With the All-Star break coming and going we’re slightly farther than halfway into the season. This is the point of the season when we can see which teams really have a shot at the World Series.
So let’s take a look at each team’s letter grade so far.
Atlanta Braves
At this point in the season, the Braves should be considered one of the favorites to win the World Series. With an MLB high in wins, they have an extremely commanding lead over the next NL East opponent.
Pair that with the idea of them having the current MVP favorite Ronald Acuna Jr. in their lineup there’s no reason the Braves deserve any less than an A+.
Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles are a young and exciting team on the rise. What makes them even more exciting is they are neck and neck for the division lead with the Tampa Bay Rays. In a division that also features the Blue Jays and Yankees, that’s no small task.
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Between players performing highly and a great team record the Orioles have earned themselves an A so far.
Boston Red Sox
Coming into the season and playing in a strong AL East it was hard to imagine too much success from the Red Sox. After losing one of their top players Xander Bogaerts in the offseason and injuries to the pitching staff they’ve earned themselves a positive record.
It’s hard to imagine a deep playoff run from Boston but could snag a Wild Card spot. They’ve competed well in a tough division. For these reasons, they get a B-.
Chicago White Sox
An underachieving team with what seems like the tools to succeed. There’s not much to say about the White Sox season which is why they get a D+.
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs made a good amount of subtle offseason moves which seemed to be paying off earlier in the season. Recently they’ve looked bad sleeping further and further from a playoff spot.
I guess there’s only so far Marcus Stroman can carry the team before the ugly seeps through. The Cubs get a C.
Cincinnati Reds
If you want to talk about a surprise team the Reds are a great example. The young talent has completely turned this team around after finishing 62-100 last year.
As a team competing for a Wild card spot, they deserve a B+
Cleveland Guardians
Many believed the Guardians would hold sole possession of the division at this point. Unfortunately for them, the Twins are making that a challenge.
Due to these circumstances, how could they earn any higher than a C+ so far
Colorado Rockies
Little was expected of the Rockies coming into the season. So far they’ve stuck right on course for that projection. Halfway through the season, Colorado gets an F.
Detroit Tigers
The Tigers may be bad but I guess you could say they aren’t as bad as many thought they would be.
The Detroit Tigers get a C-.
Houston Astros
Fresh off their World Series win in 2022 the Astros are slumping. Although plagued with injuries good teams find ways around that. This year definitely feels like we’re seeing a very different Astros team.
They get a B-.
Kansas City Royals
Luckily for the Royals, there’s one other MLB team distracting us from the fact Kansas City is putting together a horrible season. There’s nothing to say about them other than F.
Los Angeles Angels
Another year comes and goes of the Angels wasting a team that has two of the most talented players in the world. Barely over .500 feels like it should be a crime. Any time you field a team with Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout and aren’t on pace to make the playoffs you get an F.
Los Angeles Dodgers
It might be a tight race but the Dodgers hold possession of their division for now. They certainly appear to be one of the most well-rounded squads so far this year.
They have certainly earned themselves an A.
Miami Marlins
I’m not sure many expected the Marlins to be close to a Wild Card spot this late into the season. What’s even more impressive is they’re doing it without their Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara playing at a dominant level.
A B+ feels very well deserved.
Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers are competing well for their division where they seem to be fighting it out with the Reds. If they can hold steady the rest of the way they should see themselves in the playoffs.
The Brewers get themselves a B+
Minnesota Twins
Although they might play in the most competitive division the Twins have put up a fight all year. It certainly seems like they’ll have a chance for a playoff spot come October.
They get a B-
New York Yankees
They might have a winning record, but they also sit dead last in their division. After a big offseason, this isn’t the season Yankees fans were expecting. They’ve played what can only feel like an average season, so they get an average grade C.
New York Mets
The Mets season is turning into one of the most disappointing ones in MLB history. When you lead the MLB in payroll and sit very far back in your division there really is no excuse. How could they have a grade any better than an F?
Oakland Athletics
The A’s are the worst team in baseball. With rumors of them leaving for Las Vegas nothing is going right this year for their fans. The A’s get an F.
Philadelphia Phillies
Unfortunately, Philadelphia plays in the same division as the Braves. With no chance of winning the division, they fight for a Wild Card spot. Seeing their performance as a Wild Card team in last year’s playoff might be all the Phillies need.
They receive a B for their efforts so far.
Pittsburgh Pirates
They started as one of the hottest teams in baseball but quickly cooled off. They won’t make the playoffs but nobody really thought they would anyways.
The Pirates are awarded with a D+ for being bad but not the worst.
San Diego Padres
If it wasn’t for the Mets the Padres would be the biggest underperformers in MLB. After spending big this offseason and selling the farm last season the Padres needed a big year. Fourth in their division and a losing record is the complete opposite.
They just like the Mets get an F.
San Francisco Giants
Certainly, a surprise this season. The Giants may be third in their division but what can you do when the teams in front also have over 50 wins? San Francisco has put themselves into a great position to be a Wild card team and get a B.
Seattle Mariners
After making the playoffs last year for the first time in 21 years there was hope the Mariners could do it two years in a row. Not only are they not competing for their division, it’s hard to imagine them as a Wild Card.
A team that underperforms like this gets a C.
St. Louis Cardinals
Who would have guessed the Cardinals would be 10 games out of .500 and nowhere near the playoffs? I’ll tell you, almost nobody. With lots of stars on the team, there’s no reason they should be performing this badly. D-
Tampa Bay Rays
For most of the season until now they’ve been regarded as the best team in MLB especially after their 13-game win streak to start the season.
They’ve clearly earned themselves an A
Texas Rangers
After underachieving the last few years the Rangers finally seem to be pulling it together. With leading the division, they appear to be a clear postseason team.
They are awarded an A- for their efforts.
Toronto Blue Jays
Holding a Wild Card spot feels like all the Blue Jays could really do in their division. If they keep pace don’t be surprised if the Blue Jays catch some buzz as a World Series hopeful with the amount of talent, they have.
Toronto will be graded out at a B halfway through the season.
Washington Nationals
The Nationals are clearly rebuilding the team so thinking they would finish anywhere but the bottom of their division feels foolish, especially considering that’s where they’re at. A D- is what they deserve.
