The Top Six MLB First Half Teams | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Sports

The Top Six MLB First Half Teams

A breakdown of who stayed hot through the first half of the MLB season.

3
The Top Six MLB First Half Teams

The MLB season has finally hit it’s halfway point, and it’s time to judge some of the league’s best teams and their performances so far this season. Some have managed to stay consistent since April, while others started off hot before faltering late. To determine the top team in the league, it’s time to rank the top teams going into the All-Star break.

6. Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles top an AL East division that has struggled overall this season. They are 51-36 at the break and are two games up in the AL East behind a hot Toronto Blue Jays. They need to improve their roster to make a serious push late in the season, but are in a good spot for now. Any late season slump, however, combined with a Blue Jays or Boston Red Sox push, could take them right out of playoff contention.

5. Texas Rangers

The Rangers’ 54-36 record leads the American League. Injuries have forced them into a bit of a slump, so the All-Star break gives them a brief rest period. They’re 3-7 in their last 10 games, but had a solid month of June with a 20-8 record. They’ve shown success in spurts, and can easily pick it up after the All-Star break wraps up.

4. Washington Nationals

The Nationals have opened up a six-game lead in the NL East, and their 54-36 record would be tied for the best in the AL, showing just how strong the NL is. They went 11-4 going into the All-Star break, but had a seven-game losing streak before that hot stretch. If the Nationals can have their pitching, currently first in ERA and second in quality starts, canstay on top, and their batting improve, they’ll be in good shape.

3. Cleveland Indians

The Indians, like their city’s NBA counterpart Cavaliers, had a stellar month of June, which saw a 14-game winning streak while the Cavs were winning the NBA Finals. They’ve since gone 3-6, and go into the All-Star break with a 52-36 record, enough to give them a 6.5 game lead in the division. They’ve shown that they can go on fire quickly, and will need to peak at the right time to bring themselves success in the postseason.

2. Chicago Cubs

The Cubs, currently 53-35 and atop the NL Central by seven games, have gone 26-27 since beginning their season 27-8. The team saw their entire infield nominated to the All-Star game, and their talent level gives them the opportunity to bounce back in solid fashion at any given moment. Injuries and inconsistencies have killed the momentum from their hot start, and they’ll need to get back to their roots to get back on top of the NL.

1. San Francisco Giants

The Giants hold the best record in the MLB going into the All-Star break, with a 57-33 record. They have three All-Star nominations, and their pitching is keeping them atop the MLB. They’re 6.5 games ahead of the Dodgers in the NL West, and will look to make it back to the postseason after missing out in 2015

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

12 Midnight NYE: Fun Ideas!

This isn't just for the single Pringles out there either, folks

13941
Friends celebrating the New Years!
StableDiffusion

When the clock strikes twelve midnight on New Year's Eve, do you ever find yourself lost regarding what to do during that big moment? It's a very important moment. It is the first moment of the New Year, doesn't it seem like you should be doing something grand, something meaningful, something spontaneous? Sure, many decide to spend the moment on the lips of another, but what good is that? Take a look at these other suggestions on how to ring in the New Year that are much more spectacular and exciting than a simple little kiss.

Keep Reading...Show less
piano
Digital Trends

I am very serious about the Christmas season. It's one of my favorite things, and I love it all from gift-giving to baking to the decorations, but I especially love Christmas music. Here are 11 songs you should consider adding to your Christmas playlists.

Keep Reading...Show less
campus
CampusExplorer

New year, new semester, not the same old thing. This semester will be a semester to redeem all the mistakes made in the previous five months.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

Let's face it, last semester you woke up with enough time to brush your teeth and get to class and even then you were about 10 minutes late and rollin' in with some pretty unfortunate bed head. This semester we will set our alarms, wake up with time to get ready, and get to class on time!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Painfully True Stages Of Camping Out At The Library

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

2753
woman reading a book while sitting on black leather 3-seat couch
Photo by Seven Shooter on Unsplash

And so it begins.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

Camping out at the library is not for the faint of heart. You need to go in as a warrior. You usually have brought supplies (laptop, chargers, and textbooks) and sustenance (water, snacks, and blanket/sweatpants) since the battle will be for an undetermined length of time. Perhaps it is one assignment or perhaps it's four. You are motivated and prepared; you don’t doubt the assignment(s) will take time, but you know it couldn’t be that long.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 14 Stages Of The Last Week Of Class

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1669
black marker on notebook

December... it's full of finals, due dates, Mariah Carey, and the holidays. It's the worst time of the year, but the best because after finals, you get to not think about classes for a month and catch up on all the sleep you lost throughout the semester. But what's worse than finals week is the last week of classes, when all the due dates you've put off can no longer be put off anymore.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments