MLB Power Rankings: Where All 30 MLB Teams Stand at the 2015 All-Star Break
The MLB All-Star break has arrived, and while our attention will turn to the festivities in Cincinnati, we are also just a couple of weeks from this year's July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
So how do our MLB power rankings shape up heading into the break?
When putting together this list, we considered the following factors:
- Last week's record
- Quality of opponent
- Key injuries/trades
- Recent performance beyond the last week
Also included this time around is a look at where all 30 teams ranked on Opening Day, while a selection of each team's first-half MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year replaces our usual Hitter and Pitcher of the Week selections.
The goal, as always, is to be as objective as possible. But a certain amount of subjectivity will always come into play with something like this.
Just remember: This is a fluid process. Teams will rise and fall on a weekly basis relative to where they ranked previously. You keep winning, you keep climbing—it's as simple as that.
30. Philadelphia Phillies (29-62, Previous: 30)
1 of 30
Opening Day Rank: 30
Last Week: 1-6
Two more series losses leave the Philadelphia Phillies with a staggering minus-160 run differential heading into the All-Star break, as they are on pace to tie the franchise record with 111 losses set in 1941.
Rumors will continue to swirl about a potential Cole Hamels deal until it actually happens or until the trade deadline passes, but their biggest move could wind up being a trade involving Ben Revere.
The speedy outfielder has a modest $4.1 million salary this season and still has two years of team control left. The Pittsburgh Pirates are the latest in a number of clubs to show interest, according to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Revere is hitting .297 with 21 stolen bases, and he led the NL with 184 hits last season.
First-Half MVP
- 3B Maikel Franco (.284/.339/.495, 14 2B, 10 HR, 34 RBI, 31 R)
First-Half Cy Young
- SP Cole Hamels (5-7, 3.63 ERA, 1.217 WHIP, 123 K, 116.2 IP)
First-Half Rookie of the Year
- Franco (.284/.339/.495, 14 2B, 10 HR, 34 RBI, 31 R)
29. Milwaukee Brewers (38-52, Previous: 24)
2 of 30
Opening Day Rank: 22
Last Week: 2-4
The Milwaukee Brewers put together an impressive 11-2 stretch heading into last week that saw them win four consecutive series, but they drop back to the No. 29 spot after struggling last week against the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Ryan Braun earned a spot on the All-Star team on Sunday, replacing the injured Matt Holliday, but first baseman Adam Lind has been their best hitter this season.
He doesn't hit a lick against left-handed pitching, but Lind has still managed to post an .887 OPS with 15 home runs and 52 RBI. He's expected to be traded in the weeks to come, as is outfielder Gerardo Parra, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
For whatever reason, the Brewers have really struggled at home so far this season, going 16-28 at Miller Park compared to 22-24 on the road.
First-Half MVP
- 1B Adam Lind (.292/.375/.512, 19 2B, 15 HR, 52 RBI, 39 R)
First-Half Cy Young
- RP Francisco Rodriguez (19/19 SV, 1.41 ERA, 0.875 WHIP, 10.4 K/9)
First-Half Rookie of the Year
- RP Michael Blazek (5-2, 1.58 ERA, 0.920 WHIP, 8.1 K/9)
28. San Diego Padres (41-49, Previous: 26)
3 of 30
Opening Day Rank: 6
Last Week: 2-4
As you can see above, I was one of the many writers high on the San Diego Padres heading into 2015 after a busy offseason of adding to what was the league's worst offense a year ago.
While they've improved from 3.30 runs per game last season to 3.91 this year, it has not mattered much in the standings. They are on pace to win 73 games, after picking up 77 wins in 2014.
So the question for general manager A.J. Preller becomes: Do you backtrack and sell at the deadline, or do you double-down and look to add some pieces to make a second-half push?
If they decide to sell, Justin Upton will be their biggest trade chip. And his availability would significantly alter the trade market as a whole, as he'd be hands-down the best bat.
First-Half MVP
- LF Justin Upton (.253/.331/.422, 10 2B, 14 HR, 48 RBI, 45 R)
First-Half Cy Young
- RP Craig Kimbrel (23/24 SV, 3.24 ERA, 1.290 WHIP, 13.0 K/9)
First-Half Rookie of the Year
- UT Cory Spangenberg (.254/.304/.356, 8 2B, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 21 R)
27. Colorado Rockies (39-49, Previous: 29)
4 of 30
Opening Day Rank: 29
Last Week: 4-2
A four-game sweep of the Atlanta Braves was a nice way to close out the first half for the Colorado Rockies, but overall it's been another disappointing season stemming from an overall lack of pitching.
They currently rank 29th in the league with a 4.82 ERA, just ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies (4.83).
