Report Cards for Every MLB Team at Midseason Mark
As the MLB season approaches the midway mark, it's time to break out the red pen and grade all 30 clubs, from the surging Washington Nationals to the last-place Boston Red Sox.
In the process of writing up report cards, the most important factor was each club's win-loss record. At the same time, how a team has either exceeded or fallen short of its preseason expectations was also a critical consideration. That's good news for a team like the Houston Astros and a bummer for a squad like the Red Sox.
Finally, teams were also judged on how well they've navigated the injury issues that have cropped up in the opening months of the campaign. For the likes of the San Francisco Giants and Tampa Bay Rays, that means both teams earned high marks.
Arizona Diamondbacks
1 of 30
Record: 37-39
What's Gone Right
Paul Goldschmidt has been an absolute monster for the Arizona Diamondbacks. The first baseman has already swatted 20 home runs and ripped off a 1.104 OPS.
While Goldschmidt has been raking, rookie Yasmany Tomas is also worth an honorable mention. The Cuban didn't start the year with the D-Backs, but he's since proved that he belongs. In 59 games, he is the owner of a .314 average.
What's Gone Wrong
As has been the case on so many other occasions in the recent past, a subpar starting staff is ruining the D-Backs. The group ranks No. 26 in both ERA and innings pitched. That's not a recipe for success and suggests that a lot of losses could be on tap for Arizona as the summer wears on.
Grade: B
Atlanta Braves
2 of 30
Record: 36-40
What's Gone Right
For a team that looked to be punting during the offseason, the Atlanta Braves have been surprisingly competitive.
While the record has been closer to .500 than expected, the most encouraging aspect of the season has been that President of Baseball Operations John Hart just keeps stockpiling talent via the trade front—especially young arms. The most recent addition was Touki Toussaint, whom the Braves acquired in the deal for Bronson Arroyo.
What's Gone Wrong
The biggest weak spot for the Braves has been the team's gas can of a bullpen. The relief crew has already accounted for an MLB-worst 17 losses. For comparison, the pen only totaled 23 losses in all of 2014.
Grade: B
Baltimore Orioles
3 of 30
Record: 41-35
What's Gone Right
The Baltimore Orioles have been leaning on Manny Machado and Matt Wieters, a couple of rising stars who were non-factors in 2014 thanks to injury issues.
Machado has been playing at an All-Star clip all season, logging an .891 OPS and connecting on 15 home runs. Meanwhile, Wieters has been a game-changer for Baltimore ever since returning from the disabled list at the beginning of June. The backstop leads the team with a .912 OPS.
What's Gone Wrong
The rotation—especially Chris Tillman (5.67 ERA) and Bud Norris (6.79 ERA)—has been a disappointment for the O's. The starting crew ranks No. 20 in ERA, and as a result, bolstering the staff should be a top trade-deadline priority for the AL East club.
Grade: B
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Boston Red Sox
4 of 30
Record: 35-43
What's Gone Right
Not much has gone right for the Boston Red Sox in 2015, but a few young position players have provided reason for optimism.
Right at the top of that list are Mookie Betts (22), Brock Holt (27) and Xander Bogaerts (22). Out of the trio, Betts has been the most productive. The team's table-setter has piled up 30 extra-base hits and collected 12 steals.
What's Gone Wrong
Entering the season, the biggest question facing the Red Sox was whether the team had enough starting pitching. At the midway point in the season, the answer to that has been a resounding "no." The rotation, which ranks No. 27 in ERA, has dropped the club into last place in the AL East.
Grade: D
Chicago Cubs
5 of 30
Record: 39-35
What's Gone Right
While all sorts of buzz has surrounded the Chicago Cubs' slew of young, rising stars, one relative veteran who doesn't get the credit he deserves is Anthony Rizzo. The first baseman has totaled 40 extra-base hits in 74 contests and is third in the NL with a .981 OPS.
What's Gone Wrong
So far, the offseason splash to sign Jon Lester is not paying dividends. The lefty has wobbled early in his career at Wrigley Field, compiling a 4.03 ERA.
