It might be the end of July, but the MLB Standings already feel like late September as teams are making runs, attempting to see if they are competitors as the final two months of the season are right around the corner.
After examining the MLB Standings after baseball's return following the All-Star Break, you will quickly see that the St. Louis Cardinals are once again the best team in baseball, while the Boston Red Sox have won more games than any other team in 2013. Smaller races around the league show the Los Angeles Dodgers an inch away from capturing first place and the Tampa Bay Rays are following suit as both teams have forgotten what losing means.
Here's a look at the standings entering the final full week of baseball in the month of July. We usually start with the A.L., but let's start in one of the year's most captivating divisions, the N.L. Central.
N.L. Central: St. Louis Cardinals (59-37), Pittsburgh Pirates (57-39), Cincinnati Reds (55-43)
Coming into the season, the Cardinals and Reds were expected to be in the playoff race for sure, but the Pirates have burst into the scene in 2013. The Cardinals have the best winning percentage in baseball (.615) as they sit 22-games over .500. However, that record is only good enough for a two-game lead in the division. If the N.L. Central continues to play this competitive brand of baseball, it looks as though the Wild Card Game will be played between two teams from this division.
N.L. West: Arizona Diamondbacks (51-47), Los Angeles Dodgers (50-47)
Though the division has been extremely disappointing so far this season, at least they are finding a way to make it interesting. The D'Backs are now only half a game up on the Dodgers. L.A. is 8-2 in their last 10 games, while taking advantage of a D'Backs team that has a 4-6 record in the same time span.
N.L. East: Atlanta Braves (55-43), Philadelphia Phillies (49-50)
The Braves record is respectable and due to struggles in the division, they currently have the biggest lead of any other team that's in first place. The Phillies overtook the mediocre Washington Nationals for second place and now stand 6.5 games away from the Braves.
A.L. East: Boston Red Sox (60-40), Tampa Bay Rays (58-41)
The Rays are applying pressure on the Red Sox. Though Boston has been play great baseball this year, one slip and they could find themselves in second place as the Rays are playing increasingly better baseball as the season goes on. Winners of five straight and nine of their last 10 games, the Rays sit a comfortable 1.5 games from the Red Sox and both teams hook up for a four-game series at Fenway Park. If there is anything the Red Sox can brag about going into this pivotal series is that they're the first team to 60 wins this season.
A.L. Central: Detroit Tigers (53-44), (52-46)
Nobody knows how the Tigers are still in first place. It's like they've been holding on to a 1.5 game lead for over a week now. It will be interesting to see how they approach the trade deadline. It looks as though they have enough talent in their team to survive the rest of the season. The Indians simply don't look like a team capable of taking first place and protecting a lead.
A.L. West: Oakland Athletics (57-41), Texas Rangers (54-44)
The A's are building a slight cushion now that the Rangers are on a losing streak. While the Athletics have gone 6-4 in their last 10 games, the Rangers are 3-7 in their last 10. Panic is definitely setting in at Rangers camp as they might possibly be one of the teams who over spends on a trade as the deadline approaches and the team continues to look for help in the outfield.
