Report Cards for Every MLB Team at the 2016 Midseason Mark

We've reached roughly the midway point of the 2016 MLB season, which means it's time to hand out report card grades to all 30 teams.

What exactly goes into grading a team's performance thus far?

Grading teams based on their win-loss record would be the lazy way to do things, but that's not a fair assessment considering each team enters the year with different goals and expectations.

For a team expected to be a playoff contender heading into the season, win-loss record is the biggest priority and the driving factor behind how it was graded. For a rebuilding team not expected to contend, it's more about developing young talent and cultivating trade value from the veteran players still on the roster.

Think of a "C" grade as a team performing right in line with preseason expectations. Anything above a "C" means a team has exceeded expectations, while anything below a "C" means a team has disappointed.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Shelby Miller has not provided the boost to the starting rotation that the Diamondbacks were hoping for.

Record: 36-44

What's Gone Right

• It's been more of the same from perennial MVP candidate Paul Goldschmidt, and he's been backed by Jake Lamb, who is enjoying a breakout season. The 25-year-old third baseman has posted a .950 OPS with 18 doubles, 16 home runs and 52 RBI through 76 games.

• Closer Brad Ziegler has continued to lock down games despite his lack of power stuff, converting 16 of 18 save chances. If nothing else, he'll be a sought-after trade chip come July.

• Jean Segura has returned to All-Star form with a .313/.363/.438 line and a 2.5 WAR to lead all National League second basemen. He's still only 26 years old and is under team control through the 2018 season, making the move to acquire him one of the best trades of the offseason.

What's Gone Wrong

• The additions of Zack Greinke (10-3, 3.61 ERA) and Shelby Miller (2-7, 6.79 ERA) were supposed to shore up a rotation that had been the team's biggest weakness. Instead, the Diamondbacks once again rank among the worst staffs in the NL with a 4.80 ERA on the year.

• David Peralta has followed up his .312/.371/.522 line from a year ago with a .259/.308/.442 line so far this season. He's also played in just 41 games and is on the disabled list with a lower back sprain. His struggles and the loss of A.J. Pollock have taken a significant bite out of the offensive attack.

• While the Diamondbacks have been a successful road team at 23-17 on the year, they've gone just 13-27 at Chase Field.

Grade: D

The Diamondbacks entered the year with legitimate hopes of contending for a playoff spot this season. Instead, they're once again playing below .500 and struggling to find enough consistent starting pitching to remain competitive.

Atlanta Braves

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Julio Teheran is once again pitching like an ace after a shaky 2015 season.

Record: 26-51

What's Gone Right

• The Braves made the right call not selling low on Julio Teheran at the deadline last year or during the offseason. He's once again pitching like a front-line starter (106.0 IP, 2.46 ERA, 0.887 WHIP) and has one of the most team-friendly contracts in baseball. Whether he's a long-term piece or a trade chip, he's Atlanta's most valuable asset right now.

• Despite having virtually no protection in the lineup, Freddie Freeman is still enjoying a strong season with a .285/.368/.500 line that includes 17 doubles and 13 home runs. Will the Braves consider seriously shopping him at some point in the near future?

• For whatever reason, the Braves have been awfully good at beating the Miami Marlins. They've won a pair of series and have gone 6-2 against them on the year.

What's Gone Wrong

• The offense has scored an MLB-low 256 runs, and the pitching staff has posted a 4.35 ERA and blown 10 saves in 24 chances. To put it simply, this just isn't a good team.

• Hector Olivera was supposed to be a key piece of the lineup this year, but he played in only six games before receiving an 82-game suspension following his arrest on domestic violence charges.

• Manager Fredi Gonzalez found out he was fired when he received an email notifying him of his Tuesday flight to Atlanta, per David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The team was playing in Pittsburgh through Thursday, and Gonzalez quickly put the pieces together. Hardly a series of events that reflects positively on the Braves organization.

Grade: C+

The Braves were a safe bet to lose 100-plus games and finish in the NL East cellar heading into the year, so it's not as though they've fallen short of expectations. The focus is still on the future in the early stages of the rebuilding process, and the bounce-back performance from Teheran is enough to bump them up a notch to a C-plus.

Baltimore Orioles

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Mark Trumbo has been one of the most dangerous sluggers in the league in his first season with the Orioles.

Record: 46-30

What's Gone Right

• The offseason addition of Mark Trumbo (.882 OPS, 22 HR, 56 RBI) has made an already powerful Orioles lineup even more dangerous. The O's lead all of baseball with 123 home runs and are averaging 5.11 runs per game.

• Matt Wieters made the somewhat surprising decision to accept his qualifying offer, making him the third-highest-paid Baltimore player with a $15.8 million salary. But he's having a solid season with a .792 OPS and 18 extra-base hits, and with Caleb Joseph missing time, he's been that much more important to the team.

• The Orioles have the best home record in baseball right now at 31-13. They've also been terrific against the rest of the American League East with a 22-13 record within their division.

What's Gone Wrong

• As expected, the starting rotation is a significant weakness, ranking 25th in the majors with a 4.92 starter's ERA. Outside of Chris Tillman (10-1, 3.52 ERA), no one has been reliable to this point.

• Yovani Gallardo needs to be singled out as a major bust. The team gave up the 14th overall pick to sign him to a two-year, $22 million deal with a club option for a third year, but he's pitched to a 6.04 ERA while making just six starts after missing time with a sore shoulder. He's not signed for as many years or as much money, but he looks a lot like Ubaldo Jimenez 2.0 so far.

• Brian Matusz's early struggles led to him being traded, and elbow inflammation has veteran Brian Duensing on the disabled list, leaving the bullpen without a left-handed reliever aside from closer Zach Britton.

Grade: B+

The Orioles offense has been even better than expected, and it's been enough to put the team in first place in the AL East to this point. The starting rotation remains a serious concern, though, and it's hard to see the Orioles legitimately contending for a title unless it improves.

Boston Red Sox

Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Knuckleballer Steven Wright has been a revelation for the Red Sox this season.

Record: 42-35

What's Gone Right

• The Red Sox are averaging 5.64 runs per game and hitting .288 with an .826 OPS as a team, all tops in the majors.

• If not for a spring injury to Eduardo Rodriguez, knuckleballer Steven Wright would have either won a bullpen spot or been exposed to waivers, as he's out of minor league options. Now he's leading the AL in ERA (2.18) as one of the breakout stars of 2016 after essentially winning the No. 5 starter job by default.

• Veterans David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia are both having terrific seasons, and the future remains bright, as Xander Bogaerts, Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley Jr. are likely all headed to the All-Star Game.

What's Gone Wrong

• The trio of Wright, David Price and Rick Porcello has been solid, but the back of the rotation has been a major weakness once again. A total of six different pitchers have combined to go 6-11 with a 7.37 ERA and seven quality starts in 30 games behind those three.

• As explosive as the offense has been, there is still a rather significant hole at the catcher position. Blake Swihart has played primarily in the outfield, and Christian Vazquez (.212 BA, .554 OPS, 38% CS) has not been nearly as good offensively or defensively as he was prior to missing last season with Tommy John surgery.

• The Red Sox have not fared well against AL East foes, going 16-18 with a minus-two run differential in divisional games.