Outside of Jake Arrieta and Jason Hammel, there are plenty of question marks surrounding the rotation. As a result, the front office is on the lookout for an extra arm, as Buster Olney of ESPN reports.
Grade: A-
Chicago White Sox
6 of 30
Record: 32-42
What's Gone Right
The best part of the first half for the last-place Chicago White Sox has been watching Chris Sale pitch. The gangly lefty has been absolutely locked in over his past seven starts. During that stretch, he has compiled a 1.90 ERA while punching out 85 and allowing just 31 hits in 52 frames.
What's Gone Wrong
It's time to pull the plug on this team.
After revamping the lineup, the rotation and the bench during the offseason, the White Sox appeared to be back on the track to relevancy. Instead, the team is already way off course. The most fundamental issue plaguing the South Siders is the inept offense. The White Sox have the worst OPS in the AL and have been brutal against lefties. When facing southpaws, Chicago has posted the lowest OPS in baseball.
Grade: D
Cincinnati Reds
7 of 30
Record: 35-40
What's Gone Right
The highlight of the season for the Cincinnati Reds has been the play of Todd Frazier, who is producing at an MVP level. The third baseman has clubbed 25 jacks, which is second-best in MLB, while putting up a .968 OPS.
Meanwhile, Johnny Cueto continues to pump up his value should the Reds decide to jettison the free-agent to-be before the July 31 trade deadline. The righty owns a 2.98 ERA in 14 outings.
What's Gone Wrong
Trailing the first-place St. Louis Cardinals by 16 games, the Reds are all but buried.
The bullpen should take a lot of the blame for the current predicament. Cincinnati relievers have been on the hook for 16 losses, which is tied for the second-most in the NL.
Grade: C-
Cleveland Indians
8 of 30
Record: 34-41
What's Gone Right
During a dud of a first half, there haven't been many positives for the Cleveland Indians. One major exception has been the play of second baseman Jason Kipnis. The 28-year-old has been a menace to AL pitchers, swinging at a clip of .348 and collecting the most doubles in MLB (25).
What's Gone Wrong
Even right fielder Brandon Moss had to admit the Indians have been beyond frustrating in 2015.
"If you were on the outside looking in, it would look like we have no heart," Moss said, via Paul Hoynes of the Northeast Ohio Media Group. "I can't blame them."
Moss went on to clarify that the team does have heart, but the Indians are running out of time to show it. Cleveland is 11 games out of first place, and the club's play at home has been especially poor. At Progressive Field, the Indians are just 15-23.
Grade: C-
Colorado Rockies
9 of 30
Record: 33-43
What's Gone Right
The good news for the Colorado Rockies is they haven't had any trouble scoring runs in 2015. The team ranks first in that category in the NL. Third baseman Nolan Arenado, the owner of a .951 OPS and 24 home runs, has been the most dynamic Rockie in the first half.
What's Gone Wrong
The bad news for the Rockies is that they just can't stop giving up runs. Colorado's pitching staff has been battered to the tune of a 4.97 ERA while allowing the opposition to swing at a clip of .279. Both figures are the worst in baseball.
Grade: D
Detroit Tigers
10 of 30
Record: 39-36
What's Gone Right
The Detroit Tigers can downright rake.
The club leads all of baseball in batting average and is fifth in OPS. Much of the attention has fallen on a resurgent Miguel Cabrera and pending free agent Yoenis Cespedes, but J.D. Martinez has been putting up numbers that shouldn't be ignored. The 27-year-old right fielder has already connected on a team-high 19 home runs.
What's Gone Wrong
Like so many other clubs around the league, the rotation has done in the Tigers in this season. Aside from David Price, who's having a remarkable contract year, Detroit's starting staff has been seriously underwhelming.
If the reigning division champs are going to have any chance of catching the Kansas City Royals in the second half, president, CEO and general manager Dave Dombrowski will need to pull off one of his patented blockbusters to bring in another ace.
Grade: C+
Houston Astros
11 of 30
Record: 45-34
What's Gone Right
One of the keys to success for the first-place Houston Astros is they finally have a reliable bullpen. In fact, the bullpen has been better than reliable—it's been airtight. The relievers have posted the second-best ERA (2.60) in the AL and have limited the opposition to the lowest average (.194) in the majors.
