While most eyes were on the Home Run Derby and New York Yankees rookie Aaron Judge's dominance of the event, my attention is focused on the Los Angeles Dodgers who end the first half of the 2017 season having won six in a row and 9 of their last 10 games. Their 61-29 record is now the best in MLB. At the beginning of July, the Dodgers' lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies in the NL West was 3.5 and 5.5 games, respectively. This lead has now grown to 7.5 and 9.5 games, respectively as both the D'Backs and Rockies have struggled with Arizona losing 7 of their last 10 games. Notwithstanding their recent struggles both the D'Backs and Rockies would earn NL Wild Card berths if the season ended today. The San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants look at the D'Backs and Rockies with wonder as they are 22 and 27 games back of the Dodgers, respectively. Indeed, outside of each division leader no other team in the NL has a winning record.
In the NL Central, only the Milwaukee Brewers have a winning record as they enjoy a 5.5 game lead over both the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals. At the beginning of the month, the Brewers lead the Cubs and Cards by 2 and 3.5 games, respectively. The Brewers have won 8 of their last 10 games. But unlike the NL West, only 9.5 games separates the Brewers from the last place Cincinnati Reds while the Pittsburgh Pirates are seven games back. A good week by either of these teams put them back in the race.
To put this into perspective consider the NL East where the Washington Nationals enjoy a 9.5 game lead over the Atlanta Braves. The Braves cannot quite get to the .500 mark, but don't write them off nor for that matter the Miami Marlins who have won six of their last nine games to pull within 10.5 games of the Nats. The New York Mets have taken a step backwards since the beginning of July losing five of their last seven to fall from 9.5 to 12 games off the pace. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Phillies continue to own MLB's worst record at 29-58 losing two out of every three games they play. The Phillies are on pace to lose 108 games which would be their worst season since 1945.
Four years ago, the Houston Astros lost 111 games. At the All-Star Break in 2017, their 60-29 record is the best in the AL and only half a game back of the Dodgers for the best overall record in MLB finishing the half with seven win in their past 10 games. The Astros lead both the Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers by 16.5 games in the AL West. At the beginning of July, the Astros led the Angels by 13.5 games and the Seattle Mariners by 14 games. The Mariners are now 17.5 games back while the Oakland A's went from 18.5 to 21 games back of the Astros in less than two weeks. The Angels, Rangers and Mariners still have a shot at the AL Wild Card, but they are fading fast.
The AL Central remains a stable three team race with the Cleveland Indians leading the Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals by 2.5 and 3 games, respectively. At the beginning of the month, the Tribe led the the Twins and Royals by 2 and 3 games, respectively. Similar to the NL Central, only 9 games separate the Indians from the last place Chicago White Sox. A good week by the Chisox or the Detroit Tigers get them back into the race. If the Tigers surge will Brad Ausmus still be calling the shots?
The Boston Red Sox enjoy a 3.5 game lead over both the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East. The Yankees have lost six of their last games while the Rays took 3 out of 4 games from the Red Sox in the final series before the All-Star Break. If the season were to end today both the Yankees and Rays would earn AL Wild Card berths. But if there is a team that has a chance to surge in the second half in the AL it is Tampa. The Baltimore Orioles continue to falter losing 7 of their last 10 games, but the Toronto Blue Jays remain mired in the cellar.
The second half of the season commences Friday. Tomorrow night though all eyes will be on Miami as they host MLB's 88th All-Star Game. It will be the first All-Star Game since the ill-fated tied game in 2002 in which the winner will not determine home field advantage for the World Series. The AL has won the last four contests. Since 1983, the AL is 24-10-1 in these contests.
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