The MLB All-Star Game is in the books after the American League dominated the National League 4-0. Now that the Midsummer Classic is behind us, we have passed the unofficial halfway point of the 2026 MLB season. With that in mind, let’s grade each team's performance during the first half of the year.
Arizona Diamondbacks: B
The D-backs haven't been bad, but they haven't been great either. The good news is that the expectations for this team going into the 2026 season weren't that high, so they received a B because they performed better than anticipated. Arizona is two games above .500 and only 2.5 games out of a Wild Card spot. With 66 games remaining on the schedule, the Diamondbacks have positioned themselves to potentially make a playoff push in the National League, especially when they get back starting pitchers Corbin Burnes and Zac Gallen.
Athletics: D-
Understandably, the Athletics did not seem like they would be competitive coming into this season. After all, they don't even have a permanent home stadium at the moment! Yet, that didn't stop the A's from getting off to a nice start to the season by going 23-21 and taking a lead in the AL West divisional race. Unfortunately, they have completely fallen apart since then and are now 14 games below .500. The fact that they were good at one point makes this somewhat redeemable, but the Athletics' recent struggles ruined the first half of the 2026 season.
Atlanta Braves: A-
We actually predicted that the Braves would be the third Wild Card team in the National League. Therefore, they have far exceeded expectations since they currently control first place in the NL East. The problem, though, is that the Braves have been playing poorly as of late, and they're losing their stranglehold on the division. Philadelphia is only 2.5 games back from them for first place in the NL East. The fact that they finished the first half of the year on such a bad note sours an otherwise impressive start to the season.
Baltimore Orioles: D-
The Orioles got off to an okay start, going 15-15 in their first 30 games, but they have floundered ever since, going 31-36 the rest of the way. The All-Star Break came at a pretty bad time for this team, considering they were in the middle of a four-game win streak. They're only six games below .500, so it's possible this squad could finish the season with a winning record. But with playoff hopes coming into the year, this has been a pretty terrible showing for Baltimore. The O’s avoided an F because they're only two games back from an AL wild card spot.
Boston Red Sox: C+
One month ago, the Sox were 11 games below .500 and looked like one of the worst teams in the Majors despite having one of the 12 most expensive rosters in the league. Today, the Red Sox are only two games below .500 and have the longest active win streak in the MLB at nine games. In fact, Boston hasn't lost a game since July 1st! They're only a half-game out of a Wild Card spot, but the Red Sox got a C+ because they got off to such a slow start yet managed to turn things around.
Chicago Cubs: A-
The belief coming into the 2026 campaign was that the Cubs would usurp the Milwaukee Brewers as the team to beat in the NL Central. It's still possible with only five games separating these squads, but even if Chicago fails to catch Milwaukee, they'll still be a playoff team in all likelihood, considering they're 2.5 games up in the NL Wild Card race. We also have to shout out Pete Crow-Armstrong, who looks like an MVP candidate and one of the best players in baseball. Chicago received an A- because the team has been streaky at certain points this season, and they aren't in first place in their division.
Chicago White Sox: A+
The White Sox received an A+ because they have clearly exceeded expectations for this year. The 2024 White Sox were one of the worst teams in MLB history with a .253 winning percentage. On this day last year, Chicago had the second-worst record in baseball ahead of only the Colorado Rockies. 365 days later, the Sox sit atop the AL Central standings with a 50-45 record. Even if they fail to win the division, the American League is so weak that Chicago will likely end up being a Wild Card team. This has already been a successful season for the White Sox.
Cincinnati Reds: F
Right after our first A+, we get our first F of the 2026 season. Foolishly, we projected the Reds to be one of the three wild card teams in the National League, and it actually looked like that was a possibility early on in the season after Cincy got off to a 20-11 start. Since that day, though, almost nothing has gone right for the Reds. In fact, Cincinnati has the lowest winning percentage in baseball since May 1st (.359). If the Reds had just come out and been bad the entire season, they probably would've gotten a D. The fact that they started so strong and ended the first half of the year with a 43-52 mark earned them an F.
Cleveland Guardians: B
This is par for the course for the Guardians. We viewed Cleveland as the favorite to win the AL Central, and they are tied for first place in the division, so they did meet those expectations. Normally, if you do what's expected of you, you'll earn a C or C+, but Cleveland got a B because they have weathered various storms this season. Between having the lowest payroll in baseball ($80.01 million) and the betting scandal that plagued this team's star closer coming into the year, it's pretty amazing that they have played this well.
Colorado Rockies: D+
You would think that being one of the three worst teams in the MLB would warrant an F, but that's not the case for the Rockies, who are actually much better than they were last season. During the 2025 campaign, Colorado went 43-119. This season, they already have 39 wins and are projected to finish the season 66-96. They're still one of the worst squads in the Majors, but relative to the expectations they had coming into this year, the Rockies are not at the bottom of the MLB.