What's Gone Wrong
As the Astros embark upon the second half of the season, one area that could use some help is the starting staff. Dallas Keuchel has been brilliant atop the rotation, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to add one more front-line arm to join the lefty.
One trade target to watch out for is Johnny Cueto. According to Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle, the Cincinnati Reds right-hander is right at the top of the list of options the team is considering.
Grade: A
Kansas City Royals
12 of 30
Record: 44-29
What's Gone Right
A lot has gone right for the Kansas City Royals, the owners of the best record in the AL.
The most noteworthy aspect of the club's first-half success has been the dominant showing of the pen. Led by the likes of Wade Davis and Greg Holland, the relievers have been dealing all season, posting the second-best ERA and limiting the opposition to the second-lowest average in the majors.
What's Gone Wrong
The big red flag for the first-place Royals has been the rotation.
Injuries have played their part in the struggles, as both Yordano Ventura and Jason Vargas are on the DL, but the staff's inability to string together quality outings has been concerning. The rotation ranks last in the bigs in innings pitched, which could lead to an overtaxed bullpen by the time the postseason rolls around.
Grade: A-
Los Angeles Angels
13 of 30
Record: 40-37
What's Gone Right
While much of the team's offense has been missing in action in the first half, Albert Pujols has been a monster for the Los Angeles Angels. The first baseman has 23 home runs, which is more than any other player in the AL.
On the mound, Hector Santiago has been surprisingly effective. The 27-year-old lefty is enjoying the best season of his career as he's put together a 2.58 ERA in 16 outings.
What's Gone Wrong
It's the puzzling lack of offensive firepower that has left the Angels staring up at the Houston Astros in the standings.
After leading baseball in runs a season ago, the club now ranks No. 20 in that department. The offensive struggles have become so bad that the Angels are now seeking an extra bat, per Jon Morosi of Fox Sports, ideally either at designated hitter or left field.
Grade: C
Los Angeles Dodgers
14 of 30
Record: 43-35
What's Gone Right
One of the brightest spots of all for the Los Angeles Dodgers has been the play of Joc Pederson. The center fielder has been making highlight-reel catches all season and has been doing major damage at the plate. Pederson has cracked 20 homers, which makes him just the second rookie in NL history, along with Albert Pujols, to accomplish that feat before the All-Star break, per ESPN Stats & Info.
After causing all sorts of problems a season ago, the bullpen has been substantially better for the Dodgers. The relievers check in with the 10th-best ERA in the majors.
What's Gone Wrong
Thanks to season-ending injuries to Hyun-Jin Ryu and Brandon McCarthy, the Dodgers' rotation depth is looking thin.
According to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times, finding another starter is at the top of the to-do list for president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. As Hernandez notes, the Dodgers have looked into the idea of snapping up a rental arm but have also considered going after a starter with multiple years of team control.
Grade: B
Miami Marlins
15 of 30
Record: 31-46
What's Gone Right
During a season in which little has gone to plan for the Miami Marlins, the team's defense has been outstanding. The Fish have made the fewest miscues in baseball, checking in with just 29 errors in the first 77 games.
The offseason acquisition of Dee Gordon has also proved to be an inspired move. The club's spark plug has more hits (112) than any other player in the game and is second in the majors in steals (26).
What's Gone Wrong
For the Marlins, it hasn't just been injuries that have wrecked the campaign. Still, the health problems definitely have contributed to the mess in a major way.
Jose Fernandez has yet to throw his first pitch of the season, and the unheralded but highly productive Henderson Alvarez has been limited to just four starts. Then there's Giancarlo Stanton, who will miss four to six weeks courtesy of a broken bone in his left wrist.
"Now it's upon us to pick it up, and we can't feel sorry for ourselves," manager Dan Jennings said, via ESPN.com. "It would be easy to toss in the towel right now or we're going to find out what kind of fighters we have and how we step up."
Regardless of the quality of the fighters who might be in the clubhouse, an 11.5-game deficit looks all but insurmountable for the Marlins.
