7-16-14

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[Can'tPickAWinner]

Marlins midseason report: Trade targets pondered
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

On June 10, the Miami Marlins were 34-30 and just a half-game out of first place in the National League East.

After getting swept by the New York Mets on July 13 in an ugly 9-1 loss, the Marlins are 44-50. With the loss, the Marlins fell from third to fourth place in the National League East, behind the Mets, and head into the All-Star break on a four-game losing streak.

The Marlins are now 7 1/2 games out of first place.

Michael Hill, the Marlins' President of Baseball Operations, said that he and his staff are looking to make trades that will get his team back into the playoff race.

But not just any deal will do, Hill said.

"A rental really doesn't help," Hill said.

Translation: The Marlins are looking to deal only if the player they get would be under their control for more than just the rest of this season.

Potential targets are starting pitchers and a second baseman, especially one with speed who could bat leadoff.

Regardless of this recent slump and any possible trades, the Marlins have been competitive this season, especially compared to last year's 100-loss disaster.

They are 21-16 in one-run games, placing them second in the majors in the total number of such efforts.

"I'm happy with our effort," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "We are a resilient group. We've taken a bunch of tough losses, especially on this road trip.

"We're a much better team than last year, but we have a lot of young guys. Sometimes, we lose sight of that."

So, what can we expect in the second half?

Anything is possible, of course, but it is hard to imagine the Marlins making the playoffs this year.

Realistic Marlins fans are hoping for a season that finishes at or near .500.

More important would be continued individual improvements of certain young, core players such as right fielder Giancarlo Stanton, center fielder Marcell Ozuna, left fielder Christian Yelich, shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria and pitchers Henderson Alvarez, Nate Eovaldi and Tom Koehler.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Nationals midseason report: Injury issues seem to be over
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

The outlook for the second half for the Washington Nationals looks very bright -- even after the fourth inning July 13 in Philadelphia, when starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann had to leave with a biceps cramp.

"We're very cautious in that regard, with history, given radiating feelings of things with regard to elbows, stuff like that," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "We will monitor that over the break."

Washington had several regulars on the disabled list in the first half of the season, including third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, first baseman Adam LaRoche, left fielder Bryce Harper and pitcher Doug Fister. The Nationals are now almost back to full health.

With the rest of the roster back, the Nationals are in a good position in the National League East. They may have the best pitching rotation in the league and the bullpen has been among the best in the majors in the first half. If the lineup can produce at a moderate level, the Nationals should be able to win the East.

"With all the injuries that we've had, and if you were to tell us coming out of spring training that we'd have all those injuries and be where we're at, we'd feel pretty fortunate.

That being said, could it be better? Yeah, it could be better, but it could be worse. Overall, we feel OK," said Williams.

With his Opening Day roster once again intact, Williams has come up with predictable roles for his regulars and the bullpen -- and the results on the field have started to show that.

Plus the starting pitching could be among the best in the game. "Everyone seems to be throwing the ball well," said pitching coach Steve McCatty. "Everything has smoothed out; you are always happy when they are pitching at the level you expected."

Williams said the Nationals will plan to start Stephen Strasburg in the first game after the break, at home July 18 against the Milwaukee Brewers. Gio Gonzalez will start July 19 and Doug Fister will start the series finale July 20.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Braves midseason report: Inconsistency plagues team
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

The Atlanta Braves have demonstrated the ability to contend for a second straight Eastern Division championship. But the team's maddening inconsistency on offense has left fans frustrated and confused.

The Braves have stretches where they simply can't score runs, either by manufacturing them or playing long ball. First baseman Freddie Freeman, left fielder Justin Upton and catcher Evan Gattis have been steady. Shortstop Andrelton Simmons and third baseman Chris Johnson have been streaky at the plate.

Right fielder Jason Heyward and center fielder B.J. Upton have been disappointments, although Upton's average has climbed to a season-high .218 since being moved to the leadoff spot three weeks ago.

The second-base job was taken from veteran Dan Uggla by rookie Tommy La Stella. Uggla (.162) was given multiple chances to keep his job and the Braves tried Ramiro Pena and Tyler Pastornicky before giving La Stella a chance. La Stella has been adept at hitting to all fields and avoiding the strikeout; he's batting .282.

The offensive inconsistency has put great pressure on the starting rotation, which began the season without Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy, two starters who are out for the season with Tommy John surgery.

The starting rotation has been led by right-hander Julio Teheran (9-6, 2.71), who has established himself as the staff ace in his second season and earned a spot on the All-Star team. Free agent Ervin Santana (7-6, 4.01) was hot the first month, but has since been hit-or-miss. The surprise is veteran right-hander Aaron Harang (9-6, 3.53), who was added in the final days of spring training after he was released by the Indians.

The bullpen has been excellent. Craig Kimbrel (29 saves) continues to be among the elite closers in the game. The only hiccup has been lefty setup man Luis Avilan, who has taken a step back after an impressive rookie season. Avilan's ERA is 4.85 and opponents are batting .287 against him.

The Braves and rival Washington Nationals are lined up to go head-to-head for the division title in the second half. Each has had their time in first place during the first half, but neither was able to shake the other. The two clubs still play each other nine times, six of those in Atlanta.

Atlanta's schedule becomes much more difficult starting in late July, which could determine the Braves' fate. There are seven games with the Dodgers, three with Washington, three with Oakland, three with Pittsburgh and four with Cincinnati.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Mets midseason report: Successful homestand redefines goals
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

NEW YORK -- Mets general manager Sandy Alderson seemed to be employing GM speak -- and/or just putting off the inevitable -- July 7, when he said New York would wait the end of their 10-game homestand on July 13 to decide what to do at the trade deadline.

"Look, let's see where we are at the end of this week," Alderson said.

Lo and behold, the Mets used the week to completely redefine their standing heading into the All-Star break.

The Mets cruised past the Miami Marlins, 9-1, on July 13 to complete an 8-2 homestand in which New York clicked in every facet of the game.

Right-hander Jacob deGrom's seven innings of one-run ball in the first half finale marked the eighth time a Mets starter pitched into the seventh inning on the homestand and lowered the composite ERA of Mets starters to 3.67.

"This game is always going to be about getting people out," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "Where we've hung in there, in all these close games we keep talking about, (is) because our pitching staff doesn't get blown out."

The Mets were doing the blowing out over the last 10 days of the first half -- during which they won five games by three runs or more -- thanks to a long-dormant lineup that busted out for 55 runs and 40 extra-base hits, including 10 homers.

The top half of the Mets' lineup -- right fielder Curtis Granderson, second baseman Daniel Murphy, third baseman David Wright, first baseman Lucas Duda and catcher Travis d'Arnaud -- combined to hit .291 on the 10-game homestand. In addition, the quintet accounted for 20 of the 26 homers the Mets hit in the final 25 games before the All-Star Break.

But it was the Mets' situational hitting and willingness to play small ball that really impressed Collins and has him believing the Mets can continue building momentum once play resumes on July 18.

Of the 55 runs the Mets scored on the homestand, 28 came with two outs.

"It goes back to the situational hitting that we talked about all the first half," Collins said. "It's about guys knowing what to do. It's about execution. And right now we're executing.

"So is it sustainable? Absolutely."

And in the finale on July 13, the Mets scored four runs in the eighth inning via four singles, three walks and two stolen bases.

"I think that for us to be successful, we can't necessarily sit back and rely on home runs," Wright said. "We've got to put ourselves in position to be aggressive and put pressure on the defense."

Armed with a solid pitching staff and a suddenly robust offense, the goal for the Mets in the second half is to put pressure on NL East co-leaders Atlanta and Washington. The Mets (45-50) will begin play July 18 seven games behind the Braves and Nationals -- a sizable gap, to be sure, but one the Mets feel they can make up after gaining three games in the standings during the homestand.

Wright said nearly sweeping a four-game set from the Braves from July 7-10 -- the Mets won the first three games before dropping the finale -- has the Mets believing they can do more than just play spoiler come September.

"I think that Braves series gave us a lot of confidence," Wright said. "We know that they're both very talented teams and teams that have a lot of household names. And we might not be there yet. But we're playing very, very good baseball and we plan on giving them a run for their money."

With 19 games remaining against the Braves and Nationals, the Mets will certainly have the opportunity to make up that ground. They also play the sub-.500 Marlins and Phillies a total of 16 times, as well as 13 other games against the Padres, Cubs, Rockies and Astros, all of whom reached the All-Star Break with losing records.

The Mets have no margin for error in their pursuit of a long-shot playoff berth (they also hit the All-Star Break 6 1/2 games behind in the race for the second wild card). But if they can maintain the level of play they showed in ending the first half, they'll at least have offered signs of tangible progress this season -- at the least.

"My expectations when I came to spring training were pretty good," Collins said. "I knew we could compete. We had to do a lot of things right if we were going to compete, but I knew we could. And what we've shown the last 10 days is yes we can compete. Now, we've got 67 more games. We've got to go out and do it. We can't just talk about it. We've got to go do it.

"If we continue to play like this, September's going to be a fun month."

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Phillies midseason report: Slide to irrelevance continues
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

The Philadelphia Phillies' slide to irrelevance continues.

They were world champions in 2008, and National League champs in '09. They won 102 games as recently as 2011.

But they went 81-81 in 2012, 73-89 last season and find themselves with a 42-53 record and in last place in the mediocre NL East heading into the All-Star break.

They don't hit much. Their pitching is sporadic. Moreover, their team is ancient -- five regulars are 34 or older, and three members of the starting rotation are 33 or older -- so it appears things are going to get worse before they get better.

General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. has already said they will be sellers at the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, and closer Jonathan Papelbon has said he will waive his no-trade clause to go to a contender.

Second baseman Chase Utley and shortstop Jimmy Rollins, Phillies their entire careers, are more reluctant to leave, and can veto any deal that is not to their liking.

Left-hander Cliff Lee is another player who would appear to be attractive to a contender, though he has been on the disabled list since May 19 with a strained elbow. The 35-year-old Lee will make another rehab start July 14, and is scheduled to start against San Francisco on July 21.

Depending upon how healthy and effective he is, it looms as one of his last appearances for the Phillies, and others seem certain to follow him out the door. Nothing that happens between now and the end of the month will change that.

"That decision's already been made, things that they want to do," Rollins said, referring to the front office. "Regardless of how we play, they're still going to make their decisions for the future of the team, not just now. We go out there, we play ball, we win, good things happen. And if that makes things difficult, then it does."

[Can'tPickAWinner]

UFC Fight Night 45: Preview

Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) is back in full force with two more fight events this week. It all kicks off with UFC Fight Night 45 on Wednesday evening (July 16th, 2014) from Atlantic City, which includes a massive headlining bout between a pair of top 10 fighters that should have future title implications. Here’s the outline for tomorrow’s big event:.

