Sports

MLB Divisions Ranked As Second Half Begins

By Adam Thompson Lindys Sports

Updated July 15, 2026 8:17 PM

Brewers starting pitcher Jacob Misiorowski pitches against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

The second half of the 2026 MLB season begins July 16 with a singular game (Braves vs. Phillies) with the rest of the circuit back in action on July 17. It won't be long before teams become buyers or sellers.

With just over 60 games to go for teams, nothing is set in stone. But divisional bragging rights? Some are far stronger than others.

Here are the divisional power rankings, based on top team performance, depth/competitiveness, run differentials, and playoff implications.

1. NL Central

Leader: Milwaukee Brewers (59-37, .615)

Other Standout Teams: Brewers dominant; Chicago Cubs (54-42); St. Louis Cardinals (50-45), Pittsburgh Pirates (50-47)

Why #1: For most of the season, every team boasted an above .500 record – unheard of considering how often divisional foes face each other. The Reds have since declined, but every other team still resides above the .500 line. It's a deep race with strong pitching (led by the Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski) and balanced offenses.

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2. NL West

Leader: Los Angeles Dodgers (61-36, .629)

Other Standout teams: Arizona Diamondbacks (49-47); San Diego Padres (48-48)

Why #2: The Dodgers are the clear MLB frontrunner, not just in the NL West but in World Series odds. They have superstar talent (Ohtani, Freeman, etc.) and are the two-time reigning World Series champions.

The Diamondbacks and Padres may not catch the Dodgers in the West, but they are firmly in the NL Wild Card conversation. The Rockies, 20 games below .500, are 13-11 vs. the American League.

3. AL East

Leader: Tampa Bay Rays (56-38, .596)

Other Standout Teams: New York Yankees (54-42); Boston Red Sox (46-48)

Also read: Rays Taking Right Approach Ahead Of MLB Trade Deadline

Why Ranked #3: The Rays continue to do Rays things, competing despite a modest payroll with elite pitching and strong-enough hitting. The Yankees are right in the mix despite major injuries to stars, including Aaron Judge. The Orioles (46-51) and defending AL pennant winners Blue Jays (45-51) are fairly strong for bottom-of-the-standings teams.

arena photography — Brad Penner-Imagn Images

4. NL East

Leader: Atlanta Braves (55-40, .579)

Other Standout Teams: Philadelphia Phillies (54-43); Miami Marlins (52-45)

Why Ranked #4: It's a competitive group, but a step below the above divisions due to the struggling Mets (40-57). The Braves hold the edge despite an early slump, and the Phillies are pushing. Hard-hitting Washington (48-49) offers potential just a few games behind the leaders.

5. AL West

Leader: Texas Rangers (49-47, .510)

Other Standout Teams: Seattle Mariners (48-49); Houston Astros (47-51)

Why Ranked #5: The competition is tight, with three teams separated by just three games. But none of the teams are lighting MLB on fire. There's no dominant team, and the Athletics (41-55) and Angels (38-59) are already afterthoughts. It might make for one of the more thrilling divisional title chases in September, however.

6. AL Central

Leaders: Chicago White Sox (50-45) and Cleveland Guardians (51-46)

Other Standout teams: Minnesota Twins (48-49)

Why Ranked #6: The Central features the lowest overall win totals and weakest run environments. It's competitive at the top but lacks star power and depth compared to other divisions. The White Sox have been a nice surprise, but each team has major flaws and the Tigers (44-52) have been a big disappointment.

This story was originally published July 15, 2026 at 8:04 PM.