Mid-Season Grades AL Central
Cleveland Guardians – Half Season Grade A+
Current Record 58 – 37
Last 10 games 4 – 6
Last Season 76 – 86 (3rd in the AL central did not make the playoffs)
The Guardians have in the last few years always been a steady hitting contact baseball team without being massively spectacular or a joy to watch however this year they have completely changed to be a much more consistent team that seem like they could be a real threat come playoff time. Infielder Jose Ramirez already on 23 home runs has been one of the most consistent and underrated players in the whole of the MLB and is clearly the on-field leader of this team but it seems like this year he has more players around him playing to his standard. Josh Naylor also has over 20 home runs with 22 and Steven Kwan now in his 3rd major league season is currently leading the American League with a batting average of .352. If the Guardians can keep this up in the second half they could be a force come the post season.
Video Taken from MLB's YouTube channel
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Minnesota Twins – Half Season Grade B
Current Record 54 – 42
Last 10 Games 6 – 4
Last Season 87 – 75 (Won AL Central, lost to Houston Astros 1 – 3 in ALDS)
The Twins have come back strong after a slow start to the season and are hoping to make the playoffs but will probably have to rely on a wild card spot to do this. The pitching has not been great with star pitcher Pablo Lopez is currently riding a plus 5 ERA but they are a consistent without being spectacular team. 4 players have 10 plus home runs and 3 more have 9 home runs so the consistency throughout the team is non over reliance on one player is the key to the Twins success. Carlos Correa at shortstop is again showing why he is so highly regarded in the game. The aim for the Twins is to catch the Guardians and will need an improved second half of the season to be able to do this and achieve what they did last season.
Kansas City Royals – Half season Grade B+
Current Record 52 – 45
Last 10 Games 5 – 5
Last Season 56 – 106 (Last place in AL Central)
There's no other way to put it the Royals were dreadful last season and had the 2nd worse record in all of MLB. They were so poor that just over halfway through this season the Royals have already nearly matched the number of wins they had in the whole of 2023. The Royals clearly have a plan to build around youth and star player Bobby Witt Jr has in the first year of his long-term deal showing why the Royals have invested so much for the future of the franchise. Witt Jr is batting to a .323 average and already has 16 home runs. He is being duly supported by veteran catcher Salvador Perez with 17 home runs so far who is having his best year since 2021. The big difference so far with the Royals however is the pitching that let them down last season. This year however led by Seth Lugo in his first year with the Royals the pitching is more competitive leading the Royals with a much better chance to win games. Veteran pitcher Lugo is in the Cy Young race, and he became an all-star for the first time this year. The Royals are looking at the play-offs and a remarkable turnaround from 2023.
Video Taken from MLB's YouTube channel
Detroit Tigers – Half Season Grade C-
Current Record 47 – 50
Last 10 Games 8 – 2
Last Season 78 – 84 (2nd in AL Central did not make the play-offs)
This was always going to be a strange season for the Tigers after 15 years Miguel Cabrera has retired and its time for the Tigers to start fresh without their talisman. They have picked up recently and are looking to catch the three teams currently ahead of them in the division. Riley Greene is living up to his potential and could be the next superstar to come out of the Tigers organisation. He has become a first time all-star on the back of a brilliant first half of the season where he has 17 home runs and 50 RBI’s. Another first-time all-star Tarik Skubal is making his CY Young case with a half season 10 – 3 win loss record and 2.41 ERA. The Tigers do have players that can make a difference but its all a question of have they left it too late to make a wild card push? I think so but there are reasons to be cheerful for Tigers fans in the years to come.
Chicago White Sox – Half Season Grade F
Current Record 27 – 71
Last 10 Games 2 – 8
Last Season 61 – 101 (4th in AL Central)
The White Sox have been the worst team in MLB throughout the first half of the season and its not even close. Although last year things were not great this year has fallen off a cliff. The organisation has already given up on 2024 and are actively looking to trade. Garrett Crochet the current strike out leader in the MLB is being rumoured to be on the active trade market with the White Sox looking for a haul of prospects to go again in 2025. Luis Robert Jr is also someone rumoured to be traded before the end of July deadline and has not been anything like the player that was a 2023 all-star. Outside of Crochet and fellow starter Erick Fedde the pitching has been poor, and the bullpen has not helped. Combined with poor offense this truly has been a half season to forget for 2024s worst team.
Stats taken from MLB.com