Main Card

155 lbs: Donald Cerrone (23-6) 1NC vs Jim Miller (24-4) 1 NC
155 lbs: Edson Barboza (13-2) vs Evan Dunham (14-5)
170 lbs: Rick Story (16-8) vs Leonardo Mafra (11-1)
155 lbs: Joe Proctor (9-2) vs Justin Salas (12-5)
125 lbs: John Lineker (23-7) vs Alp Ozkilic (9-2)
145 lbs: Alex White (10-0) vs Lucas Martins (14-1)

Preliminary Card

155 lbs: Pat Healy (31-18) 1 NC vs Gleison Tibau (37-10) 1 NC
135 lbs: Leslie Smith (6-5-1) vs Jessamyn Duke (3-1) 1 NC
135 lbs: Hugo Viana (8-2) vs Aljamain Sterling (8-0)
155 lbs: Yosdenis Cedeno (9-3) vs Jerrod Sanders (14-1)
115 lbs: Claudia Gadelha (11-0) vs Tina Lahdemaki (5-0)

This event is special due to the debut of the UFC women’s strawweight division, which includes standout Brazilian grappler Claudia Gadelha, one of the top-rated female fighters in the world. We broke down this fight card extensively in our UFC Fight Night 45 Premium Oddscast here.

Our plays and packages for the event will be posted by 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time tonight (July 15th). And don’t forget, we’ll be posting more plays later this week for UFC Fight Night 46, which goes down in Dublin, Ireland and features the return of superstar featherweight Conor McGregor!

[Can'tPickAWinner]

MMA: UFC Fight Night 45
Pick:UFC FIGHT NIGHT 45 FREE PARLAY Start: July 16, 2014 - 7:00 PM
Capper: MMA OddsBreaker
Offered at: 5dimes @ -113 (True) - Cerrone to win + Over 2.5 Tibau/Healy

Analysis:
Check out our free bet for UFC Fight Night 45!
We love Donald Cerrone in the main event, but he's at too steep of a price for a regular bet, so we're going to parlay him with another play we love to reduce the overall risk. Cerrone has a huge striking advantage over Jim Miller and mixes up his attack well with a wide variety of kicks. As long as he keeps this fight at a distance away from Miller's elbows on the inside, he should be in terrific shape on the feet. Cerrone also is the better-conditioned athlete and this being a five-round fight should be to his advantage.
We're going to parlay Cerrone with the OVER 2.5 rounds prop in the Pat Healy vs Gleison Tibau fight. Both Healy and Tibau are grinders, who use their wrestling, grappling and clinch work to primarily win decisions. Overall, Tibau has gone to decision in seven of his last 10 fights, while Healy has gone over 2.5 rounds in his last seven contests. The odds are very high that this bout continues the trend.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

StatFox Super Situations

WNBA | TULSA at MINNESOTA
Play Under - Home teams where the total is greater than or equal to 150 in a game involving two explosive offensive teams (>=76 PPG) after 15+ games, after a win by 10 points or more
46-18 over the last 5 seasons. ( 71.9% | 26.2 units )
2-2 this year. ( 50.0% | -0.2 units )

WNBA | ATLANTA at NEW YORK
Play On - Road teams vs. the money line (ATLANTA) off a home win against a division rival, in July games
23-9 over the last 5 seasons. ( 71.9% | 0.0 units )
3-1 this year. ( 75.0% | 0.0 units )

WNBA | TULSA at MINNESOTA
Play Against - Home teams vs. the 1rst half line (MINNESOTA) in a game involving two horrible defensive teams (>=76 PPG) after 15+ games, after scoring 75 points or more in 2 straight games
46-18 over the last 5 seasons. ( 71.9% | 26.2 units )
4-1 this year. ( 80.0% | 2.9 units )

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Second half MLB divisional odds update
By ANDREW CALEY


The All-Star game is a wrap and as teams gear up for the unofficial second half of the season we take a look at the division odds for each team.

The Detroit Tigers have the best odds to win their division (AL Central) at 1-7, while the tightest division race is in the NL Central where there are still four teams with realistic odds at the division title.

Meanwhile the team with the majors best record, the Oakland A's, are 2-3 to win the AL West, with the Los Angeles Angels hot on their tails at 6-5.

Here is the complete list of division odds courtesy LV Superbook.

NL EAST DIVISION

NATIONALS 5-9
BRAVES 3-2
METS 50/1
MARLINS 60/1
PHILLIES 100/1

NL CENTRAL DIVISION

CARDINALS 11-10
BREWERS 5-2
REDS 7-2
PIRATES 11-2
CUBS 1000/1

NL WEST DIVISION

DODGERS 2-5
GIANTS 2/1
DIAMONDBACKS 300/1
PADRES 300/1
ROCKIES 300/1

AL EAST DIVISION

ORIOLES 11-10
BLUE JAYS 12-5
YANKEES 3/1
RED SOX 15/1
RAYS 15/1

AL CENTRAL DIVISION

TIGERS 1-7
INDIANS 7/1
ROYALS 7/1
WHITE SOX 100/1
TWINS 100/1

AL WEST DIVISION

A'S 2-3
ANGELS 6-5
MARINERS 15/1
RANGERS 5000/1
ASTROS 5000/1

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Mariners release C Buck
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

Catcher John Buck, designated for assignment by the Seattle Mariners on July 7, was released by the team Tuesday.

Buck hit .226 with a .293 on-base percentage, a .286 slugging percentage, one homer and six RBIs in 27 games this season as the backup to Mike Zunino.

The 34-year-old veteran previously played for the Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays, Miami Marlins, New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates. He was an All-Star with Toronto in 2010.

Seattle replaced Buck on the roster by calling up catcher Jesus Sucre, 26, from Triple-A Tacoma. Sucre is 1-for-5 through two games for the Mariners this season.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Cliff Lee shelled in 3rd rehab start at Clearwater
Corey Seidman

Cliff Lee struggled in his third rehab start at Clearwater, allowing eight runs on eight hits over 4 2/3 innings.

Only three of Lee's runs against the Palm Beach Cardinals were earned. Five came across in the first inning, which was extended by J.P. Crawford's error at shortstop. Four of those five runs scored with two outs, on a Mason Katz two-run single and a David Popkins two-run homer.

Lee settled in during the third and fourth innings, retiring six in a row. But he ran into trouble again in the fifth inning and was lifted with two outs.

Lee threw 74 pitches, 49 for strikes.

He is slated to rejoin the Phillies' rotation on July 21 against the Giants. That would put him on pace to make two starts before the July 31 trade deadline.

In three rehab outings for Clearwater, Lee had a 5.06 ERA in 10 2/3 innings. He allowed 13 hits and one homer, struck out eight and walked two.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Brewers midseason report: Happy to be in first
The Sports Xchange

MILWAUKEE -- Amazing what a difference one victory can make.

The Milwaukee Brewers wrapped up in dramatic fashion, snapping a seven-game losing streak with an 11-2 thumping of the St. Louis Cardinals who, a night earlier, pulled into a tie with the Brewers atop the NL Central.

With that victory, Milwaukee goes into the break with a one-game lead that will feel enormous for the next four days.

When the calendar flipped to July, things were pretty good for the Brewers, who had cooled off after a blistering start but still led their division by 6 1/2 games.

That lead disappeared over the next 12 games as the Brewers lost 11 times, including a four-game sweep at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies.

But all was well in Milwaukee's clubhouse Sunday afternoon, with four days of rest and recovery in store for a team that has sat atop the division for 100 days.

"It makes the break a lot more fun," manager Ron Roenicke said. "You wouldn't think so, but it does. When you're on a losing streak and if you lose today, you're not sure when the streak is going to end so you go into the break not feeling good, you come out of the break not feeling good.

"Now, we go into it feeling good and come out of it feeling good. It does a lot. I know I talk about every game being important but it does a lot for the feeling of where we are now and where we are coming out of it."

The Brewers will have their work cut out for them when play resumes July 18 in Washington, where the Nationals, who go into the break tied with Atlanta atop the NL East.

Then, its back home to Milwaukee where the Reds await, followed by the Mets and a trip to Tampa to play the Rays and back to St. Louis for another meeting with the Cardinals.

There are, of course, questions: Can the starting pitching revert to its early-season form? Can Roenicke find a lineup that works on a day-in and day-out basis? Does the bullpen have enough left in the tank for the rigors of the stretch run after throwing 272 innings in the first half?

That number is actually fifth-lowest total in the NL but when broken down by pitcher, there is cause for concern: lefty Will Smith is tied for the league lead with 49 appearances; he was practically unhittable for much of the season but allowed nine runs over two innings (40.50) in three games before throwing a scoreless inning July 13.

Closer Francisco Rodriguez has 27 saves in 30 chances but has appeared in 45 games.

Getting to those two arms has also been a bit of a problem as right-handers Jim Henderson and Tyler Thornburg have been sidelined with injuries and Brandon Kintzler has been nothing close to his 2013 form.

Roenicke is hoping his pitching staff won't have to carry as much of the team's burden in the second half; he's optimistic that offensively, the four-day break will help clear the mind as well as rest the muscles.

"I thought we would have a stretch somewhere where we didn't play that well, but I really didn't expect this," Roenicke said. "I think this is too good of a team to go into this big of a slump. It's concerning to me. That's why I think it is important to get this thing turned around."

They're big questions, but there's no reason to think Milwaukee won't be in the hunt for at least a playoff spot this fall, especially when you consider injuries elsewhere in the division.

The Cardinals already lost two starters in RHP Michael Wacha and LHP Jaime Garcia, then lost catcher Yadier Molina for 8-to-12 weeks with a torn ligament in his right thumb.

Cincinnati, meanwhile, will go forward without second baseman Brandon Phillips.

If the Brewers can stay healthy -- and they have thus far -- and get back to clicking on all cylinders, Milwaukee will be watching baseball come October.

But for now, the Brewers will just be happy with that one-game lead.

"It's not comfortable because (St. Louis) is a great ball club and they're going to be there until the end," left fielder Khris Davis said. "But just taking it day-by --day, glad to be in the spot we are."

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Cardinals midseason report: Optimism abounds
The Sports Xchange

On July 6, the St. Louis Cardinals lost 8-4 at home to the Miami Marlins to fall into third place in the National League Central, five games behind first-place Milwaukee.

After that loss, which dropped the defending league champs to 47-42, a reporter asked ace pitcher Adam Wainwright why the season was such a disappointment.

"In a week from now, we could be doing a completely different kind of interview," Wainwright said.

