It’s about that time of summer again when sports calm down to a lull. Baseball is our only form of consistency, and we’re all (not so) patiently waiting for football season to start. Luckily, we have plenty to look forward to next week while we wait: 

• Wimbledon wraps up this weekend

• MLB Draft kicks off on Sunday and goes through Monday

• Home Run Derby is set for Monday

• All-Star Game Tuesday

• The Open Championship tees off Thursday

In the meantime, we’ll evaluate each MLB team’s status heading into the All-Star break. Plus, NFL training camp is coming up soon for most teams. The Chargers report in less than a week, which means it’s acceptable to start the countdown to football (not that I was waiting for approval). 

Letter Rip!

< MLB >

MLB Power Rankings ⚾

Ranking each MLB team and postseason odds heading into the All-Star break

Baseball has quite a few games per season – 162 to be exact. After the All-Star break, each game becomes more important to a team’s postseason chances. Some teams will need a miracle, while others just need to stay consistent. So, let’s see where each team ranks going into the halfway point of the season.

1. Detroit Tigers

Since these are pre-ASG rankings, I feel obligated to mention the Tigers have four All Stars – the most of any team in the American League. In addition to their impressive All-Star showing, they also boast the best record in the MLB. Whenever we talk about the Tigers, we always attribute their success to Tarik Skubal. Yes, pitching wins titles. Yes, he’s a heavy favorite for the AL Cy Young Award. And yes, I’d say he’s the best pitcher in the MLB right now. I’m not discounting any of that. But he didn’t singlehandedly create Detroit’s stellar record. The Tigers have all the makings of a dangerous postseason team, with talent all over the roster. It’s getting to the point where you’re not looking at one to two guys in the batting order to break out – it could easily be any of them.

2. Houston Astros

Since their hiccup against the Rays in May, the Astros have been unstoppable. In fact, they haven’t lost a series since then. Most recently, they stopped Ohtani in his tracks and swept the Dodgers at home, outscoring them 29-6. Everyone (including myself) thought their Yordan Alvarez loss would be detrimental. But the bullpen has stepped up, and Houston keeps going. If the Astros can be this good right now, just imagine their potential when Alvarez is healthy.

3. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers have been the best team in baseball almost all season, but the tide is starting to turn. They just got swept at home by the Astros, including a game where they were outscored 18-1. Houston missing Alvarez looks microscopic compared to the mountain of injuries the Dodgers are dealing with. Between Blake Snell, Blake Treinen, Tyler Glasnow and now Max Muncy, Los Angeles is stuck wondering who to turn to next. To top it all off, Mookie Betts is in a slump. All that being said, I’m still not concerned about the Dodgers. They have a fairly comfortable lead in the NL West and plenty of healthy talent left on their roster. As long as they can limit injuries going forward, I like their road to October.

4. Chicago Cubs

Like I said, pitching wins titles – but there’s something to be said for Chicago’s offense. It ranks in the top three in the MLB for home runs, slugging, OPS and steals. While the offense has vastly improved their record and propelled them to the top of the rankings, the pitching staff is not in trouble by any means. Matthew Boyd has established himself as a brilliant pitcher with a 2.52 ERA and 9-3 record through 18 starts. The Cubs also have a bullpen they can rely on as the season progresses, ranking 4th in the MLB.

5. Philadelphia Phillies

Speaking of pitching, the Phillies have a chokehold on the rest of the MLB. Between Ranger Suarez (1.99 ERA), Zach Wheeler (2.17 ERA) and Cristopher Sanchez (2.59 ERA), the Phillies make batters kick it into overdrive just to get a hit. Philadelphia’s only question mark right now lies in its inconsistent offense, which is strange when we’re looking at guys like Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner. If Philadelphia’s bats get hot, we can expect another deep postseason run. 

6. Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays homestand was nothing short of perfect. They had back-to-back sweeps at home of the Yankees and Angels, which isn’t surprising considering they have the highest home OPS in the American League. Though the White Sox snapped Toronto’s 9-game winning streak yesterday, I’m not concerned. Just last week, they were ranked third in the AL East, 3 games behind the Yankees. Now, their homestand has vaulted them to first place just in time for the All-Star break. 