Grade: B

The offense is going to keep the Red Sox in the mix all season, and they have a trio of solid starters and an improved bullpen. Provided they can add a quality arm to the rotation at some point—whether it's via trade or a call-up—this team looks like a legitimate contender.

Chicago Cubs

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Reuniting Ben Zobrist with manager Joe Maddon was a great move for the Cubs.

Record: 50-26

What's Gone Right

• The Cubs have been dominant so far from a statistical standpoint, posting a plus-163 run differential and winning a whopping 26 games by five or more runs.

• The pitching staff leads the majors in team ERA (2.86), starter's ERA (2.53) and quality starts (52), and all five of the team's starters have an ERA under 3.50 on the year. They've been as steady as any staff in the league top-to-bottom.

• Ben Zobrist (.296 BA, .875 OPS, 51 R) and John Lackey (7-4, 3.29 ERA, 1.037 WHIP) have been fantastic additions to the roster, and re-signing Dexter Fowler (.290 BA, .881 OPS, 29 XBH) to a one-year, $13 million deal was one of the best bargains of the winter. 

What's Gone Wrong

• So far, the eight-year, $184 million deal Chicago gave Jason Heyward looks like a massive overpay. He's been a significantly better second-half player in his career, but so far he's hitting .235/.326/.325 on the year with a 1.1 WAR.

• The one-two punch of Pedro Strop (34 G, 15 HLD, 2.97 ERA) and Hector Rondon (28 G, 13 SV, 1.65 ERA) has been solid at the back of the bullpen, but the team is in need of more reliable relief help. That figures to be its primary focus at the deadline.

• As good as the Cubs were to start the season, they are just 11-11 in their last 22 games, so they will need to rebound to prove they're the dominant team we saw in the early going.

Grade: A+

Despite their mediocre play over the past couple of weeks, the Cubs have been historically good to this point, and their run differential is off the charts. They've been hit with some significant injuries, and the bullpen has been exposed a bit. However, looking at the big picture, things really couldn't have gone better to this point.

Chicago White Sox

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Acquiring James Shields has not stopped the bleeding for the free-falling White Sox.

Record: 38-39

What's Gone Right

• The month of April went pretty well for the White Sox. They were 17-8 with a plus-19 run differential and a three-game lead in the AL Central standings at the end of the season's first month.

• Chris Sale (13-2, 2.79 ERA, 0.982 WHIP) and Jose Quintana (5-8, 3.18 ERA, 1.156 WHIP) have once again been one of the league's best starting pitching tandems. Unfortunately, they can only pitch two out of every five games, or this would be a much better team.

• The additions of Todd Frazier and Brett Lawrie, among others, have resulted in a vastly improved defense. After ranking as the worst defensive team in baseball a year ago, the White Sox have moved to the middle of the pack this year at 19th.

What's Gone Wrong

• The rotation behind Sale and Quintana has been a complete dumpster fire. Carlos Rodon (4.09 ERA, 3.2 BB/9, .287 BAA) has taken a step back after a strong finish to 2015. John Danks and Mat Latos were released, and James Shields (4 GS, 0-2, 15.80 ERA) has been a disaster since coming over from the Padres.

• Frazier is hitting for plenty of power with 21 home runs and 49 RBI, but he's batting just .198/.298/.442 on the year. He's essentially become the White Sox's version of Chris Carter, only with some defensive value. Considering what they gave up to land him, he needs to be more than that.

• Overall, the White Sox have been in a complete free-fall since starting the season 23-10. They've gone an AL-worst 15-29 with a minus-51 run differential in their last 44 games and are quickly slipping out of contention as a result.

Grade: D

For a fanbase, the only thing worse than a losing season is a losing season where the team comes out of the gates strong and provides some hope before completely falling apart. That's exactly what the White Sox have done this year. They're not a playoff contender, and that quick-trigger trade for Shields was unnecessary.

Cincinnati Reds

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Who would have guessed Adam Duvall would have 21 home runs all season, let alone before the end of June?

Record: 29-49

What's Gone Right

• So how about this Adam Duvall fella? The 27-year-old was acquired last summer as part of the trade that sent Mike Leake to the Giants, and he looked like a Quadruple-A player at the time of the deal. Instead, he's seized the vacant left field job and is tied for the NL lead in home runs (21) to go along with an .851 OPS.

• A resurgent Jay Bruce (.887 OPS, 17 2B, 17 HR, 59 RBI) is lining up to be one of the most valuable trade chips of the deadline. His contract is no longer a sticking point, and his $13 million option for next season actually adds to his value.

• Dan Straily was claimed off waivers from the San Diego Padres on April 1, and he's been a useful arm in the Reds rotation. The 27-year-old may not be a long-term piece, but he's gone 4-5 with a 4.38 ERA and 1.257 WHIP in 88.1 innings. That's about as much as you can ask for from a scrapheap addition.

What's Gone Wrong

• Let's start with the bullpen. The relief corps ranks dead last with a 6.08 ERA, over a run worse than the Rockies (4.93), who are 29th. The Reds have more blown saves (16) than saves (13) and have trotted out a staggering 27 different pitchers already this year.

• It's difficult to pitch 53.1 innings of 9.45 ERA ball and still have a job, so props to Alfredo Simon for somehow pulling that off. It speaks to how concerned the team is with this year's win total.

• Billy Hamilton is finally hitting the ball in the air less (37.8 percent in 2015 to 30.3 in 2016), but it hasn't made much of a difference. He's still not getting on base enough for his speed to be fully utilized (.296 OBP), and his strikeout rate has actually climbed (16.5 percent to 20.5).

Grade: C-

This Reds team wasn't going anywhere in 2016, and their season will be judged based on what kind of return they can get for Bruce and how the young players perform as they audition for long-term roles. There have been a few pleasant surprises on an individual level, and the team is right in line with expectations from a win-loss perspective.

Cleveland Indians

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Danny Salazar has continued his emergence as one of the best pitchers in the AL this season.

Record: 46-30

What's Gone Right

• Just about everything has gone right for the Indians of late. They're riding an 11-game winning streak that has seen them build a six-game lead in the AL Central, and they've outscored opponents by a staggering 73-25 tally during the streak.

• The starting rotation has been as good as advertised with a 3.59 ERA that ranks fifth in the majors and tops in the AL. Danny Salazar has led the way at 9-3 with a 2.40 ERA, 1.147 WHIP and 99 strikeouts in 86.1 innings. He's tied with Sale for the AL WAR lead among pitchers at 3.5.

• The team made a number of veteran additions to the lineup in the offseason that have helped its scoring output increase from 4.16 runs per game in 2015 to 4.92. That said, the emergence of Jose Ramirez (.778 OPS, 17 2B, 38 R) in a super-utility role has been as important as any outside addition.

What's Gone Wrong

• All-Star left fielder Michael Brantley has played a grand total of 11 games so far this year as he's dealt with issues in his surgically repaired right shoulder. There's still no clear-cut timetable for his return, so the Indians will have to continue on without their best hitter.

• Bryan Shaw has quietly been one of the best setup relievers in baseball the past three seasons, averaging 74.7 appearances with a 2.93 ERA, 1.156 WHIP and 59 total holds. He's struggled so far this year, though, posting a 4.97 ERA with three losses and two blown saves.

