Standings via MLB.com
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers have managed to reclaim the top spot in the division after going back and forth from sharing 1st place to 2nd place. They haven’t lost steam since the All-Star Break ended and they’re 6-4 in their last 10 games. Sweeping the Giants also helped in their pursuit to regain 1st place.
In the past few weeks, the Dodgers acquired Hanley Ramirez from the Miami Marlins before the trade deadline and Joe Blanton from the Philadelphia Phillies on the waiver wire. Ramirez has been hitting .308/.382/.436 with an OPS of .818, OPS+ of 126, BABIP of .348, and an ISO of .128 in 20 games and 89 plate appearances.
To state the obvious, it’s safe to say that the Dodgers are doing all they can to find ways to strengthen their team for a playoff push and it shows.
For more on the Dodgers, visit Foul Territory.
San Francisco Giants
It’s tough to not mention the biggest thing that’s happened in the past week for the Giants, which is that Melky Cabrera was suspended for 50 games following a positive PED test. Cabrera will not appeal the suspension and will be out for the remainder of the season. This is a blow to the Giants’ offense, which had seemed like it was finally coming together after years of lineups that made no sense.
Despite that, Buster Posey has been having an extraordinary season with numbers that can astound just about anyone — a hitting line of .330/.407/.544, .951 OPS, .358 BABIP, .214 ISO, 157 wRC+. And with Pablo Sandoval back from the disabled list, it’s still very possible for the Giants to keep their offense up.
However, the Giants haven’t exactly been doing well at home in their last two homestands — their record on their last two homestands is 6-10, including being swept by the current 1st place team, the Dodgers. They’re 5-2 on their last road trip and are about to embark on another one, including a three game series at Dodger Stadium.
Now would be the time for the Giants to prove that they’re still in the playoff race.
For more on the Giants, visit Third Street Kings.
Arizona Diamondbacks
There was a point in the post-All-Star Break season where the Diamondbacks were gaining ground in the division and they had a chance at maybe breaking into the playoff race.
Unfortunately for the Diamondbacks and their fans, the team has dipped below .500 again and are 3-7 in their last 10 games. What was once only three games back is now six games back.
Either the team has regressed to their 2012 average or they’re going through a bad streak. In any case, if the Diamondbacks still want to push for 2nd place or a Wild Card spot, it’s do or die at this point. It’s hard to tell if it’s actually possible for them to do that, though. They’ll need a lot of luck to pull off a comeback.
For more on the Diamondbacks, visit Snakes on the Grass.
San Diego Padres
At this point, the Padres are just trying to not finish the season as an embarrassment to baseball. It’s working, as they now have a .433 win percentage and are 6-4 in their last 10 games.
They’re not making a massive impact on the division, especially with being 14 games back. They’re just kind of … there. Trying to prove they cannot possibly be worse than the Rockies.
Though being worse than the Rockies would be a feat to accomplish.
Colorado Rockies
Speaking of the Rockies, man, what a season they’re having. There’s only one team worse than them and that’s the Houston Astros.
Yet somehow, they’re 7-3 in their last 10 games. With a four-man rotation.
Baseball. Sometimes, it’s just weird and wacky.
