MLB 2nd Half: October Targets 🎯
07/14/2023
By: Jeff Yoder
Baseball’s 2nd Half: Who’s Swinging for the Fences & Who Has What it Takes in the Hunt for October?
The 2023 MLB season is more than half gone, and baseball picks back up today for the playoff push following this week’s All-Star festivities. We’re roughly 90 games into the 162-game marathon, and we’ve learned a lot. Shohei Ohtani is a monster. Ronald Acuna Jr. has the Braves flying. But don’t count out the loaded rosters in Los Angeles and New York. Twelve teams make the postseason, and we have a good guess as to who those teams might be. Let’s take some target practice with a second-half prediction and tier-system rankings before games resume today.
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MLB 2nd-Half Team Outlooks
World Series Contenders (6)
Two clubs have stood out as the winners of the first half — the Braves (60-29) and Rays (58-35). The third statistical juggernaut actually leads the league in offense, and that’s the Rangers (52-39). The Yankees (49-42), Dodgers (51-38) and Astros (50-41) are the other three roster-loaded giants with Fall Classic-level talent and World Series aspirations. There may be better teams so far, but these six are the big guys.
Exciting & Hopeful Young Teams (6)
Another six teams have high hopes, but are they ready? The Orioles (54-35), Blue Jays (50-41), Mariners (45-44), Marlins (53-39), Reds (50-41), and Diamondbacks (52-39) are fiery young squads fully in the playoff hunt. All five feature a youth movement and a legitimate shot to make — and excel in — the postseason. Expect some of these teams to be buyers at the trade deadline, and they could surprise us in October.
Trade Buyers & Wild Card Territory (8)
Outside of the top dozen teams, a long list of franchises are fully capable of making late runs into the postseason. There are more veteran clubs still in the hunt who might require additional roster support via the trade deadline. They include the Guardians (45-45), Twins (45-46), Angels (45-46), Giants (49-41), Brewers (49-42), Phillies (48-41), Red Sox (48-43) and Mets (42-48). Don’t count out a late turnaround from that other team from New York.
Trade Sellers & Missed Playoffs (6)
We can’t definitively call these teams “sellers,” since they also have young core players. They’re unlikely to reach the postseason, and they’re probably not yet ready to contend for a playoff spot. Expect to see some roster movement from these clubs — Cubs (42-47), Pirates (41-49), Padres (43-47), Tigers (39-50), White Sox (38-54) and Cardinals (38-52) — but it won’t vault them into the playoffs.
See Ya Next Year… (4)
Label it however you see fit. The Nationals (36-54), Rockies (34-57), Royals (26-65) and Athletics (25-67) are done for in 2023. With few valuable assets to move and no prayer of a postseason bid, these teams are free win-boosters down the stretch for opponents.
Statistical Leaders
HR Race: S. Ohtani (LAA) — 32 HRs
Batting Title: L. Arraez (MIA) — .383 Avg.
Most Strikeouts: S. Strider (ATL) — 166 Ks
Best ERA: F. Valdez (HOU) — 2.51 ERA
Best Pitching Record: S. McClanahan (TB) — 11-1 W/L
The second half of the MLB season starts now.
Read More
CBS Sports: MLB’s 2nd-Half Power Rankings
MLB:Â Unanimous Favorites for MVP in Newest Poll
ESPN+:Â First-Half Grades for All 30 MLB Teams
Image via MLB/Giphy