Less than a week later, St. Louis caught the slumping Brewers for first place in the Central. Although they fell back into second Sunday with an 11-2 loss to Milwaukee, the Cardinals can still head for the All-Star break with optimism, even though they won't have All-Star catcher Yadier Molina until at least mid-September after surgery Friday to repair torn ligaments in his right thumb.

On one hand, St. Louis has been disappointing. The offense has been bogged in a sea of grounders all year, with key run-producers like left fielder Matt Holliday and right fielder Allen Craig struggling to get on track.

On the other hand, the Cardinals have shown grit and perseverance to be in contention. Injuries have wiped out three key starting pitchers for long periods, second-year starter Shelby Miller has been one of the league's worst pitchers by most metrics and closer Trevor Rosenthal has been a thrill ride, yet St. Louis is right there.

As for the last 66 games, the Cardinals catch at least two scheduling breaks. After opening the unofficial second half with a weekend series at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers, they play 25 of the next 37 games against losing teams. That includes seven games each with the Chicago Cubs and San Diego.

Also, with a plethora of off-days, St. Louis won't need a fifth starter until Aug. 2. That will allow manager Mike Matheny the chance to set up his rotation, potentially giving Wainwright and present No. 2 starter Lance Lynn the ball in six of the first 10 games after the break.

Matheny feels his team will be ready for a potentially grueling four-team race in the Central.

"It's a perfect time for the break," he said. "These guys have competed, they've worked and we asked them to grind. I anticipate that we will see a well-rested ready group when we get back."

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Reds midseason report: Team overcoming injuries
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati Reds are in the thick of the National League Central race, which is where they expected to be at this point in the season when spring training began. But the Reds' path to contention has been littered with landmines.

Bryan Price's debut season as Reds manager began with eight players on the disabled list, and that total has since ballooned to 13 players with a combined 16 stints on the DL. The Reds will begin the proverbial second half of the season without second baseman Brandon Phillips (thumb) and first baseman Joey Votto (quad).

"Doesn't surprise me that we're in the hunt," said veteran utility man Skip Schumaker. "We like our team. Our manager's been great about putting guys in the right spot. Guys are going to get hurt, it's part of the game."

The rash of injuries has tested Price's theme in spring training, which was to play more selfless and be willing to sacrifice personal stats for the betterment of the team. The club has executed well in that philosophy. Case in point -- right fielder Jay Bruce's willingness to pick up a first baseman's glove and fill in for Votto.

"That was a theme coming into spring training, and I think some of the players would've admitted that it was one of our Achilles' heels in recent year, playing a bit selfishly," said Price. "The injuries are brutal. That being said, it's created a sense of unity with this team. That's served us well, collectively."

Cincinnati (51-44) headed into the All-Star break having won 16 of 23 games to get within 1.5 games of the first-place Milwaukee Brewers in the Central. Climbing back from being a season-low 8.5 games out of first on June 20 required contributions from nearly everyone on the roster.

There have been some pleasant surprises as well. Everyone expected center fielder Billy Hamilton to burn up the base paths, which he's done, leading all NL rookies in stolen bases. But few thought Hamilton also would bat .283 with five homers, 38 RBIs and a .419 slugging percentage through 89 games. He's also adapted so seamlessly to playing center field every day.

One of the club's most significant injuries coming out of spring training was that of right hander Mat Latos, who had offseason elbow and knee surgeries and didn't return until mid-June. Taking Latos' spot in the rotation was middle-relief specialist Alfredo Simon, who responded with an All-Star caliber season, going 12-3 with a 2.70 ERA in 18 starts and a career-high 116 2/3 innings.

Catcher Devin Mesoraco overcame a pair of stints on the disabled list to earn a spot on the NL All-Star team. Mesoraco's 16 homers are the most for a Reds catcher since David Ross had 17 in 2007. Mesoraco tied a club record by homering in five straight appearances in June.

Fortunately for Cincinnati, right hander Johnny Cueto isn't among those injured. After having three separate stints on the DL last season, Cueto has been healthy and largely dominant, going 10-6 with a 2.13 ERA in 20 starts with 141 strikeouts and 35 walks in 143 2/3 innings to earn an All-Star nod.

Closer Aroldis Chapman provided the feel-good story of the season, recovering from being struck in the forehead by a line drive in spring training and recording 21 saves since May 10 while striking out at least one batter in 40 straight appearances, a major league record for relievers.

Cincinnati's strengths are pitching and defense, which has carried them through some rough periods the first three months. Reds starters rank second in the National League with a 3.30 ERA. Their .989 fielding percentage and 39 errors are the best in baseball, and something the club will rely on in the second half.

The Reds have held serve amid all the injuries and the clubhouse remains confident in this team's potential to reach the postseason for a fourth straight year.

"We've got some big guns down, but I think we're in a good place team-wise," said third baseman Todd Frazier, a first-time NL All-Star after hitting 19 homers with 53 RBIs in 94 games. "We understand our situation. I think it brings us a little closer. That's the kind of team we have."

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Pirates midseason report: Improved pitching keys turnaround
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

After a 10-16 April, the Pirates have bounced back to be in the thick of both the National League Central and wild-card races.

The Pirates are 49-46 and in fourth place in the division race but just 3 1/2 games behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers. They are 2 1/2 games behind in the wild-card standings.

The Pirates have gone 31-20 since falling a season-low eight games below .500 on May 20.

A big reason for the Pirates' turnaround and why they feel they can return to the postseason after ending a 21-year playoff drought last season is improved pitching. The Pirates have a 3.46 ERA since June 1 after posting a 4.20 mark in May and a 3.65 mark in April.

The Pirates had to rely heavily on their organizational pitching depth as right-handers Charlie Morton and Edinson Volquez are the only members of the starting rotation that began the season who have not either spent time on the disabled list or been demoted to the minor leagues. Left-hander Jeff Locke and right-hander Vance Worley have both bolstered the rotation since being called up from Triple-A Indianapolis.

The Pirates also have a reshuffled bullpen after trading closer Jason Grilli to the Los Angeles Angels for right-hander Ernesto Frieri last month. Set-up man Mark Melancon was promoted to closer but the Pirates will look to upgrade their relief corps before the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline and even into August.

The Pirates filled two lineup holes in the first half by trading for New York Mets first baseman Ike Davis in April and calling top prospect Gregory Polanco up from Triple-A Indianapolis in June to play right field. Thus, it is doubtful Pittsburgh will look add any more offense before the trade deadline.

"We're always looking to improve," Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said. "That being said, I don't think we have any glaring holes that absolutely need to be addressed. We're happy with the club we have now."

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Cubs midseason report: 'Better days lie ahead'
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

CHICAGO -- The Cubs are playing a waiting game.

On the field, they look for eventual payoff from a now well-stocked farm system and subsequent positive impact on the parent club.

Off the field, there's a $575 million renovation looming that would bring new clubhouses, training facilities and infrastructure at 100-year-old Wrigley Field up to 21st century standards. The project, which awaits expected final city approval, could start within weeks and pick up speed up in the offseason.

A renovated Wrigley Field will feature a series of video boards and advertising signage to produce new revenue to entice more high-priced talent.

The convergence could come as soon as 2016. In the meantime, the Cubs have a difficult -- but not bleak -- second half as the National League Central title chase continues without them.

The Cubs, 40-54 and 12 games out of first at the break, realistically face another season with 90-plus losses, the third in the executive regime of team president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer.

But Epstein was quoted as saying he now sees light at the end of the tunnel and that better days lie ahead.

Cubs manager Rick Renteria, who has instilled a positive atmosphere in the clubhouse despite first-half struggles, said he saw the potential down the line even before he took the job.

But the final 11 weeks of the season may mirror the first part as the Cubs proceed without two ace pitchers (Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel -- both traded to Oakland). And despite Epstein's pledge of a pause, there's still the possibility of more trades to come as the July 31 deadline approaches.

Some help may arrive from the minors, but not all top prospects will be called up in September. Officials said third baseman Kris Bryant is staying put at Triple-A Iowa for the rest of the season. Others like versatile infielder/outfielder Arismendy Alcantara had a pre-All Star Game sampling in Chicago and hit .391 (9-for-23) in five starts.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

MLB

'At the Break!'

The Oakland Athletics finished the first half with MLB’s best record (59-36, .621). The only other team in the Majors with a better than .600 winning percentage, the Los Angeles Angels checking in at 57-37 (.606). Over in the N.L., the Los Angeles Dodgers currently own the senior circuit's best record at 54-43 (.557). Milwaukee Brewers in a tail spin losing seven of eight are now trailing Dodgers with a 53-43 (.552) mark. We'll close with the most important categories for sports bettors, the moneyline standings. MLB’s biggest moneymakers at the break, A's (+$1436), Halos (+$1380), Orioles (+$1260). The 'Big Losers' heading into the second half, Rays (-$2230), Rangers (-$2254), Red Sox (-$1981), D-Backs (-$1532), Rockies (-$1512), Padres (-$1482). What-2-Watch-4 when the second-half resumes. Yankees have a 1-9 (-$798) skid as home underdogs, Rangers have a 1-13 ($1189) slide as home pooches, Padres are 3-10 (-$823) as road chalk, Braves 6-0 'Under' at home following a 1 run loss, Dodgers 9-0 'Under' on the road after a 1 run defeat, Twins 0-4 away off a 1 run win, D-Backs 1-6 home off a 1 run victory.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

World Series Predictions

The 2014 World Series won’t begin until this October but bettors can start investing in this year’s matchup. Sportsbooks have posted odds on which teams will meet in the “Fall Classic.” Rather than guess on the upcoming AL-NL matchup, we reached out to our top two pro baseball experts on VegasInsider.com, Antony Dinero (+7,950) and Bruce Marshall (+2,764).

To no surprise, the duo are both leaning in the same direction and in this case, it’s the West Coast.

Dinero is a big believer in Don Mattingly and the Dodgers. He explained, “The National League doesn't look very challenging. Entering the final day of action prior to the All-Star break, the possibility existed that the Brewers-Cardinals winner would be the lone team 10 games over .500 if the Dodgers lost to San Diego on Sunday. Put simply, mediocrity reigns in the NL.”

“For futures purposes, the Dodgers are my clear favorite in the NL. They have the best pitcher in the game leading a capable, veteran rotation. They have a potent lineup complete with an emerging leadoff hitter in All-star Dee Gordon, affording them versatility in how they score runs outside of the long ball. If there is a weakness, L.A. must find a way to gain stability in a bullpen that already has a dependable closer in Kenley Jansen, who is 26-for-29 in save opportunities. Health permitting, the Dodgers are head and shoulders ahead of the rest.”

“Taking into account that Don Mattingly's team did its best work in the season's second half last year, the call here is to back L.A. ahead of Atlanta, St. Louis, San Francisco and the other contenders.”

