We’re now entering the second half of August, and the MLB finds itself at a crucial stage of the season where playoff positioning is continuing to take shape and momentum matters more than ever. The National League remains impressively stacked at the top, with several teams jockeying for divisional supremacy and Wild Card positioning, creating a competitive landscape that looks increasingly crowded. Meanwhile, the American League shows strength in the middle tier, as a cluster of teams is making late-season pushes to climb into contention, though a few clubs at both the top and bottom continue to separate themselves from the pack. With the standings tightening and critical series looming, this week promises to deliver matchups that will test depth, consistency, and resilience across both leagues, and set the tone for the stretch run toward the postseason. With that in mind, let’s see where each team stacks up with the rest of the league this late in the season:

1. Milwaukee Brewers (78-45)

8/11 – vs. Pirates – Won 7-1

8/12 – vs. Pirates – Won 14-0

8/13 – vs. Pirates – Won 12-5

8/14 – OFF

8/15 – @ Reds – Won 10-8

8/16 – @ Reds – Won 6-5 (11)

8/17 – @ Reds – Lost 3-2 (10)

The Brewers have been en fuego as of late following a 14-game winning streak over a two-week span, with this week’s victims being the Pirates in a three-game sweep, took a breather, then pushed through two nail-biters in Cincinnati before finally getting clipped in extras on Sunday, snapping the streak. The vibes in Milwaukee are high with pure dominance in every area, including a relentless offense, a resilient bullpen, and 17 wins in their last 19 games. Now comes the real test of control in the Central: a five-game series at Wrigley against the Cubs before the Giants visit next weekend.

Up next: @ Cubs (8/18-21, 5 Games), vs. Giants (8/22-24)

2. Toronto Blue Jays (73-52)

8/11 – OFF

8/12 – vs. Cubs – Won 5-1

8/13 – vs. Cubs – Lost 4-1

8/14 – vs. Cubs – Won 2-1

8/15 – vs. Rangers – Won 6-5

8/16 – vs. Rangers – Won 14-2

8/17 – vs. Rangers – Lost 10-4

Toronto split the Cubs series with two pitching masterclasses, sandwiching a 4-1 loss, and then they handled Texas with two convincing wins before dropping Sunday’s finale. That 4-2 week-long homestand featured a Saturday eruption that reminded everyone how fast this lineup can snowball innings. The rotation gave them length; the bullpen survived traffic. Next up, they have a road swing on deck, featuring series in Pittsburgh and Miami.

Up next: @ Pirates (8/18-20), @ Marlins (8/22-24)

3. Los Angeles Dodgers (71-53)

8/11 – @ Angels – Lost 7-4

8/12 – @ Angels – Lost 7-6 (10)

8/13 – @ Angels – Lost 6-5

8/14 – OFF

8/15 – vs. Padres – Won 3-2

8/16 – vs. Padres – Won 6-0

8/17 – vs. Padres – Won 5-4

The Dodgers capped off a very strange week that included a freeway sweep suffered at the hands of the cross-town-rival Angels in Shohei Ohtani’s return to Anaheim. That was followed immediately by a crisp home sweep of the Padres to solidify their positioning in the NL West after the rotation and pen slammed the door on San Diego to make up for their rough start to the week. They also have a couple of away series up next with altitude and attitude in Colorado for four games before playing traveling to San Diego to face the Padres again next weekend.

Up next: @ Rockies (8/18-21, 4 Games), @ Padres (8/22-24)

4. Philadelphia Phillies (71-53)

8/11 – @ Reds – Won 4-1

8/12 – @ Reds – Lost 6-1

8/13 – @ Reds – Lost 8-0

8/14 – @ Nationals – Lost 3-2

8/15 – @ Nationals – Won 6-2

8/16 – @ Nationals – Lost 2-0

8/17 – @ Nationals – Won 11-9

The week was a zigzag as a solid win in Cincinnati early in the week was followed by two rough losses to the Reds following Philly’s atrocious performances at the plate. They then had a four-gamer in D.C. against the struggling Nationals that see-sawed to a split, punctuated by Sunday’s 11-9 track meet win. Philly’s margin for error shrank, but even with the disappointing batting performances from this past week, they’ll surely figure it out very soon. They’ll welcome some home cooking after that road grind. Citizens Bank hosts the Mariners and then the Nationals again in just three games this time around.

Up next: vs. Mariners (8/18-20), vs. Nationals (8/22-24)

5. Detroit Tigers (73-53)

8/11 – @ White Sox – Won 2-1

8/12 – @ White Sox – Lost 9-6

8/13 – @ White Sox – Won 1-0

8/14 – @ Twins – Won 4-3 (11)

8/15 – @ Twins – Won 7-0

8/16 – @ Twins – Won 8-5

8/17 – @ Twins – Lost 8-1

Detroit had a very solid week that took two surprisingly tense wins on the South Side before storming into Minneapolis with an 11-inning win, a shutout, another dub, and finally one slip-up to close. Pitching depth keeps showing up when needed, including the elite showings from guys like Troy Melton, Charlie Morton, and Casey Mize. They return to Comerica for back-to-back series against the Astros and the Royals as they continue chasing the Blue Jays for the AL’s top spot.

Up next: vs. Astros (8/18-20), vs. Royals (8/22-24)

6. Chicago Cubs (70-53)

8/11 – OFF

8/12 – @ Blue Jays – Lost 5-1

8/13 – @ Blue Jays – Won 4-1

8/14 – @ Blue Jays – Lost 2-1

8/15 – vs. Pirates – Lost 3-2

8/16 – vs. Pirates – Won 3-1

8/17 – vs. Pirates – Won 4-3

A tough trip to Toronto was fortunately followed by a course correction at home, taking two of three from Pittsburgh with late-inning answers both Saturday and Sunday. The pitching staff continues to impress at the right time, especially with how crucial of a role they’ll play in the postseason, and when the bats are able to pick up the pace again, this team will be dangerous. They get another crack at the Brewers in Wrigley this time around for five games and the top spot in the NL Central again, then it’s off to Anaheim for the up-and-down Angels.

Up next: vs. Brewers (8/18-21, 5 Games), @ Angels (8/22-24)

7. San Diego Padres (69-55)

8/11 – @ Giants – Won 4-1

8/12 – @ Giants – Won 5-1

8/13 – @ Giants – Won 11-1

8/14 – OFF

8/15 – @ Dodgers – Lost 3-2

8/16 – @ Dodgers – Lost 6-0

8/17 – @ Dodgers – Lost 5-4

San Diego’s week could only be described as whiplash, as they dominated San Francisco with a combined 20-3 margin but immediately stumbled in Los Angeles, where they dropped three close contests to the Dodgers. The highs suggested a legitimate contender, while the lows emphasized just how thin their margins can be when execution wavers. The Padres will have an immediate chance to recalibrate when they host the Giants for four games, followed by another pivotal divisional series against the Dodgers as they come to Petco Park next weekend.

Up next: vs. Giants (8/18-21, 4 Games), vs. Dodgers (8/22-24)

8. Houston Astros (69-55)

8/11 – vs. Red Sox – Won 7-6

8/12 – vs. Red Sox – Lost 14-1

8/13 – vs. Red Sox – Won 4-1

8/14 – OFF

8/15 – vs. Orioles – Lost 7-0

8/16 – vs. Orioles – Won 5-4 (12)

8/17 – vs. Orioles – Lost 12-0

Houston’s week was defined by its lack of consistency, as they narrowly beat Boston in one contest, were thoroughly beaten in another, and then pulled off a sharp performance to close the set. They followed that up with a rollercoaster against Baltimore, winning in 12 innings once but also suffering blowout results on either side of it. While the Astros are still very much in the hunt for the division, they continue to search for the week-to-week stability that would establish them as a clear favorite as their schedule now ramps up with a road trip that begins in Detroit before they head to Baltimore.

Up next: @ Tigers (8/18-20), @ Orioles (8/21-24, 4 Games)

9. Boston Red Sox (68-57)

8/11 – @ Astros – Lost 7-6

8/12 – @ Astros – Won 14-1

8/13 – @ Astros – Lost 4-1

8/14 – OFF

8/15 – vs. Marlins – Won 2-1

8/16 – vs. Marlins – Won 7-5

8/17 – vs. Marlins – Lost 5-3

The Red Sox showed both extremes in Houston, scoring 14 runs in one victory but producing almost nothing the following night, and then they returned home to win two of three against Miami, although the finale slipped away. Boston remained competitive by leaning on their defense and depth, while the lineup works to deliver more reliable production over longer stretches. The road ahead provides them with both opportunity and pressure, beginning with a brief two-game visit from the Orioles, followed by a critical four-game weekend series in the Bronx against the arch-rival Yankees.

Up next: vs. Orioles (8/18-19, 2 Games), @ Yankees (8/21-24, 4 Games)

10. New York Mets (66-58)

8/11 – OFF

8/12 – vs. Braves – Won 13-5

8/13 – vs. Braves – Lost 11-6

8/14 – vs. Braves – Lost 4-3

8/15 – vs. Mariners – Lost 11-9

8/16 – vs. Mariners – Won 3-1

8/17 – vs. Mariners (in Williamsport, PA) – Won 7-3

The Mets delivered a cathartic 13-5 win over Atlanta but stumbled in the next two games before splitting a wild four-game set with Seattle that included an inspiring victory in Williamsport during the Little League Classic. Their performance was not always clean, especially with their continued struggles against the Braves, yet it did help steady the team as they remain locked in the thick of the Wild Card race. With little room for error, every upcoming series takes on added weight, starting with a tune-up trip to Washington after a rest day and before heading south for another clash against Atlanta.

Up next: @ Nationals (8/19-21), @ Braves (8/22-24)

11. Seattle Mariners (68-57)

8/11 – OFF

8/12 – @ Orioles – Won 1-0

8/13 – @ Orioles – Lost 4-3

8/14 – @ Orioles – Lost 5-3

8/15 – @ Mets – Won 11-9

8/16 – @ Mets – Lost 3-1

8/17 – vs. Mets (in Williamsport, PA) – Lost 7-3

Seattle began the week in style with a 1-0 shutout win in Baltimore, but the series quickly unraveled with two close defeats. Their next stop in New York provided a wild 11-9 victory, yet it ended in disappointment with back-to-back losses, including their high-profile appearance in the Little League Classic. The Mariners have shown they can score in bursts, but finding daily consistency at the plate continues to be their challenge. Their grueling road trip will continue as they head to Philadelphia early in the week before finally returning to T-Mobile Park next weekend to face the A’s.

Up next: @ Phillies (8/18-20), vs. Athletics (8/22-24)

12. Cincinnati Reds (65-60)

8/11 – vs. Phillies – Lost 4-1

8/12 – vs. Phillies – Won 6-1

8/13 – vs. Phillies – Won 8-0

8/14 – OFF

8/15 – vs. Brewers – Lost 10-8

8/16 – vs. Brewers – Lost 6-5 (11)

8/17 – vs. Brewers – Won 3-2 (10)

In what was their toughest week of the season, the Reds bounced back from a Friday loss to Philadelphia with two commanding wins, and while Milwaukee’s relentless late-inning rallies spoiled their weekend with back-to-back heartbreakers, they were finally able to pull out a 10-inning thriller to halt the Brewers’ insane win streak at 14. The team has shown resilience in key moments, especially from the strong performance over the week from the bullpen, and they’ll have a trip out West that should provide a much-needed breather as they travel to Anaheim to face the Angels before heading to Arizona.

Up next: @ Angels (8/18-20), @ Diamondbacks (8/22-24)

13. New York Yankees (67-57)

8/11 – vs. Twins – Won 6-2

8/12 – vs. Twins – Won 9-1

8/13 – vs. Twins – Lost 4-1

8/14 – OFF

8/15 – @ Cardinals – Won 4-3

8/16 – @ Cardinals – Won 12-8

8/17 – @ Cardinals – Won 8-4

After struggling over the past several weeks, the Yankees finally built some momentum in emphatic fashion, blowing out Minnesota in two contests and then steamrolling a previously-hot Cardinals team in a road sweep where they scored 24 total runs. The lineup’s ability to string together competitive at-bats paired well with a rotation that effectively limited traffic throughout the week, so while New York enters this next stretch riding high, they face a divisional gauntlet that will demand their best with two games in Tampa Bay before returning home to host the arch-rival Red Sox.

Up next: @ Rays (8/19-20, 2 Games), vs. Red Sox (8/21-24, 4 Games)

14. Kansas City Royals (63-61)

8/11 – vs. Nationals – Won 7-4

8/12 – vs. Nationals – Won 8-5

8/13 – vs. Nationals – Lost 8-7

8/14 – OFF

8/15 – vs. White Sox – Won 3-1

8/16 – vs. White Sox – Won 6-2

8/17 – vs. White Sox – Won 6-2

The Royals have been one of the more bipolar teams in baseball as they continue following bad weeks with solid ones. This time, they took two-of-three in Washington before sweeping the White Sox, and their rotation provided consistent quality starts, the bullpen delivered in support, and the lineup showed enough balance to handle business without late-game chaos. Kansas City now finds itself firmly in the playoff chase again and looking ahead to more big opportunities, but they need to keep their foot on the gas and find consistency every single week and not just once every two weeks, with the Rangers and Tigers next up.

Up next: vs. Rangers (8/18-21, 4 Games), @ Tigers (8/22-24)

15. Cleveland Guardians (63-60)

8/11 – OFF

8/12 – vs. Marlins – Won 4-3

8/13 – vs. Marlins – Lost 13-4

8/14 – vs. Marlins – Won 9-4

8/15 – vs. Braves – Lost 2-0

8/16 – vs. Braves – Lost 10-1

8/17 – vs. Braves – Lost 5-4

The Guardians experienced mixed results at home, winning two games against Miami while also suffering a blowout defeat, before running into an Atlanta team that swept them convincingly in a three-game set that saw Sunday as really the only competitive game in the series. After what seemed like a fantastic week last week, Cleveland’s bats have gone quiet at the wrong times, which has left them with little margin when their pitching falters, and they now head on the road in search of answers at the plate, beginning with three in Arizona before heading to Texas next weekend.

Up next: @ Diamondbacks (8/18-20), @ Rangers (8/22-24)

16. Texas Rangers (62-63)

8/11 – vs. Diamondbacks – Won 7-6 (10)

8/12 – vs. Diamondbacks – Lost 3-2

8/13 – vs. Diamondbacks – Lost 6-4

8/14 – OFF

8/15 – @ Blue Jays – Lost 6-5

8/16 – @ Blue Jays – Lost 14-2

8/17 – @ Blue Jays – Won 10-4

Texas fell short in several key moments against Arizona, losing two of three, and then struggled in Toronto where they were beaten soundly twice before salvaging the finale with a much-needed win to try and spark some momentum for next week. The Rangers’ lineup continues to show flashes of its dangerous upside, although turning that into nightly production remains the next step, and the schedule ahead could give them an opening if they take advantage with a four-game set in Kansas City before returning home to face the Guardians.

Up next: @ Royals (8/18-21, 4 Games), vs. Guardians (8/22-24)

17. Tampa Bay Rays (61-64)

8/11 – @ Athletics – Won 7-4

8/12 – @ Athletics – Lost 6-0

8/13 – @ Athletics – Won 8-2

8/14 – OFF

8/15 – @ Giants – Won 7-6

8/16 – @ Giants – Won 2-1

8/17 – @ Giants – Lost 7-1

Tampa Bay’s road trip proved steady and effective, as they took series victories in both Sacramento and San Francisco before stumbling in their Sunday finale, and their run prevention looked sharp for most of the week, with both pitching and defense combining to keep games manageable. They’ll return home briefly for a two-game set against the Yankees, and they’ll then get three games at home against the up-and-down Cardinals with a rest day in the middle of the series on Saturday, testing how they manage their pitching staff.

Up next: vs. Yankees (8/19-20, 2 Games), vs. Cardinals (8/21-22, 24)

18. Los Angeles Angels (60-64)

8/11 – vs. Dodgers – Won 7-4

8/12 – vs. Dodgers – Won 7-6 (10)

8/13 – vs. Dodgers – Won 6-5

8/14 – OFF

8/15 – @ Athletics – Lost 10-3

8/16 – @ Athletics – Lost 7-2

8/17 – @ Athletics – Won 11-5 (10)

The Angels opened the week by sending a message with a surprising sweep of the Dodgers and former megastar Shohei Ohtani before stumbling twice in Sacramento, but they then rallied with an 11-run outburst in 10 innings to cap off the series, showing that they’re looking to build more momentum before a big upcoming home swing against the Reds and Cubs. Their current order is beginning to show more length and balance, though their starting rotation must now shoulder more of the load if they are to remain competitive.

Up next: vs. Reds (8/18-20), vs. Cubs (8/22-24)

19. St. Louis Cardinals (61-64)

8/11 – vs. Rockies – Won 3-2

8/12 – vs. Rockies – Lost 3-0

8/13 – vs. Rockies – Lost 6-5

8/14 – OFF

8/15 – vs. Yankees – Lost 4-3

8/16 – vs. Yankees – Lost 12-8

8/17 – vs. Yankees – Lost 8-4

The Cardinals squeaked out a close win early over the awful Rockies, but they could not sustain the momentum they built all of last week after dropping two narrow games before being swept by the Yankees in a series that repeatedly got away from them late. The offense showed flashes of life late in the week, but the pitching staff struggled to prevent New York from extending rallies. Now the Cardinals will look for a reset with a Florida road trip that begins in Miami and continues in Tampa Bay over the weekend with a Saturday break in the middle of the series.

Up next: @ Marlins (8/18-20), @ Rays (8/21-22, 24)

20. San Francisco Giants (60-64)

8/11 – vs. Padres – Lost 4-1

8/12 – vs. Padres – Lost 5-1

8/13 – vs. Padres – Lost 11-1

8/14 – OFF

8/15 – vs. Rays – Lost 7-6

8/16 – vs. Rays – Lost 2-1

8/17 – vs. Rays – Won 7-1

The Giants endured yet another brutal week, first getting swept decisively by San Diego and then losing two tight contests against Tampa Bay before finally redeeming themselves and avoiding a week-long sweep with a strong win on Sunday. The rotation continues to struggle with providing innings, and the offense, even ever since their acquisition of Rafael Devers, remains too dependent on home runs rather than steady traffic on the bases. Things will not get easier as their schedule intensifies immensely, with four games in San Diego early on before heading to Milwaukee to face a dominant Brewers squad that has been winning at one of the highest rates we’ve seen in a while.

Up next: @ Padres (8/18-21, 4 Games), @ Brewers (8/22-24)

21. Miami Marlins (59-65)

8/11 – OFF

8/12 – @ Guardians – Lost 4-3

8/13 – @ Guardians – Won 13-4

8/14 – @ Guardians – Lost 9-4

8/15 – @ Red Sox – Lost 2-1

8/16 – @ Red Sox – Lost 7-5

8/17 – @ Red Sox – Won 5-3

In an effort to regain the momentum they had just a couple of weeks ago, the Marlins’ road trip through the Northeast produced plenty of offense, including a 13-run outburst in Cleveland, but their inability to string together complete performances left them with series losses before salvaging the finale in Boston with a 5-3 win. The lineup has shown the ability to produce crooked numbers, although the challenge remains in preventing opponents from doing the same. They’ll fortunately have a week-long homestand, but it gets gradually more difficult as the week goes on with the Cardinals arriving on Monday and the Blue Jays coming to town for the weekend.

