The completion of Wednesday's farcical (don't get me started on this) MLB All-Star game means teams will now start the second half of the season today.
Already the contenders have separated themselves from the pretenders, with only a couple of teams hovering in between. And who is going ‘all in’ for a World Series ring should become clearer over the next few weeks as the August 1st trade deadline approaches.
Let's run through how things are shaping up division by division.
American League East: It appears the Baltimore Orioles have picked up where the Toronto Blue Jays left off in 2015 by trying to slug their way to a title. The offensive production of Mark Trumbo, Chris Davis and MVP-candidate Manny Machado is enough to carry what is a weak pitching rotation, and so far it's carried them to a division lead at the halfway point.
The similarly offensive-heavy Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays are both within striking distance just two games back, so it'll be a fascinating run home in what is fast becoming a division where pitchers go to die.
Expect to see all three teams, but in particular the Red Sox and Orioles look to trade for pitching before the deadline.
The New York Yankees are lurking but with a 44-44 win/loss record and with three teams ahead of them, they look set to be in the unfamiliar position of selling at the deadline. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Rays are in full on rebuild mode.
Standings:
Baltimore 51-36
Boston 49-38
Toronto 51-40
New York 44-44
Tampa Bay 34-54
American League Central: It's all happening in Cleveland.
When the Cleveland Cavaliers won their first NBA title, the Indians promptly went on a 14 game winning streak and are currently sitting 6.5 games clear in the Central, at 52-36. And that's despite going 4-6 in their last 10 matches.
A season like this has been coming for the Indians, who under-achieved last year. Their pitching rotation, led by Corey Kluber and Danny Salazar is one of the best in the MLB, and their offense is firing on the back of strong seasons from youngster Francisco Lindor and bounce back veteran Mike Napoli.
The Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals are all well back, and look to be fighting for wildcard berths. Of those, the defending champion Royals look most likely to make a run at toppling the Indians. Minnesota, meanwhile, are long gone.
Standings:
Cleveland 52-36
Detroit 46-43
Chicago 45-43
Kansas City 45-43
Minnesota 32-56
American League West: The Texas Rangers are the team to beat here, a brilliant home record's led them to a 54-36 record and what looks to be a comfortable 5.5 game lead over the Houston Astros.
But the Astros went 17-28 to start the season, blistering on their way to a 31-13 record since to sit in second place and if they can find a way to cure last year's Cy Young Award (Best Pitcher) winner Dallas Keuchel then the Astros will give the Rangers a good run down the stretch.
The Seattle Mariners shouldn't be ruled out either, with Robinson Cano living up to his mammoth contract they're a side that could challenge for a wildcard match but that looks to be it. The Oakland Athletics are done for the season while the Los Angeles Angels can boast the best player in MLB, but nothing else, and sit last.
Standings:
Texas 54-36
Houston 48-41
Seattle 45-44
Oakland 38-51
Los Angeles 37-52
National League East: Even with MVP Bryce Harper putting up numbers well below his norm the Washington Nationals have run away to a 6.0 game lead out East.
A lot of that's on the back of their pitching, Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer are both elite pitchers, and if Harper picks up in the second half it's hard to see anyone else challenging.
The two teams that can are the New York Mets and Miami Marlins. The Mets have huge concerns in their pitching staff, with ace Matt Harvey out for the season and young guns Noah Syndegaard and Steven Matz dealing with elbow injuries.
I like the Marlins to finish above them, they'll welcome back Dee Gordon from suspension, have a bonafide ace in Jose Fernandez in their pitching rotation, and Giancarlo Stanton is one of the most feared hitters in baseball. The Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves are both rebuilding, and not worth talking about.
Standings:
Washington 54-36
Miami 47-41
New York 47-41
Philadelphia 42-48
Atlanta 31-58
National League Central: Three teams made the playoffs out of the Central last year but it's hard to see that happening this year.
The Chicago Cubs almost won the division in the opening weeks as they ran out to a 26-8 record, but since have gone 27-27 on the back of struggles from pitchers Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester. That's allowed the St Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates to remain in contention but still 7.0 games back.
St Louis will have to deal with the loss of Matt Carpenter for the next month. He was putting up a stealth MVP season and will be a huge blow, but they'll also expect improved performance from the likes of Adam Wainwright and Mike Leake down the stretch.
The Pirates will welcome back ace Gerrit Cole and catcher Francisco Cervelli from the disabled list, while also hoping for improved production from 2013 MVP Andrew McCutchen.
All three sides will be buyers at the deadline, but the Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds won't be as they rebuild for coming seasons.
Standings:
Chicago 53-35
St Louis 46-42
Pittsburgh 46-43
Milwaukee 38-49
Cincinnati 32-57
National League West: The San Francisco Giants continue to deliver in even numbered years. They won the World Series in 2010, 2012 and 2014, and now in 2016, they hold MLB's best record at the break.
They effectively have three aces in Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzja but the consistent production from the likes of Buster Posey, Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford shouldn't be underestimated.
The LA Dodgers should give this side a run down the stretch, but much depends on how soon they get the best pitcher in baseball back from the disabled list. They are 14-2 when Clayton Kershaw starts and 37-38 when he doesn't. He is their man, and he will be the difference between them making the playoffs.
The West looks to be a two horse race unfortunately. Colorado and San Diego will likely sell players at the deadline. The Arizona Diamondbacks invested heavily in the off-season, but the season ending injury to AJ Pollock at the start of the campaign meant they were always on the back foot, and haven't been able to translate their investment into results.
Standings:
San Francisco 57-33
Los Angeles 51-40
Colorado 40-48
San Diego 38-51
Arizona 38-52
Predictions:
AL East: Boston Red Sox
AL Central: Cleveland Indians
AL West: Texas Rangers
NL East: Washington Nationals
NL Central: Chicago Cubs
NL West: San Francisco Giants
AL Wildcard: Houston Astros V Kansas City Royals
NL Wildcard: St Louis Cardinals V Miami Marlins
World Series Champions: San Francisco Giants
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