Dinero believes that the American League is a three-horse race between Oakland, the L.A. Angels of Anaheim and Detroit and he believes one of those teams will meet the Dodgers in October.

His World Series predictions and analysis listed below:

Best Bet: L.A. Dodgers vs. Oakland (7/1): Adding Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel to the rotation was a brilliant, necessary move for a team that definitely has the offensive firepower to make noise in October.

Great Bet: L.A. Dodgers vs. Detroit (9/1): Miguel Cabrera has a ton of help, so if Justin Verlander can figure things out to strengthen a rotation featuring Max Scherzer, Anibal Sanchez and Rick Porcello, the Tigers are going to be a tough out.

Good bet, no subways: L.A. Dodgers vs. L.A. Angels (20/1): It's up to Jared Weaver, Garrett Richards and C.J. Wilson to be dependable enough to support an imposing lineup, but there are question marks in the bullpen, too.

Sleeper pick: If not the Dodgers, who? St. Louis is waking up. Michael Wacha should get healthy. Rookie Oscar Taveras might figure it out and become a catalyst for the defending NL Champs. Go on down the list with the Cards against the A's (18/1), Tigers (23/1) or Angels (55/1).

Bruce Marshall is a big believer in Los Angeles too, except he’s all-in on the Angels.

He explained, “For this particular prop at Sportsbooks, there are three WS prices I think are awfully enticing. They all involve the Angels, who look to have the goods to make a serious run. Strong up the middle (Aybar and Kendrick a real plus defensively), and with plenty of offense featuring an emerging superstar in Trout, Pujols healthy and contributing, plus Scioscia pushing the right buttons, and the Angels check plenty of boxes. The emergence of Garrett Richards also gives the Halos a pretty good 1-2-3 in the rotation (with Weaver and Wilson) for the playoffs, too. The question remains in the bullpen (not sure I trust Joe Smith as the closer) , though I would expect Jerry DiPoto to make one more move beyond the recent addition of Jason Grilli. The bullpen question obviously applies to the Tigers too. A guy to watch who could be on the move before the deadline is Padre closer Huston Street; teams like the Halos and Tigers would be desperate to sign him.”

Marshall’s top WS predictions are listed below:

Angels-Dodgers at 20/1...This is a nice price for what might be the two best teams in MLB. Is it the year of the Freeway Series? Best chance since 2004, or maybe 1982. The Dodgers have the pitching and an automatic win every time Kershaw goes to the mound, although the offense does go in funks for long stretches (too many selfish hitters), and upon inspection the team is barely above .500 when Kershaw doesn't start. The Blue is also barely above .500 at home, which has got to turn around in the second half of the season and I believe does not bode well for the Giants in the NL West. Also plenty of stiffs in the West for the Dodgers to beat up the next 2 ½ months, so their path to the playoffs looks a bit more clear to me than for other NL teams. Kershaw-Greinke-Ryu-Beckett (if healthy) is a tough rotation to top in a short series.

Reds-Angels at 120/1...After a slow start, Cincinnati has picked up lots of momentum. The Reds have playoff experience, decent depth in the rotation with a dominator in Cueto, and a lights-out closer in Chapman. What I like most about the Reds is their ability to generate runs without having to rely on the long ball (by me, this puts them ahead of the Dodgers), although the offense has some power, especially if Votto can get healthy. Billy Hamilton is also impacting games more and more and will be a player to watch in the second half of the season. The Reds have inhaled ground on the Brewers the past few weeks and will blow by them by the time we get to August. It is going to be a horse race in the Central, but I sense the Cards have a few more flaws than their recent editions, and Cincy can be awfully tough in the playoffs with a guy like Cueto, who can outpitch anyone (even Kershaw).

Pirates-Angels at 160/1...Since I believe the Bucs almost have as good of a chance as anybody in the NL, this price is too good not to take a shot. Pittsburgh is another team that might want to look for bullpen help (15 blown saves already), and just cutting down a couple of those blown saves puts the Pirates on top in the Central. Ray Searage continues to make lemonade out of lemons with the rotation that has hung tough despite injuries, McCutchen is the most-dynamic player in the NL, Harrison is an unquestioned spark plug, and Polanco has added an exciting new dimension to the lineup. There is enough offense to get it done in Pittsburgh, though I believe they might want to take a hard look at Pedro Alvarez at 3B and even consider dealing him out at the break, he often hurts the team. Importantly, the Pirates might have put their old demons to the sword against the Dodgers after winning 3 of 4 in an earlier series; LA has absolutely owned the Bucs for the last decade, and just in case that is a playoff matchup, Pittsburgh now has some confidence against the Blue. In a toss-up NL, I almost think the Bucs have as good of a chance as anybody, and this price fora potential series with the Halos is way too good to bypass, at least in relation to other possible matchups.

Marshall does believe that you should keep checking this prop, especially since Sportsbooks will update odds and make more teams available.

He said, “One team not listed on any prices, unless wanting to bet the field at an unappealing 10/1, is Tampa Bay. At this stage, I am not writing the Rays out of the AL East race, because I have no faith in the top contenders, and believe 85 or 86 wins could steal the division. Tampa Bay has played much better in recent weeks, and if it can get to .500 by the middle of August, it will have a puncher's chance. The Rays have roared down the stretch before, although we will have to see what they do about David Price. Not sure they deal him, and if they did, it would make the playoff climb a bit harder. But I still won't write them off. Toronto has been losing altitude fast, the Bosox don't have it this season, and not sure the Yankees do, either. That leaves Baltimore as the team to beat, but as usual, Buck Showalter is working that staff to death, and the O's have gotten quality starts from their staff less than 40% of the time this season, a worrying omen. If the Birds make the playoffs I would not fear them because they don't have the front-line pitchers like the other contenders to survive for long in the postseason. They could, however, steal the East with as few as 85 wins.


Possible 2014 World Series Matchups Odds

Braves vs. Athletics 21/1
Braves vs. Blue Jays 140/1
Braves vs. Indians 200/1
Braves vs. Mariners 100/1
Braves vs. Orioles 70/1
Braves vs. Red Sox 200/1
Braves vs. Royals 160/1
Braves vs. Tigers 25/1
Braves vs. Yankees 100/1

Brewers vs. Angels 45/1
Brewers vs. Athletics 15/1
Brewers vs. Blue Jays 100/1
Brewers vs. Indians 150/1
Brewers vs. Mariners 75/1
Brewers vs. Orioles 50/1
Brewers vs. Red Sox 180/1
Brewers vs. Royals 120/1
Brewers vs. Tigers 20/1
Brewers vs. Yankees 75/1

Cardinals vs. Angels 55/1
Cardinals vs. Athletics 18/1
Cardinals vs. Blue Jays 120/1
Cardinals vs. Indians 180/1
Cardinals vs. Mariners 90/1
Cardinals vs. Orioles 60/1
Cardinals vs. Red Sox 200/1
Cardinals vs. Royals 140/1
Cardinals vs. Tigers 23/1
Cardinals vs. Yankees 90/1

Dodgers vs. Angels 20/1
Dodgers vs. Athletics 7/1
Dodgers vs. Blue Jays 50/1
Dodgers vs. Indians 75/1
Dodgers vs. Mariners 35/1
Dodgers vs. Orioles 25/1
Dodgers vs. Red Sox 90/1
Dodgers vs. Royals 60/1
Dodgers vs. Tigers 9/1
Dodgers vs. Yankees 35/1

Giants vs. Angels 60/1
Giants vs. Athletics 21/1
Giants vs. Blue Jays 140/1
Giants vs. Indians 200/1
Giants vs. Mariners 100/1
Giants vs. Orioles 70/1
Giants vs. Red Sox 200/1
Giants vs. Royals 160/1
Giants vs. Tigers 25/1
Giants vs. Yankees 100/1

Nationals vs. Angels 35/1
Nationals vs. Athletics 11/1
Nationals vs. Blue Jays 80/1
Nationals vs. Indians 110/1
Nationals vs. Mariners 55/1
Nationals vs. Orioles 35/1
Nationals vs. Red Sox 130/1
Nationals vs. Royals 90/1
Nationals vs. Tigers 14/1
Nationals vs. Yankees 55/1

Pirates vs. Angels 160/1
Pirates vs. Athletics 55/1
Pirates vs. Blue Jays 350/1
Pirates vs. Indians 500/1
Pirates vs. Mariners 250/1
Pirates vs. Orioles 180/1
Pirates vs. Red Sox 600/1
Pirates vs. Royals 400/1
Pirates vs. Tigers 70/1
Pirates vs. Yankees 250/1

Reds vs. Angels 120/1
Reds vs. Athletics 40/1
Reds vs. Blue Jays 250/1
Reds vs. Indians 400/1
Reds vs. Mariners 200/1
Reds vs. Orioles 140/1
Reds vs. Red Sox 450/1
Reds vs. Royals 300/1
Reds vs. Tigers 55/1
Reds vs. Yankees 200/1

Field (Any Other Matchup) 10/1

[Can'tPickAWinner]

StatSystemsSports
MLB Power Rankings - Week #16

With All-Star weekend finishing up on Tuesday, we have officially concluded what will be called the first half of the 2014 MLB season. The entire season has been a dogfight to this point, and while the Oakland Athletics have separated themselves from the pack and there are a handful of others, like the Los Angeles Angels, Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers, that look strong, for the most part, things are still wide-open across the league.

When putting together the rankings on a weekly basis, the following factors are considered:

•Previous week's record
•Quality of opponents
•Key injuries/trades
•Recent performance beyond the last week

Once this week's All-Star festivities wrap up, the baseball world will turn its attention to the rapidly approaching non-waiver trade deadline as contenders look to shore up their rosters and pretenders look to cash in their trade chips. With all of that said, here is an updated look at where all 30 MLB teams stand at the break.

#1 Oakland Athletics (59-36, Previous: 1)
Last Week's Results: 4-3

The A's dropped a series to the Mariners over the weekend, and the Angels are closing on them quick, but there is no other team that could lay claim to the top spot at the All-Star break but them. Their plus-145 run differential remains the best in baseball by a long shot. The Angels check in at second at plus-89, and no National League team is better than the Nationals at plus-61. The additions of Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel have solidified the starting rotation, an area that could become a concern in the second half as Jesse Chavez and Sonny Gray approach uncharted innings territory. The Angels aren't going to make things easy, and neither are the Mariners for that matter, but this looks like the team to beat right now.