• Catcher Yan Gomes has not bounced back offensively as hoped, hitting .183/.218/.356 with just eight walks in 220 plate appearances. He won Silver Slugger honors in 2014 before an injury-plagued 2015 campaign, and he's yet to regain that form.

Grade: A

The AL Central was expected to be wide-open this season, and it has been to this point. But the Indians are starting to separate themselves from the pack. With an improved offense and the best rotation in the AL, they have a chance to make some real noise this year.

Colorado Rockies

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Nolan Arenado has quickly become the new face of the franchise for the Rockies.

Record: 37-40

What's Gone Right

• Tyler Chatwood (8-4, 3.15 ERA, 1.226 WHIP) and Jon Gray (5-3, 4.83 ERA, 1.179 WHIP, 9.8 K/9) have provided the Rockies with some hope on the pitching side of things, and recently promoted Tyler Anderson (3 GS, 2.55 ERA, 1.189 WHIP) has also looked good.

• Rookie shortstop Trevor Story has helped Rockies fans forget about Troy Tulowitzki and made Jose Reyes expendable. He strikes out a ton (104 K, 32.1 percent rate) but his power is legit (19 HR), and he's been better than expected defensively.

• The offense as a whole has been terrific once again, averaging 5.39 runs per game. Nolan Arenado (.956 OPS, 21 HR, 65 RBI), Carlos Gonzalez (.960 OPS, 18 HR, 51 RBI) and Charlie Blackmon (.886 OPS, 12 HR, 42 RBI) have led the way along with Story.
  

What's Gone Wrong

• Despite the strong showing of the three pitchers mentioned above, this is still not a good pitching staff by any stretch of the imagination. It ranks 29th in team ERA (5.14), 29th in starter's ERA (5.28) and 29th in bullpen ERA (4.93).

• The team spent $27.5 million over three years to sign Gerardo Parra, opening the door for the trade that sent Corey Dickerson to the Tampa Bay Rays. After an offensive breakout last season, Parra is hitting .263 with a .698 OPS for a minus-1.3 WAR so far this year.

• While a few of the team's young pitchers have shown promise, former top prospect Eddie Butler has struggled to a 6.96 ERA and 1.583 WHIP over 54.1 innings. The 25-year-old was expected to join Gray at the front of the rotation long term, but he's yet to find much in the way of big league success.

Grade: C

There is finally some reason for hope that the Rockies might field a passable starting rotation sometime in the near future, but for now, they're still just spinning their tires as a competitive non-contender. Now is the time to trade Gonzalez and focus on the future. We'll see what their approach is at the deadline.

Detroit Tigers

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Rookie Michael Fulmer has been the Tigers' best pitcher by a wide margin this season.

Record: 39-38

What's Gone Right

• It looks like the Tigers got a good one in right-hander Michael Fulmer. The 23-year-old rookie has gone 7-2 with a 2.40 ERA and 1.162 WHIP in 11 starts after coming over in the trade that sent Yoenis Cespedes to the Mets.

• The offense is averaging 4.73 runs per game with a .769 OPS that ranks sixth in the majors. It's been a well-balanced attack, as Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, Ian Kinsler and Nick Castellanos all have an OPS over .830 with at least 12 home runs and 39 RBI.

• Francisco Rodriguez has brought some stability to the closer's role after being acquired from the Brewers in the offseason. He's converted 21 of 23 save chances with a 3.25 ERA and 9.4 K/9.

What's Gone Wrong

• Justin Verlander (7-6, 4.30 ERA, 1.127 WHIP, 9.2 K/9) and Jordan Zimmermann (9-4, 3.81 ERA, 1.204 WHIP) have also been solid for the most part, but neither is pitching like an ace, and they haven't exactly lived up to their $46 million combined price tag. The rotation ranks 19th in the league with a 4.72 ERA.

• Five different pitchers have started a game other than Fulmer, Verlander and Zimmermann. They've gone a combined 7-17 with a 5.56 ERA in 36 total starts. Still not sure what they were thinking with that two-year, $16 million deal for Mike Pelfrey.
  

• While K-Rod has been a useful addition to the back of the bullpen, the relief corps is still among the worst in baseball with a 4.39 ERA that ranks 24th. Free-agent signing Mark Lowe (28 G, 10.13 ERA) has been particularly bad.

Grade: D

A lot more was expected of the Tigers than a .500 record when they went out and added Justin Upton and Zimmermann in free agency and overhauled a bullpen that had been the team's biggest weakness. They're still alive in a wide-open AL Central, but they may not have the pitching to back what is one of the league's best offenses.

Houston Astros

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Will Harris has gone from waiver claim to lights-out closer since joining the Astros last season.

Record: 41-37

What's Gone Right

• The middle infield duo of Jose Altuve (.350 BA, .986 OPS, 37 XBH) and Carlos Correa (.265 BA, .836 OPS, 30 XBH) has gotten plenty of attention, and rightfully so. Those two represent the present and future of the Astros' offensive attack.

• The Astros' starting pitching has been shaky to say the least, with the lone exception being free-agent signing Doug Fister. Signed to a one-year, $7 million deal after being relegated to the bullpen with the Nationals last year, he's gone 8-4 with a 3.36 ERA and 11 quality starts in 15 games.

• Will Harris was claimed off waivers from the Diamondbacks prior to last season, and he's become one of the game's most dominant relievers in Houston. He's a perfect 7-of-7 on save chances since taking over as the team's closer and has a 0.80 ERA and 0.861 WHIP in 33 appearances.

What's Gone Wrong

• The Astros have gone 34-20 with a plus-52 run differential since the beginning of May, but much of that has been damage control after a disastrous 7-17 month of April. With the Rangers playing terrific baseball, that early deficit could end up costing them.

• Prized offseason addition Ken Giles has a 5.06 ERA and just one save in four attempts. He cost the team a package of five pitchers to acquire from the Phillies, including Vincent Velasquez, who has been brilliant at times this year.

• The starting rotation has been a huge disappointment after ranking sixth in the majors last season with a 3.57 ERA. That number has climbed to 4.35 this season, and reigning AL Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel (4-9, 5.26 ERA, 1.416 WHIP) has been the biggest culprit.

Grade: C+

The Astros get a slightly above-average grade due to the fact they're trending in the right direction after a rocky start. The starting pitching is still a major concern, though, and they can't afford another rough patch if they're going to catch the streaking Rangers in the AL West.

Kansas City Royals

Orlin Wagner/Associated Press

Whit Merrifield has been one of the unsung heroes for the Royals.

Record: 40-36

What's Gone Right

• The unheralded trio of Paulo Orlando (.343 BA, .813 OPS), Whit Merrifield (.307 BA, .756 OPS) and Cheslor Cuthbert (.273 BA, .743 OPS) have given the offense a huge boost with Mike Moustakas and Alex Gordon both missing significant time.

• Despite losing Ryan Madson, Franklin Morales and Greg Holland during the offseason, the Royals bullpen is still among the best in baseball. Wade Davis (28 G, 18/19 SV, 0.99 ERA), Kelvin Herrera (37 G, 19 HLD, 1.47 ERA) and Joakim Soria (35 G, 12 HLD, 3.00 ERA) are as good a late-inning trio as any in baseball.

