MLB’s top five clubs in the second half of the season, along with notable prospects called up
The best aren’t the best anymore (unless you’re the Dodgers). Plus: Ken on the Twins’ struggles, two prospects get the call and Joey Votto tells Starkville about his decision to hang ‘em up. I’m Levi Weaver, here with Ken Rosenthal — welcome to The Windup!
Standings Watch: Sea change at the top?
OK, I’ll just say it: It has been a weird baseball season. Look at the five teams with the best records on July 1:
Phillies: 55-29 (.651)
Dodgers: 52-33 (.644)
Orioles: 53-31 (.631)
Guardians: 52-30 (.623)
Yankees: 54-32 (.619)
Here are those teams’ records since then:
Phillies: 31-29 (.517)
Dodgers: 34-25 (.576)
Orioles: 29-32 (.475)
Guardians: 30-32 (.484)
Yankees: 29-29 (.500)
That’s quite a precipitous fall for 80 percent of them! And that’s to say nothing of the ghastly crash-and-burn by the Mariners, or the recent swoon by the Twins (more on that below.)
It made me curious: If those teams haven’t been great, who’s been winning all those games since July 1? Here are your top five:
Diamondbacks: 39-21 (.650)
Mets: 38-24 (.613)
Cubs: 35-24 (.593)
Tigers: 35-25 (.583)
Astros/Dodgers: 34-35 (.576)
Of every team mentioned thus far, only the Cubs (74-70, -5 games in wild-card race) and Tigers (73-71, -3 in the AL wild card) are not currently in a playoff position. One really hot half can get you into the postseason! (Though, as Jayson Stark illustrated last week, it’s a lot better if it’s the second half.)
This led me to one last question: Who are the teams currently in playoff position who didn’t show up on either of these lists?
There are only three: the Twins (76-68, third AL wild card), Padres (81-64, first NL wild card) and … Brewers (82-61, lead NL Central), who have been in first place for 171 days this season. They haven’t had a losing streak of more than three games, and lead all of baseball in run differential at +134.
Ken’s Notebook: A tale of two teams
The Royals’ sweep of the Twins last weekend was somehow fitting, offering a stunning contrast of how two likely postseason teams in comparable financial positions operate.
Coming off 106 losses, the Royals spent almost $110 million on free agents last offseason, hellbent on returning to contention. They continued their aggressive approach at the trade deadline and during the August waiver period.
The Twins? Coming off their first victory in a postseason series in 21 years, they had a quiet offseason and quiet deadline, in part because, with their TV rights deal in flux, ownership cut payroll by $27 million.
The Royals also face uncertainty on the local TV front, but owner John Sherman has yet to stop pushing.
Perhaps Sherman’s relative largesse is tied to his push for a new ballpark, but think about it: A celebrity who makes a charitable donation for image-making purposes is still doing a good deed. The same logic applies to Sherman, who approved an increase of the Royals’ Opening Day payroll to more than $115 million, the highest it has been since 2018.
The Royals’ free-agent additions included right-hander Seth Lugo, who figures to receive down-ballot Cy Young votes. They also made an even bigger move by locking up superstar shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. with a $288.8 million extension.
Not all of their signings worked out well. The inadequacies of Will Smith and Chris Stratton forced the Royals into the trade market for relievers. They acquired two late-inning types at the deadline, Hunter Harvey and Lucas Erceg, plus Michael Lorenzen, a swingman, and infielder Paul DeJong. The first-place Cleveland Guardians also were active, trading for righty Alex Cobb and outfielder Lane Thomas after signing lefty Matt Boyd. The Twins acquired only Trevor Richard, a middle reliever.
At the end of August, the Royals reacted to the loss of first baseman Vinny Pasquantino by claiming outfielders Tommy Pham and Robbie Grossman on waivers and trading for first baseman Yuli Gurriel, who was eligible to be dealt because he was not on a 40-man roster. The Twins, soon to lose outfielder Max Kepler to the injured list on top of Byron Buxton, had a worse record than the Royals at the time, and thus claiming priority. But they passed on both Pham and Grossman.
