Fansided

New York Yankees, MLB teams needing a second-half surge

By SJ Tuohy

Jul 18, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees second baseman Brian Roberts (14) tags out Cincinnati Reds right fielder Jay Bruce (32) attempting to steal second base during the second inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 18, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees second baseman Brian Roberts (14) tags out Cincinnati Reds right fielder Jay Bruce (32) attempting to steal second base during the second inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 18, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees second baseman Brian Roberts (14) tags out Cincinnati Reds right fielder Jay Bruce (32) attempting to steal second base during the second inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 18, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees second baseman Brian Roberts (14) tags out Cincinnati Reds right fielder Jay Bruce (32) attempting to steal second base during the second inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

Major League Baseball’s  Derek Jeter Classic All-Star Weekend is behind us and the home stretch of the baseball season is ahead. There are some good wild card and divisional races going on; three divisions are separated by less than a game and a half and seven teams find themselves less than 6.5 games out of a wildcard spot.

The only team with more than a four-game lead in their division is the Detroit Tigers, who have a lead of 6.5 games over the Cleveland Indians and the Kansas City Royals. Four other divisions (AL West, NL West, NL Central, NL East) are all within 1.5 games.

The previous information means one of two things: teams are either going to pick it up and fight for a playoff spot, or they are going to run out of gas and break down in the middle of the hot highway that is July and August regular season baseball. Let’s take a look at five teams that have a good chance at making a run, and need to do just that if they still want to be playing come October.

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