• Eric Hosmer has continued his emergence as the face of the franchise and a bona fide star. He's hitting .311/.370/.502 with 17 doubles, 12 home runs and 48 RBI. Salvador Perez is also having a career year at the plate with an .850 OPS, 15 doubles and 12 home runs.

What's Gone Wrong

• The starting rotation ranks 28th in the league with a 5.07 ERA, and it has managed just 28 quality starts in 76 games. Even with one of the league's best bullpens at your disposal, that's not going to cut it.

• While re-signing Gordon was an unexpected surprise for the Royals this offseason, the star left fielder hasn't done much so far this year. He's hitting just .212/.311/.346 and only recently returned after missing 29 games with a wrist injury.

• The hope was always that Yordano Ventura would emerge as the ace of the Royals staff with his power stuff. That hasn't happened yet, as he's posted a 5.00 ERA and 1.453 WHIP on the year and has once again stirred things up by letting his emotions get the best of him on the mound.

Grade: C-

Truth be told, it's an absolute shock that the Royals are four games over .500 when you look at how bad their starting pitching has been. They've gotten by in recent seasons with a less-than-amazing staff, but this year's group is a different level of bad. We'll see if things get better; otherwise, this grade is headed south.

Los Angeles Angels

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Matt Shoemaker is back to looking like the impact pitcher we saw as a rookie in 2014.

Record: 32-46

What's Gone Right

• For anyone not paying attention, Mike Trout is still great at baseball. The 24-year-old is hitting .319/.416/.569 with 17 doubles, 17 home runs and 53 RBI despite receiving virtually nothing in the way of lineup protection.

• Matt Shoemaker got off to an awful start this year, going 2-5 with an 8.49 ERA in his first seven games. Something clicked on May 21, when he threw 7.1 scoreless innings and struck out 12 against the Orioles. Since that game, he's posted a 1.87 ERA and 0.954 WHIP in 57.2 innings over his last eight starts.

• While Trout gets the bulk of the attention, right fielder Kole Calhoun has quietly emerged as one of the better all-around outfielders in the AL in his own right. He's hitting .286/.356/.446 with 13 doubles, 10 home runs and 40 RBI and is the reigning Gold Glove winner in right field.

What's Gone Wrong

• The cleanup spot in the Angels lineup has hit just .238/.304/.426 on the year, making it that much more surprising that Trout has been able to put together the season he has hitting third in the lineup.

• Veterans Jered Weaver (15 GS, 6-6, 5.24 ERA) and Hector Santiago (16 GS, 4-4, 5.27 ERA) have both struggled in the rotation, and left-hander C.J. Wilson has yet to make his 2016 debut while nursing shoulder tendinitis.

• Albert Pujols has some decent counting numbers with 14 home runs and 49 RBI, but his .412 slugging percentage is a career low by a wide margin as he continues his decline. Good thing he's only owed $140 million over the next five years.

Grade: F

The Angels have the sixth-highest payroll in baseball and many high-priced veterans who were supposed to contend for a title. Even making the playoffs seems like a long shot now, and the future looks equally grim with the worst farm system in baseball at their disposal.

Los Angeles Dodgers

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Corey Seager looks like the NL Rookie of the Year front-runner through three months.

Record: 43-36

What's Gone Right

• Clayton Kershaw has been his usual brilliant self (11-2, 1.79 ERA, 0.727 WHIP) atop the Dodgers rotation, and he's been backed by a terrific performance by rookie Kenta Maeda (6-5, 2.91 ERA, 1.108 WHIP), who came over from Japan on an eight-year, $25 million deal in the offseason.

• Maeda has not been the only rookie standout on the roster. Shortstop Corey Seager (.888 OPS, 19 2B, 16 HR) is the front-runner for NL Rookie of the Year, and outfielder Trayce Thompson (.775 OPS, 9 2B, 11 HR) has made a bigger impact than expected.

• While the bullpen has been shaky, the one-year, $4 million deal given to veteran Joe Blanton has been one of the better signings of the offseason. The 35-year-old has 10 holds with a 2.43 ERA, 0.787 WHIP and 8.9 strikeouts per nine innings in 36 appearances.

What's Gone Wrong

• Despite a 3.06 ERA that ranks second in the majors, the Dodgers bullpen has been exposed at times this season, as it has blown 12 saves in 35 chances. Expect the relief corps to be a focus at the trade deadline.

• Catcher Yasmani Grandal looked like a budding star last season with a .756 OPS, 16 home runs, 47 RBI and a stellar 15.3 percent walk rate. The 27-year-old has struggled this season, though, hitting .178/.289/.331 with a 0.2 WAR on the year.

• The starting rotation is still looking for stability behind the Kershaw-Maeda duo. Six other starters have combined to go 10-17 with a 4.71 ERA and 15 quality starts in 48 games.

Grade: C

The Dodgers have their work cut out for them keeping pace with a terrific Giants team. The bullpen has started to round into form, their rookies have been outstanding and there's help on the way in the form of Hyun-Jin Ryu and Brandon McCarthy. If one of those two can provide some consistent quality starts or L.A. makes a significant trade addition, the Dodgers should make the playoffs.

Miami Marlins

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Jose Fernandez is having as dominant a season as any pitcher in baseball.

Record: 41-36

What's Gone Right

• After a trying 2015 season that saw him demoted to the minors and shopped at the trade deadline, center fielder Marcell Ozuna has taken his game to another level this year. The 25-year-old is hitting .321/.375/.570 with 16 home runs and 44 RBI.

• Jose Fernandez is officially back to being one of the game's elite starters. He's 10-3 with a 2.28 ERA, 0.993 WHIP and 138 strikeouts in 94.2 innings. How much longer will he be pitching in a Marlins uniform with free agency looming after the 2018 season?

• Ichiro Suzuki is quietly putting together a terrific season at the age of 42 as a part-time player. In 171 plate appearances, he's hitting .340/.418/.380 with more walks (20) than strikeouts (11). He's now just 14 hits shy of 3,000 for his MLB career.

What's Gone Wrong

• While Ozuna and fellow outfielder Christian Yelich (.313 BA, .875 OPS) are both having All-Star-caliber seasons, slugger Giancarlo Stanton has struggled. He's launched 15 home runs and driven in 40 runs, but he's hitting just .228 and has struck out 92 times at a 33.7 percent clip.

• The starting rotation behind Fernandez has been shaky at best, as seven pitchers have combined to go 17-18 with a 4.64 ERA in 62 games. That includes free-agent signing Wei-Yin Chen, who sports a 5.00 ERA and 1.286 WHIP.

• The bullpen has sorely missed Carter Capps and Mike Dunn in their respective setup roles. The Marlins rank 13th in the league with a 3.68 bullpen ERA but have 12 blown saves on the year.

Grade: B

Considering they have one reliable starting pitcher and their high-profile slugger is having the worst season of his career, the Marlins could be a lot worse off than five games over .500. It's tough to buy them as legitimate contenders with their current starting rotation, but there's no question this is an improved team.

Milwaukee Brewers

Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

The Brewers have found a diamond in the rough in shortstop Jonathan Villar.