•1st-Half Silver Slugger
1B Brandon Moss (.268 BA, .878 OPS, 86 H, 17 2B, 21 HR, 66 RBI, 45 R)

•1st-Half Cy Young
SP Scott Kazmir (19 GS, 11-3, 2.38 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 108 K, 117.1 IP)

•1st-Half Top Rookie
No rookies

#2 Los Angeles Angels (57-37, Previous: 2)
Last Week's Results: 6-1

For as good as the Athletics have been, and they have earned the top spot in these rankings at the break, the Angels wrap up the first half just 1.5 games behind them in the standings and with the second-best record in baseball. Rebound seasons from Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton have certainly played a role in the team's impressive start, but it's the emergence of Garrett Richards as a bona fide ace atop the staff that may be the single biggest difference between this year's team and the disappointing teams of the past two years. Mike Trout is currently on pace for 184 hits, 45 doubles, 38 home runs, 126 RBI, 112 runs and 17 stolen bases, according to ESPN. If a stat line like that doesn't win him AL MVP honors, nothing will.

•1st-Half Silver Slugger
CF Mike Trout (.310 BA, 1.005 OPS, 107 H, 26 2B, 22 HR, 73 RBI, 65 R, 10 SB)

•1st-Half Cy Young
SP Garrett Richards (19 GS, 11-2, 2.55 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 127 K, 123.1 IP)

•1st-Half Top Rookie
DH C.J. Cron (.278 BA, .804 OPS, 47 H, 8 2B, 9 HR, 27 RBI, 22 R)

#3 Detroit Tigers (53-38, Previous: 7)
Last Week's Results: 5-1

Once again, the Tigers have failed to run away with the AL Central division as many predicted they would, but they enter the break with a solid 6.5-game lead and looking like the best the division has to offer by far. Sorting out the relief corps remains atop their to-do list, as the Tigers rank 26th in MLB with a 4.26 bullpen ERA. Guys like Huston Street, Joaquin Benoit and Jonathan Papelbon could all be available, and they will be in the market to add a legitimate closer candidate. Offensively, the emergence of J.D. Martinez has been one of the biggest surprises of the first half. With him shoring up left field and Eugenio Suarez looking like the answer at shortstop, there's not much they need to do other than stay healthy as far as their lineup is concerned.

•1st-Half Silver Slugger
DH Victor Martinez (.328 BA, .991 OPS, 99 H, 19 2B, 21 HR, 55 RBI, 45 R)

•1st-Half Cy Young
SP Max Scherzer (19 GS, 11-3, 3.35 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 146 K, 126.1 IP)

•1st-Half Top Rookie
3B Nick Castellanos (.262 BA, .701 OPS, 79 H, 20 2B, 6 HR, 34 RBI, 29 R)

#4 Los Angeles Dodgers (54-43, Previous: 3)
Last Week's Results: 3-3

To this point, the Los Angeles Dodgers have not been as dominant as expected, but they still look like the best team in the National League heading into the break. They closed out the first half on a nice 22-12 run, and they currently hold a one-game lead over the free-falling Giants. The one-two punch of Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke is the best in the business right now, and Hyun-Jin Ryu has been strong once again. However, Dan Haren has fallen off after a strong start, and Josh Beckett is currently on the DL. Look for them to add a starter at the deadline. Offensively, the team as a whole has been disappointing outside of Yasiel Puig, and even he has struggled of late, coming off of a homerless June. If guys like Hanley Ramirez and Adrian Gonzalez can pick things up in the second half, the Dodgers can be that much better. At some point, the team has to give top prospect Joc Pederson (.324/.445/.572, 34 XBH, 20 SB) a chance to show what he can do, and it will be interesting to see how it goes about making playing time for him.

•1st-Half Silver Slugger
RF Yasiel Puig (.309 BA, .915 OPS, 106 H, 27 2B, 12 HR, 52 RBI, 53 R)

•1st-Half Cy Young
SP Clayton Kershaw (14 GS, 11-2, 1.78 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 126 K, 96.1 IP)

•1st-Half Top Rookie
IF Miguel Rojas (.208 BA, .534 OPS, 16 H, 1 2B, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 8 R)

#5 Baltimore Orioles (52-42, Previous: 8)
Last Week's Results: 4-2

With series wins over the Nationals and Yankees to close out the first half, the Orioles have now won seven of their last eight series. That, coupled with the Blue Jays' recent struggles, has given them a four-game lead in the AL East at the break. The team still lacks a legitimate staff ace, but the rotation has rounded into form nicely, and Kevin Gausman could be poised for a big second half after posting a 2.36 ERA in his last six starts. Considering Chris Davis and Manny Machado both fell well short of expectations in the first half, the offense held its own. If they can get things going and the team can find a way to get some production at second base, the Orioles could be the legitimate favorites in the AL East.

•1st-Half Silver Slugger
LF Nelson Cruz (.287 BA, .923 OPS, 17 2B, 28 HR, 74 RBI, 56 R)

•1st-Half Cy Young
RP Zach Britton (41 G, 3-1, 15/17 SV, 7 HLD, 1.30 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 7.1 K/9)

•1st-Half Top Rookie
SP Kevin Gausman (7 GS, 4-2, 3.29 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 26 K, 38.1 IP)

#6 Washington Nationals (51-42, Previous: 6)
Last Week's Results: 3-3

A series win against the Phillies over the weekend pulled the Nationals into a tie atop the NL East standings heading into the break. They dealt with a number of injuries in the first half and could be poised for a nice second-half run if they can stay healthy. After all, this is the team that made things interesting by closing out 2013 on a 26-12 tear. Another strong second half could be enough to pull away from the Braves, who have been solid but do not look nearly as strong as they did a year ago. Keeping Bryce Harper healthy will be important, and the Nationals will need to add another left-hander to the bullpen mix, but for the most part, this team looks strong top to bottom and among the best in the National League at the break.

•1st-Half Silver Slugger
2B/3B Anthony Rendon (.287 BA, .834 OPS, 103 H, 24 2B, 13 HR, 53 RBI, 67 R)

•1st-Half Cy Young
SP Jordan Zimmermann (19 GS, 6-5, 3.03 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 101 K, 113.0 IP)

•1st-Half Top Rookie
RP Aaron Barrett (35 G, 3-0, 4 HLD, 2.64 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 10.6 K/9)

#7 Cincinnati Reds (51-44, Previous: 13)
Last Week's Results: 6-2

The Reds are as hot as anyone heading into the break, going 26-15 since the start of June. Series wins against the Cubs and Pirates last week propel them into the top 10 of these rankings and put them just 1.5 games back at the break. Considering that they have dealt with a number of injuries to key guys (Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Aroldis Chapman, Mat Latos) and slow starts from others (Votto, Homer Bailey), things could have gone much worse for them in the first half. If Votto can get on track alongside the dynamic duo of Todd Frazier and Devin Mesoraco, and the pitching staff can stay healthy, there's no reason this team can't contend for the division title. The Reds generally shy away from big moves at the deadline, but they could look for complementary pieces on the bench and in the bullpen.

•1st-Half Silver Slugger
3B Todd Frazier (.290 BA, .853 OPS, 105 H, 17 2B, 19 HR, 53 RBI, 57 R)

•1st-Half Cy Young
SP Johnny Cueto (20 GS, 10-6, 2.13 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 141 K, 143.2 IP)

•1st-Half Top Rookie
CF Billy Hamilton (.285 BA, .743 OPS, 95 H, 19 2B, 5 HR, 38 RBI, 47 R, 38 SB)

#8 Atlanta Braves (52-43, Previous: 5)
Last Week's Results: 3-4

Last year, the Braves had a six-game lead in the NL East at the All-Star break, on their way to winning the division title by 10 games. This time around, they are in a dead heat with the Nationals at the end of the first half. The fact that they rank sixth in the MLB in team ERA (3.36) is nothing short of a miracle considering all the injuries they had to deal with before the season even started. Offensively, the Braves remain an inconsistent group, but one capable of doing a good deal of damage when things are clicking. Good as they have been to this point on the mound, their rotation has not looked nearly as strong behind Julio Teheran of late. They could certainly explore starting pitching options at the deadline, though adding a left-handed reliever appears to be their top priority.

•1st-Half Silver Slugger
1B Freddie Freeman (.295 BA, .878 OPS, 108 H, 28 2B, 13 HR, 52 RBI, 64 R)

•1st-Half Cy Young
SP Julio Teheran (20 GS, 9-6, 2.71 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 116 K, 136.1 IP)

•1st-Half Top Rookie
2B Tommy La Stella (.292 BA, .729 OPS, 45 H, 8 2B, 0 HR, 17 RBI, 12 R)

#9 Seattle Mariners (51-44, Previous: 9)
Last Week's Results: 3-4

Thanks in large part to an 18-10 month of June, the Mariners hold the second AL wild-card spot at the All-Star break. However, with eight teams trailing them by eight games or fewer, they will have their work cut out for them trying to hold onto it. The offense has no doubt benefited from the addition of Robinson Cano, but the team could still use another impact bat, particularly a right-handed hitter to slot between Cano and Kyle Seager in the middle of the lineup. With a pitching staff that ranks third in team ERA (3.16) and should only get better once Taijuan Walker settles in and James Paxton returns, the Mariners look to be in good shape. Adding someone like Marlon Byrd or Josh Willingham for the stretch run could be enough for them to secure a playoff spot.

•1st-Half Silver Slugger
2B Robinson Cano (.334 BA, .855 OPS, 22 2B, 7 HR, 57 RBI, 49 R)

•1st-Half Cy Young
SP Felix Hernandez (20 GS, 11-2, 2.12 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 154 K, 144.1 IP)

•1st-Half Top Rookie
RP Dominic Leone (34 G, 2-1, 5 HLD, 1.83 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 10.3 K/9)

#10 St. Louis Cardinals (52-44, Previous: 11)
Last Week's Results: 5-2

Though they move up a spot in this week's rankings after series wins against the Pirates and Brewers, the loss of Yadier Molina to a thumb injury last week has the Cardinals trending decidedly downward heading into the break. George Kottaras was added to help take some of the load off of backup Tony Cruz, but there is no replacing everything Molina does for the team. Losing him will certainly hurt an offense that has struggled to get things going all season. Add to that the team's clear need for another starting pitcher, with Carlos Martinez consistently taxing the bullpen when he starts, and there is undoubtedly work to do if the Cardinals hope to live up to expectations this year.

