Even though teams have typically played about 95 games by mid-July, the All-Star break has always been considered the halfway point of the long 162-game season. Now that most teams have had a four-day break before returning to action, here are some things to think about as the second half of the season is getting underway.
Who would have been in the playoffs had the season ended at the All-Star break?
The way the playoffs work these days, the three Division leaders and three Wild Card teams make the playoffs in each League. However, the Division winner with the fewest wins does not get a bye in the first round.
Here’s what the “playoff picture” looked like at the break:
American League
Division Winners (ranked by wins)
- Tampa Bay Rays (AL East leader, secures a first-round bye)
- Chicago White Sox (AL Central leader, secures a first-round bye)
- Texas Rangers (AL West leader, plays in Wild Card round)
Wild Card Teams
- New York Yankees
- Cleveland Guardians
- Seattle Mariners
National League
Division Winners (ranked by wins)
- Los Angeles Dodgers (NL West leader, secures a first-round bye)
- Milwaukee Brewers (NL Central leader, secures a first-round bye)
- Atlanta Braves (NL East leader, plays in Wild Card round)
Wild Card Teams
- Chicago Cubs
- Philadelphia Phillies
- Miami Marlins
Of course, there are tight races in the AL Central and West Divisions, and in the NL East as well.
Who had the best records in baseball at the break?
The Dodgers and Brewers had the most wins and highest winning percentage in MLB, followed by the Rays, with the third most wins and the most in the AL.
What are some of the biggest surprises of the season so far?
The Toronto Blue Jays. They came within inches of winning the World Series last season, and there was no reason to think they wouldn’t be a contender again this year. But at the All-Star break, they were in last place in the AL East, with a record under .500. Sure, there’s a lot of season left, but that seems like a tall hill to climb.
Cal Raleigh. He came within a handful of votes of winning the AL MVP in 2025, but Aaron Judge’s amazing season was just too much to overcome. Still, he made a name for himself by belting 60 homers, the most ever in a single season by a catcher, a switch-hitter, and a Mariner. (Yes, even more than Ken Griffey Jr.)
That seems long ago. He missed a month starting in mid-May with an injury, and was hitting only .169 at the break, with just nine home runs. Fortunately, even though his team is under. 500, they are in playoff contention if things stay relatively the same, and are just a few games out of first in the AL West.
Chicago White Sox. In 2024, the White Sox lost 121 games, the most all-time, even more than the 1962 Mets. Last season, they lost over 100 games. So it’s a bit of a shock to see them tied for first place with the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central Division with a 50-45 won-loss record. They had three players with more than 20 home runs at the break: Colson Montgomery (23), Miguel Vargas (21) and Munetaka Murakami. Vargas and Munetaka made the AL All-Star roster, along with Tristan Peters.
New York Mets. The Mets disappointed last year and hopes were that 2026 was going to be different. It is. It’s worse than expected. As of the break, the Mets were holding down last place in the NL East, 17 games under .500 and 16 games behind the Division-leading Braves. They have the second largest payroll between the Dodgers and the Yankees, but their record and their play don’t reflect it. At least NL All-Star Juan Soto has had a decent season for them.
Leading MVP candidates in each League.
American League. Aaron Judge, last year’s MVP, has played only 59 games due to a rib injury and isn’t expected to rejoin the Yankees until sometime in August. That gives other players a chance to win that title. The frontrunner is Yordan Álvarez of the Houston Astros, with Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. and Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero also putting up good numbers. Álvarez is a Triple Crown threat, leading the AL in home runs (31) and RBIs (70), and was second in average at the break.
National League. If Shohei Ohtani weren’t playing this season, it would be a tight race for MVP in the National League. The biggest surprise is Otto López of the Miami Marlins, who isn’t getting the attention he deserves. He was leading the Majors in average (.334), hits (127) and doubles (26) at the break. Most sports outlets will mention Kyle Schwarber of the Phillies (who led the League in homers at the break), and Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Cubs, who’s having a solid year on offense and defense.
But Shohei is healthy and performing at a high level as a DH (hitting .293 with 22 home runs) and on the mound with an 8-2 record and an ERA under 1.80. He’s the front-runner in the NL on everyone’s ballot.
So, who’ll take it all?
Fans might be tired of hearing it, but the L.A. Dodgers are the heavy favorites to win the World Series, followed by the Yankees, Brewers, and Braves.
Then again, there’s still a lot of baseball to play. It ain’t over till it’s over.
Resources: theguardian.com/mlb-storylines-all-star-break; foxsports.com/stories/mlb/2026-mlb-all-star-game; sports.betmgm.com/mlb/playoff-picture-standings; mlb.com/standings/wild-card; baseballreference.com; cbssports.com/mlb/2026-mlb-playoff-predictions