs they are giving their fans a glimpse into the future with Zack Wheeler and Harvey in the rotation showing off their fantastic stuff.
22. Toronto Blue Jays (Last Time 16, Down 6)
Just when it looked like the Jays were clicking and about to make a run, they played more like they’ve been playing all season. It is hard to believe this starting lineup and this starting rotation are playing this bad, but they are now 11 games back in the wild card, and that is probably their best chance at making the playoffs with the Rays, Orioles and Red Sox ahead of them and all fighting for the division.
21. Kansas City Royals (Last Time 22, Up 1)
The rally sauce is still going around, but it isn’t working quite like it was when it first came around. While the Royals are only eight games back in the AL Central, and neither the Tigers nor the Indians seem ready to run away with the division, they just cannot seem to close the gap and are one losing streak away from being sellers at the deadline. If the Royals can’t get back on track in the next few games, expect them to accept their fate and trade away Ervin Santana and possibly more at the deadline.
20. San Francisco Giants (Last Time 20)
It is hard to believe that this Giants team is the same team that just won the World Series. What is even harder to believe is that although they’ve lost Angel Pagan for the year to injury and have had Pablo Sandoval also spend some time on the disabled list, they are pretty much fielding the same team that won them the title last season. The problem is the pitching has been bad this season, and if you take Madison Bumgarner and their wins against the Padres out of the equation, then the Giants have been downright horrid. Much like the Padres who are behind them, all they need to get back into this is one good streak. In order to do that, though, they will have to start to pitch like the World Champs that they are.
19. Seattle Mariners (Last Time 25, Up 6)
The M’s are streaking and are hitting for power to match up with the fantastic pitching of Hisashi Iwakuma and Felix Hernandez. The M’s are now only second in the league in home runs to the Orioles and seem to have finally found a lineup that works well together. It’s only a small sample size, but if they can keep it up, the M’s could end up making a little noise.
18. Los Angeles Angels (Last Time 18)
The Angels just took two out of three from the division leader Oakland A’s, but still sit ten games back of the leaders. Some may think it is a little too late for the Angels to make a serious run, but they have enough games left against both the A’s and Rangers to make a move right now. The Angels’ biggest problem right now is the starting pitching. If they can go out and get a solid arm before the trade deadline, expect them to make a charge towards a playoff spot, whether it is the division or the wild card.
17. Washington Nationals (Last Time 14, Down 3)
Under .500 is not where the Nats saw themselves this offseason when they were making all kinds of moves that looked like would make them World Series favorites. Trades for Denard Span and Dan Haren were supposed to help a team that had the best record in MLB last season take the next step, but, so far, that step has been a step backwards. The Nats will probably be looking to buy at the deadline, but at this point, at eight games back of the division and nine back of the wild card, maybe it is time to just fold and wait for next season.
16. Colorado Rockies (Last Time 15, Down 1)
It seems like at some point this season every team in the NL West has led the division as discussed before about the Padres and the Giants. Here are the Rockies, the only NL team with three starters in the All Star game last week (Michael Cuddyer started at DH even though it was an NL park), have fallen to five games under .500 and watched the Dodgers race right past them. The biggest problem is a problem they seemed to remedy early in the season, pitching. Once topping the league in pitching, the Rockies are now 21st in the league in ERA.
15. Philadelphia Phillies (Last Time 19, Up 4)
The Phillies were once thought to be sellers, but if they can get rolling this week and get over the .500 mark before the deadline, expect that to spin around and the Phillies to be buyers at the deadline. It won’t be easy for them, though, as they take on two first place teams this week in the Cardinals and Tigers. Right now they’re on the upswing, but this next week will show what the Phillies really are.
14. Los Angeles Dodgers (Last Time 21, Up 7)
Don’t look now but the Dodgers are relatively healthy, (Aside from Matt Kemp) and all of that talent is finally clicking together. Hanley Ramirez is playing at an MVP-like level and Adrian Gonzalez continues to be consistent. Everyone knew this team had the pitching it needed to win, it was just a matter of when the offense would click, and now it has.
13. Arizona Diamondbacks (Last Time 12, Down 1)
The D-Backs better not look over their shoulders, because if they do, they might watch the Dodgers pass them right by (Edit: And now they have). The Diamondbacks have been playing mediocrely over the last few weeks, but they are lucky enough to be playing in the NL West where everyone has been mediocre lately. While Paul Goldschmidt has continued to play like an MVP, it is going to take more than one man to hold this lead over the Dodgers.
12. New York Yankees (Last Time 13, Up 1)
The Yankees looked like they were about to get healthy, but then Derek Jeter went down with another injury and it looks like the biogenesis scandal could be claiming Alex Rodriguez’ season very soon. They are still close enough to make a move, but it is going to be tough for them to catch Boston, Baltimore and Tampa Bay without getting some help at the trade deadline.
11. Cleveland Indians (Last Time 9, Down 2)
The Indians took over the Tigers, then Zach McAllister went down. McAllister had become a key part of the Indians rotation before his injury, but lucky for them, they have been able to play just well enough to stay within striking distance of the Tigers. McAllister returns this week and it could be just in time. The Indians may not look like one of the best teams in baseball, but the Tigers aren’t running away with the division, and if Miguel Cabrera’s hip turns out to put him on the disabled list, then this may be the Indians’ time to strike.
