MLB after All-Star Break Preview: Teams trending up and down

The MLB is starting to heat up as teams are fighting for 1st place in their respective divisions. The Pittsburgh Pirates just ended an 11 game winning streak, the Cincinnati Reds are looking much better after entering May with only 7 wins to start the year, and the Boston Red Sox are pulling away from the Yankees with a 5 game lead in the AL East. As the MLB enters August, nobody wants to be left out of the playoff conversation (except the Orioles) and will do anything to get an advantage on their opponents. These are the teams trending up or down in the playoff race...here we go...

Teams trending UP ↑

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Boston Red Sox: 72-33, 1st in AL East 

With a stacked lineup including Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez, Eduardo Nunez and a possible AL Cy Young Winner Chris Sale, the Boston Red Sox are looking like the team to beat in the MLB. Per ESPN, Mookie Betts is batting a .345 with 115 H, 25 HR, and 54 RBI. Chris Sale has an ERA of 2.04 and this is .85 lower than his career average which is a notable improvement. If the Red Sox continue to play like they are right now then they are probably the favorite to win the World Series this year. But, they still have to deal with last year's World Series winners, the Houston Astros. Don't sleep on the Boston Red Sox for the rest of the year as they want to continue winning until a championship win is in their grasp.

Oakland Athletics: 61-44, 3rd in AL West

https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Oakland_Athletics

This year, the AL West is the hardest division in baseball. With 4 of the 5 teams over .500, only one other division is accomplishing this feat currently. If the playoffs started right now, the Athletics wouldn't make it even with their amazing record. Being in a conference with the Red Sox, Mariners, Yankees, Indians, and Astros is difficult to compete with. But, the Athletics have all the tools they need to make the playoffs for the first time in 4 years. Per ESPN, Stephen Piscotty is batting .262  with 91 H, 14 HR, and 50 RBI. Jeurys Familia has an ERA of 2.56 and is looking like a solid pitcher for the Athletics. He is 6-4 this year as a starter. Overall, the Athletics just need to keep winning games and to keep being consistent in order to pass the Seattle Mariners and get the second Wild Card Spot in the American League.

Milwaukee Brewers: 61-46, 2nd in NL Central

http://www.espn.com/mlb/team/_
/name/mil/milwaukee-brewers

Winners of 5 out of their last 6 games, the Brewers are going in the right direction. The Brewers are currently holding the first wild-card spot in their conference. The Cubs are barely hanging on to a half-game lead and the Brewers can easily regain 1st place in as early as today. With all the right pieces in place, the Brewers could win the National League this year. With a dynamic duo in relief pitchers in Josh Hader and Jeremy Jeffress, the Milwaukee Brewers continue to dominate the ends of games. Per ESPN, Josh Hader has an ERA of 1.39 and Jeremy Jeffress has an ERA of 1.45. Nobody is stopping them at the plate right now. Per ESPN, the Brewers acquired a star in Mike Moustakas from Kansas City on Friday, July 27. In exchange, they sent OF Brett Lopez and RH pitcher Jorge Lopez. Eric Thames, Christian Yelich, and Jesus Aguilar continue to shine on the plate and at their respected positions. If Milwaukee continues to play like this, they will surely take over the #1 spot in the NL Central from the Chicago Cubs and make a deep run in the postseason.

Teams trending DOWN ↓

Washington Nationals: 52-52, 3rd in NL East

https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Washington_Nationals

The Washington Nationals are looking like the laughingstock of their conference. With the amount of talent they have on their roster, there should be no reason to be trailing 4.5 games out of the 2nd Wild Card spot in the National League. With the 2018 Home Run Derby winner in Brice Harper, the Nationals should have more production out of him. But, recent rumors have suggested that the Washington Nationals will trade him before the non-waiver deadline of Tuesday, July 31st. With a star-studded roster composed of Matt Wieters, Matt Adams, Daniel Murphy, Trea Turner, Ryan Zimmerman, Adam Eaton, Brice Harper and a new product in Juan Soto, there should be no reason for the Nationals to be losing as much as they are. Per ESPN, Juan Soto is batting a .314 AVG with 40 R, 65 H, 13 HR and 36 RBI. The MLB season is down to its last 2 months and if the Nationals don't start winning games soon they will miss out on the postseason for the first time since 2015

Los Angeles Angels: 54-52, 4th in AL West

https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los
_Angeles_Angels_of_Anaheim

After starting off the year 13-3 and looking to take control of their division, the Angels are barely over .500 at a little over the halfway point of the season. After the rookie Shohei Ohtani hurt his elbow and probably can't pitch for the rest of the season, the Angels have been struggling ever since. Per ESPN, the Angels have 10 players on the disabled list. Ohtani is currently the Angels DH or designated hitter and he is batting a solid 2.62 AVG with 26 R, 45 H, 9 HR and 25 RBI. Mike Trout is the Angels best player and will continue his legacy as one of the best players in baseball in 2018. The Angels have been relying on him heavily this year and need above-average production. Per ESPN, he is batting .310 AVG with 78 R, 112 H, 29 HR and 59 RBI. A Venezuelan native in Francisco Arcia has tremendously helped the Angels in their last 2 games, setting a major league record 10 RBI in his 1st 2 career games. If the Angels can continue to find stars in the making and can build around Mike Trout, then the Angels can slowly make their way back into the playoff conversation. But, there is still plenty of work to do first. 

Baltimore Orioles: 31-74, 5th in AL East

https://www.mlb.com/orioles

The Orioles are tanking. Per ESPN, the Orioles traded Manny Machado to the Dodgers for 5 prospects. This is a big sign that the Orioles are mentally "finished" with 2018 and looking to the next season in 2019. None of their pitchers are pitching to MLB standards and 4 of them are on the disabled list. Per ESPN, their best player to date on the roster is probably Adam Jones who is batting a .281 AVG, 41 R, 114 H, 11 HR and 43 RBI. The Orioles need to find other players that can play like Adam Jones or better if they want to try and win 60 games this year. The Orioles currently have the worst record in the MLB so there is something to improve on in every aspect of their roster. Sadly, there isn't a "strength" on this roster and just too many weaknesses to have any hope at getting into the playoff hunt. The Orioles will hope to finish out the season strong and not end up with the worst record in the MLB. To do so, someone else besides Adam Jones will have to step up and make an impact on this team if they plan on making any progress in the win column.