7. New York Mets

The Mets have had a rough go of it recently, but it seems the worst is behind them. After their 3-14 stretch, they’ve been resilient, winning five of their last six games. Their bounce back is impressive, considering their pitching staff’s battle against injuries. As of right now, they still have the second lowest ERA in the National League despite injuries to Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea. Luckily, Juan Soto and Brandon Nimmo have done a great job of compensating for their losses offensively. Even better, Senga and Manaea are set to return this weekend.

8. New York Yankees

The Yankees have dropped considerably in the AL East, but I still like their postseason odds. Since mid-June, the Yankees have struggled across the board but have faced the most pressure in the AL East. They have struggled in their division, mostly due to the pitching staff. Carlos Rodon had a great start to the season, going 8-1 in starts. Now, he’s 1-5 over his last six starts. Injuries to Clarke Schmidt and Mark Leiter have only complicated New York’s pitching dilemma. However, the Yankees still lead the MLB in home runs and have plenty of offensive potential to offset pitching losses.

9. Milwaukee Brewers

While the Brewers lack star power, they have plenty of above average players who have made Milwaukee a scary team to face. I’m not sure whether they’ll win their division, but I like their chances to at least secure a Wild Card spot. The Brewers trail Cubs in the NL Central, but everything seems to be falling into place for the second half of the season. The offense is nothing to write home about, but it’s consistent. The pitching, on the other hand, continues to be Milwaukee’s bread and butter. Brandon Woodruff is back in action for the first time in 2023, and from the looks of it, he hasn’t missed a beat. 

10. Tampa Bay Rays

After a few major wins, it appears the Rays are falling back to the middle of the pack. Tampa Bay had plenty of opportunities in their last three series against the Orioles, A’s and Twins (all teams under .500 at the time). Unfortunately, they came out with three straight series losses before going to Detroit to play the best team in the MLB. Their offense is intriguing, leading the MLB in stolen bases and OPS with runners in scoring position. Unfortunately, their pitching is killing any opportunity the offense creates. The bullpen in particular has struggled, posting an ERA over 9.00 in their recent series losses. 

11. San Diego Padres

The Padres are making a push toward the Dodgers’ commanding league in the NL West. I don’t see them overtaking LA, but I do see plenty of postseason opportunity for San Diego. The Padres just welcomed back Yu Darvish, which gives strong and much-needed support to their pitching rotation. On the offensive side, Jake Cronenworth continues to prove his worth, especially during clutch games. The Padres have potential; it just seems like they’re missing a piece. If they can make a solid acquisition before the trade deadline, their path to October gains a bit more certainty.

12. Seattle Marines

Cal Raleigh. Need I say more? He leads the MLB in home runs and ranks second in slugging percentage, offering Seattle some star power. The Mariners are taking care of business, but they’ll need to do better than that to maintain a realistic shot at the postseason. They swept the Pirates last weekend, but their series with the Yankees is already proving to be difficult. The Tigers are next up in a rough mid-July schedule. But if the Mariners can manage winnable games and sneak in a few upsets, they should be in contention for the postseason.

13. San Francisco Giants

The Giants are currently another middle-of-the-road team, but they can make a postseason run if they can just gain some momentum. Recently, San Francisco has been all over the place. They got swept by the Marlins, then lost a series to the White Sox and then split a series with the Diamondbacks. Luckily, they took care of business with a series win against the A’s and even snuck in a series win versus the Phillies. Unfortunately, they’re facing the Dodgers this weekend and the Blue Jays after the All-Star break. Despite their inconsistency, the Giants are still in position for a contentious Wild Card race.

14. Cincinnati Reds

Everything about the Reds is very average right now, though they still have a spot in the Wild Card race as well. Cincinnati currently ranks sixth in both OPS and ERA in the National League. Like I said, very average. They’ve remained competitive, being one of the only teams which has avoided a sweep for over a month. Luckily, they also just welcomed back Noelvi Marte, who has the potential to swing the momentum in Cincinnati’s favor.

15.  St. Louis Cardinals

After a rough week, the Cardinals are hanging in there. They got shut out in three straight games as they were swept by the Pirates last week. On the 4th of July, they gave up eight home runs (yes, you read that right) to the Cubs, then proceeded to get shut out 11-0 by the Cubs on Sunday. However, they have the opportunity to get some momentum back during their current series against the Nationals. Next up is a winnable series against the Braves. Then comes a big decision. Do they dismantle before the trade deadline or add some much needed assets? It all depends on how the next few weeks go.

