The baseball season is in full swing, and the division races are heating up. Since the All-Star break, several teams have risen to the top of their respective divisions, while others have fallen from grace. Let's take a closer look at the biggest risers and fallers in the American League and National League.
American League
East
The Tampa Bay Rays have been on a roll since the All-Star break, with a +29.5 odds jump. They've won 18 of their past 24 games and are now the club with the AL's best record at 74-48. The New York Yankees, on the other hand, have struggled since Aaron Judge went on the injured list, going 32-32 since then. The Rays' rise has been helped by Trade Deadline acquisitions such as Liam Hicks and Tyler Wells.
Central
The Chicago White Sox have been the biggest surprise in the AL Central, with a +22.3 odds jump. They won 15 of 21 games in May, pulling them to within one game of the division-leading Cleveland Guardians. However, the Guardians have fallen on hard times since the All-Star break, losing 18 of 27 games. The White Sox have taken advantage, opening up a 4.5-game cushion atop the division standings.
West
The Houston Astros have caught fire in late July, winning 13 of 16 games to leapfrog the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners. Their 53.8-point jump in odds to win their division is the largest in the Majors since the break. The Astros' rise has been helped by their strong play in the second half of the season.
National League
East
The Atlanta Braves have regained their huge division lead, sitting 7.5 games ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies. The Braves have won 18 of 28 games since the break, while the Phillies have gone 12-15. The Braves' rise has been helped by their strong play in the second half of the season.
Central
The Milwaukee Brewers have maintained their grip on the top spot in the NL Central, but with the Chicago Cubs playing well since the break, the grip has loosened a bit. The clubs are currently separated by four games, with the Cubs winning 10 of 14 games so far this month. The Cubs' rise has been helped by the strong play of Pete Crow-Armstrong and Alex Bregman.
West
The Los Angeles Dodgers have gone uncharacteristically cold since the All-Star break, dropping five straight games to open the month. The San Diego Padres, on the other hand, have gotten hot and tied the Arizona Diamondbacks for second place. The Padres' rise has been helped by their strong play in the second half of the season, but they are still eight games behind the two-time defending World Series champions.
In conclusion, the division races are far from over, and the season is shaping up to be an exciting one. The biggest risers and fallers have all played a role in the shifting landscape of the MLB, and the season is far from over.