10. Detroit Tigers (Last Time 10)
The Tigers have the best player in the league, the best one-two starting pitchers in the league, and yet they cannot seem to pull away from the pesky Indians. As mentioned above, the Tigers could be in real trouble if Cabrera’s hip turns into a trip to the disabled list, but for now they are still the team with the best offensive player in the league. The question that remains unanswered, though, is why can’t they seem to run away with this division? They had trouble locking up the division last season and they seem to be having the same problem this season. I suppose it doesn’t matter why they can’t lock it up because if they make the playoffs, the record is thrown out the window and everyone knows what they can do in the playoffs.
9. Texas Rangers (Last Time 4, Down 5)
In the first really big move before the trade deadline, the Randers bolstered an injury ridden starting rotation by adding Matt Garza from the Chicago Cubs. The real trade deadline addition that could help this team move back into first is one that they will make this week from the disabled list when they activate Alexi Ogando from the disabled list. Ogando has an ERA under three on the season and has experience pitching well in Texas, while Garza’s career ERA in Texas is over six. If the Rangers are going to catch the A’s, pitching will be the key, but the newest trade acquisition may not be what pushes them over the top.
8. Cincinnati Reds (Last Time 8)
13 games over .500 and third place in the division, such is the life of the Reds. This team continues to play well and win, but they still look up at the Pirates and Cardinals. It’s a tough life, but being in third all season won’t matter much to them when playoff time comes around. As much as they want to win the division and have a series with home field advantage, the Reds have witnessed first hand that it’s not the best team that wins the series, it’s the hottest. Expect the Reds to keep on keepin’ on and doing everything they can to be the team that gets hot in September.
7. Atlanta Braves (Last Time 6, Down 1)
The Braves aren’t the best team in baseball like they were for the first month or two, but they remain the only team with a healthy lead in their division. They currently sit seven games over the second place Phillies and are the only team in their division over .500. Justin Upton may not be in MVP conversation anymore, but the team just keeps winning anyway. If they’re not in the playoffs this season, it would be an incredible collapse.
6. Baltimore Orioles (Last Time 7, Up 1)
In what has become the toughest division in baseball, the Orioles are the team that is quietly staying right where they are, waiting for the right time to strike. The Rockies, the other team with three starting All Stars, may be struggling, but the Orioles continue to win. While they may not be gaining ground on the Red Sox and Rays, they are right there if either team starts to stumble and would be in the Wild Card playoff if the season ended tomorrow. They may not be getting a lot of attention with what the Rays are doing right now, but they are still solid and right there with the top teams in baseball.
5. Pittsburgh Pirates (Last Time 1, Down 4)
Many people have been speculating on when the Pirates would have their second half collapse, and while I hope it never happens, now might be the time. All Star closer Jason Grilli has gone down with injury after being one of the best stories in baseball this season, and if he is unable to come back quickly, it might not only be the end to a great story, but the end to the incredible run the Pirates were making. Fellow all star Mark Melancon may be ready to step in and fill the closer role right away, but the issue then becomes who steps into the setup role. The good news is Andrew McCutchen is starting to heat up, and if he can spark the offense, then maybe, just maybe, the closer role won’t matter as much.
4. Oakland Athletics (Last Time 5, Up 1)
The AL West has been anything but a run away for most of the season. For what seemed like forever, either the Rangers or A’s had a one game lead or less. Well, the A’s have finally pulled ahead to a three game lead and have some breathing room. The most impressive thing about the three game lead, though, is how they are managing to win. In what is possibly the worst hitting streak for this team all season, the pitching staff has come through and shut down some of the best teams in the league in the Pirates, Cardinals and Red Sox. If they can figure out their offensive woes soon, this could turn into a one team race.
3. Tampa Bay Rays (Last Time 11, Up 8)
Much like the Diamondbacks, the Red Sox better not look over their shoulders because here come the Rays. The Red Sox won’t be able to look behind them for the Rays, though, because they are coming to their yard this week with a chance to take over the division lead. Evan Longoria has quietly put together a fantastic season (and somehow wasn’t an all star) while James Loney continues to shock the world with fabulous hitting to help this team shoot right up the rankings. Just one month ago this team was in last place, and by the end of the week they could be sitting alone atop the best division in baseball.
2. St. Louis Cardinals (Last Time 3, Up 1)
The Cardinals dropped out of first and it seemed like the Pirates were ready to run away with it. You can’t sleep on the Cardinals, though. This is not only one of the best teams in the league this season, they are one of the best run franchises of the last decade. It is hard to ever count them out. Even with the Pirates and Reds right on their tails, expect the Cards to continue doing what they do best, finding ways to win ball games.
1. Boston Red Sox (Last Time 2, Up 1)
The Red Sox are in quite a predicament this week. They could fall out of first for the first time in quite some time, but the good news is that they can stop the Rays’ surge to the top themselves. The Sox have been easily the best team in the AL over the last few months, and with yet another series win this week against a division rival, they can continue their dominance atop the league. They have their immediate destiny in their own hands right now, and there isn’t much more a team can ask for. They sit on top of the league, and if they have anything to say about it, they will for months to come.