Grade: D
Milwaukee Brewers
16 of 30
Record: 30-48
What's Gone Right
It's not easy to find something nice to say about skipper Craig Counsell's squad, but it's also not impossible. One area in which the Milwaukee Brewers have excelled in is with the bases loaded. In such situations, the last-place team has posted a .971 OPS, which is better than any other club.
What's Gone Wrong
The season has been one giant dumpster fire for the Brewers.
From the starting rotation to the lineup to the team's glove work, nothing has been going right for the Brew Crew. The starters rank No. 28 in ERA, the lineup is No. 26 in OPS and the defense has committed the fourth-most errors. The end result is the second-worst record in baseball.
Grade: F
Minnesota Twins
17 of 30
Record: 40-36
What's Gone Right
For the first time in recent memory, the Minnesota Twins starting rotation isn't among the worst in the majors. Far from that—the Twins check in with the sixth-lowest ERA in the AL. Ervin Santana's return from his 80-game ban for performance-enhancing drugs is right around the corner, but it remains to be seen just which starter will be losing his job to make way. For manager Paul Molitor, that's a good problem to have.
What's Gone Wrong
While the rotation has been surprisingly productive for the second-place Twins, the pen remains a work in progress for the AL Central squad. The group ranks No. 25 in the majors in ERA.
As for the lineup, the middle of the order has been less than imposing. So far, the Twins' most consistent source of power has been leadoff man Brian Dozier, who's cracked 16 home runs.
Grade: A-
New York Mets
18 of 30
Record: 40-37
What's Gone Right
From Matt Harvey to Jacob deGrom to Noah Syndergaard and the newly promoted Steven Matz, the New York Mets are absolutely loaded with young starting pitchers. All those high-upside arms have powered the rotation to the sixth-best ERA in baseball and kept the Mets within shouting distance of the top of the division standings.
What's Gone Wrong
Unfortunately for the NL East squad, the bats haven't been doing their part.
The Mets have the third-worst OPS in baseball, and things get really bad when it matters most. With runners in scoring position and two outs, New York has an unbelievably poor average (.186) and OPS (.525).
In order to keep pace in the division and wild-card chases, GM Sandy Alderson will have to find a bat or two on the trade block to help raise those figures.
Grade: B+
New York Yankees
19 of 30
Record: 41-36
What's Gone Right
The New York Yankees offense has been firing on all cylinders in the opening half of the season. The club ranks second in MLB in runs, and a lot of credit for that goes to the strong starts of Alex Rodriguez, Brett Gardner, Mark Teixeira and Brian McCann.
The team has been at its best in clutch situations. On the year, the Yankees have posted an .825 OPS with two outs and runners in scoring position, which is the second-highest mark in the majors.
What's Gone Wrong
With Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances coming out of the pen, the Yankees were effectively playing seven-inning ballgames early in the season.
Unfortunately for skipper Joe Girardi and his squad, the Yankees have had to do without Miller since June 10 when he landed on the DL with a strained left flexor muscle. The health of Miller's left arm will be a crucial factor in determining whether the Yankees end up playing October baseball.
Grade: A-
Oakland Athletics
20 of 30
Record: 35-44
What's Gone Right
Even though the Oakland Athletics are stuck in last place in the AL West, they have received standout performances from players like Sonny Gray, Stephen Vogt and Billy Burns.
Gray, who has compiled a 9-3 record, leads the circuit with a 2.09 ERA. Vogt, who has a .926 OPS, is a leading contender for a spot on the AL All-Star roster. Then there's Burns, who is building a compelling case for Rookie of the Year honors with 15 steals and a .318 average.
What's Gone Wrong
The central problem for Oakland has been that the A's just can't catch the ball. The squad has committed 76 errors, which is 15 more than any other team. Marcus Semien has been one of the primary culprits in the defensive disaster, as he's totaled 24 errors.
The bullpen has also been an ongoing source of trouble for manager Bob Melvin. As a group, Oakland's relievers have already been responsible for 16 losses.