Detroit Tigers: D-
This has been a disastrous season for the Tigers, who we believed would be representing the AL Central in the 2026 MLB Playoffs. They weren't far off long ago, since Detroit was only one game back from first place in the division on May 1st. However, they’re now eight games below .500 and 6.5 games out of first place. Normally, they would get an F, but we cut the Tigers a little bit of slack considering they have dealt with injuries to two of their shortstops, Jackson Jobe, Parker Meadows, and, of course, Tarik Skubal. Their record would likely be much better if those guys didn't have such severe injuries.
Houston Astros: C
The Astros are one of two teams that received a C at the midway point of the season, which should be viewed as a win when you realize they're four games below .500. Thankfully for the Houston faithful, they're 1.5 games out of a Wild Card spot and three games back from first place in the AL West, so there's still a possibility that they could clinch a postseason berth. Houston is exactly where we expected it to be. Had they won the series against the Texas Rangers before the All-Star Break, they might have received a better grade.
Kansas City Royals: F
I get that expectations coming into the season were not great, but holy sh*t; the Royals are AWFUL. They have had nine different losing streaks of at least three games this year. The season really went down the tubes in May, when they started the month with a 13-19 record but ended it with a 22-37 mark. Over the last two months, only the Athletics have had a worse record than the Royals, who have gone 19-33 during this stretch. With 499 runs allowed already this season, KC is one of the four worst pitching and fielding teams in the MLB.
Los Angeles Angels: F
Much like the Royals, there was not much hope for the Angels coming into this year. Yet, that didn't stop LA from getting off to a respectable 11-10 start through their first 21 games of the season. After that, the Angels have been the worst team in baseball with a 27-49 record. In fact, they have four fewer wins and three more losses than any other MLB squad during that stretch. Since the Angels are tied with the Royals for the lowest winning percentage in baseball (.392), it would not be all that surprising to see Mike Trout ask for a trade when the season comes to an end. He has to be furious seeing how much success Shohei Ohtani is having on the other side of town. He probably wants that too, but knows he won't achieve that goal with the Angels.
Los Angeles Dodgers: A
It probably seems unjust that the best team in Major League Baseball didn’t receive an A+. Then again, the expectations were sky high for this team coming into the year. It's not like the Dodgers are running away with the National League. They only have a 1.5-game lead over the Brewers for the best record in the NL. If we're being honest, they are probably closer to a B than an A. However, when you're the best team in baseball, you deserve an A.
Miami Marlins: A
Nobody saw this coming. Since the beginning of June, no team has been better than the Marlins, who have a 26-11 record. They have the eighth-best mark in baseball at 52-45, and they're only four games back from the Braves for first place in the division. Keep in mind, Miami is doing this with the second-lowest payroll in the MLB ($81.15 million). Yet, they're going toe-to-toe with the Phillies ($281.10 million) and the Braves ($269.12 million). The only reason the Marlins miss out on an A+ is that they went into the All-Star Break on a three-game losing streak, which put a slight damper on an otherwise excellent first half of the season.
Milwaukee Brewers: A+
Milwaukee was supposed to take a step back this season, but that has been far from the case. The Brewers are 59-37 and only 1.5 games behind the Dodgers for the best record in the MLB. Milwaukee has also exceeded expectations based on its payroll. Their payroll is about $40 million below the league average, yet they’re 12 games above .500 and have a five-game lead in the race for the NL Central, which features the Cubs and Cardinals, both of whom have World Series aspirations. With the second-best team ERA in the Majors (3.48), it shouldn't be all that surprising to see the Brew Crew at the top of the MLB standings.
Minnesota Twins: C+
After they gutted a huge portion of their roster at the trade deadline last season, there was no hope that the Twins would be any good this year after a relatively uneventful off-season. Despite these tapered expectations, Minnesota has been decent through the first part of the 2026 campaign. They have the same record as the Seattle Mariners, which means they're in the thick of the Wild Card race. Plus, they're only three games behind the White Sox for first place in the AL Central. They're not an exceptional team, but Minnesota is frisky and could maybe even make the playoffs with some luck.
New York Mets: F
In the world of higher education, all Fs are created equal. In the world of sports, though, that is not the case. The Mets' failures this year stand head and shoulders above the rest. New York is 16 games below .500 even though it has the highest payroll in baseball ($328.70 million). Usually, you can buy your way to some success in the MLB, but not the Mets! They fired their manager, they're 11.5 games out of a Wild Card spot, and their top two stars apparently dislike each other. Based on how well we expected them to do coming into the year and how bad they are now, the Mets were the MLB's biggest failures during the first half of the 2026 season.
New York Yankees: B-
The Yankees are pretty terrible right now, even though they have the second-best record in the American League. Over the last month, the Pinstripes are 10-15, which gives them the eighth-worst record in baseball during that stretch. Since Aaron Judge left the lineup on May 31st, the Yankees have scored the 11th-fewest runs in the MLB (170) while ranking tied for 25th in terms of hits (290). As a team that relies heavily on offensive production, they have not gotten enough over the last few months. Thankfully, they're still 12 games above .500 and control a Wild Card spot, so they got a B-.