Their record is bad enough on the surface but is made even worse when you consider that they opened the season at 11-8, meaning they've gone 28-41 since.
Third baseman Nolan Arenado continues to be the biggest bright spot, as he's tied for the MLB lead with 70 RBI and second in the NL to Todd Frazier (200) with 196 total bases.
First-Half MVP
- 3B Nolan Arenado (.293/.329/.598, 22 2B, 24 HR, 70 RBI, 52 R)
First-Half Cy Young
- RP John Axford (16/17 SV, 2.36 ERA, 1.238 WHIP, 8.4 K/9)
First-Half Rookie of the Year
- 1B/OF Ben Paulsen (.286/.346/.486, 9 2B, 5 HR, 19 RBI, 18 R)
26. Cincinnati Reds (39-47, Previous: 28)
5 of 30
Opening Day Rank: 21
Last Week: 3-3
The Cincinnati Reds and the city of Cincinnati as a whole will be on display the next few days with the team hosting this year's All-Star Game, and they should stay in the headlines with the trade deadline fast approaching.
Despite a rocky start on Sunday, ace Johnny Cueto wrapped up the first half ranked in the top 10 in the National League in ERA (2.73, ninth), WHIP (0.902, third), batting average against (.196, fourth), strikeouts (113, 10th) and innings pitched (118.2, seventh).
He may wind up being the prize of the trade deadline if Cole Hamels stays put, and the Reds should be able to add some terrific young talent to an already deep farm system by moving him.
Mike Leake (6-5, 4.08 ERA, 114.2 IP) is also a safe bet to be dealt, while Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported that outfielder Jay Bruce (.806 OPS, 13 HR, 42 RBI) is "as good a bet as anyone to be traded" according to some around the league.
First-Half MVP
- 3B Todd Frazier (.284/.337/.585, 26 2B, 25 HR, 57 RBI, 54 R)
First-Half Cy Young
- SP Johnny Cueto (6-6, 2.73 ERA, 0.902 WHIP, 113 K, 118.2 IP)
First-Half Rookie of the Year
- SP Anthony DeSclafani (5-6, 3.65 ERA, 1.366 WHIP, 74 K, 101.0 IP)
25. Miami Marlins (38-51, Previous: 27)
6 of 30
Opening Day Rank: 11
Last Week: 3-3
Fun fact: With seven scoreless innings and a win against the Cincinnati Reds at Marlins Park on Thursday, Jose Fernandez is now 14-0 with a 1.17 ERA in 22 starts at home in his career.
His return has certainly provided a spark, but at this point, with slugger Giancarlo Stanton sidelined, it looks like it will be too little too late for a Marlins team with some legitimate expectations entering the season.
As a result, the club appears ready to trade pitchers Mat Latos and Dan Haren between now and the deadline, according to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald.
Latos is 2-2 with a 3.31 ERA in his last five starts after opening the year with a 6.12 ERA in his first nine, while Haren has been the team's most consistent starter with a 3.24 ERA and a team-high 11 quality starts over 111 innings of work.
First-Half MVP
- RF Giancarlo Stanton (.265/.346/.606, 12 2B, 27 HR, 67 RBI, 47 R)
First-Half Cy Young
- SP Dan Haren (7-5, 3.24 ERA, 1.072 WHIP, 79 K, 111.0 IP)
First-Half Rookie of the Year
- C J.T. Realmuto (.251/.279/.385, 12 2B, 4 HR, 23 RBI, 25 R)
24. Texas Rangers (42-46, Previous: 20)
7 of 30
Opening Day Rank: 24
Last Week: 1-4
One of the bigger surprise stories just a few weeks ago, the Texas Rangers limp into the break at 5-15 over their last 20 games.
They open the second half with a nine-game road trip that will likely be the deciding factor in what they do at the trade deadline, and if they continue to struggle, they could opt to sell high on Yovani Gallardo.
The free-agent-to-be has quietly been one of the best pitchers in the American League, ranking sixth in the league with a 2.62 ERA.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports opines that the team could be both buyers and sellers at the deadline, moving Gallardo but also making a run at acquiring Cole Hamels as a long-term rotation piece.
First-Half MVP
- DH Prince Fielder (.339/.403/.521, 19 2B, 14 HR, 54 RBI, 42 R)
First-Half Cy Young
- SP Yovani Gallardo (7-8, 2.62 ERA, 1.227 WHIP, 79 K, 113.1 IP)
First-Half Rookie of the Year
- OF Delino DeShields Jr. (.267/.360/.394, 11 2B, 5 3B, 36 R, 14 SB)
23. Arizona Diamondbacks (42-45, Previous: 22)
8 of 30
Opening Day Rank: 27
Last Week: 2-3
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a team on the rise, and while they may not be contenders in 2015, they've played better than most expected.
