We’re at the All-Star break, with eight teams hitting the 50-win mark (six from the American League and two from the National League). Here’s an overview of the standings before we get to the power rankings:
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1. Los Angeles Dodgers (60-32) | Last week: 1
The Dodgers made history with five consecutive walk-off wins at home, but then they surprisingly let the last three games before the break slip. Still, LA is the only team in the majors to hit 60 wins at this point.
2. New York Yankees (57-31) | Last week: 2
The Yankees had to settle for a couple of splits (a two-game split in the Subway Series and a four-game split at Tampa Bay), but they must be feeling good about where they are right now. The Bronx Bombers are an MLB-best 16-4 in their last 20 games.
3. Houston Astros (57-33) | Last week: 4 (+1)
They struggled briefly with three consecutive series losses, but the Astros ended the first half on a high note with an 8-3 stretch. Houston has two series on the road when they return to action.
4. Minnesota Twins (56-33) | Last week: 3 (-1)
The Twins set the all-time mark for home runs before the All-Star break, and they sit 23 games above .500 with a 5.5 game lead in the AL Central. After a stellar MLB debut in late May, Devin Smeltzer bounced back nicely in a bullpen appearance yesterday after he was briefly back down in Triple A.
5. Atlanta Braves (54-37) | Last week: 5
Aaron Nola shut down the Braves to start last week, but Atlanta didn’t give up ground in the NL East after coming back with two convincing wins over the Phillies. The Braves’ 21-9 stretch to end the first half is tied for the best in baseball.
6. Tampa Bay Rays (52-39) | Last week: 6
Charlie Morton (5.2 innings, one run in yesterday’s 2-1 victory against the Yankees) continues to be absolutely superb for the Rays this season, working as the team’s ace while reigning AL Cy Young winner Blake Snell struggles. Tampa gets four games at the majors-worst Orioles after the break.
7. Cleveland Indians (50-38) | Last week: 10 (+3)
That’s the way to go into the All-Star break for this year’s host city, as Cleveland is on a six-game winning streak with a shot at the division-leading Twins this weekend. We’ll see if the hot offense can keep it up after a few days off.
8. Boston Red Sox (49-41) | Last week: 11 (+3)
Boston got over any jetlag and disappointment from not picking up a win in London by going 5-1 to improve to 49-41 at the halfway point. The Red Sox have a tough task facing the Dodgers for three games to end this week.
9. Oakland Athletics (50-41) | Last week: 13 (+4)
The Athletics are one of four teams in the majors with at least 20 wins in their last 30 games, as a 4-2 week gets them to 50 wins ahead of the Midsummer Classic. Oakland will look to do damage versus the White Sox and Mariners when they return to play.
10. Chicago Cubs (47-43) | Last week: 7 (-3)
The entire NL Central is lagging, and the Cubs still belong in the top ten as the leaders of a division. Chicago needs Cole Hamels (oblique) to get healthy soon, so the sudden trade rumors surrounding the lefty starter are a bit surprising.
11. Washington Nationals (47-42) | Last week: 15 (+4)
For as bad as they looked earlier this season, it’s probably safe to say the Nationals are back and legitimate threats in the National League. After going 5-1 last week, the Nats were tied for an MLB-best 21-9 over the last 30 games.
12. Milwaukee Brewers (47-44) | Last week: 8 (-4)
At the break, the Brewers have given up more runs than runs scored, but the time off might give them a jolt for the second half. Christian Yelich is batting leadoff in the All-Star Game, so him skipping the Home Run Derby because of a back issue is thankfully just a precaution.
13. Philadelphia Phillies (47-43) | Last week: 14 (+1)
The Phillies’ only two series wins in the past month have been against the spiraling Mets—and that’s despite two cracks at the NL-worst Marlins. Facing the Nationals and Dodgers at home after the break will be a huge test.
