MLB teams have learned some lessons on the way to 100 games. The century mark is typically a good barometer for success in any season. The number of MLB teams that have yet to be defined as buyers and sellers is greater than usual this season in particular. Whether it be the Tigers, Red Sox, Twins, Orioles or even Blue Jays, front office executives in the American League have an impossible job. Should they commit to the present or build for the future?
The same can be said of the National League. While the Braves, Brewers and Dodgers have remained atop their respective divisions all season long, where do the Phillies, Marlins, Nationals, Cubs, Cardinals and Pirates stand? The list goes on. The defined sellers will demand a king’s ransom for their best players at the trade deadline. Yet, so few teams are actually out of it. Remember, you can’t predict baseball, especially in the dog days of summer.
11. Cleveland Guardians
Slow and steady wins the race. Sure, the Cleveland Guardians are second place in the AL Central as of this writing, but they remain favored to win the division down the stretch. Guards ball is winning baseball, whether it come from Jose Ramirez or Kyle Manzardo, who hit a walk-off home run on Saturday night to beat the Pirates. Nothing Cleveland does is particularly impressive, but they don’t beat themselves. That should keep them in play for a postseason berth well beyond the 100-game benchmark.
-MP
10. Boston Red Sox
All of a sudden, the Boston Red Sox don’t know how to lose. They completed a four-game series sweep at home against the AL East-leading Rays, giving them 13 consecutive victories.I’m not much of a believer in this lineup, particularly with Roman Anthony out, but the dynamic duo of Wilyer Abreu and Willson Contreras has been nothing short of awesome, and the pitching is outstanding every night. The conversation has now firmly shifted from the Red Sox selling to buying, and given how things are going in Tampa Bay and New York, the AL East is suddenly in play. Boy, wouldn’t that be something?
-ZR
9. St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals are unlikely to win the NL Central, as they’ve faded since a hot start to the regular season. However, St. Louis is well ahead of schedule, and Chaim Bloom has some tough decisions to make at the MLB trade deadline. Will he trade more expiring contracts away from an active NL Wild Card contender? If so, it means he hasn’t taken his eye off the prize, which is turning this young Cardinals team into a roster that can compete with the likes of the Brewers and Cubs long term.
-MP
8. Chicago White Sox
Much like the Cardinals, the question remains whether the White Sox can build upon the momentum they gained with a shocking first half. Whether it be the return of Munetaka Murakami or the emergence of AL All-Star Davis Martin, the White Sox are a threat in a wide open American League. The AL has no true contenders as of this writing, and the Rays and Yankees are on the downswing. What better time for the White Sox to buy than the present?
-MP
7. New York Yankees
Just when it looked as if the Yankees had gotten right before the All-Star break, they dropped the first two games of their weekend set against the Dodgers, seeing Cam Schlittler uncharacteristically struggle in one of the games, Aaron Boone stick with Gerrit Cole a batter too long in the other, and the offense no-showing in both. This team is still one of the best in the AL, but with Aaron Judge still without a clear timetable for a return, the Yankees are in need of a big deadline acquisition or two.
-ZR
6. Philadelphia Phillies
This weekend’s series against the Mets was supposed to be what got the Phillies in a position to compete against the Dodgers and Yankees next week, but it did anything but. Their lineup no-showed in two of the three games, Aaron Nola couldn’t keep the ball in the yard, and the No. 5 spot in their rotation continued to be an absolute mess. The Phillies are a good team, but their holes couldn’t be more prevalent. With Cristopher Sanchez and Zack Wheeler lined up to face the Dodgers, they can only hope to mask some of their issues in the short-term before embarking on perhaps the most important deadline of Dave Dombrowski’s Phillies tenure.
-ZR
5. Tampa Bay Rays
It appeared as if the Tampa Bay Rays were in firm command of the AL East heading into the All-Star break, but a four-game sweep in Boston made it clear that the division is still very much up for grabs. There’s still a lot to like about this team, but the offense remains as inconsistent as ever and the pitching showed some cracks. The door remains wide open for the Rays to win the AL Pennant, but they’re going to need to be aggressive at the trade deadline to fend off the Red Sox and Yankees.
-ZR
4. Atlanta Braves
This Atlanta Braves offense that had been maddingly inconsistent entering the break woke up this weekend, scoring six runs or more in each of their three games against the Rangers including a 15-run outburst on Friday night. Not only did Drake Baldwin emphatically break out of a slump, but Austin Riley had a multi-homer game, showing signs of life for the first time in I don’t even know how long. The starting rotation continues to have its ups and downs, but the offense getting back to raking should have the Braves feeling good ahead of the deadline.
-ZR
3. Chicago Cubs
The Cubs celebrated their 2016 World Series team over the weekend, which included the return of David Ross to Wrigley Field. Heck, Anthony Rizzo even caught a home run ball in the outfield. The good vibes around Wrigley Field shouldn’t end anytime soon. Pete Crow-Armstrong is a legitimate NL MVP candidate. What the Cubs ought to do is add to their rotation at the deadline, even if catching the Brewers in the Central is a pipe dream.
-MP
2. Milwaukee Brewers
Speaking of those pesky Brewers, Milwaukee added starting pitcher Lance McCullers last week. McCullers has plenty of postseason experience and is the exact type of pitcher the Brewers should hope to revive. While Milwaukee may not add the likes of Skubal at the trade deadline, they could always use more depth in the rotation. If they are to beat the Dodgers in the postseason this time around, they will need it.
-MP
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers are practically in cruise control, with really only the Brewers to fend off in the race for the NL’s No. 1 seed. As last season proved, however, the Dodgers don’t need the No. 1 seed to outclass Milwaukee in a postseason setting. Los Angeles is hoping to get healthier on the mound and get a bit more production from the likes of Mookie Betts, but the Dodgers have the best lineup, the best bullpen, and when healthy, probably the best rotation. Life is not fair.
-CK
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