Up next: vs. Cardinals (8/18-20), vs. Blue Jays (8/22-24)

22. Minnesota Twins (58-66)

8/11 – @ Yankees – Lost 6-2

8/12 – @ Yankees – Lost 9-1

8/13 – @ Yankees – Won 4-1

8/14 – vs. Tigers – Lost 4-3 (11)

8/15 – vs. Tigers – Lost 7-0

8/16 – vs. Tigers – Lost 8-5

8/17 – vs. Tigers – Won 8-1

Minnesota just can’t seem to catch any breaks either after being handled by the Yankees early in the week, managing only one win before falling in three straight to Detroit, and playing with a lineup with several injury replacements. They did, however, rebound on Sunday with an 8-1 performance against the Tigers after showcasing their ability to string together innings both offensively and on the mound, so they’re hoping to get something going before things start really falling apart. The schedule provides them with opportunities to steady their season just a little bit, beginning with a home series against the A’s before traveling to Chicago to face the White Sox over the weekend.

Up next: vs. Athletics (8/19-21), @ White Sox (8/22-24)

23. Baltimore Orioles (57-67)

8/11 – OFF

8/12 – vs. Mariners – Lost 1-0

8/13 – vs. Mariners – Won 4-3

8/14 – vs. Mariners – Won 5-3

8/15 – @ Astros – Won 7-0

8/16 – @ Astros – Lost 5-4 (12)

8/17 – @ Astros – Won 12-0

The Orioles pulled out a home series win over Seattle, then headed to Houston, where they authored two shutouts on Friday and Sunday and experienced their only loss of the series on Saturday in a grueling 12-inning battle. Their young core showed its talent finally, even with all the struggles they’ve had this year, and they’ve showed that when things start clicking, the results are as impressive as any team in the league. Their next challenge will feature familiar opponents with two games at Fenway Park on Monday and Tuesday before facing the Astros again for four more games at Camden Yards this time.

Up next: @ Red Sox (8/18-19, 2 Games), vs. Astros (8/21-24, 4 Games)

24. Arizona Diamondbacks (60-65)

8/11 – @ Rangers – Lost 7-6 (10)

8/12 – @ Rangers – Won 3-2

8/13 – @ Rangers – Won 6-4

8/14 – @ Rockies – Won 8-2

8/15 – @ Rockies – Lost 4-3

8/16 – @ Rockies – Lost 10-7

8/17 – @ Rockies – Lost 6-5

Arizona began the week with two dramatic wins in Texas and carried that into Colorado with an 8-2 victory to open the series, but the altitude quickly caught up to them as they dropped three straight games against the Rockies, which completely wiped out what seemed like a much better week for a Diamondbacks team that many thought could contend for the Wild Card before the start of the year. The bullpen, which has carried a heavy load, appeared fatigued again, so they’ll need to find ways to bounce back quickly, starting with a six-game homestand against the Guardians and Reds.

Up next: vs. Guardians (8/18-20), vs. Reds (8/22-24)

25. Atlanta Braves (56-68)

8/11 – OFF

8/12 – @ Mets – Lost 13-5

8/13 – @ Mets – Won 11-6

8/14 – @ Mets – Won 4-3

8/15 – @ Guardians – Won 2-0

8/16 – @ Guardians – Won 10-1

8/17 – @ Guardians – Won 5-4

Atlanta began its week with a tough loss in Queens but responded with two wins over the Mets before traveling to Cleveland, where they swept a Guardians team that seemed to have things figured out behind authoritative pitching and timely hitting. That left them with five wins in six games throughout the week, and the lineup is finally finding its rhythm now with a 9-2 record in their last 11 games following their sweep to the Brewers last week. With the schedule now tilting in their favor, the Braves will look to sustain their push during a homestand against the vulnerable White Sox and then the faltering Mets once again over the weekend.

Up next: vs. White Sox (8/18-20), vs. Mets (8/22-24)

26. Athletics (56-70)

8/11 – vs. Rays – Lost 7-4

8/12 – vs. Rays – Won 6-0

8/13 – vs. Rays – Lost 8-2

8/14 – OFF

8/15 – vs. Angels – Won 10-3

8/16 – vs. Angels – Won 7-2

8/17 – vs. Angels – Lost 11-5 (10)

The Athletics’ week was split between sharp pitching performances and frustrating late collapses, as they lost two of three to the Rays, followed by two convincing wins over the Angels before a disappointing extra-inning performance on Sunday. The young roster continues to collect meaningful reps, and the confidence gained in competitive situations should pay dividends down the road, but the schedule now sends them on a long road trip, which begins with three games in Minnesota before heading to Seattle to face the Mariners and their high-powered offense in a tough divisional matchup.