14. Texas Rangers (48-42) | Last week: 12 (-2)
The Rangers ended their first half with three consecutive series losses, but not many people expected them to be six games over .500 in the thick of the AL playoff race at this point.
15. St. Louis Cardinals (44-44) | Last week: 17 (+2)
The Cardinals rise a couple of spots in the power rankings simply because they are just two games back in the NL Central, and they can play much better than they have during their first half.
16. Arizona Diamondbacks (46-45) | Last week: 19 (+3)
The D’Backs just swept the Rockies to get above .500, but they’re 13.5 games back of the Dodgers in the division and will be competing for a wild card in a crowded National League.
17. Colorado Rockies (44-45) | Last week: 9 (-8)
Starting the week off with the Astros was going to be tough, but that’s obviously not the way you want to go into the break with a six-game losing streak. The Rockies have the talent to go on a run to start the second half.
18. Los Angeles Angels (45-46) | Last week: 18
Baseball doesn’t seem that important after the sudden death of Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs, but it would be awesome to see the team rally and make a strong postseason push in the American League.
19. Pittsburgh Pirates (44-45) | Last week: 21 (+2)
Clint Hurdle’s squad battled in a couple of series wins over the Cubs and Brewers to get to 2.5 games back in the NL Central. They’ll potentially have a chance to take first place in the division this weekend, so this might be way too low for them in the power rankings. Switch-hitting slugger Josh Bell has a mind-blowing 84 RBI (13 ahead of second-place Cody Bellinger) this season.
20. San Diego Padres (45-45) | Last week: 16 (-4)
The Padres got swept by the Giants and then lost the first game of their series at the Dodgers, so it was good to see them show fight with three consecutive wins before this short vacation. San Diego will host Atlanta this weekend.
21. Cincinnati Reds (41-46) | Last week: 22 (+1)
The Reds are five games below .500, but they are just 4.5 games back in their division. Cincinnati’s pitching (third-best in the majors) is the biggest surprise of the first half in my opinion.
22. Chicago White Sox (42-44) | Last week: 20 (-2)
The White Sox went 6-3 in their final nine games of the first half. They remain far from of playoff position in the AL, but this has been a promising season for the young team.
23. San Francisco Giants (41-48) | Last week: 24 (+1)
After winning six of their last seven games, the Giants probably improved their trade posture for a potential deal involving Madison Bumgarner. Hopefully San Francisco just keeps playing respectable baseball in Bruce Bochy’s final season.
24. New York Mets (40-50) | Last week: 23 (-1)
The one-two punch of Jeff McNeil and Pete Alonso atop the Mets’ lineup has been a major bright spot for the team, but overall, they’re looking like obvious sellers at ten games below .500. Alonso got to the 30-home-run mark, and he’ll have a good shot at breaking Aaron Judge’s all-time rookie record of 52 bombs.
25. Seattle Mariners (39-55) | Last week: 25
The Mariners were able to avoid sweeps last week, but they haven’t been able to build on back-to-back series wins from a couple weeks ago.
26. Miami Marlins (33-55) | Last week: 26
Miami’s offense struggled to get much going, and it led to a 1-5 week. The Marlins will look to pick up a series victory over the Mets this weekend.
27. Toronto Blue Jays (34-57) | Last week: 27
Losing a series to the Orioles to end the first half is tough, and now the Blue Jays will have to face the Yankees after the break.
28. Kansas City Royals (30-61) | Last week: 28
Expect the Royals to be more competitive with games against the Tigers and White Sox when we return to regular action.
29. Detroit Tigers (28-57) | Last week: 29
The Tigers are an MLB-worst 6-24 in their last 30 games, including 3-17 in their last 20.
30. Baltimore Orioles (27-62) | Last week: 30
It looks like the Orioles have some competition for the No. 1 pick next year, especially after a solid 3-3 week. Baltimore will probably take the series wins when they can get them, as they’ve done a lot of losing the past couple of seasons.
AL is weak af
Do you mean NL?
What is going on with the Brewers. That’s so crazy.