It’s break time, and look what we have here across Major League Baseball: Five relatively red-hot divisional races.
Four divisions are either tied or separated by no more than three games as the All-Star break mercifully arrives. The NL Central features a five-game bulge, but it’s almost certain the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers will extend their drama long into September. As for the NL West? Well, the Los Angeles Dodgers can pulverize the tension out of anything, holding a 12 ½ game lead.
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And then there’s the AL Central home to the tightest race of all and the biggest surprise.
The Chicago White Sox roared into the break, sweeping the Athletics back to Yolo County by a combined score of 24-2 and staying in lockstep with the Cleveland Guardians atop the division. It’s a far cry from their 32-65 mark at the break last year, to say nothing of their 27-71 mark on their way to a record 121 losses in 2024.
As the White Sox climb to No. 10 in USA TODAY Sports’ power rankings, the dreams are only getting bigger and better.
“In our heads,” White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery told reporters, “we just are like, ‘How are we not going to be a playoff team if we just play like we are playing right now?’”
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A look at our updated rankings:
Miguel Vargas has 21 home runs entering the All-Star break.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (-)
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Just an absolute death grip on the division – and the entire National League.
2. Milwaukee Brewers (-)
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Glorious first half ends with a thud: Swept at Pittsburgh, and the Miz taking a little siesta.
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Something old: Evan Longoria‘s No. 3 retired. Something new: Catcher Nathan Flewelling named Futures Game MVP.
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Matt Olson hits the break with 25 homers, but just six in his last 27 games.
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They chug into the break off their seventh sweep of the year, all three via comeback.
6. Chicago Cubs (+1)
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PCA = MVP, maybe. We were also saying this exactly one year ago.
9. Chicago White Sox (+1)
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Lauded for their draft, buttressed by Tennessee right-hander Tegan Kuhns falling to them with second pick.
11. Cleveland Guardians (-)
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Heating up again? Their sweep at Miami is their first since May 21.
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They lose Konnor Griffin, gain Jacob Gonzalez and finish half with sweep of Brewers.
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MVP of the first half? Perhaps reliever Jacob Latz.
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Sweep by Yankees likely douses any thought of adding this month.
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Dodgers don’t seem catchable. How much do you invest in an eight-way wild card derby?
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They draft a high school pitcher first for the sixth time in 10 years.
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Um, guess who’s tied for the third wild card in AL?
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Within two games of .500 for first time since March 30.
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Starting pitching still in disarray.
21. Baltimore Orioles (-1)
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Finally win four games in a row – right into the break.
22. Toronto Blue Jays (-1)
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Defending AL champs a last-place team entering break.
23. Detroit Tigers (+1)
24. Cincinnati Reds (-1)
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Now 6-22 against NL Central opponents.
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25. Athletics (-)
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That’s nine losses in a row, the first eight without holding a lead, dating back to the Dodgers visiting Yolo County on July 1.
26. San Francisco Giants (+1)
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Luis Arraez all set to get his flowers at the All-Star Game, deservedly.
27. New York Mets (-1)
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Swept by the Red Sox even as Boston had one plane tied behind its back.
28. Colorado Rockies (+2)
29. Los Angeles Angels (+1)
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Drafting a two-way prep player is best sign yet the Perry Minasian era is over.
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Only the Athletics have a worse run differential than these guys’ minus-88.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB power rankings: White Sox are story of the first half as playoff races tighten
