MLB All-Star Break: Who Will Win Each Division?

It's the unofficial midway point of the season.

As we are in the middle of the All-Star weekend festivities, now is the time when you really get a good idea of who is in the playoff picture, and we can begin to separate the contenders from the pretenders.

So, without further ado, I will pick the winners of all six divisions.  

AL East

Over the past few seasons, the AL East has been the best division in baseball.  The division has been able to boast of three marquee teams: the Red Sox, Rays and Yankees.

The Red Sox are starting to play extremely well, and the offense is coming into its own.  Adrian Gonzalez leads the league in BA (.354) while the Red Sox have the highest team batting average in the league.  That, with the starting pitching of Beckett and Lester, makes this team look very dangerous, as they have weapons everywhere on both sides of the ball.

The Yankees were dealt a big blow with Alex Rodriguez being put on the DL for at least four weeks, but he should be ready when September rolls around.  In the meantime, other players will have to step up to replace his .295 average and 53 RBI's.  Derek Jeter should pick up the pace after relieving the pressure of having to get 3,000 hits.

The Rays are currently sitting in third, and definitely have some work to do if they want to make the playoffs.  They have been solid defensively but need to improve offensively if they want to contend.  On a good note, Johnny Damon is showing he still can hit, leading the team with 93 of them.

The Blue Jays can't expect to be carried by the monster that is Jose Bautista (how long can they expect to hold on to him?) and the Orioles will need a breakthrough to finish above .500.

AL Central

This may be the most surprising division in all of the MLB.  

Last year's winners, the Twins, sit in fourth place while last year's runner-up, the White Sox, are sitting in third with a sub-.500 record.  

The Cleveland Indians led the division almost all of the year so far, with the Tigers taking a half-game lead right before the break.  

The Tigers have had the luxury of Justin Verlander (2.15 ERA), the best pitcher in baseball, but their overall pitching ERA is close to last in the league at 4.27.  

Asdrubal Cabrera is one of the most underrated players in all of baseball, and he has been a rock defensively and productive offensively for the Indians all year long.

However, the Tribe have been very streaky this year, and a long cold streak could prove too much to overcome.  

The White Sox and Twins both are within striking distance, but both need improvement from their respective bullpens to have a chance.  After a decent start, the Royals are long gone.

The Verdict: An impressive Cinderella run from the Indians falls just short as the Tigers win the division title, but this race may even come down to a one-game playoff, and then anything can happen.  

AL West

The Texas Rangers were the feel good story of the 2010 season, overcoming long champions of the AL West, the LA Angels.  

The four-team division has quickly created a two-horse race, with the Rangers one game ahead of the Angels.  

The Rangers are star-studded with offensive guns Michael Young (.323, 8 HR, 53 RBI) and Josh Hamilton (.301, 11 HR, 49 RBI).  They seem to be coming along well without power slugger Vlad Guerrero and ace Cliff Lee.  They also boast the second highest BA in the league.  

The Angels have had offensive contributions up and down the lineup, including breakout first baseman Mark Trumbo, who leads the team with 17 long balls.  As always, Jered Weaver is an anchor in the rotation, leading the team in wins (11), ERA (1.86) and SO (120).

The Verdict: Another very tight race in this division.  The Rangers edge out the Angels because of a better offense and the best young closer in the game, Neftali Feliz.

NL East

With the acquisitions of Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt within the past two years, the Phillies have created a monster of a pitching staff.  Although they have been set back by Oswalt's injury, the team has not slowed down.  

Offensively, Raul Ibanez has started to play like he did when the Phils won the World Series in '08, and Ryan Howard has consistently brought power to the lineup.  

The Braves have been keeping pace with the Phillies with the help of breakout star, Dutch-born Jair Jurrjens.  He has the best ERA in the league (1.87) and wins (12).  Brian McCann and Martin Prado are two great producers from catcher and second base, respectively.  

The Mets, with Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes anchoring the offense, feel like they still have a shot at the playoffs.  The Nationals and Marlins are just playing for pride.

The Verdict: The Phillies are too strong, but a resurgent Jason Hewyard leads the Braves to the Wild Card.

NL Central

The NL Central is currently the most highly contested division in baseball, with the Cardinals and Brewers tied with records of 49-43, with the Pirates a game back and the Reds four.  

Lance Berkman has been a great pickup for the Cardinals, leading the team in all three major offensive categories.  Along with Matt Holliday and Albert Pujols they are a force to be reckoned with.  

The Brewers are not short on offensive firepower, either.  With Ryan Braun, Rickie Weeks and Prince Fielder leading the way, they can make it a long day for any pitcher.  

The Pirates, sitting in third, could end their streak of having a losing record for so many consecutive seasons.  They have three All-Stars this year, highlighted by bright Andrew McCutchen.  

The Cubs have been far from impressive, and the Astros could set a club record for most losses in a season.

The Verdict: The Cardinals overtake the Brewers in a close race.  The Pirates finish the season above .500 but never really get into the playoff race.

NL West

The defending champions are off to a booming start this year.  

Of course, ace starters Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain along with closer Brian Wilson are allowing the Giants to win close, low-scoring games.  Their great staff lead the league in strikeouts with 775.  

Just behind are the Arizona Diamondbacks.  The D-backs are hosting the All-Star game, and they are showcasing the young, talented Justin Upton and Miguel Montero, who will need to be huge if the boys from the desert can really make a run at this division.  

The Rockies, Dodgers and Padres are all well under .500.  

The Mile High club hasn't played well enough offensively to win many games.  The Dodgers are in a bit of a financial nightmare, and the Padres are yet to come close to the form that almost stole them the division last year.