Record: 34-42

What's Gone Right

• The rebuilding Brewers have two of the most attractive trade chips around in the form of catcher Jonathan Lucroy (.302 BA, .864 OPS, 16 2B, 10 HR) and left fielder Ryan Braun (.322 BA, .921 OPS, 15 2B, 12 HR). The money still owed to Braun makes his situation a bit trickier, but Lucroy might be the most valuable chip on the market.

• Has there been a better stopgap addition than Jonathan Villar? A career .236/.300/.353 hitter in 658 plate appearances entering the year, the hope was that he could hold down shortstop until top prospect Orlando Arcia was ready. He's done that and then some with a .293/.377/.428 line that includes 17 doubles and a league-leading 26 stolen bases.

• Hard-throwing Jeremy Jeffress won the closer's role by default this spring when Will Smith suffered a knee injury, and he's been the right man for the job. He's converted 21 of 22 save chances with a 2.67 ERA.

What's Gone Wrong

• Wily Peralta looked like a long-term piece for the Brewers heading into the season after he went 33-36 with a 4.11 ERA in his first three full big league seasons. However, a 6.68 ERA and 1.879 WHIP through his first 13 starts earned the 27-year-old a demotion to Triple-A.

• The rotation has been brutal, pitching to a 4.79 ERA and recording a major league-low 27 quality starts in 76 games. The return of Matt Garza doesn't hurt, but this is a staff that is clearly lacking in front-line-caliber arms at this point.

• The Brewers are two games over .500 at home, but they've gone 13-23 away from Miller Park and have a minus-48 run differential on the road. 

Grade: B+

In the middle of rebuilding and playing in a division that featured three playoff teams last year, the Brewers were expected to be among the worst teams in baseball this season from a record standpoint. They're not exactly making a playoff push, but they've exceeded expectations to this point. The fact that their top trade chips are playing at a high level doesn't hurt their grade, either.

Minnesota Twins

Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Miguel Sano has fallen well short of expectations in his sophomore season.

Record: 25-51

What's Gone Right

• Eduardo Nunez has shined in a super-utility role, hitting .311/.341/.470 with 10 doubles and 10 home runs in 281 plate appearances while splitting his time between shortstop and third base. The 29-year-old has never seen more than 338 plate appearances in a single season.

• Lefty reliever Fernando Abad has been a nice find after being signed to a minor league deal over the offseason. He's posted a 2.16 ERA, 1.080 WHIP and 8.3 K/9 in 30 appearances to turn himself into a viable trade chip.

• Ervin Santana (2-7, 4.64 ERA, 4.47 FIP) and Ricky Nolasco (3-5, 4.95 ERA, 3.73 FIP) should also have some trade value in a thin market for reliable starting pitching. It will mean eating a decent chunk of money to move either player, but the Twins should have a chance to get out from under both contracts this summer.

What's Gone Wrong

• The pitching has been the biggest issue this year, as the Twins rank 28th in team ERA (5.10), 30th in starter's ERA (5.44) and 27th in bullpen ERA (4.56). They are tied for last in the AL with 28 quality starts. They're also averaging an AL-worst 4.03 runs per game.

• More than a few people had Miguel Sano pegged as a potential breakout star after he posted a .916 OPS with 18 home runs and 52 RBI in 335 plate appearances last year. However, he's batting just .235/.341/.458 with 11 home runs and 27 RBI while striking out at a 33.6 percent clip so far this year.

• Trevor Plouffe was a valuable trade chip during the offseason after posting a .742 OPS with 35 doubles, 22 home runs and 86 RBI last year. He's hitting just .245 with a .652 OPS this season, though, and the team may wind up selling low on him.

Grade: F

Most would agree that the Twins played over their heads a bit last season, but all signs pointed to another step forward this year after their surprise 83-79 finish. Instead, they've been the worst team in the AL and a complete disaster on both sides of the ball.

New York Mets

Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Slugger Yoenis Cespedes has been well worth the money the Mets gave him this offseason.

Record: 40-36

What's Gone Right

• The starting rotation has not been quite the juggernaut it was hyped up to be during the offseason, but it's still been good. It ranks second in the league in starter's ERA (3.30), and its 1.98 walks-per-nine-innings rate as a staff is by far the best in baseball.

• Yoenis Cespedes has continued to carry the offense like he did down the stretch last year, posting a .920 OPS with 12 doubles, 18 home runs and 45 RBI. He's on track to start the All-Star Game for the first time in his career as a result.

• Losing Lucas Duda was a big blow to the offense, but the bargain addition of James Loney has been a nice under-the-radar move to this point. In 107 plate appearances, Loney is hitting .286/.340/.429 with nine extra-base hits and 10 runs scored.

What's Gone Wrong

• A lack of offensive firepower once again looks like an issue for the Mets, as they are averaging just 3.58 runs per game on the year and an MLB-worst 3.20 runs per contest in the month of June. Will they be able to make another Cespedes-caliber addition this summer?

• Michael Conforto posted an .841 OPS with 14 doubles and nine home runs in 194 plate appearances as a rookie last season, and he was expected to be a big part of the team's offensive attack this year. Instead, he's hit just .222 with a .727 OPS while playing through a wrist injury. The team recently demoted him to Triple-A and could be facing a grievance as a result.

• Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz have been great this season, but both pitchers are reportedly dealing with bone spurs in their pitching elbows. Matz has the more significant issue of the two, and it's a troubling situation all around.

Grade: C-

This looks like deja vu for the Mets, as they're struggling to score enough runs to back their terrific starting pitching. This time around, there might not be a Cespedes to save the day, and they're really in trouble if Syndergaard and/or Matz is forced to go under the knife.

New York Yankees

Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

A rejuvenated Carlos Beltran could wind up being a valuable trade chip in July.

Record: 37-39

What's Gone Right

• It's been a turn-back-the-clock season for veterans Carlos Beltran (.906 OPS, 19 HR, 53 RBI) and CC Sabathia (13 GS, 5-5, 3.17 ERA, 1.291 WHIP). Beltran is a free agent at season's end and could turn into a valuable trade chip if the team sells.

• Speaking of "if the team sells," there's not a more valuable asset on its roster than the dominant bullpen trio of Andrew Miller, Dellin Betances and Aroldis Chapman. They've been every bit as good as advertised, and trading just one of them would bring a quality prospect haul.

• So far, so good on the health of Masahiro Tanaka, who is still pitching through a partially torn UCL in his elbow. He's gone 5-2 with a 3.01 ERA, 1.034 WHIP and 75 strikeouts in 98.2 innings. He's not quite pitching at the level he did as a rookie, but he's done his job as the staff ace.

What's Gone Wrong

• Despite that dominant bullpen trio and two quality starters, the Yankees still rank 19th in the majors with a 4.42 ERA. This team simply doesn't have the arms to be considered a legitimate title contender at this point.

• Pitching hasn't been the only issue, though. After ranking second in the majors last season with 4.72 runs per game, the team's offensive production has dropped off dramatically to 4.09 runs per game so far this year.

