NOTE: team and player statistics updated through Monday morning, August 23 11:00 AM CT
1. New York Yankees (77-47)
As every week goes by, I’m believing more and more that the Yankees are going to be the ones to take the AL East once again. And with C.C. Sabathia holding a strong 17-5 record with a 3.02 ERA and 151 strikeouts to this point, I say we have a new favorite for the AL Cy Young Award.
2. Tampa Bay Rays (76-48)
The Rays continue to hold the MLB’s top road record at 37-24.
3. San Diego Padres (74-49) Mat Latos continues to lead the Padres' pitching staff as they continue to hold the title of "most surprising team in 2010."
4. Atlanta Braves (73-51)
Jair Jurrjens has pitched six or more innings in each of his eight second-half starts and has compiled a 2.96 ERA during that span.
5. Minnesota Twins (72-52)
The Twins haven't lost a series since the All-Star break, but they'll face a legitimate test in Texas this week. But they should have a little bit of confidence heading into the series considering they swept the Rangers in their only series they’ve played this season.
6. St. Louis Cardinals (67-54)
Jake Westbrook has allowed three or fewer runs in each of his four starts since joining the Cardinals.
7. Cincinnati Reds (72-52)
The mightily-impressive Reds are 8-2 in their last ten games and 15-5 over their last 20 games.
8. Texas Rangers (69-54)
The Rangers pretty much have the AL West wrapped up, but I’d be surprised if they get past the ALDS. They are only 9-15 against the Yankees, Rays, Red Sox, and Twins combined. Not very impressive.
9. Philadelphia Phillies (70-53)
Cole Hamels is winless in seven starts since the All-Star Break but has complied a nice 2.87 ERA during that time.
10. Boston Red Sox (71-54)
The Red Sox have a great opportunity later this week at shrinking the Rays' lead over them in the AL East, which currently stands at 5 ½ games.
11. Chicago White Sox (67-57)
Out of the top 12 teams in the majors (going by winning percentage), the White Sox are the only team with a losing record against teams in their division (24-29 vs. AL Central teams).
12. San Francisco Giants (69-56)
Tim Lincecum continues to look for answers and consistency. The Giants’ ace has gone 2-4 with a 5.06 ERA since the All-Star Break.
13. Toronto Blue Jays (64-59)
Shaun Marcum has allowed a combined seven home runs in his past four starts after giving up a combined 12 home runs in his first 20 starts this season.
14. Colorado Rockies (63-60)
The Rockies have scored exactly one fewer run per game in the second half than the first half (3.88 versus 4.88), while the pitching has held steady.
15. Florida Marlins (62-61)
The Marlins are one of only three NL teams to have a +.500 road record (Marlins are 31-30 on the road). The Reds (36-26) and Padres (38-27) are the other two teams.
16. New York Mets (62-62)
Johan Santana has thrown three straight complete games but has just one win in that time.
17. Oakland Athletics (61-62)
Dallas Braden is 4-2 with a 2.81 ERA and .225 batting average against in seven starts since the All-Star break.
18. Los Angeles Dodgers (63-62)
Ted Lilly has allowed four runs in four starts (4-0 with a 1.29 ERA) since joining the Dodgers.
19. Los Angeles Angels (62-63)
Dan Haren has gone from 9.02 K/9 with the Diamondbacks to 5.9 with the Angels. This is not the Dan Haren the Angels thought they were getting.
20. Detroit Tigers (61-63)
It’s pretty nice to see the Tigers have not one, but two of their players making a push for the AL Rookie of the Year award (Austin Jackson and Brennan Boesch). Both are having rather nice years, and Austin Jackson finally hit another home run the other day.
21. Milwaukee Brewers (59-65)
The Brewers are 36-31 since cutting Jeff Suppan loose on June 7, including a 4-1 record against the Cardinals and Padres last week.
22. Washington Nationals (53-71)
Jason Marquis is winless in six stars with the Nationals this season after winning 15 games in 33 starts for the Rockies last year.
23. Chicago Cubs (51-74)
It would be ridiculous to think that Lou Piniella doesn’t deserve to go to the Hall of Fame as a manager.
24. Cleveland Indians (50-74)
The Indians have dropped five of their past six games, including three straight to Detroit while managing to score three runs total. However, they win every game in which they make five errors.
25. Houston Astros (54-69)
Despite them only having 54 wins to this point, the Astros are the only NL team with a sub-.500 record to have a winning record against teams in their division (33-24).
26. Arizona Diamondbacks (49-76)
The D-Backs play the top two teams in the NL West (the Padres and Giants) in 12 of their next 15 games.
27. Kansas City Royals (53-71)
The Royals played 31 innings in less than 24 hours to take two of three from the White Sox. Highlights included a five-RBI tour de force from none other than Yuniesky Betancourt and a game-ending single from Jason Kendall.
28. Seattle Mariners (49-75)
Felix Hernandez continues to dominate, as he’s now second in the AL in ERA (2.51) and third in XFIP (3.29)
29. Baltimore Orioles (44-81)
Powered by Josh Bell’s first two major league home runs, the Orioles split four games with the first-place Rangers over the weekend.