Philadelphia Phillies: A-
Ever since Philadelphia fired former manager Rob Thomson on April 28th, they have been one of the best teams in baseball, with a 45-25 record, which gives them the second-best mark in the league. The problem is that the Phillies opened the season 8-18, which will probably hurt their standing in the playoff race when the regular season comes to an end. Had they not started so slowly, they would probably be the top team in the NL East standings. From playoff aspirations before the season to a horrible start to the campaign to now, Philadelphia has been one of the better teams in MLB, and it's fair to say they have had a successful first half of 2026.
Pittsburgh Pirates: B
The Pirates didn't have postseason aspirations coming into this season, yet they find themselves with an above .500 record and in the middle of the NL playoff picture. They might not be lighting the world on fire, but Pittsburgh is only two games out of a Wild Card spot. Amazingly, they have been the best offensive team in baseball since they're tied with the Nationals for the most runs scored this season (516). At the same time, though, the Pirates have been let down by their pitching staff, which is 20th in ERA (4.32). Either way, they came out of the first half of the year on the positive side of things, and that's all you can ask for in a highly competitive National League.
San Diego Padres: C
The Padres are the only team in the Majors that is currently .500, so - by default - they had to get a C. San Diego is 18th in runs allowed (422) and dead last in runs scored (379). It's actually pretty remarkable that the Padres are .500, considering they have a -43 run differential. The good news is that they're only 3.5 games out of a Wild Card spot, so this season could still be a successful one if they finish the second half of the year strong. For now, though, the first half of 2026 was fairly pedestrian.
San Francisco Giants: F
Nobody thought the Giants would be competing for a playoff spot, or anything like that, but it would've also been fair to assume that this team wouldn't be 14 games below .500 going into the All-Star Game. Rafael Devers has been a major distraction to this team. They have one of the worst bullpens in the Majors with a 4.47 ERA, which ranks 21st in the league. San Francisco is tied for 24th in runs scored (395). And, we of course can't forget the Pride Night fiasco. There are very few ways the first half of the 2026 season could've been worse for the Giants.
Seattle Mariners: C-
After making it to the ALCS last season and forcing a Game Seven against the Toronto Blue Jays, there were high hopes for this year. At 48-49 and 1.5 games back from the Texas Rangers for first place in the AL West, it's fair to say that the Mariners have failed to live up to the hype thus far. Perhaps the most disappointing player in baseball this season is Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh. One year after posting a 7.2 WAR and 60 home runs, Raleigh only has nine homers and a -0.2 WAR. The Mariners didn't receive a lower grade because they are in the thick of the playoff hunt, and they theoretically could still win the AL West.
St. Louis Cardinals: B+
Following their third straight campaign that ended without a playoff berth, the Cards are now positioned to make a postseason push, possibly. They’re one of the seven best teams in the National League and are only a game out of a Wild Card spot. If St. Louis played in the American League, it would undoubtedly be a playoff team. More importantly, the Cardinals have recent wins over the Braves, Cubs, Marlins, and Brewers, and all of those games could have a huge impact on the 2026 playoff race. It will be disappointing if St. Louis misses the postseason again, but as far as the first half of the 2026 campaign goes, it was a successful one in St. Louis.
Tampa Bay Rays: A+
The Rays may have had the best first half of the year out of any team in the Majors. Despite the eighth-lowest payroll in the MLB ($102.36 million) and a two-year playoff drought, Tampa has emerged as the favorite to win the American League. The Rays have a three-game lead for the best record in the AL and are only 3.5 games back from the Dodgers for the best record in the MLB. Tampa didn't just exceed expectations during the first half of the 2026 season; they completely changed fans' hopes for how the rest of the year will play out. Before the season, they would've been lucky to make the playoffs. Now, the Rays look like a legitimate World Series contender.
Texas Rangers: B
The Rangers have been incredibly disappointing ever since they won the 2023 World Series (I bet you don't remember that happened!). They're not running away with the AL West, but they are in first place, and there's not much more that you can ask for from a team that failed to finish the last two seasons with a winning record. They’re only 1.5 games ahead of the Mariners for the divisional lead, but that sets them up well for a possible playoff run. Even if the Mariners overtake them for first place in the AL West, they would still be a Wild Card team if the season ended today.
Toronto Blue Jays: F
The Toronto faithful should be thanking their lucky stars for the New York Mets. If it weren't for them, the Blue Jays would be the most disappointing team in Major League Baseball. This is a squad that forced a Game Seven in the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers less than a year ago! Yet, they are six games below .500 and 12 games back from first place in the AL East. The season is not a lost cause because the Jays are only 2.5 games out of a Wild Card spot. However, the first half of the 2026 season can only be viewed as a failure for Toronto.
Washington Nationals: B+
We close out our grades with a pleasant surprise in the Washington Nationals. If you asked the most-famous Nationals fan in the world, PFT Commenter, the best the Nats could've hoped for before the season was finishing well below .500 with impressive performances from their young players. Right now, though, Washington is only one game below .500 and four games out of a Wild Card spot. On top of that, their young guys, like James Wood, CJ Abrams, and Luis Garcia Jr., have far exceeded expectations. Hell, Wood has the seventh-best WAR in all of baseball (4.2)! This has been a good start to the 2026 season for the Nationals.