Paul Goldschmidt has been the best hitter in the National League not named Bryce Harper, putting up silly numbers in the first half. He'll be the cornerstone of everything the team does in the years to come.
Pitching has been the issue, as the team ranks 26th in the league with a 4.22 team ERA and 26th with a 4.66 starters' ERA.
The D-backs don't have much in the way of pieces to move, outside of veteran closer Brad Ziegler, and chances are they'll just stand pat and look to make a run at a winning record.
First-Half MVP
- 1B Paul Goldschmidt (.340/.455/.610, 20 2B, 21 HR, 70 RBI, 60 R, 16 SB)
First-Half Cy Young
- RP Brad Ziegler (14/16 SV, 1.18 ERA, 0.816 WHIP, 5.0 K/9)
First-Half Rookie of the Year
- 3B/OF Yasmany Tomas (.315/.352/.448, 14 2B, 5 HR, 35 RBI, 24 R)
22. Chicago White Sox (41-45, Previous: 25)
9 of 30
Opening Day Rank: 16
Last Week: 5-2
An anemic offense has been the Chicago White Sox's undoing so far, contributing to their AL-worst minus-73 run differential. But they did close out the first half on a high note with a series win over the crosstown rival Chicago Cubs.
In fact, the White Sox enter the break as winners of four consecutive series and 13-7 overall in their last 20 games.
That said, they are still 11 games back in the AL Central and 5.5 games out for the second AL wild-card spot, so expect them to at least move starter Jeff Samardzija before the deadline passes.
The 6'5" right-hander has been boosting his stock with each passing start, throwing a four-hit shutout against a potent Toronto Blue Jays lineup last time out and going 2-0 with a 2.40 ERA overall in his last six starts.
First-Half MVP
- 1B Jose Abreu (.296/.343/.492, 15 2B, 14 HR, 46 RBI, 50 R)
First-Half Cy Young
- SP Chris Sale (8-4, 2.72 ERA, 0.947 WHIP, 157 K, 119.1 IP)
First-Half Rookie of the Year
- SP Carlos Rodon (3-2, 3.80 ERA, 1.613 WHIP, 68 K, 66.1 IP)
21. Seattle Mariners (41-48, Previous: 21)
10 of 30
Opening Day Rank: 3
Last Week: 3-4
My pick to win the AL pennant heading into the season, the Seattle Mariners have been arguably the biggest disappointment of the first half.
Slugger Nelson Cruz has provided the offensive boost the team was hoping for when it signed him this past offseason, but he's been the only consistent threat in a lineup that has averaged a meager 3.51 runs per game.
The return of Hisashi Iwakuma should help the rotation, as he threw eight scoreless innings in his second start back after missing more than two months with a strained lat.
At 7.5 games back in the AL West, this team is not completely sunk just yet, but it has a lot of work to do in the second half.
First-Half MVP
- RF Nelson Cruz (.308/.373/.546, 13 2B, 21 HR, 53 RBI, 44 R)
First-Half Cy Young
- SP Felix Hernandez (11-5, 2.84 ERA, 1.065 WHIP, 112 K, 117.1 IP)
First-Half Rookie of the Year
- SP Mike Montgomery (4-3, 2.29 ERA, 1.000 WHIP, 34 K, 55.0 IP)
20. Atlanta Braves (42-47, Previous: 16)
11 of 30
Opening Day Rank: 26
Last Week: 2-5
The Atlanta Braves duck into the All-Star break on a five-game losing streak, and they suffered a blow over the weekend when they lost closer Jason Grilli for the season to a ruptured Achilles.
While they've played better than most expected after selling off so many pieces during the offseason, they are still very much a work in progress. There will likely be plenty of young talent on display in the second half as the team assesses who will be part of the immediate future.
One player who figures to be at the center of everything is Shelby Miller.
The 24-year-old ranks sixth in the NL with a 2.38 ERA and is under team control through 2018. Trading Jason Heyward for Miller was not an easy decision for the Braves by any means, but it certainly looks like the right move so far.
First-Half MVP
- 1B Freddie Freeman (.299/.367/.520, 20 2B, 12 HR, 41 RBI, 43 R)
First-Half Cy Young
- SP Shelby Miller (5-5, 2.38 ERA, 1.152 WHIP, 95 K, 113.2 IP)
First-Half Rookie of the Year
- SP Williams Perez (4-0, 2.88 ERA, 1.360 WHIP, 38 K, 50.0 IP)
19. Cleveland Indians (42-46, Previous: 23)
12 of 30
Opening Day Rank: 10
Last Week: 4-3
The Cleveland Indians may still reside in the bottom half of these rankings, but if there's one team poised to make a big climb in the second half, it might be them.
