MLB Teams Poised to Make a Big Push Before the All-Star Break
As the All-Star Game approaches, teams around the league will have to decide if they'll be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline.
For many organizations, that decision is pretty cut and dry. Other teams will hold out hope, believing that their players can overcome mediocre starts and catapult them into the playoff picture.
In 2015, there are a handful of teams that fit that mold.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have already turned their season around and should make plenty of noise in the second half. In the American League, teams that began the season with high aspirations, like the Los Angeles Angels, Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Indians, have also shown signs of life.
Which MLB teams are poised to skyrocket to the top of the standings before the All-Star break? Let's find out!
Los Angeles Angels
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The Houston Astros became the darlings of MLB with a scorching start that saw them skyrocket to the top of the American League West.
But as the Astros have cooled off, the defending AL West champs are looming menacingly over their shoulders.
The Los Angeles Angels have been fairly mediocre so far in 2015. The Halos rank 21st in MLB in runs and 11th in ERA.
Offensively, Mike Trout has continued to be Mike Trout. He's the best player on the planet, and as long as he's healthy, the Angels will remain in the hunt. With Albert Pujols also pretending it's 2009, L.A. has been able to overcome minimal production from various key performers. If the likes of Matt Joyce and David Freese can get going, look out.
There are even more encouraging signs regarding the rotation. Jered Weaver and Matt Shoemaker have been fairly inconsistent this season, but Hector Santiago, C.J. Wilson and Garrett Richards have been dependable. If the normally solid Weaver and the talented Shoemaker find their rhythm, the L.A. staff can be among the league's best.
Finishing out June strongly would set the Angels up for a legitimate opportunity to claim another AL West crown. The Halos have series with the Oakland A's, Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners and the first-place Astros to close out the month.
When the calendar reads July, don't be shocked to see the Angels atop the division.
Cleveland Indians
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The Cleveland Indians sit a half game out of the cellar in the American League Central.
But with a rotation that misses bats and hitters producing at a standout level, a lengthy winning streak could be just around the corner for a team that's played the fourth-toughest schedule in the majors to this point.
Let's start with the rotation that's been nothing short of dominant in 2015. A 4.38 starters ERA doesn't seem that impressive, but a 3.36 FIP is the fourth-best mark in the majors. Shoddy defense has devastated Cleveland's rotation.
Four Cleveland hurlers can be found in the top 21 in MLB in strikeouts per nine innings. Corey Kluber deservedly receives most of the attention, but Danny Salazar, Carlos Carrasco and Trevor Bauer have been electric on the bump for the Indians.
At the dish, Michael Brantley and Jason Kipnis are performing at an All-Star level. The Tribe have also enjoyed surprise contributions from David Murphy (.333/.375/.484) and Ryan Raburn (.290/.362/.516), while Brandon Moss and Carlos Santana continue to do what they've always done.
With the Francisco Lindor in the fold, the Indians should get the spark they need from their highly regarded youngster. If the team can be a little more solid defensively—Lindor will help on that front—there's no reason to believe Cleveland can't get back into the postseason picture.
San Diego Padres
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After a winter of wheeling and dealing by new general manager A.J. Preller, the San Diego Padres haven't exactly lit the world on fire. The club is hovering around .500 midway through June.
It's been San Diego's pitching that's let it down, something that figured to be a strength heading into the season.
James Shields and Tyson Ross have been bright spots for the rotation, but the rest of the staff is in shambles. Andrew Cashner hasn't lived up to his electric stuff, Ian Kennedy and Odrisamer Despaigne have struggled and Brandon Morrow has been shut down with shoulder soreness.
Even with those pitching woes, the Padres have navigated a brutal schedule to start the season and remain firmly in contention.
That's due in large part to an offense that ranks fifth in runs scored. Justin Upton, Wil Myers, Derek Norris and Yonder Alonso have given opposing pitchers problems all year long.
With the arms in the bullpen beginning to settle into their roles, the pieces are in place for the Padres to make a run. Improvements at the back of the rotation, either by the current cast or via trade, will see San Diego put pressure on the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants in the National League West.
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Baltimore Orioles
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Does anybody want to win the American League East? In a division full of mediocre teams, don't count the Baltimore Orioles out.
The defending AL East champs haven't looked like the juggernaut we saw in 2014, but the O's still have the ingredients to repeat in the division.
In 2014, Baltimore's offense clubbed homer after homer. This season's team isn't as powerful, but can still get the job done offensively. Adam Jones, Manny Machado, Chris Davis and Jimmy Paredes have mashed, while Matt Wieters has looked strong since returning from injury.
Horrid seasons from Chris Tillman and Bud Norris have hurt the rotation, but Ubaldo Jimenez, Wei-Yin Chen and Miguel Gonzalez have managed to hold down the fort. If flame-throwing youngster Kevin Gausman returns from injury at full health, he could be the answer to solidify the backend of the O's rotation.
Baltimore is as good as anybody in the division, which isn't saying much. Still, the O's are in position to maneuver their way to the front of the AL East for a second straight season.
Pittsburgh Pirates
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The Pittsburgh Pirates have already begun their ascent to the top of the National League standings.
After a relatively mediocre start, the Buccos closed May on an 8-2 run. June has seen similar success, with Pittsburgh winning nine of their first 12 games.
The division-leading St. Louis Cardinals pace the league in starters ERA, but guess which team resides at No. 2? That's right, the Pirates. Behind Gerrit Cole's Cy Young-caliber season, A.J. Burnett's incredible swan song and Francisco Liriano's continued consistency, Pittsburgh's rotation is keeping the team in virtually every game.
The offense doesn't have to do much most nights, but the Pirates are starting to swing the bats better of late.
All of those worries regarding Andrew McCutchen proved to be premature, as the perennial All-Star has elevated his numbers to their customary levels. Jung-Ho Kang has been one of the top signings of the offseason, and Starling Marte has continued to blossom into one of baseball's most electric players.
The NL Central is crowded at the top, but there's no reason the Pirates can't return to the postseason. Other teams in the NL may get more attention, but Pittsburgh has quietly begun to climb to the top of the league.
Advanced stats courtesy of FanGraphs and accurate as of 6/14.
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