Up next: @ Twins (8/19-21), @ Mariners (8/22-24)

27. Pittsburgh Pirates (52-73)

8/11 – @ Brewers – Lost 7-1

8/12 – @ Brewers – Lost 14-0

8/13 – @ Brewers – Lost 12-5

8/14 – OFF

8/15 – @ Cubs – Won 3-2

8/16 – @ Cubs – Lost 3-1

8/17 – @ Cubs – Lost 4-3

The Pirates were completely overwhelmed in a sweep by a dominant Brewers squad, but they responded with a sharp 3-2 win at Wrigley just before dropping two heartbreaking one-run contests to the Cubs. Their rotation showed signs of improvement, and while the bats simply could not provide enough big swings in crucial moments, Pittsburgh now gets return home for a challenging start to the week ahead with the Blue Jays followed by the league-worst Rockies.

Up next: vs. Blue Jays (8/18-20), vs. Rockies (8/22-24)

28. Washington Nationals (50-74)

8/11 – @ Royals – Lost 7-4

8/12 – @ Royals – Lost 8-5

8/13 – @ Royals – Won 8-7

8/14 – vs. Phillies – Won 3-2

8/15 – vs. Phillies – Lost 6-2

8/16 – vs. Phillies – Won 2-0

8/17 – vs. Phillies – Lost 11-9

Washington endured a rough series in Kansas City before salvaging the finale with a late push, then split four games with a tough Philadelphia team in a set that included surprisingly strong showings from their bullpen. Although they’ve struggled heavily for a while now with the bullpen management remaining the biggest ongoing puzzle, they continue to get encouraging flashes every now and then from their young core, and they’ll now enter a rivalry-heavy week that begins with three at home against the Mets before traveling to face the Phillies for the second weekend in a row.

Up next: vs. Mets (8/19-21), @ Phillies (8/22-24)

29. Chicago White Sox (44-80)

8/11 – vs. Tigers – Lost 2-1

8/12 – vs. Tigers – Won 9-6

8/13 – vs. Tigers – Lost 1-0

8/14 – OFF

8/15 – @ Royals – Lost 3-1

8/16 – @ Royals – Lost 6-2

8/17 – @ Royals – Lost 6-2

The White Sox could not build on a rare offensive breakthrough when they scored nine runs on Tuesday against the Tigers, instead losing the bookend games of their series with Detroit by one run each, and they followed that with a frustrating sweep in Kansas City, dropping three straight in convincing fashion to become the second team this season with at least 80 losses this year. With the offense sputtering and run prevention unable to compensate, Chicago finds itself firmly again in their extended rebuild territory, and the road won’t get any easier as they travel to Atlanta to face a recently-hot Braves team before returning home to host the Twins.

Up next: @ Braves (8/18-20), vs. Twins (8/22-24)

30. Colorado Rockies (35-89)

8/11 – @ Cardinals – Lost 3-2

8/12 – @ Cardinals – Won 3-0

8/13 – @ Cardinals – Won 6-5

8/14 – vs. Diamondbacks – Lost 8-2

8/15 – vs. Diamondbacks – Won 4-3

8/16 – vs. Diamondbacks – Won 10-7

8/17 – vs. Diamondbacks – Won 6-5

After what was one of the most embarrassing weeks any MLB team has seen in a long time last week, the Rockies managed to win a road series in St. Louis against the previously-hot Cardinals, dropped their opener in Arizona, and then stunned the Diamondbacks by ripping off three straight wins, which included a double-digit scoring outburst on Saturday in between two tight victories on Friday and Sunday. For a club still searching for steady traction, they needed a week like we saw this past week, and they now return home to face a loaded Dodgers lineup in Coors Field for four games before they head out to Pittsburgh over the weekend.

Up next: vs. Dodgers (8/18-21, 4 Games), @ Pirates (8/22-24)