They are heading into the break at 9-5 in their last 14 games with the starting rotation finally firing on all cylinders.
In fact, their 2.52 ERA as a team in July is good for fifth in the league, and with rookie Cody Anderson locking down the No. 5 starter spot, they've managed to fill their biggest need in-house and ahead of the trade deadline.
The Indians are currently 11 games behind the Kansas City Royals in the AL Central, but they're just 5.5 games back for the second AL wild-card spot, which is well within reach with the arms they have at their disposal.
First-Half MVP
- 2B Jason Kipnis (.323/.401/.487, 27 2B, 6 HR, 37 RBI, 59 R)
First-Half Cy Young
- SP Corey Kluber (4-10, 3.38 ERA, 1.110 WHIP, 154 K, 133.1 IP)
First-Half Rookie of the Year
- SP Cody Anderson (2-1, 0.89 ERA, 0.659 WHIP, 11 K, 30.1 IP)
18. Boston Red Sox (42-47, Previous: 19)
13 of 30
Opening Day Rank: 8
Last Week: 3-2
The 2015 season has not gone according to plan for the Boston Red Sox. But they've played much better baseball of late, going 9-4 in their last 13 games leading up to the break.
Not surprisingly, pitching has been their biggest weakness. And just when Clay Buchholz was starting to pitch like the ace they've desperately needed, he landed on the disabled list with a strained flexor muscle.
With the money they have invested in this team, it wouldn't be surprising to see them make a move at the deadline, but they're probably better suited giving some of their big league-ready prospects a look.
If nothing else, Mookie Betts has not disappointed in his first extended action, and it looks like he should be a good player for a very long time.
First-Half MVP
- CF Mookie Betts (.277/.328/.464, 22 2B, 10 HR, 43 RBI, 48 R)
First-Half Cy Young
- SP Clay Buchholz (7-7, 3.26 ERA, 1.209 WHIP, 107 K, 113.1 IP)
First-Half Rookie of the Year
- SP Eduardo Rodriguez (5-2, 3.59 ERA, 1.139 WHIP, 46 K, 52.2 IP)
17. Oakland Athletics (41-50, Previous: 18)
14 of 30
Opening Day Rank: 17
Last Week: 3-3
Despite a plus-44 run differential that ranks fourth in the American League, the Oakland Athletics wrap up the first half nine games under .500 and 8.5 games back in the AL West standings.
It's no secret that close games have been their undoing, as they've gone 8-22 in one-run games and 1-6 in extra innings.
Those struggles and their overall record will likely make them sellers in the weeks to come, with starter Scott Kazmir, reliever Tyler Clippard and utility man Ben Zobrist all possibly on the move.
As the roster turnover continues, ace Sonny Gray remains the franchise cornerstone. He put the finishing touches on a brilliant first half with a two-hit shutout of the Cleveland Indians on Sunday.
First-Half MVP
- C Stephen Vogt (.287/.374/.498, 13 2B, 14 HR, 56 RBI, 43 R)
First-Half Cy Young
- SP Sonny Gray (10-3, 2.04 ERA, 0.962 WHIP, 108 K, 123.2 IP)
First-Half Rookie of the Year
- OF Billy Burns (.306/.342/.403, 10 2B, 2 HR, 16 RBI, 37 R, 17 SB)
16. Detroit Tigers (44-44, Previous: 15)
15 of 30
Opening Day Rank: 9
Last Week: 3-4
The Detroit Tigers have managed to stay at or above the .500 mark all season, but after dropping three of four to the Minnesota Twins over the weekend they will need to kick off the second half with a victory to avoid breaking that trend.
While ace David Price has been terrific, the rest of the rotation remains a huge question mark. And with Miguel Cabrera (calf) sidelined, the offense has not been able to pick up the slack.
J.D. Martinez is having a huge season (.913 OPS, 25 HR, 59 RBI), and a healthy Jose Iglesias has been huge at shortstop, but this team just doesn't look like the same threat it's been in recent years.
A streak of four straight AL Central titles will be on the line in the second half, and the Tigers have an uphill battle with the Kansas City Royals currently up nine games in the standings.
First-Half MVP
- 1B Miguel Cabrera (.350/.456/.578, 16 2B, 15 HR, 54 RBI, 43 R)
First-Half Cy Young
- SP David Price (9-2, 2.38 ERA, 1.120 WHIP, 115 K, 125.0 IP)
First-Half Rookie of the Year
- C James McCann (.280/.320/.430, 11 2B, 4 HR, 21 RBI, 17 R)
15. Toronto Blue Jays (45-46, Previous: 11)
16 of 30
Opening Day Rank: 12
Last Week: 2-5
With 486 runs scored on the season, the Toronto Blue Jays have plated 77 more runs than the next-highest-scoring team (the Yankees) and have averaged an impressive 5.34 runs per game.
