NEW YORK, NY — Now it’s on to the unofficial second half with MLB’s All-Star break wrapped up after the American League put on a pitching clinic to beat the National League in the 96th Midsummer Classic. Not a home run derby by any means as the AL won 4-0 in Philadelphia.
In all reality, the official second half of the 2026 regular season was prior to the All-Star break with 30 teams completing more than 81 of their 162 games scheduled.
Now that the break is over, ballplayers, managers, coaches, and you, the fans, are ready for the dog days of August and the September stretch. The August 3rd trade deadline is nearing, the complexion of rosters will change and when I looked at the Wild Card picture of a mediocre American League, two of the three teams have winning records—the Yankees (54-42) and Guardians (51-46).
The Yankees and Guardians sit at the top of the American League Wild Card before play resumes out of the All-Star Break with the Mariners holding the third spot – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
I don’t expect Tigers ace Tarik Skubal to get moved as a rental for prospects during his final year under contract with Detroit before free agency. His team is within striking distance, standing 3.5 games back from a Wild Card spot—44-52 at the break which shows the level of mediocrity across the AL.
What’s for sure? The Yankees, with their prior All-Star break surge, and first place Rays (56-38), will battle for the AL East division crown until the end. The Yankees, a prominent favorite towards returning to the World Series, had a MLB best bullpen ERA (3.04), and led the league in home runs, without starters Max Fried and Carlos Rodón as well as Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge.
Time will tell when Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge will be back together in the Yankees lineup – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
To be determined when will the latter two in Stanton and Judge return from the injured list. But even when they do, the Rays, with the best record in the AL and three games ahead of the Yankees have an advantage as Tampa Bay has the third easiest second half schedule. This places them in good position for a spot in the postseason.
The NL has a different complexion. However with the exception of the Dodgers (61-36), Brewers (59-37), Braves (55-40) and Phillies (54-43) who continue to make a statement. Philadelphia and their interim manager Don Mattingly narrowed the gap down to 2.5 games behind Atlanta, leaders of the NL East.
Cristopher Sánchez, the National League All-Star starter Tuesday night in Philadelphia, is a key reason why the Phillies are in the mix for the NL East title with the Braves – Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports
The Marlins (52-45) and Nationals (48-49), with youngsters CJ Abrams and James Wood, a team with the best offense in baseball, are also in the hunt for NL Wild Card spots.
And the looming storyline will continue on. A potential lockout of a new CBA and nasty dispute with owners and the MLBPA. The topic of a salary cap is the major issue and in jeopardy because of it? The 2027 season.
I go back in time, old enough on the beat to say too many ballgames and trips to the ballpark can be an occupational hazard, kidding of course. Baseball is a long season of streaks, ups and downs. Contagious pitching and hitting leading to numerous scenarios that will continue to play out that begins Thursday in Philadelphia as the Mets visit Citizens Bank Park for a three-game series with an off-day Friday.
Juan Soto and the Mets resume their 2026 season Thursday in Philadelphia vs. the Phillies while every other MLB team starts back up Friday – Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports
I spend extensive time at the ballparks, more at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field, the road trips much less as the career winds down. I have to say this Mets team of 2026 is putrid with interim manager Andy Green in for Carlos Mendoza.
The blame for a team with the second-highest team payroll in the game and with billionaire owner Steve Cohen? It’s on the shoulders of President of Baseball Operations David Stearns who constructed this roster. Not re-signing slugger Pete Alonso and trading fan-favorite Brandon Nimmo to Texas for Marcus Semien who is not the same player he once was are two moves still questionable to this day.
Regardless, the Mets, with the second worst record in the NL, playing out the string, are considered sellers with a major roster revamp of unproductive players, exception Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor. Delusions if one is to believe the Mets have a chance of reaching the postseason.
It’s been a miserable season in Queens for the Mets, falling to the bottom of the National League – Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports
The Mets are not the Phillies or Red Sox that changed managers in the first half. Chad Tracy has Boston resuming play with a season-high nine game winning streak. They are under .500 at 46-48, a half game back from the third and final AL Wild Card spot. A 14-2 stretch though what’s ahead for the Red Sox is the 12th hardest remaining schedule.
Because pitching wins ballgames, those that have a healthy rotation and bullpen have an edge. Strikeouts are the key factor in it all, meanwhile across the game, RBI and home run production is down. The game has changed even with that Automated Ball Strike System (ABS), I am waiting for a controversial game ending conclusion that is bound to occur.
An ABS scenario and/or malfunction during MLB’s postseason in October would make for immediate drama – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Yet this is baseball in 2026, a first half of mediocrity and race now to the postseason. I won’t offer picks as to who gets postseason spots, too many scenarios can be in play including injuries and roster moves closer to the trade deadline.
No World Series pick here, but watch those teams vying for the Wild Card because they gain momentum fighting for a spot until Game 162.
As one longtime scout said to me this week: “All my years never saw such mediocrity. It will go down to the wire and what the game needs.”
And baseball will need to continue that momentum with no work stoppage.
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and columnist at LatinoSports.com with coverage of MLB, boxing, and MLS – X: @Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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