Grade: C-
Philadelphia Phillies
21 of 30
Record: 27-51
What's Gone Right
Pretty much everything has gone wrong for the Philadelphia Phillies, baseball's first 50-game loser of the season.
This disaster of a play by Jeff Francoeur summarizes exactly how the season has played out.
However, there is at least one reason for optimism in Philadelphia: Maikel Franco. The rookie third baseman is hitting .297 and has clubbed 10 home runs in his first 42 games.
What's Gone Wrong
The Phillies have been so bad that it's actually generous to give them an F.
The lineup, rotation and pen all have been dismal in the opening months of the campaign. The lineup has produced the worst OPS in the bigs, the starting five ranks last in ERA and the relief corps has dished out the most walks in the game.
Grade: F
Pittsburgh Pirates
22 of 30
Record: 42-33
What's Gone Right
Headlined by Gerrit Cole and A.J. Burnett, the Pittsburgh Pirates rotation has been dealing in 2015.
The starting five has the second-lowest ERA in the Senior Circuit. Unfortunately for the Bucs, the top team happens to be in the same division—the St. Louis Cardinals.
What's Gone Wrong
While the starting staff has been cruising, the offense has been below average. The Pirates rank No. 21 in runs and OPS. The results have been especially poor for the NL Central squad when manager Clint Hurdle sends a reserve to the plate. Pirates pinch hitters are batting .179, which is No. 26 in baseball.
Grade: A-
San Diego Padres
23 of 30
Record: 37-41
What's Gone Right
While it's been a frustrating year for the new-look San Diego Padres, at least a couple of offseason acquisitions have enjoyed strong starts to the season.
In the lineup, Justin Upton, who has connected on 14 homers, falls into that category. Meanwhile, righty reliever Brandon Maurer has arguably been the most productive new face. The 24-year-old has been lights-out for San Diego, as he's sporting a 1.86 ERA.
What's Gone Wrong
It's difficult to rebuild an entire roster in a single offseason. That statement is becoming increasingly apparent to the Padres.
Sitting six games out of first place in the NL West, there's still time for the Pads to recover. Then again, it's getting late early at Petco Park. If the club continues to fade in the race, the brain trust will have to at least consider cashing in on a pending free agent or two on the trade block.
Grade: C-
San Francisco Giants
24 of 30
Record: 42-35
What's Gone Right
There's no other way to put it: The San Francisco Giants just know how to win. One of the main explanations is the club always has relatively low-profile players who rise to the occasion.
This year, third baseman Matt Duffy fits that description. The 24-year-old, who has settled in as the No. 3 hitter, recently earned the endorsement of Buster Posey.
"'I've been a fan of Duffy's since he got here," Posey said, via Andrew Baggarly of the Bay Area News Group. "I liked his swing the first time I saw it, and I like his attitude."
Duffy's swing has helped San Francisco forget all about Pablo Sandoval, as the second-year player has already connected on eight home runs.
What's Gone Wrong
The Giants outfield has been decimated by injuries.
The club is playing without leadoff man Nori Aoki and right fielder Hunter Pence. Those are the kinds of losses that would crush a lesser squad. For the Giants, it's simply an opportunity for low-profile reserves like Gregor Blanco and Andrew Susac, who has been catching while Posey shifts to first base and Brandon Belt lines up in left, to come through and produce.
Grade: A-
Seattle Mariners
25 of 30
Record: 34-42
What's Gone Right
The Seattle Mariners brought in Nelson Cruz to provide the club with some much-needed right-handed pop, and that's exactly what the vet has done.
Cruz leads the M's with 19 bombs and has posted a team-high .920 OPS. Unfortunately for the Mariners, he has been just about the only member of the lineup who's done his job.
What's Gone Wrong
Robinson Cano's first-half struggles have been the perfect representation of Seattle's team-wide offensive funk. On the season, Cano, who is raking in a $24 million salary, is batting .241. As a team, the Mariners, who are wallowing in fourth place in the West, have scored the fewest runs in MLB.
Grade: D
St. Louis Cardinals
26 of 30
Record: 51-24
What's Gone Right
The St. Louis Cardinals are the best team in baseball, and it's not even close.
