MLB Second Half Outlook and Midseason Review

(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

The Phillies struggled to pitch in the first half (15th in the National League in ERA, BAA, and WHIP) while hitting just about everything that came their way (first in the NL in Runs, SLG, and OPS).

This sounds all too familiar to Phillies fans who have been crying out to their General Manager Ed Wade to go out and trade for some pitching.

Second Half Evaluation: (Rising) The Phillies are currently locked in a tight race in the NL East with the Braves, Mets, and Marlins who are all within four games of them.

Cole Hamels should rebound from his horrendous start, and the Phillies should win this division easily.

St. Louis Cardinals

While Albert Pujols has done everything but walk on water in the first half, the real credit has to go to pitching coach Dave Duncan.

The Cardinals are third in the NL in ERA and second in WHIP with a starting rotation that features Joel Pineiro, Kyle Lohse, and Todd Wellemeyer.

While Pujols deserves all the credit in the world for his absurd line of .336 BA/.460 OBP/ .739 SLG, the reason the Cardinals are in first place in the NL Central is because of their pitching staff.

Second Half Evaluation: (Staying Put) They are 3-10 against the Phillies, Dodgers, Giants, and Rockies (all teams with equal or better run differential), but 21-16 against their own division.

They should compete for the NL Central but will probably fall short of the Wild Card.

San Francisco Giants

The Giants have dominated the NL with their pitching (first in ERA, second in BAA and OPS, third in WHIP), but couldn’t get a hit if you gave them 36 outs in a game (15th in OBP and SLG).

These results are not surprising to anyone with the lone exception that they are leading the Wild Card at the mid-point.

Second Half Evaluation: (Staying Put) They should continue to pitch well and that will keep them in the race, but they cannot hope to win the Wild Card if Pablo Sandoval is their best hitter all season long.

Colorado Rockies

The Rockies were 18-28 when they fired Clint Hurdle, and since Jim Tracy took over they are 24-11 and sit two games out of the Wild Card.

They were left for dead early in the season but since have been one of the best teams in baseball, going an impressive 11-4 against the AL.

Second Half Evaluation: (Rising) They played more road games than any team in baseball in the first half and should look to take advantage of their 46 remaining home games.

If they can add a bullpen piece or two, this is a team to be reckoned with.

Fatally Flawed

Texas Rangers

At the midway point, they sit half a game back of the division leading Angels and have a surprising plus 31 run differential.

Second Half Evaluation: (Falling) This team is not as good of a hitting team as people give them credit for.  They can only hit for power (12th in BA, third in SLG).

Their pitching is not overly impressive either as they are 10th in ERA and BAA, and 11th in OPS and quality starts.

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