That hasn't been enough to offset their lack of consistent pitching, though, as they rank 23rd in the league with a 4.18 ERA and have converted just 14 of 28 save chances.
Adding a starter and an established closer at the deadline seems like a must if they hope to make a run at the AL East title.
Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet thinks the team might target controllable arms as opposed to rentals, given the fact that it's not a sure thing to be playing in October with a sub-.500 record.
First-Half MVP
- 3B Josh Donaldson (.293/.351/.532, 22 2B, 21 HR, 60 RBI, 65 R)
First-Half Cy Young
- SP Mark Buehrle (10-5, 3.34 ERA, 1.162 WHIP, 61 K, 121.1 IP)
First-Half Rookie of the Year
- 2B Devon Travis (.301/.351/.495, 15 2B, 7 HR, 31 RBI, 33 R)
14. Baltimore Orioles (44-44, Previous: 9)
17 of 30
Opening Day Rank: 14
Last Week: 1-5
An 18-5 hot streak at the end of June had the Baltimore Orioles as high as No. 3 in these rankings, but they've gone just 3-8 since the calendar turned over to July and have slid back down as a result.
A slumping offense has been the biggest culprit, as they're hitting .215 as a team and averaging 2.91 runs per game this month.
One player who's not slumping is Manny Machado, as he continues his breakout season offensively. He's already set a new career high with 19 home runs, and that earned him a place in Monday's Home Run Derby.
As for what to expect at the trade deadline: "Don't get your hopes up too high," Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun wrote about the potential for an impact trade. "What you see right now is very likely what you're going to get the rest of the season."
First-Half MVP
- 3B Manny Machado (.298/.361/.525, 18 2B, 19 HR, 48 RBI, 56 R)
First-Half Cy Young
- SP Wei-Yin Chen (4-5, 2.78 ERA, 1.091 WHIP, 90 K, 110.0 IP)
First-Half Rookie of the Year
- RP Tyler Wilson (1-1, 2.12 ERA, 1.235 WHIP, 4 K, 17.0 IP)
13. Tampa Bay Rays (46-45, Previous: 13)
18 of 30
Opening Day Rank: 25
Last Week: 3-4
Despite the lack of anything even remotely resembling a consistent offensive attack, the Tampa Bay Rays close out the first half one game over .500 and just 3.5 games back in the AL East standings.
The pitching has again done most of the heavy lifting, with the rotation in particular standing out with a 3.33 ERA that ranks fifth overall and second in the American League.
Chris Archer was more or less thrust into the role of Opening Day starter when a number of guys landed on the disabled list to begin the season, but he's emerged as a bona fide ace and has been one of the best pitchers in baseball so far.
The Rays are not the kind of team to make a splash on the trade market, so getting guys like Steven Souza (finger) and Asdrubal Cabrera (strained) back healthy will be key for their second half.
First-Half MVP
- 3B Evan Longoria (.276/.350/.414, 17 2B, 9 HR, 41 RBI, 38 R)
First-Half Cy Young
- SP Chris Archer (9-6, 2.74 ERA, 1.019 WHIP, 147 K, 121.2 IP)
First-Half Rookie of the Year
- SP Nate Karns (4-5, 3.63 ERA, 1.260 WHIP, 99 K, 104.0 IP)
12. San Francisco Giants (46-43, Previous: 12)
19 of 30
Opening Day Rank: 20
Last Week: 4-2
Serious questions about the starting rotation as a whole earned the San Francisco Giants the No. 20 spot in these rankings heading into the season.
Many of those questions remain, but they have managed to win nonetheless, as they are currently just 4.5 games back in the NL West and two back for the No. 2 NL wild-card spot.
Madison Bumgarner and Chris Heston have been a solid one-two punch, but the rest of the team's starters have combined to go 19-23 with a 4.34 ERA on the year.
A fractured fibula has sidelined outfielder Nori Aoki since June 20, but he's expected to be back around July 24, according to manager Bruce Bochy (via Matt Kawahara of the Sacramento Bee).
First-Half MVP
- C Buster Posey (.314/.381/.498, 14 2B, 14 HR, 58 RBI, 46 R)
First-Half Cy Young
- SP Madison Bumgarner (9-5, 3.33 ERA, 1.109 WHIP, 121 K, 119.0 IP)
First-Half Rookie of the Year
- 3B Matt Duffy (.293/.335/.462, 13 2B, 8 HR, 41 RBI, 33 R)
11. Minnesota Twins (49-40, Previous: 17)
20 of 30
Opening Day Rank: 28
Last Week: 6-1
With a sweep of the Baltimore Orioles and series victory over the division-rival Detroit Tigers, the Minnesota Twins wrap up the first half of the season as arguably the biggest surprise in baseball.