Just look at the numbers.
The rotation and the pen both lead the majors in ERA. Young starters Michael Wacha (2.77 ERA), Carlos Martinez (2.80 ERA) and Lance Lynn (2.84 ERA) have been particularly dominant.
As for the lineup, the biggest strength is that the Cards aren't dependent on any single player. From Jhonny Peralta and Matt Carpenter to Kolten Wong and Randal Grichuk, St. Louis has been getting production from hitters up and down the batting order.
What's Gone Wrong
The crazy part about the Cardinals' early-season romp is that they're rolling along without some of their biggest names. Ace Adam Wainwright is out for the season, and the team is also making do without starting left fielder Matt Holliday and starting first baseman Matt Adams.
Grade: A
Tampa Bay Rays
27 of 30
Record: 42-36
What's Gone Right
Led by Chris Archer, the rotation has been the story of the year for the Tampa Bay Rays. The starting staff has reeled off the second-lowest ERA in the AL and the third-best mark in the majors.
Rookie skipper Kevin Cash also deserves an honorable mention, as he's proved to be a rising managerial star in his first season in the dugout.
What's Gone Wrong
The most impressive part of the club's early-season success is the Rays keep racking up wins despite the injuries that have slammed the roster.
Tampa Bay has 10 players on the DL, including the likes of Matt Moore, Alex Cobb, Drew Smyly and James Loney. With a bit of health luck, the Rays could really take off in the second half.
Grade: A-
Texas Rangers
28 of 30
Record: 39-38
What's Gone Right
After dropping 95 contests a season ago, the Texas Rangers have exceeded expectations in the first half of 2015.
As for position players, no one deserves more credit for the team's success than Prince Fielder. After a neck injury ruined his 2014 season, the first baseman has reclaimed his perch among the game's elite by posting a .948 OPS. On the mound, starter Yovani Gallardo has been the club's biggest star, sporting a 2.72 ERA in 16 outings.
What's Gone Wrong
Remarkably, the Rangers are a game over .500 despite the fact that their top two starters—Yu Darvish and Derek Holland—have combined to throw just a single inning.
Aside from the health problems facing the starting rotation, the bullpen has also endured its struggles. The Rangers pen has served up more homers than any other group of relievers in baseball.
Grade: B+
Toronto Blue Jays
29 of 30
Record: 41-37
What's Gone Right
The Toronto Blue Jays offense has been unreal.
The AL East squad has scored 57 more runs than any other team in the majors. Everyone has been chipping in, but Josh Donaldson is worth a shout-out. The third baseman has posted 19 doubles, 18 home runs and an .898 OPS. Thanks to those big-time stats, he is on track to start at the hot corner in the All-Star Game, per the MLB Communications Twitter account.
What's Gone Wrong
The underwhelming rotation has been the Achilles' heel for the Blue Jays in 2015. The starting five ranks No. 23 in ERA and has dished out the most free passes in the AL. As the trade deadline approaches, there's no question that finding an arm should be priority No. 1 for the front office.
Grade: B
Washington Nationals
30 of 30
Record: 42-34
What's Gone Right
When it comes to what's gone right for the Washington Nationals, it all starts with Bryce Harper and Max Scherzer.
Harper has been battering the NL in 2015, as the 22-year-old owns the best OPS (1.180) in the majors and has cracked 24 home runs, which is already a career high.
Meanwhile, Scherzer has been worth every penny of his $17.1 million salary this year. The righty recently reeled off a three-start stretch in which he gave up just six hits and posted a 0.69 ERA, per ESPN Stats & Info.
What's Gone Wrong
The Nats are going to need a little bit better luck on the health front.
Already, the NL East front-runners have had to make do without key cogs like Anthony Rendon, Jayson Werth and Stephen Strasburg for extended periods of time. After returning from the DL, Strasburg is showing signs that he's getting back to his vintage form. In his first two outings, he's served up just two earned runs.
Grade: B
Note: All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and MLB.com. All salary information courtesy of Cot's Baseball Contracts on BaseballProspectus.com.
If you want to talk baseball, find me on Twitter @KarlBuscheck.
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