With the All-Star break upon us, only one division leader (Braves, NL East) has more than a 2 1/2 game lead.
That should make for some compelling division races in the second half of the season.
Many deserving players were chosen for the All-Star Game, but almost each team had at least one snub (not including the Cardinals and Orioles, who each had five players selected).
1) Cardinals (57-36) (2)
Not many people talking about first baseman Allen Craig despite his All-Star selection. But he ranks third in both average (.327) and RBIs (73) in the NL.
2) Pirates (56-37) (1)
Pedro Alvarez didn’t make the All-Star team, and he didn’t make the Home Run Derby on the first go-around either. But an injury to Carlos Gonzalaz of the Rockies changed the latter, and he has 14 home runs since June 1.
3) Athletics (56-39) (3)
Josh Donaldson has been in a slump lately, but his 16 home runs and 61 RBIs have helped the Athletics gain a two-game lead over the Rangers in the AL West.
4) Red Sox (58-39) (5)
Mike Napoli’s 58 RBIs rank twelfth in the AL, but unfortunately, four players ahead of him are also first baseman, which hurt his All-Star chances.
5) Rangers (54-41) (4)
The most mind-boggling All-Star snub has to be Adrian Beltre (.316 batting average, 21 home runs, 55 RBIs). Nowhere near as good as starting third baseman Miguel Cabrera’s numbers, but still the next best in the AL.
6) Rays (55-41) (11)
Three-time All-Star Evan Longoria had eight home runs in July and is a big reason the Rays are 12-2 this month.
7) Braves (54-41) (8)
If the All-Star Game took place after the first month of the season, Justin Upton would have been a shoe-in. He had 12 home runs in April, but has four since.
8) Reds (53-42) (6)
If not for an insane amount of good pitchers in the NL this season, Mike Leake (8-4, 2.69 ERA) could have made his first All-Star team.
9) Tigers (52-42) (7)
Max Scherzer suffered his first loss of the season Saturday, but still a league-best 13 wins into the break.
10) Orioles (53-43) (10)
No snubs here. The Orioles have five All-Stars including three in the starting lineup.
11) Indians (51-44) (12)
Cody Allen is flying under the radar, having allowed 10 runs in 39 2/3 innings to go along with 52 strikeouts.
12) Yankees (51-44) (9)
Despite being named to the All-Star final fan vote, reliever David Robertson didn’t make the cut even though he ranks second in the AL in holds (22) and has a 0.94 WHIP.
13) Diamondbacks (50-45) (14)
Reliever Will Harris has been nasty for the Dbacks, with 29 strikeouts in 22 2/3 innings.
14) Nationals (48-47) (13)
Biggest NL snub could be Ian Desmond, who was on the final vote, but didn’t make it. He ranks second in home runs and RBIs by NL shortstops, trailing only Troy Tulowitzki in both categories.
15) Dodgers (47-47) (17)
Only one representative in Clayton Kershaw, but they had two (Adrian Gonzalez – who leads the Dodgers in all offensive categories – and Yasil Puig) in the NL final vote.
16) Phillies (48-48) (18)
Shoutout to Domonic Brown, who is having an MVP-type season. with 23 homers and 67 RBIs in 95 games.
17) Angels (44-49) (15)
Changing of the guard? Mike Trout made the All-Star team for the second year in a row. Albert Pujols missed out for the third straight year.
18) Blue Jays (45-49) (16)
Steve Delabar, who won the AL Final vote, has an ERA of 1.71 and a whopping 12.43 strikeouts per nine innings.
19) Rockies (46-50) (20)
Pitcher Jorge De La Rosa is 9-5, including an impressive 5-1 mark at Coors Field.
20) Royals (43-49) (19)
James Shields, a 2011 All-Star, has six losses – all in which the Royals scored three runs or fewer. Can’t blame him for that.
21) Mets (41-50) (25)
It’s not as wacky as it sounds to say Marlon Byrd, who has 15 home runs and 51 RBIs including three homers and 10 RBIs in his past eight games, should have earned a spot on the All-Star team.
22) Cubs (42-51) (24)
All-Star Snub: Alfonso Soriano has nine home runs and 19 RBIs in his past 16 games.
23) Mariners (43-52) (28)
Think the Yankees regret not signing Raul Ibanez in the offseason? He already has more home runs (24) and nearly as many RBIs (55) as he did all of last season (19 homers 62 RBIs), including 10 homers and 19 RBIs in his past 19 games.
24) Padres (42-54) (22)
Who expected starter Jason Marquis to be 9-4 with an ERA under 4.00? That’s right. No one.
25) Giants (43-51) (23)
Since a 9-4 start, the Giants are 34-47, but the defending World Champions still have four All-Stars.
26) Twins (39-53) (21)
There were questions about how Justin Morneau would recover from a concussion two years ago. He’s on pace for 92 RBIs.
27) Brewers (38-56) (26)
Francisco Rodriguez signed a minor league deal with the Brewers before making his season debut in May, and has allowed three runs since then. The single-season saves leader also recorded his 300th career save.
28) Marlins (35-58) (27)
The Marlins have scored the fewest runs in the majors by far. Had Giancarlo Stanton been healthy, it could’ve been a different story.
29) White Sox (37-55) (29)
If it weren’t for his .213 batting average, Adam Dunn along with his 24 homes runs and 60 RBIs would be heading to Citi Field this week.
30) Astros (33-61) (30)
Each team needs at least one All-Star, and Jason Castro will represent them. But Jose Altuve (101 hits, 21 steals) could have added some speed to the roster.