After ranking dead last in starter's ERA the past two seasons, improved performance from Minnesota's starters has made all the difference in 2015, as they rank 11th in the league with a 3.86 ERA.
A breakout season from Kyle Gibson, who ranks 12th in the AL with a 2.85 ERA, has gone a long way, considering a relatively disappointing performance so far from last year's ace, Phil Hughes.
Miguel Sano has hit .378/.489/.649 with four doubles and two home runs in 11 games since being promoted to the majors July 2, and a healthy Byron Buxton will join him in the second half in what will be a fun lineup to watch, if nothing else.
First-Half MVP
- 2B Brian Dozier (.256/.328/.513, 26 2B, 19 HR, 50 RBI, 67 R)
First-Half Cy Young
- SP Kyle Gibson (8-6, 2.85 ERA, 1.214 WHIP, 78 K, 113.2 IP)
First-Half Rookie of the Year
- SP Trevor May (6-7, 4.26 ERA, 1.372 WHIP, 72 K, 82.1 IP)
10. Chicago Cubs (47-40, Previous: 5)
21 of 30
Opening Day Rank: 13
Last Week: 3-4
The Chicago Cubs had something of a disappointing finish to the first half as they lost a heartbreaker to the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday and then dropped two of three to the Chicago White Sox over the weekend.
Still, all things considered, it was a wildly successful first half for the rebuilding franchise. The young talent has arrived, and new manager Joe Maddon has the team right in the thick of the playoff hunt with a one-game lead for the No. 2 wild-card berth.
Chicago will need to sort out the No. 5 starter spot, likely with a trade between now and the deadline. But the Nos. 1-4 spots in the rotation stack up to any in baseball right now.
Given the Cubs' inconsistency on offense, don't be surprised if the team recalls Futures Game MVP Kyle Schwarber long before rosters expand in September. If he starts seeing time in left field for Triple-A Iowa, that's probably a sign he's on his way.
First-Half MVP
- 1B Anthony Rizzo (.298/.413/.542, 24 2B, 16 HR, 48 RBI, 48 R)
First-Half Cy Young
- SP Jake Arrieta (10-5, 2.66 ERA, 0.986 WHIP, 123 K, 121.2 IP)
First-Half Rookie of the Year
- 3B Kris Bryant (.269/.376/.472, 14 2B, 12 HR, 51 RBI, 47 R)
9. New York Mets (47-42, Previous: 14)
22 of 30
Opening Day Rank: 15
Last Week: 5-1
The New York Mets are five games over .500 despite one of the worst offenses in baseball. And while their rotation has been terrific, it's hard to see them legitimately contending for a title unless they can find a way to add an impact bat.
As of now, they rank dead last in the league with a .233 average, and they've scored just 3.48 runs per game.
That has been largely offset by a pitching staff that ranks third in the league with a 3.23 ERA, but leaning that heavily on their staff won't bode well down the stretch.
At the very least, expect top prospect Michael Conforto to receive a call-up if they can't find a way to swing a big trade.
First-Half MVP
- 1B Lucas Duda (.241/.345/.430, 22 2B, 12 HR, 38 RBI, 42 R)
First-Half Cy Young
- SP Jacob deGrom (9-6, 2.14 ERA, 0.924 WHIP, 112 K, 113.2 IP)
First-Half Rookie of the Year
- SP Noah Syndergaard (4-4, 3.10 ERA, 1.110 WHIP, 72 K, 66.2 IP)
8. Washington Nationals (48-39, Previous: 4)
23 of 30
Opening Day Rank: 1
Last Week: 2-3
A 48-39 record at the break puts the Washington Nationals on pace for 89 wins, well short of expectations heading into the season but still enough to currently give them a two-game lead in the NL East.
Considering all the injuries they've dealt with to this point, it's not crazy to think their best baseball may still be ahead of them. But the New York Mets figure to stick around on the strength of their pitching alone.
Getting Stephen Strasburg (oblique) healthy and pitching like he's capable looks like the single biggest X-factor in the second half for the Nats, as he went just 5-5 with a 5.16 ERA in 13 first-half starts.
He's not the only one who needs to get healthy, as Anthony Rendon (quad), Ryan Zimmerman (foot), Denard Span (back) and Jayson Werth (wrist) also enter the break on the disabled list.
