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MLB Standings: Dodgers finish first half as the best team in baseball

By Nicholas Ian Allen

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 09: Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits his second home run of the game, a two run shot scoring Logan Forsythe #11, in the third inning against the Kansas City Royals at Dodger Stadium on July 9, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 09: Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits his second home run of the game, a two run shot scoring Logan Forsythe #11, in the third inning against the Kansas City Royals at Dodger Stadium on July 9, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 09: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pumps his fist after the last out in the ninth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Dodger Stadium on July 9, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 09: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pumps his fist after the last out in the ninth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Dodger Stadium on July 9, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

National League West

Los Angeles Dodgers (61-29, .678, – GB)

Last Week: 3-0 vs. Diamondbacks, 3-0 vs. Royals

  • Home Record: 39-11
  • Road Record: 22-18
  • Runs Scored: 463
  • Runs Allowed: 300
  • Run Differential: +163
  • Streak: Won 6
  • Last 10: 9-1

Next Week: July 14-16 at Marlins

Arizona Diamondbacks (53-36, .596, 7.5 GB)

Last Week: 0-3 at Dodgers, 1-2 vs. Reds

  • Home Record: 33-15
  • Road Record: 20-21
  • Runs Scored: 446
  • Runs Allowed: 344
  • Run Differential: +102
  • Streak: Lost 2
  • Last 10: 3-7

Next Week: July 14-16 at Braves

Colorado Rockies (52-39, .571, 9.5 GB)

Last Week: 2-2 vs. Reds, 2-1 vs. White Sox

  • Home Record: 26-18
  • Road Record: 26-21
  • Runs Scored: 461
  • Runs Allowed: 419
  • Run Differential: +42
  • Streak: Won 1
  • Last 10: 5-5

Next Week: July 14-16 at Mets

San Diego Padres (38-50, .432, 22 GB)

Last Week: 2-1 at Indians, 2-1 at Phillies

  • Home Record: 22-22
  • Road Record: 16-28
  • Runs Scored: 312
  • Runs Allowed: 440
  • Run Differential: -128
  • Streak: Lost 1
  • Last 10: 6-4

Next Week: July 14-16 vs. Giants

San Francisco Giants (34-56, .378, 27 GB)

Last Week: 1-2 at Tigers, 0-3 vs. Marlins

  • Home Record: 17-24
  • Road Record: 17-32
  • Runs Scored: 354
  • Runs Allowed: 453
  • Run Differential: -99
  • Streak: Lost 4
  • Last 10: 5-5

Next Week: July 14-16 at Padres

The Colorado Rockies started the season hot and sat in first place for nearly three full months. However, a stretch of 19 losses in 29 games dropped the club into third place, 9.5 games behind the Dodgers, as the first half came to an end.

Los Angeles suffered through a sluggish start, winning 10 of its first 22 games, to dig an early hole. But the Dodgers won an incredible 51 of 68 from that point onward to build a 7.5-game lead over the NL’s two Wild Card leaders. In other words, the Dodgers have been the best team in baseball despite playing in a division with two of the top teams in the NL.

Rookie Cody Bellinger started the season in Triple-A, but finished the first half with 25 home runs, just one behind co-NL leaders Giancarlo Stanton and Joey Votto. Justin Turner missed time to injury, but hit .377/.473/.583 in the first half, putting him on pace for the NL batting title.

Next: MLB: Top 25 players under 25

Clayton Kershaw has been in fine form, going 14-2 with a 2.18 ERA and 159 strikeouts in 132.1 innings across 19 starts. Alex Wood has been an incredible surprise, posting a 1.67 ERA in 15 appearances (13 starts), and striking out 97 hitters in 80.2 innings on the way to a 10-0 start and an All-Star selection. Closer Kenley Jansen saved 21 games and posted a 0.96 ERA with an incredible 57-2 strikeouts-to-walks ratio in 37.2 innings.

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