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MLB Wild Card Standings: Cubs, Cardinals still alive after first half

By Nicholas Ian Allen

CHICAGO, IL - JULY 08: Jake Arrieta #49 of the Chicago Cubs pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fifth inning at Wrigley Field on July 8, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - JULY 08: Jake Arrieta #49 of the Chicago Cubs pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fifth inning at Wrigley Field on July 8, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – JULY 08: Clint Frazier #30 of the New York Yankees celebrates a three run walk off home run in the ninth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers with a 5-3 win during their game at Yankee Stadium on July 8, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JULY 08: Clint Frazier #30 of the New York Yankees celebrates a three run walk off home run in the ninth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers with a 5-3 win during their game at Yankee Stadium on July 8, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

AL Wild Card Standings

New York Yankees (45-41, .523, – GB)

The Yankees left spring training with tempered expectations because of the front office’s hybrid rebuilding mode, which included a transition to younger players without completely purging the roster. After spending the majority of the first half in first place, there’s an air of disappointment in the Bronx now that New York is in second in the East – but had you told fans in March the club would be in a playoff position at this point, they’d have gladly taken it.

One of several rookies expected to contribute, Aaron Judge, emerged as a Statcast god and MVP favorite while launching an MLB-leading 30 home runs before the All-Star break. Judge grabbed many a judicial-punned headline, and also set a new Yankees rookie record for long balls.

Tampa Bay Rays (47-43, .522, – GB)

Because of the Yankees’ early success and Boston’s surge to the top of the division standings, the Tampa Bay Rays have been one of the most overlooked teams in the major leagues this season. Just 3.5 games back in the division race, the Rays have clubbed 133 home runs in the first half – the fourth most in the majors and one more than the Yankees.

Minnesota Twins (45-43, .511, 1 GB)

Kansas City Royals (44-43, .506, 1.5 GB)

Los Angeles Angels (45-47, .489, 3 GB)

Texas Rangers (43-45, .489, 3 GB)

Seattle Mariners (43-47, .478, 4 GB)

Baltimore Orioles (42-46, .477, 4 GB)

Toronto Blue Jays (41-47, .466, 5 GB)

Detroit Tigers (38-48, .442, 7 GB)

Oakland Athletics (39-50, .438, 7.5 GB)

Chicago White Sox (38-49, .437, 7.5 GB)

The AL Wild Card standings have been very tight all season thanks to several overachieving clubs. The Twins spent a large part of the first three months in first place, the Royals have been one of the hottest teams in baseball in recent weeks, and the Angels found a way to keep their heads above water with Mike Trout on the DL.

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