•1st-Half Silver Slugger
1B Matt Adams (.329 BA, .876 OPS, 99 H, 22 2B, 11 HR, 41 RBI, 31 R)

•1st-Half Cy Young
SP Adam Wainwright (19 GS, 12-4, 1.83 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 115 K, 138.0 IP)

•1st-Half Top Rookie
2B Kolten Wong (.242 BA, .691 OPS, 6 2B, 6 HR, 24 RBI, 22 R, 12 SB)

#11 Milwaukee Brewers (53-43, Previous: 4)
Last Week's Results: 1-6

The Brewers looked like the best team in the National League for most of the first half, but they stagger into the break at just 2-11 in their last 13 games. In the process, they've seen a 6.5-game lead in the NL Central shrink to just one game. With the Cardinals, Reds and Pirates all within 3.5 games of them in the standings, the Brewers have to right the ship to start the second half. An 11-run outburst against the Cardinals Sunday was a good way to close out the half, but they will need to build off of that. As far as what they need to do at the deadline, figuring out whether or not to go with Marco Estrada, Jimmy Nelson or someone else as the No. 5 starter looks like the biggest decision. The Brewers will likely explore some small-scale moves to add position-player depth, but nothing major.

•1st-Half Silver Slugger
C Jonathan Lucroy (.315 BA, .879 OPS, 107 H, 32 2B, 9 HR, 44 RBI, 45 R)

•1st-Half Cy Young
SP Kyle Lohse (19 GS, 9-4, 3.26 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 95 K, 127.0 IP)

•1st-Half Top Rookie
RP Rob Wooten (35 G, 1-3, 10 HLD, 4.22 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 7.6 K/9)

#12 San Francisco Giants (52-43, Previous: 12)
Last Week's Results: 3-4

The San Francisco Giants resided in the No. 1 spot in these rankings for several weeks at the beginning of the season, and they looked like the runaway best team in baseball when they went 42-21 through their first 63 games. However, the wheels have fallen off since, as they are just 10-22 in their last 32 games. They've failed to win more than two games in a row over that span, and they dropped three of four to the AL rival Oakland Athletics last week. It's hard to overstate how important Angel Pagan is to this team. Last season, the Giants were 39-32 (.549) with him in the lineup and just 37-54 (.407) without him. This year, they are 37-25 (.597) with him and 15-18 (.455) without him. His return from a back injury will be bigger than any move they could potentially make at the trade deadline, though they could also look for an upgrade at second base.

•1st-Half Silver Slugger
RF Hunter Pence (.297 BA, .819 OPS, 113 H, 20 2B, 12 HR, 33 RBI, 67 R)

•1st-Half Cy Young
SP Tim Hudson (18 GS, 7-6, 2.87 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 78 K, 119.0 IP)

•1st-Half Top Rookie
UT Ehire Adrianza (.225 BA, .555 OPS, 18 H, 5 2B, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 9 R)

#13 Pittsburgh Pirates (49-46, Previous: 10)
Last Week's Results: 2-5

Despite a rough week that saw them lose big series to the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds on the road, the Pittsburgh Pirates are still a team trending upward right now. After stumbling to a 12-20 start, they've gone 37-26 since, putting them just three games back in the NL wild-card race. It's been the same story offensively. Andrew McCutchen is having another MVP-caliber season, but the rest of the offense has struggled to consistently support him. On the pitching side of things, the rotation has rounded into form thanks to Jeff Locke and Vance Worley, and Francisco Liriano finally returned Sunday after missing over a month. The Pirates likely won't do much at the deadline, but this has the feel of a team whose best baseball is still ahead of it.

•1st-Half Silver Slugger
CF Andrew McCutchen (.324 BA, .995 OPS, 115 H, 28 2B, 17 HR, 61 RBI, 57 R, 15 SB)

•1st-Half Cy Young
SP Charlie Morton (19 GS, 5-9, 3.32 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 100 K, 119.1 IP)

•1st-Half Top Rookie
RF Gregory Polanco (.260 BA, .698 OPS, 33 H, 2 2B, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 23 R, 6 SB)

#14 Cleveland Indians (47-47, Previous: 15)
Last Week's Results: 4-3

The surprise playoff team of 2013, the Cleveland Indians have their work cut out for them if they hope to be playing in October once again this year. They open the second half with an 11-game road trip against the Tigers, Twins and Royals, and that could very well determine how the rest of their season plays out. The emergence of Michael Brantley and Lonnie Chisenhall has helped offset poor first-half performances from guys like Jason Kipnis, Nick Swisher and Carlos Santana. It's the pitching staff that has been the biggest concern, though, as the rotation behind Corey Kluber has been anything but reliable. With a thin farm system, this team will need guys it was counting on, like Justin Masterson, Zach McAllister and Danny Salazar, to bring it in the second half. If not, look for the Indians to shop both Masterson and shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera at the deadline before they hit free agency.

•1st-Half Silver Slugger
LF Michael Brantley (.322 BA, .901 OPS, 113 H, 22 2B, 15 HR, 63 RBI, 63 R, 10 SB)

•1st-Half Cy Young
SP Corey Kluber (20 GS, 9-6, 3.01 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 142 K, 131.2 IP)

•1st-Half Top Rookie
SP Trevor Bauer (12 GS, 3-4, 3.84 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 70 K, 72.2 IP)

#15 Toronto Blue Jays (49-47, Previous: 14)
Last Week's Results: 2-4

On June 6, the Blue Jays sat six games up in the AL East standings and looked like the best team in baseball, as they were riding a ridiculous 20-4 hot streak. Since then, they have struggled to an 11-23 record and are currently 2.5 games back for a wild-card spot. They lost series on the road to the Angels and Rays last week, and if there's any AL team that needs to take the All-Star break to hit the reset button and gear up for the second half, it's the Blue Jays. Slugger Edwin Encarnacion is expected to be sidelined until at least early August after suffering a strained quad, according to John Lott of the National Post. The team's No. 1 concern remains starting pitching, though, as it still needs another reliable veteran arm alongside Mark Buehrle, R.A. Dickey and impressive youngsters Marcus Stroman and Drew Hutchison.

•1st-Half Silver Slugger
1B Edwin Encarnacion (.277 BA, .959 OPS, 91 H, 21 2B, 26 HR, 70 RBI, 57 R)

•1st-Half Cy Young
SP Mark Buehrle (19 GS, 10-6, 2.64 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 73 K, 126.1 IP)

•1st-Half Top Rookie
SP Marcus Stroman (13 G, 8 GS, 4-2, 4.05 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 47 K, 53.1 IP)

[Can'tPickAWinner]

#16 Kansas City Royals (48-46, Previous: 16)
Last Week's Results: 3-4

The Kansas City Royals finally broke through with a winning record last season, and now they're looking to reach the postseason for the first time since they won it all back in 1985. A 10-game winning streak in June helped propel them back into the playoff picture, and they enter the break 6.5 games back in the AL Central and 2.5 out for the second AL wild-card spot. They had a chance to put themselves in an even better position heading into the break but dropped three of four to the division-leading Detroit Tigers at home over the weekend. The Royals have managed an MLB-low 55 home runs so far this season, so adding some pop could be their biggest priority at the deadline. Right field would be the obvious area to upgrade, but even just adding a bat off the bench that is capable of playing part time and hitting a few home runs would help.

•1st-Half Silver Slugger
LF Alex Gordon (.268 BA, .772 OPS, 87 H, 24 2B, 9 HR, 44 RBI, 47 R)

•1st-Half Cy Young
RP Greg Holland (36 G, 1-2, 25/26 SV, 1.82 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 13.8 K/9)

•1st-Half Top Rookie
SP Yordano Ventura (17 GS, 7-7, 3.22 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 88 K, 103.1 IP)

#17 Tampa Bay Rays (44-53, Previous: 17)
Last Week's Results: 3-3

Picked by many (myself included) to win the AL pennant this season, the Tampa Bay Rays have been among the biggest disappointments of the first half. That said, they've been playing much better of late, and a series win against the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend has them riding a 13-5 streak into the All-Star break. Jeremy Hellickson finally returned from the DL Tuesday, allowing one run in 4.1 innings in his first start back. He could certainly help shore up the rotation in the second half, and if the Rays can keep playing well after the break, they may decide against selling. That certainly complicates the David Price situation, as the left-hander was expected to be the prize of the trade deadline back when the Rays were sitting on the worst record in baseball. The first couple weeks of the second half could play a major role in shaping the future of this franchise.

•1st-Half Silver Slugger
3B Evan Longoria (.257 BA, .719 OPS, 96 H, 13 2B, 11 HR, 44 RBI, 51 R)

•1st-Half Cy Young
SP David Price (20 GS, 9-7, 3.23 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 164 K, 147.2 IP)

•1st-Half Top Rookie
OF Kevin Kiermaier (.310 BA, .925 OPS, 49 H, 10 2B, 8 HR, 24 RBI, 19 R)

#18 New York Yankees (47-47, Previous: 18)
Last Week's Results: 3-4

The New York Yankees split a series with the Cleveland Indians to kick off last week before dropping a series to the Orioles in Baltimore over the weekend. The big news from the week, however, was the loss of rookie phenom Masahiro Tanaka. Tanaka was found to have a partial tear in his UCL, and while he has opted for six weeks of rehab in an effort to avoid Tommy John surgery, the odds are stacked against him. The Yankees have already acquired Brandon McCarthy, and they picked up left-hander Jeff Francis in a trade with the Oakland Athletics, but there's no one on the market that can replace Tanaka. The AL East still looks wide open, so don't expect the Yankees to just roll over, but it's hard to see this team legitimately contending at this point.

•1st-Half Silver Slugger
CF Jacoby Ellsbury (.282 BA, .746 OPS, 100 H, 20 2B, 6 HR, 42 RBI, 44 R, 24 SB)

•1st-Half Cy Young and Top Rookie
SP Masahiro Tanaka (18 GS, 12-4, 2.51 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 135 K, 129.1 IP)

#19 New York Mets (45-50, Previous: 26)
Last Week's Results: 6-1

The New York Mets entered the All-Star break an NL-best 8-2 over their last 10 games, and had they not gone through a 1-7 rough patch prior to getting hot, they could be right on the heels of the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals. They capped off their first half with a series win against the Braves and a sweep over the Marlins, and a 10-game road trip to open the second half will likely be the determining factor in whether or not they have any chance to make a run. Bartolo Colon could wind up traded, even if the team doesn't sell aggressively. He has been solid this year, and the team is expected to have an abundance of starting pitching next year. The Mets could also shop All-Star second baseman Daniel Murphy, though their asking price will likely keep him in New York.

•1st-Half Silver Slugger
2B Daniel Murphy (.294 BA, .755 OPS, 113 H, 23 2B, 7 HR, 37 RBI, 56 R, 11 SB)

•1st-Half Cy Young
SP Jon Niese (17 GS, 5-4, 2.96 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 74 K, 103.1 IP)

•1st-Half Top Rookie
SP Jacob DeGrom (12 GS, 3-5, 3.18 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 72 K, 73.2 IP)

#20 Minnesota Twins (44-50, Previous: 25)
Last Week's Results: 5-2

The Minnesota Twins ended the first half on a high note, registering series wins against the Seattle Mariners and Colorado Rockies on the road. They entered last week mired in a rough 3-10 stretch, as they've had an up-and-down 2014 so far. Spending big in the offseason to shore up the rotation hasn't helped much, as the Twins rank 28th in the majors with a 4.86 ERA. That's been no fault of Phil Hughes (10-5, 3.92 ERA), though, as he ranks among the top candidates for AL Comeback Player of the Year. The Twins are still building for the future as they wait on the arrival of one of the best farm systems in baseball. They will try to get what they can for Josh Willingham and Kevin Correia and could also shop All-Star catcher Kurt Suzuki, though the organization likely values him higher than the market and he could be re-signed.