• Luis Severino looked like a future ace when he went 5-3 with a 2.89 ERA, 1.203 WHIP and 56 strikeouts in 62.1 innings as a rookie. However, he struggled to a 7.46 ERA in seven starts this season and was eventually demoted to the minors. The future is still bright for the 22-year-old, but he's clearly taken a step back in his development.

Grade: D-

No one outside of their own fanbase considered the Yankees to be legitimate title contenders this season, so giving them an "F" would be a bit harsh. But after making the postseason last year, they've still fallen well short of expectations to this point. Will they bite the bullet and sell in July?

Oakland Athletics

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Where will Rich Hill be pitching when Aug. 1 rolls around?

Record: 34-43

What's Gone Right

• The decision to sign Rich Hill to a one-year, $6 million deal in the offseason has given the A's one of the best trade chips on the market, assuming he can get healthy. The 36-year-old is 8-3 with a 2.25 ERA, 1.125 WHIP and 74 strikeouts in 64 innings.

• Last year's waiver claim of Danny Valencia has continued to pay dividends. He's a below-average defender wherever he lines up, but a .327/.378/.533 line with 11 home runs and 30 RBI makes those shortcomings easy to ignore. He, too, has significant trade value.

• A healthy Sean Doolittle has once again been a dominant presence in the bullpen. He's spent most of the year setting up Ryan Madson, posting a 2.93 ERA, 1.043 WHIP and 10.3 K/9 with eight holds and four saves.

What's Gone Wrong

• Injuries. So many injuries. The A's have used 22 different pitchers, including 11 different starters, and Kendall Graveman leads the team with 80 innings. All of that roster shuffling has resulted in a 4.67 team ERA that ranks 27th in the league.

• Ace Sonny Gray has gone 3-6 with a 5.03 ERA and 1.462 WHIP. He's managed just seven quality starts in 14 games and has been a shell of his 2015 self. It's too early to write him off, but the A's decision not to sell high in the offseason could haunt them.

• Right fielder Josh Reddick was having a terrific season with a .316/.386/.454 line in 171 plate appearances before missing 35 games with a fractured thumb. He returned to the lineup Tuesday and still has time to build up his trade value, but missing time no doubt hurt his stock.

Grade: D

It was a busy offseason for the A's, as they retooled a bullpen that had been their biggest weakness and added to the offensive attack with Khris Davis and Jed Lowrie. That hasn't been enough for them to climb back into contention, though, and their two biggest trade chips missing significant time also hurts.

Philadelphia Phillies

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Odubel Herrera will likely be headed to San Diego for the All-Star Game.

Record: 34-45

What's Gone Right

• Odubel Herrera was a pleasant surprise as a Rule 5 pick last year, and he's built on that strong debut with an even better 2016 season. He looks like the obvious choice to represent the Phillies in the All-Star Game with a .309/.397/.435 line and 18 extra-base hits, and the biggest difference has been a vastly improved walk rate, from 5.2 percent in 2015 to 12.4 percent this year.

• He's been knocked around a bit of late, but Jeremy Hellickson has still been a nice low-cost addition to the pitching staff and looks like a viable July trade chip. The 2011 AL Rookie of the Year has gone 5-6 with a 4.23 ERA and 1.228 WHIP in 16 starts.

• As for the long-term outlook of the pitching staff, strong seasons by Aaron Nola (5-7, 4.45 ERA, 1.275 WHIP, 9.8 K/9), Vincent Velasquez (6-2, 3.38 ERA, 1.245 WHIP, 10.8 K/9) and Jerad Eickhoff (5-9, 3.38 ERA, 1.240 WHIP, 7.8 K/9) are huge positives.

What's Gone Wrong

• Since a surprising 22-15 start to the season, the Phillies have gone an MLB-worst 12-30 with a minus-71 run differential in their last 42 games.

• The lineup has been completely inept, averaging 3.41 runs per game with a .235 average and .667 OPS. There are some interesting long-term pieces like Maikel Franco, Cameron Rupp and Tommy Joseph, but there is an awful lot of filler on the roster as well.

• It's never easy to see a franchise legend like Ryan Howard relegated to the bench. It's a move that had to be made, though, as he's hitting .151/.211/.349 with a 31.9 percent strikeout rate.

Grade: B

Big picture, it's still all about the future for the Phillies. A strong showing by some of their young starters and a breakout performance by Herrera is enough to elevate them to the level of a B, and they can climb even higher if the eventual minor league call-ups perform well. Wins and losses don't mean much at this point in the rebuild.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Closer Mark Melancon has been dominant once again.

Record: 37-41

What's Gone Right

• Gregory Polanco has been one of the breakout stars of 2016, hitting .300/.380/.521 with 24 doubles, 10 home runs and 44 RBI. The 24-year-old flashed breakout potential in the second half last year, and he's delivered on that so far this season.

• The Pirates once again did a great job operating within their budget restrictions this offseason. Matt Joyce (1.004 OPS, 8 HR, 26 RBI), David Freese (.796 OPS, 6 HR, 31 RBI), John Jaso (.748 OPS, 4 HR, 22 RBI) and Neftali Feliz (34 G, 16 HLD, 3.21 ERA, 10.3 K/9) are making a combined $11.9 million this season after being added in free agency.

• Closer Mark Melancon has once again been one of the league's most reliable closers, converting 22 of 23 save chances with a 1.48 ERA, 1.055 WHIP and 7.1 K/9. He set a franchise record last season with 51 saves and is the third-highest-paid player on the team with a $9.65 million salary.

What's Gone Wrong

• To be blunt, the Pirates pitching staff simply isn't anywhere near as good as it was a year ago. They've seen a significant spike in team ERA (3.21 to 4.52), starter's ERA (3.53 to 4.79) and bullpen ERA (2.67 to 4.11), and that has been the biggest reason for their disappointing start.

• Ace Gerrit Cole (12 GS, 5-4, 2.77 ERA) is sidelined with a triceps strain, and superstar center fielder Andrew McCutchen (.243/.317/.419) is not producing close to his usual level.

• As good as the team has been at pitching reclamation projects in recent years, it appears it may have been a bit too enamored with that approach this offseason. Jon Niese (16 GS, 5.07 ERA) and Juan Nicasio (15 G, 12 GS, 5.48 ERA) have not been the answer in the rotation.

Grade: D

The Pirates' time to contend is right now with a controllable young core that is only going to get more expensive going forward. After making the postseason three years in a row, they've taken a huge step back this season, and a lack of pitching has burned them.

San Diego Padres

Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Wil Myers is finally delivering on lofty expectations with a big season at the plate.

Record: 33-45

What's Gone Right

• After a pair of injury-plagued seasons, Wil Myers once again looks like a star in the making. The 25-year-old is hitting .284/.343/.530 with 17 doubles, 18 home runs and 53 RBI, and a full-time move to first base has allowed him to focus on his offensive production.

• The Padres gave Fernando Rodney a one-year, $2 million deal as the offseason was winding down to serve as the team's closer, and the 39-year-old has been better than anyone could have guessed. He's converted all 17 save chances he's faced while posting a 0.31 ERA, 0.872 WHIP and 10.4 K/9.

• Drew Pomeranz was acquired from the Oakland A's in the offseason in exchange for first baseman Yonder Alonso and reliever Marc Rzepczynski, and he's finally delivering on the potential that made him the No. 5 overall pick in 2010. The left-hander has gone 7-7 with a 2.76 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 88 innings, and he is under team control through 2018.