30. Pittsburgh Pirates (41-83)
Jeff Karstens is winless in each of his past 11 starts, but he has given up three earned runs or fewer in seven of those outings.
Carter’s MLB Award Races:
National League MVP Award Race:
1. Albert Pujols (STL): .316 avg., 143 hits, 32 HR, 89 RBI
2. Joey Votto (CIN): .323 avg., 137 hits, 29 HR, 86 RBI
3. Carlos Gonzalez (COL): .315 avg., 141 hits, 25 HR, 79 RBI
4. Dan Uggla (FLA): .288 avg., 130 hits, 28 HR, 79 RBI
5. Adrian Gonzalez (SD): .297 avg., 136 hits, 25 HR, 79 RBI
6. Adam Dunn (WSH): .297 avg., 136 hits, 31 HR, 78 RBI
7. Rickie Weeks (MIL): .274 avg., 139 hits, 23 HR, 73 RBI
8. Ryan Zimmerman (WSH): .301 avg., 125 hits, 24 HR, 70 RBI
9. Mark Reynolds (ARZ): .214 avg., 87 hits, 27 HR, 71 RBI
10. Prince Fielder (MIL): .268 avg., 120 hits, 25 HR, 63 RBI
American League MVP Award Race:
1. Miguel Cabrera (DET): .341 avg., 149 hits, 31 HR, 102 RBI
2. Josh Hamilton (TEX): .357 avg., 168 hits, 28 HR, 88 RBI
3. Robinson Cano (NYY): .325 avg., 155 hits, 25 86 RBI
4. Paul Konerko (CHW): .310 avg., 134 hits, 31 HR, 86 RBI
5. Jose Bautista (TOR): .255 avg., 111 hits, 38 HR, 92 RBI
6. Mark Teixeira (NYY): .256 avg., 120 hits, 27 HR, 89 RBI
7. David Ortiz (BOS): .267 avg., 105 hits, 27 HR, 79 RBI
8. Luke Scott (BAL): .296 avg., 103 hits, 24 HR, 58 RBI
9. Carlos Quentin (CHW): .237 avg., 86 hits, 24 HR, 77 RBI
10. Carlos Pena (TB): .212 avg., 80 hits, 24 HR, 72 RBI
National League Cy Young Award Race:
1. Adam Wainwright (STL): 17-7, 2.06 ERA, 165 strikeouts
2. Roy Halladay (PHI): 16-8, 2.16 ERA, 180 strikeouts
3. Ubaldo Jimenez (COL): 17-4, 2.66 ERA, 156 strikeouts
4. Josh Johnson (FLA): 11-5, 2.27 ERA, 162 strikeouts
5. Tim Hudson (ATL): 14-5, 2.15 ERA, 91 strikeouts
6. Mat Latos (SD): 13-5, 2.33 ERA, 144 strikeouts
7. Chris Carpenter (STL): 14-4, 2.88 ERA, 143 strikeouts
8. Jaime Garcia (STL): 11-6, 2.42 ERA, 111 strikeouts
9. Johan Santana (NYM): 10-8, 2.94 ERA, 137 strikeouts
10. Livan Hernandez (WSH): 8-8, 3.06 ERA, 84 strikeouts
American League Cy Young Award Race:
1. C.C. Sabathia (NYY): 17-5, 3.02 ERA, 151 strikeouts
2. Clay Buchholz (BOS): 15-5, 2.26 ERA, 96 strikeouts
3. David Price (TB): 15-5, 2.97 ERA, 146 strikeouts
4. Felix Hernandez (SEA): 9-10, 2.51 ERA, 183 strikeouts
5. Trevor Cahill (OAK): 13-5, 2.54 ERA, 86 strikeouts
6. Jered Weaver (LAA): 11-9, ERA, 189 strikeouts
7. C.J. Wilson (TEX): 12-5, 3.02 ERA, 128 strikeouts
8. Jon Lester (BOS): 13-8, 3.26 ERA, 166 strikeouts
9. Cliff Lee (TEX): 10-7, 3.09 ERA, 151 strikeouts
10. Jeff Niemann (TB): 10-3, 3.12 ERA, 102 strikeouts
National League Rookie of the Year Race:
1. Jaime Garcia (STL): 11-6, 2.42 ERA, 111 strikeouts
2. Gaby Sanchez (FLA): .289 avg., 129 hits, 14 HR, 62 RBI
3. Starlin Castro (CHC): .316 avg., 109 hits, 3 HR, 37 RBI
4. Ian Desmond (WSH): .276 avg., 107 hits, 9 HR, 50 RBI
5. Jason Heyward (ATL): .265 avg., 100 hits, 14 HR, 57 RBI
American League Rookie of the Year Race:
1. Austin Jackson (DET): .308 avg., 144 hits, 2 HR, 28 RBI
2. Neftali Feliz (TEX): 3-3, 3.57 ERA, 56 strikeouts, 31 saves
3. Brennan Boesch (DET): .275 avg., 102 hits, 14 HR, 59 RBI
4. John Jaso (TB): .271 avg., 68 hits, 3 HR, 37 RBI
5. Reid Brignac (TB): .252 avg., 64 hits, 6 HR, 36 RBI
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