MLB Midseason Report Card: National League Edition
With the All-Star break just around the corner, it's time to take a look at how the National League teams are faring so far this season. From the surprising Braves to the struggling Giants, here's a breakdown of each team's performance, complete with my own analysis and commentary.
Atlanta Braves: A
The Braves are currently sitting pretty with one of the best records in the game. Their cushion from earlier in the season has helped them weather the storm of injuries and performance downturns. However, they're definitely taking on water, and the arrow will continue to point down until they get healthy and get help at the trade deadline. In my opinion, they deserve an A for their strong start, but a B would be more accurate at this point.
Chicago Cubs: B
The Cubs have had an extreme up-and-down season, with 10-game winning streaks and 10-game losing streaks. Despite this volatility, they've been more good than bad and are on pace for 89 wins with the fifth-best run differential in baseball. Personally, I think they deserve a B for their overall performance, despite the ups and downs.
Cincinnati Reds: C
The Reds have been very disappointing the last two months, with the Hunter Greene injury and Elly De La Cruz's IL stint not helping matters. However, they're still in striking range of another wild-card berth. I think they need to be better in the second half, but a C seems fair for their current standing.
Colorado Rockies: B-
Little was expected from the Rockies this season, and they've met those expectations by having the worst record and worst run differential in MLB. However, they're on pace to avoid 100 losses, which is notable considering they lost 119 games last season. In my view, they deserve a B- for their progress, even if they're still very bad.
Los Angeles Dodgers: A
The Dodgers are angling for a three-peat and are managing their roster with an eye toward October and November. Despite injuries to their rotation, they have depth in place and are on target to top 100 wins. I think they're the consensus favorites for the playoffs, and their MLB-best run differential suggests they've been a bit unlucky so far. Will Shohei Ohtani add a Cy Young plaque to his trophy case? It's very much in play.
Miami Marlins: B
The Marlins closed May with a five-game losing streak but have since pushed into the wild-card race with baseball's best record in June. Their four-man offense and deep, excellent bullpen have carried them to this point. I'm fascinated to see how they handle the trade deadline. Will president of baseball operations Peter Bendix buy or stick with the long-term plan and ship out veterans?
Milwaukee Brewers: A
The Brewers are on pace for 100 wins and have a strong rotation led by Jacob Misiorowski, Kyle Harrison, and Brandon Woodruff (when healthy). They also have depth and talent all over the place, with players like Jackson Chourio and William Contreras producing at a star level. I think they deserve an A for their strong start and continued success.
New York Mets: F
The Mets have underperformed every which way, and it cost manager Carlos Mendoza his job last week. They're near the bottom of the league offensively and their rotation has fallen apart over the last few weeks. Even some touted prospects in the minors have taken a step back. I think they deserve an F for their poor performance and need to make changes at the deadline.
Philadelphia Phillies: B
The Phillies started 9-19 but have turned things around under interim Don Mattingly, climbing to within striking distance of a wild-card spot and the NL East lead. I think they deserve a B for their turnaround, despite the fact that it's more due to Zack Wheeler returning and Brandon Marsh going on a heater than it is to Mattingly.
Pittsburgh Pirates: B
The Pirates are exactly .500 and are only 2 ½ games out of playoff position. Contending has to get them a positive grade, despite some relative disappointments since their strong start. I think they need to improve their starting pitching if they hope to keep contending.
St. Louis Cardinals: B+
The Cardinals have been above .500 and in contention, which is far beyond their expectations heading into the season. However, they've lost seven of the last 10 and seem to have forgotten how to score runs at home. I think they deserve a B+ for their successful season so far, despite the recent slump.
San Diego Padres: B+
The Padres are just barely out of wild-card position despite a negative run differential. I think they could undergo a course correction based on their underlying quality of play. However, they're winning without getting much from players like Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, and Jackson Merrill. Fernando Tatis Jr. is starting to round into form, which is essential moving forward. Will lead decision-maker AJ Preller make a deadline splash despite a thinned-out farm system?
San Francisco Giants: F
The Giants have not had a successful season, with new manager Tony Vitello having his share of amateur moments and gaffes. They're on pace for 97 losses and have had their worst month to date in June. I think they deserve an F for their poor performance and need to make aggressive changes at the deadline.
Washington Nationals: B
The Nationals have baseball's highest-scoring offense, but it has cooled the last two weeks. Still, they were 41-40 at the season's 81-game midpoint after losing at least 91 games every year from 2021-25. I think they deserve a B for their positive signs, including players like CJ Abrams and James Wood performing at MVP paces and the farm system on the upswing.