What's Gone Wrong

• So much for Tyson Ross and Andrew Cashner being two of the top arms on the trade market. Ross hasn't pitched since Opening Day while dealing with shoulder inflammation, and Cashner posted a 4.75 ERA in 11 starts before joining him on the disabled list with a neck strain.

• Jon Jay was shaping up to be a highly sought-after trade chip with a .296/.345/.407 line and 24 doubles in the final year of his contract. However, he was placed on the disabled list Tuesday with a fractured forearm, according to ESPN.com news services.

• Catcher Derek Norris had a chance to bring a significant haul on the trade market, but his value has taken a hit, as he's batting just .210/.265/.388 on the year, albeit with 10 doubles and 10 home runs.

Grade: C

The Padres are in complete tear-down mode after going all-in to try to field a winner last season. The emergence of Myers and Pomeranz gives them some valuable young talent, and they have a number of intriguing trade chips. But at this point, this is still a franchise without a clear direction.

San Francisco Giants

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Brandon Belt has become one of the league's most productive first basemen.

Record: 49-30

What's Gone Right

• Madison Bumgarner (8-4, 1.99 ERA), Johnny Cueto (11-1, 2.42 ERA) and Jeff Samardzija (8-5, 3.91 ERA) have been as good as any starting pitching trio in the league, and Jake Peavy has gone 3-1 with a 1.91 ERA in his last six starts. All told, the team has a 3.54 starter's ERA, good for fourth in the majors.

• Brandon Belt has continued his emergence as one of the league's most productive first basemen, hitting .298/.398/.521 with 23 doubles, 10 home runs and 38 RBI.

• Despite lacking an individual standout aside from Belt, the offense has been terrific. It's averaging 4.68 runs per game and has a plus-59 run differential that ranks fourth in the NL.

What's Gone Wrong

• The bullpen that has been a strength of this Giants team for so long now looks to be its biggest weakness. It ranks 14th in the league with a 3.95 reliever's ERA and has converted just 22 of 35 save chances on the year.

• Hunter Pence is sidelined once again, this time with a hamstring injury. After playing 162 games in back-to-back seasons, he suited up for just 52 games in 2015 and has been limited to 50 so far this year.

• Third base has been a disappointment with Matt Duffy (.253 BA, .671 OPS) regressing after an out-of-nowhere standout rookie season and then landing on the disabled list with a strained Achilles. The position has produced a .261/.318/.376 line with six home runs and 31 RBI on the year.

Grade: A+

The Giants look like the team to beat in the NL West and the biggest threat to the Cubs on the NL side of things. Shoring up the bullpen and getting Pence back to 100 percent would make them that much more dangerous.

Seattle Mariners

Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Robinson Cano has found his power stroke once again.

Record: 39-38

What's Gone Right

• The trio of Robinson Cano (.907 OPS, 19 HR, 54 RBI), Nelson Cruz (.904 OPS, 20 HR, 53 RBI) and Kyle Seager (.844 OPS, 15 HR, 49 RBI) in the heart of the order has helped the offense average an impressive 4.87 runs per game.

• A pair of under-the-radar offseason additions in Leonys Martin (.780 OPS, 11 HR, 26 RBI) and Dae-Ho Lee (.846 OPS, 10 HR, 30 RBI) have also played a major role in the team's vastly improved offensive attack. New general manager Jerry Dipoto did well to improve the lineup during a busy offseason.

• Taijuan Walker has not developed into a front-line starter as quickly as hoped, but he's continued to make strides this season with a 3.45 ERA, 1.163 WHIP and 8.3 K/9 in 75.2 innings. He's lowered his walk rate to 2.0 BB/9, which would be a career best.

What's Gone Wrong

• The Mariners bullpen ranked 25th in the majors with a 4.15 ERA last season while converting just 63.4 percent of save chances (45-of-71). While it ranks sixth in the majors this season with a 3.23 bullpen ERA, the late-inning situation has gotten worse, as it has blown 15 saves in 34 chances for a 55.9 percent success rate.

• The trio of Wade Miley (6-3, 5.28 ERA), Nate Karns (6-2, 4.56 ERA) and Hisashi Iwakuma (7-6, 4.34 ERA) has been sketchy despite the fact that they all boast winning records.

• Ace Felix Hernandez was 4-4 with a 2.86 ERA before landing on the disabled list with a calf strain. However, his peripheral numbers were at least some cause for concern. His 4.14 FIP suggests some significant regression is coming in the ERA department, and he's posted the highest walk rate (3.7 BB/9) and lowest strikeout rate (7.6 K/9) of his career.

Grade: C-

The Mariners offense has finally improved to the point of being a strength, and now the pitching staff is lagging behind. At 5-11 in its last 16 games, the team is trending in the wrong direction and quickly losing ground on the red-hot Texas Rangers.

St. Louis Cardinals

Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports

Rookie shortstop Aledmys Diaz has been the Cardinals' best hitter.

Record: 40-36

What's Gone Right

• The spring injury to Jhonny Peralta turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as it opened the door for Aledmys Diaz to prove himself in an everyday role. The 25-year-old rookie is hitting .316/.374/.523 with 21 doubles, 10 home runs and 40 RBI. Peralta has since returned and moved to third base.

• Seung Hwan Oh has been one of the best free-agent signings of the offseason on a one-year, $2.5 million deal. The 33-year-old has posted a 1.62 ERA, 0.846 WHIP and 11.8 K/9 in 38 appearances, and he could wind up being the team's closer with Trevor Rosenthal struggling.

• If the Cardinals team in pinch-hitting situations were an individual player, he'd be an All-Star. St. Louis is batting .350/.419/.699 with six doubles, 10 home runs and 26 RBI in 117 pinch-hit plate appearances on the season.

What's Gone Wrong

• The starting rotation was slow to round into form at the start of the season, and while it's pitching better of late, it's still been a far cry from the MLB-best 2.99 ERA it put up last season.

• Randal Grichuk was expected to be an integral part of the offense this season after posting an .877 OPS with 23 doubles and 17 home runs in 350 plate appearances as a rookie last year. Instead, he hit just .206/.276/.392 with 10 doubles and eight home runs before being demoted to the minors.

• As mentioned earlier, Rosenthal has struggled to nail down wins after a brilliant 2015 season. Rosenthal set a franchise record with 48 saves last season, and he's 14-of-17 on save chances so far this year. However, he's seen a significant spike in his ERA (2.10 to 5.40), WHIP (1.267 to 2.040) and walk rate (3.3 to 7.6 BB/9).

Grade: C

It's been a strange season for the Cardinals so far. They have struggled at home (15-21) and dealt with issues in the starting rotation, two areas that were arguably their biggest strengths a year ago. Despite that, they are still four games over .500 and have been playing better baseball of late. This isn't going to be a 100-win team again, but it'll be in the playoff mix.

Tampa Bay Rays

Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Alex Colome has thrived in the closer's role.

Record: 32-44

What's Gone Right

• Evan Longoria is once again performing like one of the top hitters in the AL, posting an .861 OPS with 20 doubles, 18 home runs and 43 RBI. In fact, the offense as a whole has flashed significantly more power, as it ranks fourth in the league with 108 home runs.