First-Half MVP
- RF Bryce Harper (.339/.464/.704, 21 2B, 26 HR, 61 RBI, 59 R)
First-Half Cy Young
- SP Max Scherzer (10-7, 2.11 ERA, 0.780 WHIP, 150 K, 132.0 IP)
First-Half Rookie of the Year
- OF Michael Taylor (.250/.301/.382, 10 2B, 6 HR, 32 RBI, 24 R)
7. New York Yankees (48-40, Previous: 10)
24 of 30
Opening Day Rank: 19
Last Week: 4-2
Somehow, the New York Yankees have managed to keep their aging offense healthy, and the result has been one of the highest-scoring teams in baseball at an impressive 4.65 runs per game.
The starting rotation has also fallen into place with Masahiro Tanaka staying healthy and Ivan Nova returning strong from Tommy John surgery, though they still look to be one starter away at this point.
The team finally pulled the trigger on calling up prospect Rob Refsnyder to replace Stephen Drew at second base, a long overdue decision with the veteran Drew hitting all of .182/.257/.372 on the year.
Injuries and overall depth will continue to be a concern given the age of so many of their key guys. But the Yankees have been the most consistent team in the AL East to this point and find themselves with a 3.5-game lead in the division as a result.
First-Half MVP
- DH Alex Rodriguez (.278/.382/.515, 13 2B, 18 HR, 51 RBI, 48 R)
First-Half Cy Young
- RP Andrew Miller (18/18 SV, 1.53 ERA, 0.716 WHIP, 14.4 K/9)
First-Half Rookie of the Year
- RP Chasen Shreve (6-1, 2.02 ERA, 0.981 WHIP, 9.3 K/9)
6. Houston Astros (49-42, Previous: 3)
25 of 30
Opening Day Rank: 23
Last Week: 1-6
The Houston Astros stumble into the break with a series loss to the Cleveland Indians and a sweep at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays, but it was a phenomenal first half nonetheless.
There's no question the team took a big step forward last season. But it was still a 92-loss club, so the fact that it's managed to make the jump to legitimate contender has been surprising, to say the least.
Outside of All-Star Dallas Keuchel, the team's best pitcher has been 21-year-old Lance McCullers. But he could run into an innings limit at some point. He's thrown 93.1 in 2015 so far, with his previous high being 104.2 in 2013.
Either way, it appears they'll need to add at least one proven starter at the deadline if they hope to reclaim their AL West lead.
First-Half MVP
- RF George Springer (.264/.365/.457, 14 2B, 13 HR, 29 RBI, 43 R)
First-Half Cy Young
- SP Dallas Keuchel (11-4, 2.23 ERA, 1.005 WHIP, 114 K, 137.1 IP)
First-Half Rookie of the Year
- SS Carlos Correa (.276/.312/.507, 10 2B, 7 HR, 19 RBI, 18 R)
5. Los Angeles Angels (48-40, Previous: 6)
26 of 30
Opening Day Rank: 5
Last Week: 4-2
For the first couple months of the season, Mike Trout was the only player consistently producing at the plate for the Los Angeles Angels. But they've started to hit their stride at the plate and help the reigning AL MVP out of late.
Albert Pujols is having a great season, leading the AL with 26 home runs, while C.J. Cron and Erick Aybar have both caught fire at the plate over the past few weeks.
On the pitching side of things, Hector Santiago is one of the bigger All-Star surprises, and top prospect Andrew Heaney has looked sharp since stepping into the No. 5 starter job. Getting Jered Weaver (hip) back healthy will be important, but they're in good shape right now.
Their top deadline target figures to be a left-handed bat of some sort, as they've hit just .240/.300/.348 with 18 home runs and 79 RBI on the season from the left side.
First-Half MVP
- CF Mike Trout (.312/.405/.614, 18 2B, 26 HR, 55 RBI, 68 R)
First-Half Cy Young
- SP Hector Santiago (6-4, 2.33 ERA, 1.098 WHIP, 98 K, 108.1 IP)
First-Half Rookie of the Year
- SP Andrew Heaney (3-0, 1.32 ERA, 0.842 WHIP, 23 K, 27.1 IP)
4. Los Angeles Dodgers (51-39, Previous: 8)
27 of 30
Opening Day Rank: 4
Last Week: 5-2
Despite getting a combined four starts out of Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu, the Los Angeles Dodgers remain atop the NL West standings and currently rank fourth in the league with a 3.30 ERA.
Mike Bolsinger and Carlos Frias have done a phenomenal job stepping into those two vacated rotation spots, while Brett Anderson has managed to stay healthy and is quietly having a terrific season. But that likely won't stop the Dodgers from adding at least one arm before the deadline.