•1st-Half Silver Slugger
2B Brian Dozier (.242 BA, .777 OPS, 87 H, 16 2B, 18 HR, 45 RBI, 69 R, 16 SB)

•1st-Half Cy Young
SP Phil Hughes (19 GS, 10-5, 3.92 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 108 K, 121.2 IP)

•1st-Half Top Rookie
SS/CF Danny Santana (.328 BA, .814 OPS, 44 H, 10 2B, 2 HR, 16 RBI, 19 R)

#21 Miami Marlins (44-50, Previous: 19)
Last Week's Results: 1-5

The Miami Marlins were tied for first in the NL East as recently as June 8, when they were 33-30, but they have slowly slipped down the standings since. That being said, for a team coming off an NL-worst 100 losses last year, they have been better than expected. Had ace Jose Fernandez not gotten hurt, this team could conceivably be in the race for a wild-card spot, as it has struggled mightily to fill his spot in the rotation. There will still be plenty of positives to take away from this season, though, and with a talented farm system, the Marlins could make some serious noise in the near future. Flipping Casey McGehee, who signed a one-year, $1.1 million deal in the offseason after spending 2013 in Japan, looks like their most likely move at the trade deadline. They've already gotten a terrific return on their investment (.319 BA, 53 RBI) and could land a mid-level prospect or two from a contender for him.

•1st-Half Silver Slugger
RF Giancarlo Stanton (.295 BA, .933 OPS, 104 H, 21 2B, 21 HR, 63 RBI, 61 R)

•1st-Half Cy Young
SP Henderson Alvarez (19 GS, 6-4, 2.63 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 73 K, 120.0 IP)

•1st-Half Top Rookie
SP Andrew Heaney (4 GS, 0-3, 6.53 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 13 K, 20.2 IP)

#22 Chicago White Sox (45-51, Previous: 20)
Last Week's Results: 3-4

Even after falling off a bit, it's fair to say that the White Sox have been a pleasant surprise here in 2014. They are not realistic contenders in the second half, but they could conceivably make a run at a .500 record, a big step forward after losing 99 games a year ago. There's no question that the story of the first half has been Jose Abreu, who signed a six-year, $68 million deal after defecting from Cuba and has been one of the most prolific sluggers in the game to this point. With Masahiro Tanaka currently on the DL, he looks like a shoo-in for AL Rookie of the Year honors and should challenge for the home run title. The White Sox have never been a team interested in completely rebuilding, and with an outside chance at posting a winning record here in 2014, chances are they won't be looking to deal much at the deadline. Shortstop Alexei Ramirez and left-hander John Danks look like their two biggest chips should they decide to shop them.

•1st-Half Silver Slugger/Top Rookie
1B Jose Abreu (.292 BA, .972 OPS, 94 H, 20 2B, 29 HR, 73 RBI, 49 R)

•1st-Half Cy Young
SP Chris Sale (14 GS, 8-1, 2.08 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 102 K. 95.0 IP)

#23 Boston Red Sox (43-52, Previous: 23)
Last Week's Results: 4-3

The reigning champs have been a shell of the team they were a year ago, struggling to consistently score runs after leading all of baseball in that category in 2013. A pair of walk-off wins against the Chicago White Sox and a series win against the Houston Astros over the weekend at least have the Boston Red Sox entering the break on a positive note. They still sit 9.5 games out in the AL East, though, and have not had the look of a contender at any point this season. A.J. Pierzynski was already designated for assignment, and more veteran pieces could be on the way out in the weeks to come. Right-hander Jake Peavy looks like a safe bet to be dealt, and the team could also entertain offers for John Lackey and Jon Lester. The Red Sox's most intriguing trade chip has to be closer Koji Uehara, who is a free agent at season's end and has again been one of the best in the business.

•1st-Half Silver Slugger
DH David Ortiz (.255 BA, .844 OPS, 86 H, 18 2B, 20 HR, 64 RBI, 36 R)

•1st-Half Cy Young
SP Jon Lester (19 GS, 9-7, 2.65 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 134 K, 129.0 IP)

•1st-Half Top Rookie
UT Brock Holt (.327 BA, .834 OPS, 84 H, 18 2B, 3 HR, 21 RBI, 37 R)

#24 Philadelphia Phillies (42-53, Previous: 24)
Last Week's Results: 5-2

Here we are at midseason, and it's still unclear what direction the Philadelphia Phillies are headed as a franchise. A nice run in June pulled them to 34-38, but they are just 8-15 since, and big picture, was this really a team that was going to be better than a .500 club if everything broke right? A four-game sweep of the reeling Milwaukee Brewers helped the Phillies snap a 1-9 stretch, and knowing this group, it may very well be enough for it to abandon the idea of selling off pieces at the deadline. At some point, this roster has to be blown up, and it may take a new front office to do it. If the Phillies do decide to sell, closer Jonathan Papelbon looks like he'll be the first to go among the high-priced veterans. Outfielder Marlon Byrd is also an attractive trade chip, as he's again having a strong season and comes at a fairly cheap $8 million for 2015. There is still an outside chance that Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee could be shopped too.

•1st-Half Silver Slugger
2B Chase Utley (.293 BA, .794 OPS, 104 H, 24 2B, 8 HR, 46 RBI, 51 R)

•1st-Half Cy Young
SP Cole Hamels (16 GS, 3-5, 2.93 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 106 K, 107.1 IP)

•1st-Half Top Rookie
RP Mario Hollands (34 G, 1-1, 3 HLD, 3.16 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 7.2 K/9)

#25 Arizona Diamondbacks (40-56, Previous: 28)
Last Week's Results: 3-3

After digging themselves an 8-22 hole to open the season, the Arizona Diamondbacks have since played roughly .500 baseball, at 32-34. They still find themselves in last place in the NL West, though, and their chances of closing a 13.5-game deficit are slim at best. Paul Goldschmidt has been one of the few bright spots on an individual level, as he is again putting up MVP-caliber numbers. The five-year, $32 million extension he signed in March of last year looks awfully good now, especially considering the eight-year, $135 million deal Freddie Freeman got from the Atlanta Braves. The Diamondbacks have already unloaded Brandon McCarthy in a trade with the New York Yankees, and others could be moved as well between now and the deadline. Versatile veteran Martin Prado is by far their most attractive trade chip, while reliever Brad Ziegler and second baseman Aaron Hill could also find new homes.

•1st-Half Silver Slugger
1B Paul Goldschmidt (.308 BA, .949 OPS, 110 H, 36 2B, 16 HR, 61 RBI, 66 R)

•1st-Half Cy Young
SP Wade Miley (20 GS, 5-6, 4.18 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 118 K, 127.0 IP)

•1st-Half Top Rookie
SS Chris Owings (.277 BA, .771 OPS, 66 H, 15 2B, 6 HR, 21 RBI, 26 R)

#26 Colorado Rockies (40-55, Previous: 29)
Last Week's Results: 3-3

It's easy to forget now, but at one point this season, the Rockies were 22-14 and tied atop the NL West standings. They are a dismal 18-41 since, as the pitching staff has once again failed to back their terrific offensive attack. Their 5.07 team ERA is the worst in the majors, and the starting rotation (5.33 ERA) is a big reason why. Newcomer Jordan Lyles (5-1, 3.52 ERA) was the only starter having a remotely successful season, and he's been sidelined since early June with a fractured hand. At some point, this team is going to have to find a way to field a viable pitching staff, and top prospects Eddie Butler and Jon Gray will be monitored closely in the second half. As for trade-deadline activity, veterans Jorge De La Rosa and LaTroy Hawkins could both be of interest to a contender.

•1st-Half Silver Slugger
SS Troy Tulowitzki (.345 BA, 1.048 OPS, 107 H, 18 2B, 21 HR, 52 RBI, 71 R)

•1st-Half Cy Young
RP LaTroy Hawkins (35 G, 2-2, 17/18 SV, 2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 3.8 K/9)

•1st-Half Top Rookie
RP Tommy Kahnle (35 G, 2-1, 4 HLD, 2.68 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 7.2 K/9)

#27 Houston Astros (40-56, Previous: 30)
Last Week's Results: 4-2

All things considered, the first half has to be considered a success for the Astros. They were 33-61 at the All-Star break last season, but even aside from the record, they seem to finally be taking some steps in the right direction. Jose Altuve is having a huge season, and the arrival of top prospects George Springer and Jonathan Singleton has given fans a reason to watch, if nothing else. The emergence of Dallas Keuchel and Collin McHugh in the rotation is also a major plus. The Astros likely won't sell as aggressively at the deadline this year, for the simple fact that they don't have much in the way of movable parts. Relievers Tony Sipp and Chad Qualls could garner some interest, and the team could test the waters on all-or-nothing slugger Chris Carter, but expect it to be a fairly quiet July.

•1st-Half Silver Slugger
2B Jose Altuve (.335 BA, .809 OPS, 130 H, 29 2B, 2 HR, 27 RBI, 49 R, 41 SB)

•1st-Half Cy Young
SP Dallas Keuchel (17 GS, 9-5, 3.20 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 87 K, 115.1 IP)

•1st-Half Top Rookie
RF George Springer (.233 BA, .804 OPS, 67 H, 8 2B, 19 HR, 50 RBI, 44 R)

#28 San Diego Padres (41-54, Previous: 21)
Last Week's Results: 2-5

Series losses on the road to the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers wrapped up a trying first half for the San Diego Padres. Picked by some to be a dark-horse contender in the NL West, they instead find themselves in a three-horse race for last. They enter the break sitting dead last in team batting average (.214) and runs scored (279, 2.94 RPG), which has completely undermined a pleasantly surprising pitching staff that ranks fourth in team ERA (3.18). Relievers Huston Street and Joaquin Benoit, starter Ian Kennedy, third baseman Chase Headley and outfielders Carlos Quentin and Chris Denorfia are some of the more notable names that could be shopped over the next couple of weeks.