16. Boston Red Sox

Speaking of momentum, the Red Sox are finally back over .500 for the first time in weeks. They won their series versus the Reds, then pulled off a much-needed sweep over the Mariners. This week, they also won their series against the Rockies. If they can continue their momentum and limit defensive errors during their upcoming series with the Rays, they have plenty of opportunity to make a legitimate Wild Card run. 

17. Texas Rangers

If pitching were the only criterion of being a good baseball team, the Rangers would be topping the rankings. Unfortunately, the offense has to do its job too, and it just isn’t. Their starters boast the best ERA in baseball, but you can’t win games if you can’t drive in runs. The offense ranks the fourth lowest in OPS across the MLB. Josh Jung had high expectations entering the season, but he’s struggling with a .237 batting average and only eight home runs all season. If the Rangers can figure out how to get the bats hot (or at least warm), they could make a run at a Wild Card spot.

18. Arizona Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks are in the complete opposite position of the Rangers. The bats have been hot, but the mound has been abysmal. In terms of pitching, the D-backs are having problems from top to bottom. Their starters have a combined 4.50 ERA, while the bullpen sits at 5.06 – both ranking in the bottom five of the National League. Luckily, Corbin Carroll is back, which improves the offense’s chances of compensating for the pitching.

19. Minnesota Twins

Unless the Tigers undergo a collapse of cataclysmic proportions, the AL Central is out of reach for the Twins. Unfortunately, their Wild Card chances aren’t looking great either. The offense ranks in the bottom 10 in the MLB in hits, batting average, on-base percentage, OPS and walks. Carlos Correa hasn’t been at his best, but he’d need to step up in a major way to incite any real offensive change. 

20. Los Angeles Angels

The Angels are just all over the place. They live in a constant state of feast or famine, which makes staying above .500 exponentially more difficult. Their hitters have the most strikeouts in the MLB but the second most home runs in the American League. The latter has allowed them to celebrate sporadic success, but their offense is far from living up to expectations. Between Mike Trout, Jo Adell, Zach Neto and Taylor Ward, it’s puzzling as to why they can’t maintain offensive momentum.

21. Kansas City Royals

Just like the Twins, winning the AL Central is pretty much out of the question for the Royals. Also like the Twins, they’ll have to fight tooth and nail just for a Wild Card spot. However, the Royals’ schedule is working in their favor. They capitalized on weaker teams by securing series wins over the Diamondbacks and Mariners last week. Kansas City carried that same mentality into this week, winning the series versus the Pirates. Their three upcoming opponents (Marlins, Guardians and Braves) present winnable games and an opportunity to make a push.

22. Atlanta Braves

Injuries are tough to battle at this point in the season. They’re even harder to battle when you don’t have much else to fall back on. Things are going downhill fast for the Braves after losing  Chris Sale and Spencer Schwellenbach. Unfortunately, there isn’t much offense to compensate for pitching losses either. The offense ranks 22nd in OPS across the MLB, which only exacerbates Atlanta’s struggles.

23. Cleveland Guardians

Before you ask, yes, this is (somehow) the same team that made a playoff run last season – minus Josh Naylor. What changed? The offense ranks in the bottom three of slugging percentage, on-base percentage and OPS across the MLB. What little momentum Jose Ramirez and Steven Kwan have been able to provide this season has been halted by the rest of the batting order. The Guardians are coming off a 10-game losing streak, but there’s a glimmer of hope left: Against all odds, they just won their series against the Astros. 

24. Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore’s sweep of the Braves over the weekend provided a shred of hope for their Wild Card chances, but they still look bleak. This week, those dreams are dashed as they face the Mets. In perhaps the most major turn of events this season, Charlie Morton has stepped up to become the pitcher the Orioles needed. Now, they have to decide whether they should hold onto him in hopes of a Wild Card spot or trade him in hopes of a better season next year.

25. Miami Marlins

The Marlins are hot right now! Unfortunately, that’s not saying much. Despite their 15-7 record since mid-July and sweeps of the Giants and Diamondbacks, the Marlins have no real shot at the postseason. Despite a bleak outlook for the rest of the season, the offense is tied for the fourth highest batting average in the National League.

26. Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates’ inconsistency can best be described by a recent stat. Pittsburgh became the first team in MLB history to win three straight games by shutout, then lose the next three games by shutout. But shutouts (on either side) are nothing new to the Pirates. They’ve thrown 10 shutouts this season and lost by shutout 12 times. Paul Skenes has been everything we knew he’d be, but he can’t make up for Pittsburgh’s offensive struggles. The Pirates have the fewest home runs in the MLB and the lowest OPS in the National League, which explains the shutouts. 

27. Oakland Athletics

I feel bad for the A’s because they don’t get the luxury of “home games” at Sutter Health Park. Even so, I would have hoped for better than this. The pitching staff has the worst ERA in the American League, and the offense lacks role players. Unfortunately, they just never had a chance this season. If I were an A’s fan trying to be optimistic, I’d celebrate Jacob Wilson’s All-Star selection. 

28. Washington Nationals

It’s unclear where the Nationals are headed at this point. They cleaned house last weekend, firing Mike Rizzo and Dave Martinez. However, they’re in an interesting position currently. They have the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft. While relying on interim leadership, it is unclear how the draft will play out or what the team will decide to do before the trade deadline. I wouldn’t be surprised if they continued the theme of cleaning house.

29. Chicago White Sox

Chicago is another team that was doomed from the start. Their offense has the lowest batting average and OPS in the MLB. If I were a White Sox fan who wanted to be an optimist, I’d tell you to celebrate Colson Montgomery’s debut. The No. 5 prospect for the White Sox made an impressive diving catch at shortstop and reached a base in his first MLB at-bat due to catcher interference. Remember, just because this season is over doesn’t mean we can’t get excited for the future.

30. Colorado Rockies

Well, there’s not much to say here. Colorado’s defense has the most errors in the MLB. Rockies pitchers have the fewest strikeouts in the MLB. So, it shouldn’t come as a shock that the Rockies also allow the most runs in the MLB. In the spirit of optimism for seasons to come, former first-round pick Charlie Condon is recovering nicely from his wrist injury and looks to be progressing quickly.

< NFL >

Training Camp Countdown 🏈

NFL training camp kicks off as early as next week; in other words, football is almost here

Yes, I’m aware that it’s July. But it’s never too early for football. College football kicks off next month with the NFL following close behind. Though we can’t park ourselves on the couch and watch eight hours of Red Zone just yet, training camp is right around the corner. The Chargers and Lions are the first two teams having both rookies and veterans report in preparation for the Hall of Fame Game on July 31.

• Arizona Cardinals: July 22

• Atlanta Falcons: July 23

• Baltimore Ravens: July 22 *

• Buffalo Bills: July 22 *

• Carolina Panthers: July 22 *

• Chicago Bears: July 22 *

• Cincinnati Bengals: July 22 *

• Cleveland Browns: July 22 *

• Dallas Cowboys: July 21

• Denver Broncos: July 22 *

• Detroit Lions: July 19 *

• Green Bay Packers: July 22 *

• Houston Texans: July 22

• Indianapolis Colts: July 22 *

• Jacksonville Jaguars: July 22 *

• Kansas City Chiefs: July 21

• Las Vegas Raiders: July 22 *

• Los Angeles Chargers: July 16 *

• Los Angeles Rams: July 22

• Miami Dolphins: July 22 *

• Minnesota Vikings: July 22 *

• New England Patriots: July 22 *

• New Orleans Saints: July 22

• New York Giants: July 22 *

• New York Jets: July 22 *

• Philadelphia Eagles: July 22

• Pittsburgh Steelers: July 23

• San Francisco 49ers: July 22 *

• Seattle Seahawks: July 22 *

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers: July 22 *

• Tennessee Titans: July 22

• Washington Commanders: July 22 *

* Rookies report at an earlier date 

< NEWS >

The Headlines 📰

• ‘It’s Been an Honour’ – Horner Bids Farewell to Red Bull in Emotional Social Media Post (Formula 1)

• DJ LeMahieu DFA'd by Yankees After Demotion to Bench Role  (ESPN)

• MLB Trade Deadline Big Board 2.0: Top 40 Players on Market as July 31 Approaches (The Athletic)

• MLB to Use ABS Challenge System During All-Star Game in Atlanta (ESPN)

• PSG Cruise to Club World Cup Final After Ruiz and Dembélé Stun Real Madrid (The Guardian)

< SCHEDULE >

The Watch Party 🍿