The more compelling storyline to watch might be at shortstop, where veteran Jimmy Rollins is hitting .213/.266/.338 for a minus-0.7 WAR.
Meanwhile, top prospect Corey Seager is hitting .308/.356/.520 with 27 doubles and 13 home runs in the minors, earning the No. 1 spot on Baseball America's midseason top 50 prospects list. How long before they make the switch?
First-Half MVP
- 1B Adrian Gonzalez (.283/.355/.520, 23 2B, 18 HR, 55 RBI, 50 R)
First-Half Cy Young
- SP Zack Greinke (8-2, 1.39 ERA, 0.843 WHIP, 106 K, 123.1 IP)
First-Half Rookie of the Year
- CF Joc Pederson (.230/.364/.487, 15 2B, 20 HR, 40 RBI, 46 R)
3. Kansas City Royals (52-34, Previous: 7)
28 of 30
Opening Day Rank: 18
Last Week: 6-1
The Kansas City Royals got hot at the right time last season; there's no denying that. However, the strengths of their club last year—defense, team speed and late-inning relief pitching—have been strengths once again, and they have the best record in the American League as a result.
That said, losing Alex Gordon is an immeasurable blow to this team.
Outside of being the best defensive left fielder in baseball and the face of the franchise, Gordon was also having a good season at the plate with a .279/.394/.457 line that included 13 doubles and 11 home runs.
He's expected to be sidelined for eight weeks with a strained groin, according to the Associated Press (via ESPN.com).
Jarrod Dyson and Paulo Orlando are filling in for now, but the team could target a stopgap option at the deadline as well as perhaps look for another starter to fill out the rotation.
First-Half MVP
- CF Lorenzo Cain (.316/.373/.491, 19 2B, 8 HR, 42 RBI, 54 R)
First-Half Cy Young
- RP Wade Davis (5-1, 0.46 ERA, 0.872 WHIP, 10.2 K/9)
First-Half Rookie of the Year
- OF Paulo Orlando (.238/.273/.393, 3 2B, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 16 R)
2. St. Louis Cardinals (56-33, Previous: 1)
29 of 30
Opening Day Rank: 2
Last Week: 3-5
The St. Louis Cardinals enter the All-Star break with the best record in baseball. But after dropping three of four to last week's No. 2 team and going 5-9 in their last 14 games, they finally fall out of the No. 1 spot in these rankings.
Matt Holliday (quad) won't be able to play in the All-Star Game, but he figures to be back to kick off the second half, and the team will welcome him back to the middle of the lineup with open arms.
Carlos Martinez, Michael Wacha, Lance Lynn and John Lackey have been a rock-solid foursome. But with the oft-injured Jaime Garcia (groin) again on the disabled list, they could look to add another starter to the mix at the deadline.
They are also currently without veteran setup men Matt Belisle and Jordan Walden, so another relief arm is not out of the question as a potential target.
First-Half MVP
- SS Jhonny Peralta (.298/.355/.473, 20 2B, 13 HR, 46 RBI, 39 R)
First-Half Cy Young
- SP Carlos Martinez (10-3, 2.52 ERA, 1.221 WHIP, 113 K, 107.1 IP)
First-Half Rookie of the Year
- OF Randal Grichuk (.277/.319/.534, 16 2B, 7 HR, 26 RBI, 28 R)
1. Pittsburgh Pirates (53-35, Previous: 2)
30 of 30
Opening Day Rank: 7
Last Week: 6-1
They might not be in first place in their own division, but no team is playing better baseball right now than the Pittsburgh Pirates.
After wrapping up a series win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday, the Pirates are now just 2.5 games back in the NL Central standings. That comes thanks to a ridiculous 35-13 record in their last 48 games since starting the season at 18-22.
Gerrit Cole, A.J. Burnett and Francisco Liriano stack up to any starting pitching trio in the league, and the club currently ranks second in the majors with a 2.86 team ERA.
The injury to Josh Harrison (thumb) has left the Pirates with a hole of sorts in the leadoff spot, and as a result, the team is reportedly interested in Phillies speedster Ben Revere, according to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
More production from Gregory Polanco could also be the answer there, and he went 8-for-26 last week, including the game-winner on Sunday.
First-Half MVP
- CF Andrew McCutchen (.295/.392/.500, 24 2B, 12 HR, 56 RBI, 48 R)
First-Half Cy Young
- SP Gerrit Cole (13-3, 2.30 ERA, 1.117 WHIP, 116 K, 117.1 IP)
First-Half Rookie of the Year
- IF Jung-ho Kang (.268/.348/.384, 10 2B, 4 HR, 29 RBI, 27 R)
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference and are accurate through the end of the first half, which wrapped up Sunday, July 12.
