Major League Baseball - Second Half Outlook

Now that All-Star break has come and gone for Major League Baseball, the 30 teams are getting ready to finish up the 2023 season over the next two and a half months along with the trade deadline looming on August 1, which is just under three weeks away. 

There will no doubt be more buyers than sellers this time around as many teams are still in contention for a post-season spot when October rolls around. Many baseball fans are speculating whether the Los Angeles Angels will deal mega star Shohei Ohtani, who is having a season for the ages as both a hitter and pitcher. That remains to be seen, but among the division leaders it's uncertain what moves will be made when the deadline is here. 

In the American league, the high flying Tampa Bay Rays still lead the American League East division by two games over the Baltimore Orioles. But that lead has shrunk considerably in recent weeks and the Toronto Blue Jays have been a hot team as well and along with the New York Yankees and even the Boston Red Sox, are right there for a possible wild card spot when the playoffs start.

The West division has the Texas Rangers leading the Houston Astros by just two games while the Seattle Mariners and L.A. Angels both are hovering around the .500 mark and trying to stay afloat in the playoff races. The AL Central division has been mediocre at best all season long and for now, the Cleveland Guardians and Minnesota Twins are neck and neck and playing .500 baseball to this point. The Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox are still hopeful to win the division, but it will take a big push the last two months or so to make it happen. 

Over in the National League, it appears the road to the World Series will go through Atlanta. The Braves have baseball's best record (60-29) and are way ahead in the NL East race with the surprising Miami Marlins owning the senior circuit's second best mark and still nearly nine games behind for first place. The Philadelphia Phillies are in the mix for the wild card for sure while the disappointing New York Mets are on life support for the post-season. 

In the NL Central, it's a two team race with the first place Cincinnati Reds one game ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers while the other three teams (Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals) are pretty far back and likely just playing out the string of games the rest of this summer. 

The National League West has three teams tightly bunched as the L.A. Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks share first place with the San Francisco Giants just 2 1/2 games behind. The San Diego Padres are a distant fourth in mid-July, but still have a shot at getting a wild card spot if they can get on a big time roll. It's not likely to happen, but remember the old saying . . . baseball is a funny game. 

POSSIBLE OUTCOMES - In the AL East, Rays win division; Orioles and Blue Jays get wild card spots. 

Minnesota edges out Cleveland in the AL Central race while Astros get another AL West title and the Rangers get that third wild card playoff spot. 

The National League will indeed go through Atlanta as the Braves win the East comfortably with the Phillies getting a wild card spot. Meanwhile, the LA Dodgers win the West and Brewers take the Central crown. As for the other two wild card spots in the National League, look for the Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants to squeak into the post-season in a crowded race.  

Play Ball!