Both Buxton and shortstop Carlos Correa are expected back before the end of the season, and perhaps their returns will give the Twins renewed life. But the impassioned lecture manager Rocco Baldelli gave the team Sunday had little immediate effect. The Twins lost again Monday night to the Los Angeles Angels, their 15th defeat in their last 21 games.
The Royals lost, too, falling in New York to the Yankees, but the vibe around the team is completely different. “I’m really looking forward to what’s to come,” Witt told me after Saturday’s victory.
His owner and front office seized the moment. It made a difference.
Debuts: Domínguez and Rocker get the call
In yesterday’s Windup, we told you about two prospects who were not in the big leagues despite impressive performances in the minor leagues. Shortly thereafter, the announcements came down: Jasson Domínguez, 21, was being called up to the Yankees, and Kumar Rocker, 24, would be called up to start for the Rangers in Seattle on Thursday.
Domínguez had an .880 OPS in the minor leagues this year as he returned from Tommy John surgery. His is one of a few additions for the Yankees as they gear up for the last few weeks of the pennant race. Infielder Jon Berti gives them a dangerous speed weapon off the bench, and in the last week, they’ve bolstered their pitching staff, as Clarke Schmidt, Luis Gil and Ian Hamilton have all returned from the IL.
Among the roster moves to make space for the additions: DJ LeMahieu was sent to the 10-day IL with a hip impingement. As for how the playing time will pan out? Well, we’ll find out.
Rocker (1.96 ERA, 55 strikeouts, five walks in 36 2/3 minor-league innings this year) has had quite a circuitous path to the big leagues. Drafted in the first round by the Mets in 2021, he did not sign after the team had concerns about his medicals. After a stint in the MLB Draft League, he was taken with the third pick of the 2022 draft, shocking just about everyone.
Then came last year’s injury, and the subsequent Tommy John surgery. He returned to game action in early July.
For the Rangers, the call-up helps offset the loss of Jon Gray (right foot neuroma) and Tyler Mahle (shoulder) to injuries, but it won’t be long before Texas will also be adding Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer.
Listen Here: Votto on Starkville
I know, I know. It was just yesterday when Ken dedicated a section to Joey Votto. But if you know anything about Votto, it’s that no one article — much less a section in a newsletter — is going to cover it all.
In fact (because this is also just a section in a newsletter) let me direct you to this week’s episode of Starkville, where Votto talks about how he knew when it was time to hang ‘em up.
If it seems like the media is fascinated with him, well: He is a recently-retired future Hall of Famer. But it’s more than that. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a single interview with Votto where I was able to guess what was coming next.
He can speak intelligently about the game, sure. Or he can whip out the iPad and craft an entertaining response to an oral history. Or wax eloquently on a seemingly unlimited number of topics. All while being just a normal dude.
Well … “normal.”
Anyway, it’s a great listen. But if podcasts aren’t your thing (or if you’re running out of hours), you can also read Jayson’s accompanying article here.
Luis Arraez No-K Streak 👀
The Padres had the night off, so Arraez’s streak remains intact, albeit static, at 115 plate appearances.
Handshakes and High Fives
This week’s Power Rankings looks back at the one-month MVPs from April, and names a new MVP for each of the 30 teams.
Throw your best pitch … less! Sam Blum and Eno Sarris tell us how Michael Kopech’s fastball is thriving by way of discretion in Los Angeles.
With Clay Holmes in closer purgatory in New York, Tyler Kepner asks: Just how hard is it for relievers to transition from set-up man to closer?
Even if you don’t care about the Giants, Grant Brisbee’s recap of their week is worth reading just for the video of the baseball glove flying into the air.
Ed Kranepool, a Mets mainstay and fan favorite, has passed away at 79 years old.
The White Sox lost their 112th game.
AL wild card: All three wild-card teams — Orioles, Twins and Royals — lost. Baltimore’s loss was against Boston, who climbed back into a three-way tie with Detroit and Boston (who both had the night off) at three games out.
NL wild card: The Braves lost to the Reds, and the Mets beat the Blue Jays. That puts New York up by a game for the final NL spot.