•1st-Half Silver Slugger
LF Seth Smith (.283 BA, .895 OPS, 20 2B, 10 HR, 27 RBI, 37 R)

•1st-Half Cy Young
RP Huston Street (33 G, 1-0, 24/25 SV, 1.09 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, 9.3 K/9)

•1st-Half Top Rookie
SP Jesse Hahn (7 GS, 5-2, 2.21 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 47 K, 40.2 IP)

#29 Chicago Cubs (40-54, Previous: 22)
Last Week's Results: 2-6

It was an up-and-down first half for the Chicago Cubs from a win-loss standpoint, and they closed out the first half with three straight series losses. However, there's a lot to like about the direction in which the organization is heading. Core pieces Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo have both bounced back in a big way, and the team finally pulled the trigger on dealing Jeff Samardzija, adding Addison Russell and Billy McKinney to what was already a wealth of minor league talent. Guys like Nate Schierholtz, James Russell, Luis Valbuena, Wesley Wright and Darwin Barney could all be shopped between now and the deadline. The fans' real focus in the second half will be on the arrival of some top prospects, and Arismendy Alcantara (9-for-23, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 6 R) has already generated plenty of buzz in his first five games.

•1st-Half Silver Slugger
1B Anthony Rizzo (.275 BA, .879 OPS, 95 H, 15 2B, 20 HR, 49 RBI, 62 R)

•1st-Half Cy Young
SP Jake Arrieta (13 GS, 5-1, 1.95 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 85 K, 78.1 IP)

•1st-Half Top Rookie
RP Neil Ramirez (30 G, 1-1, 3/3 SV, 9 HLD, 1.05 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 11.9 K/9)

#30 Texas Rangers (38-57, Previous: 27)
Last Week's Results: 0-7

The Texas Rangers wrapped up a disastrous first half by being swept in back-to-back series at home by the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels. They are now riding a cringe-worthy 3-22 stretch and have managed just one win so far in July. Expectations were high for this team entering the year, following the offseason acquisitions of Prince Fielder and Shin-Soo Choo and with guys like Jurickson Profar and Martin Perez ready to take a step forward. The Rangers will likely be in a position to contend again next season, assuming they can get healthy, so it will be interesting to see just how aggressive they are in moving pieces at the deadline. Alex Rios, Joakim Soria and Jason Frasor look like prime candidates to be dealt, if nothing else.

•1st-Half Silver Slugger
3B Adrian Beltre (.337 BA, .917 OPS, 104 H, 20 2B, 13 HR, 51 RBI, 51 R)

•1st-Half Cy Young
SP Yu Darvish (17 GS, 8-5, 2.97 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 142 K, 115.1 IP)

•1st-Half Top Rookie
2B Rougned Odor (.260 BA, .687 OPS, 44 H, 5 2B, 3 HR, 18 RBI, 17 R)

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Hondo

Hondo made a fine Mid-Summer score in the All-Star Game Tuesday night in Minneapolis, clicking with Jeter and the Junior Circuit to reduce the NRN (nasty red number) to 1,210 lebowskis.

Wednesday: Mr. Aitch will take another shot at Monticello Raceway with two units to win on Famous Dude in the third. Check out tomorrow’s editions to see if the “Dude” abides.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Mighty Quinn

Mighty missed with the National League on Tuesday and likes Inspired By Grace in the 6th at Delaware ($25 win and place) on Wednesday.

The correct deficit is 475 sirignanos.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Red Dog Sports

WNBA

Atlanta vs. New York

Free Play: Under 154½

Atlanta is a fast paced team led by Angel McCoughtry, Lyttle and de Souza. New York can play fast but likes a slower paced with point guard Cappie Pondexter, who did not score in their last game, which was a loss at home to Los Angeles. I expect New York to focus more on defense and I like the under since this game starts at 11am. Hopefully, the players don't wake up until the second half and we see a game in the upper 140's that stays under the total.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Lou Finocchiaro - GambLou Profitable Sports Gaming

Good day Enthusiasts. The dog days of summer are upon us. Baseball is taking its mid-season breather (like tit needed one) and The Open Championship is to start tomorrow. In calculated fashion the leadership of the UFC inserted a fight card into this vacuum of gaming inactivity in order to continue to expose the gripping gaming world to Mixed Martial Arts fighting. The UFC is not for everyone but for all here at GambLou.com headquarters it has become a platform for Profit.

The UFC offers exciting fight match-ups consistently as well they deliver to us what Boxing has been unable to do for a couple of decades now….wagering integrity! NEVER do we witness an agenda in which obviously incorrect decisions are delivered in order to protect the future box office bottom line of the next fight in line. We tired of the way boxing promoters ruined the sport by treating its fans and its fighters like they were unintelligent and unworthy. The UFC leadership is modern, it’s intelligent and it has learned the lessons from the long history of greed and filth that Boxing displayed to its faithful for so many decades. Enough said.

UFC 2014: 38-38 +$2,233.00

(All GambLou.com releases are for a standard and hypothetical $100.00 per position unless otherwise stated. We practice this in order track our results to the penny which is what any profitable business employs on a regular basis).

Tonight’s fight card is challenging as we found it ardous to uncover unwanted, abandoned, dirty, mangy mongrels. Those that read us understand that the foundation of our platform is underdog driven which is not to say that pounding puppies is the only way to profit in the UFC….it just happens to be our way. When we do discover a chalky choice we try to work the propositions in order to gain value in that position or in the case of Chris Weidman in UFC 175 there must be sound reasons/angles/advantages uncovered in our due Diligence process that lead us to that release.

Remember Enthusiasts that the thrill of Profitable Sports Gaming is in delivering deposits as opposed to the making the wager. This is most important as tonight we struggled to find many mangy mongrels that offer us the value we require in order to make a position. We drive our gaming….our gaming does not drive us!

Let’s fight!

Smith -135 vs. Duke +115

We actually had little intention of even working this fight but after a conversation with our amigo Jason Floyd of the MMA report (@JasonFloyd, @MMAReport on Twitter) we took a little closer look. Duke offers FightMetric advantages that we simple missed in our Due Diligence process (shame on us). She is the taller, longer, younger fighter coming off a loss in which she simply employed poor fight IQ and got her arse kicked. Duke opened -140 and was quickly faded to her current price of +115. We feel this line movement was entirely based on the fact that she looked so poor in her last fight coupled with the fact that Smith is a capable fighter. We like Duke on the bounce here. Understand Enthusiasts that if this fight hits we will take the profit yet deliver the credit to Jason for tipping us to this. If this fight misses then we take 110% of the blame. This is how it works when one if a professional folks.

Duke +115
---------------------------------

Salas -130 vs. Proctor +110

Here is another fight that has switched favorites. Justin Salas is a talented young fighter who has looked worthy in his last few outings. In his loss to terrible Tim Means he took some abuse but we toss that one out because Means is the real dad gum deal. Salas goes to the East coast to fight a kid in Proctor that will basically be fighting in front of his homies as Proctor is a Bostonian. Proctor is the younger man, the taller man, the longer man and we feel the opening line of Proctor -140 was correct. Proctor happens to hold advantages in this fight except for the factor of speed which will go to Salas. When this fight line got so far out of whack as to offer Proctor +140 we jumped it like a burglar on the Boardwalk. With Proctor in his friendly confines we expect his best effort and it will take his best tonight to sledgehammer Salas.

Proctor +110 or better
------------------------------------------

Cerrone -250 vs. Miller +210

It’s the Cowboy against the Jersey boy. Cowboy Cerrone has the physical advantages here. Those that read us realize that we have come to trust the data delivered to us by the FightMetric system and it is based on that system that the Cowpoke broke -190. Miller is the shorter guy giving up a decent reach advantage yet metrics are not our only monitor in determining value in a fight. The fact is that Cerrone has been very active this year and he is fighting both because he loves what he does and because he is a young man that likes to spend his cheese on fast ponies and cold Budweiser. We view Cerrone as having the potential to be quite inconsistent. When he is on he is a Bronco-buster but when he is off he can appear weak-minded and without focus. Which Cerrone will we get?

In the other corner is Jim Miller, a blue collar east coast ballbuster with a sound wrestling base. He brings his lunchpale to work every day and is a grimy grinder. Miller wants to fight Cowboy in a phone booth and not allow Cerrone the distance to employ his length and reach. This is the Angelo Dundee “Styles make Fights” (we hold Dundee in a special place understanding that is was from Mr. Dundee and decades of following him and his fighters that we learned the fight game). In this bout we believe we will get Miller’s best effort against a man that will tower over him and weigh some 15 pounds heavier than Miller come round one. Miller’s grit will win him plenty here even though we have doubts as to whether he can win this bout. The Jersey Boy will make this a grinding affair and make the Cowboy earn his cerveza tonight.

Over 3.5 rounds +120

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Matt Clark - Against the Number - Open Championship Picks

Coming off my US Open score with Martin Kaymer at 40-1 (shameless pat on the back) I thought I’d try to keep things rolling with the Open Championship.

I’ll begin by saying that if everyone was even money, Justin Rose would be my selection. I think he is primed to win this event but at 11-1 I just couldn’t pull the trigger. There’s just not enough value so I will cross my fingers and hope he comes up short.



I’ll be spending $300 at the start and then I will decide if and where there may be value after the cut.

Here’s how I’ll bet.

16-1 Henrik Stenson $130 for $2080
17-1 Adam Scott $40 for $680
35-1 Rickie Fowler $70 for $2450
75-1 Jamie Donaldson $30 for $2250
75-1 Jimmy Walker $30 for $2250

Stenson

This guy just strikes fear in me. He’s such a tough player. He’s one of those guys that is completely unaffected by the moment and his game is very sharp right now.

Scott

I actually don’t love Scott in this spot. I don’t think he’s putting well enough. But at 17-1, that’s good value on the number 1 ranked player in the world. A guy who is constantly on the first page of the leaderboard in majors over the past few years. If you’re trying to save a little money, this would be the guy I would leave out. I’ll put a small percentage on him to make a few bucks if he wins it.

Fowler

My favorite to win at the price. Great value, improving, tough young player. He’s done well across the pond in the past and I think he’s got a chance at getting his first major this week.

Donaldson

If you’ve been following my picks you know that I have bet this guy in every major for 2 years now. He’s been as high as 250-1 in the past. He’s an incredibly tough, talented player who is always under the radar. His odds are coming down, but at 75-1 he’s still a major long shot. I will go back to the well once again.

Walker

Number 1 in FedEx Cup standings. T8 in the Masters. T9 in the US Open. 3 wins this year. $4,933,790 in earnings. 75-1. If he “shocks the world” and wins I want to be a guy who can say I had him.

Last but not least, if you’re into prop betting, you can get +220 on Tiger Woods missing the cut. I wont be betting anything substantial on it if I bet it at all. But, I don’t think he’ll make the cut and at better than 2-1 there’s nothing wrong with taking a shot on that side.

Good Luck and enjoy the tournament.