• A spring injury to All-Star Brad Boxberger forced Alex Colome into the closer's role, and he's been fantastic. The 27-year-old is a perfect 19-of-19 on save chances with a 1.76 ERA and 11.2 K/9. Boxberger has since returned, but Colome has held on to the ninth-inning job.

• Steve Pearce was signed to a one-year, $4.75 million deal to provide some bench depth, and injuries have forced him into semi-regular playing time. Over 196 plate appearances, he's hit .322/.393/.540 with 19 extra-base hits and 25 RBI.

What's Gone Wrong

• Despite the uptick in power production, the Rays offense is still below average, with a negligible increase from 3.98 runs per game in 2015 to 4.08 this year.

• A struggling starting rotation has been the biggest reason for the team's poor record to this point. After posting an AL-best 3.63 starter's ERA last year, the Rays rank 16th in the majors with a 4.44 ERA and have managed just 31 quality starts.

• There's plenty of blame to go around on the pitching side of things, but ace Chris Archer has really struggled at 4-11 with a 4.76 ERA and 1.454 WHIP through 17 starts.

Grade: F

The Rays have stuck around most of the year on the strength of their starting pitching, and they were expected to be in the mix for a postseason spot once again this season. Instead, they're 14 games back in the AL East standings and have one of the worst records in baseball thanks to a 1-12 record in their last 13 games.

Texas Rangers

Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports

Ian Desmond has been a fantastic addition to the Rangers lineup.

Record: 51-27

What's Gone Right

• Let's start with the signing of Ian Desmond to a one-year, $8 million deal. Not only has he been a standout defender while moving to the outfield (3 DRS, 13.1 UZR/150), but he is also having the best season of his career offensively (.326 BA, .909 OPS, 14 HR, 51 RBI). Bang for your buck, he's the best free-agent signing of the offseason.

• The starting rotation has been without Yu Darvish for most of the season and recently lost both Colby Lewis and Derek Holland to injuries. The Rangers still rank second in the AL and sixth in the majors with a 3.62 starter's ERA, though, and Cole Hamels (9-1, 2.60 ERA) is making a strong case to start the All-Star Game.

• Sam Dyson (40 G, 16/17 SV, 1.88 ERA), Matt Bush (21 G, 9 HLD, 2.29 ERA), Tony Barnette (30 G, 11 HLD, 2.97 ERA) and Jake Diekman (36 G, 18 HLD, 3.03 ERA) have all done their part to help solidify a bullpen that was shaky early on.

What's Gone Wrong

• As good as they've been to this point, the Rangers could be even better if they can get some sort of production out of guys like Prince Fielder (.217 BA, .635 OPS), Darvish (15.2 IP) and Shawn Tolleson (28 G, 6.58 ERA).

• The aforementioned injuries to Darvish, Holland and Lewis have put the team's starting pitching depth to the test, and how long its rotation can hold up without those guys remains to be seen.

• The catcher position remains a weakness, as Robinson Chirinos, Bryan Holaday, Bobby Wilson and Brett Nicholas have combined to hit .239. Expect the Rangers to at least kick the tires on Jonathan Lucroy and Derek Norris leading up to the deadline.

Grade: A+

The Rangers have separated themselves from the rest of the pack in the AL and are right there alongside the Cubs and Giants as one of the elite teams at the midway point.

Toronto Blue Jays

Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Marco Estrada has quietly been one of the best pitchers in all of baseball.

Record: 42-37

What's Gone Right

• The decision to re-sign Marco Estrada to a two-year, $26 million deal was a brilliant one by the Blue Jays front office. The 32-year-old has gone 5-3 with a 2.81 ERA and 0.987 WHIP while also seeing a significant spike in his strikeout rate (6.5 to 8.3 K/9) and leading the majors in opponent's batting average (.168).

• Michael Saunders played in just nine games last season while dealing with a knee injury, but the team trusted him with the everyday left field job after trading Ben Revere. He's rewarded that trust with a .293/.366/.560 line that includes 20 doubles, 15 home runs and 34 RBI. Saunders is AL Comeback Player of the Year if the season ended today.

• The Blue Jays have done well against AL East foes with a 23-19 record and a plus-11 run differential in divisional games.

What's Gone Wrong

• The Jays offense has been good but nowhere near the juggernaut it was expected to be. After averaging 5.50 runs per game and posting a .797 OPS as a team in 2015, it has plated 4.77 runs per game with a .764 OPS so far this year.

• With a 4.31 ERA, the bullpen ranks 20th in the majors and has 11 blown saves in 31 chances. Brett Cecil (16 G, 5.23 ERA) and Drew Storen (33 G, 6.28 ERA) were expected to be a dynamic one-two punch bridging the gap to closer Roberto Osuna.

• Catcher Russell Martin posted a .787 OPS with 23 home runs and 77 RBI as one of the league's most productive catchers last season. This year, he has a .634 OPS with six home runs and 29 RBI, and his strikeout rate has spiked from 20.9 to 29.0 percent.

Grade: C-

The Blue Jays no longer look like favorites in the AL East, let alone favorites to win the AL pennant. That being said, they're still five games over .500 and very much in the playoff hunt. If their offense picks things up a notch and their bullpen improves, they could once again be a force in the second half.

Washington Nationals

Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Catcher Wilson Ramos has been one of the breakout hitters of 2016.

Record: 46-32

What's Gone Right

• The Daniel Murphy signing was a terrific move, as the veteran is hitting .349/.393/.571 with 20 doubles, 12 home runs and 50 RBI. He's been well worth the draft pick it cost to sign him, providing some needed protection for Bryce Harper out of the cleanup spot.

• The starting rotation has been terrific top to bottom with a 3.44 ERA that ranks third in the majors. Stephen Strasburg (10-0, 2.90 ERA, 118 K) was enjoying the best season of his career before landing on the disabled list with an upper back strain.

• Catcher Wilson Ramos is having a breakout season offensively with a .343/.387/.561 line that includes 14 doubles, 12 home runs and 43 RBI. The 28-year-old is a free agent at season's end and setting himself up for a hefty payday.

What's Gone Wrong

• Between Ben Revere and Michael Taylor, center field has been a black hole from an offensive production standpoint. The position has produced a .220/.266/.328 line on the year.

• After a strong start to the year, Gio Gonzalez has gone 1-6 with a 6.79 ERA over his last 10 starts. With the rest of the staff pitching well and uber-prospect Lucas Giolito making his debut Tuesday, he could be the odd man out once Strasburg returns if he doesn't pick his game up.

• The Nationals bullpen ranks fourth in the league with a 3.12 ERA and has nailed down 21 of 28 save chances. However, it simply doesn't have the dominant late-inning arms that you feel comfortable handing a lead over to, starting with closer Jonathan Papelbon (16/18 SV, 3.28 ERA).

Grade: A

After falling way short of expectations last year, the Nationals have been the dominant team in the NL East so far this season. Their starting pitching looks like the real deal, and they have enough offense to back it up despite a lack of power threats. They're not quite in that elite tier of teams just yet, but they're dangerous.

All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted.