Fansided

Grading each team through first half of 2023 MLB season

By Marvin Azrak

CLEVELAND, OHIO - JULY 05: Matt Olson #28 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates his solo home run with Sean Murphy #12 in the ninth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on July 05, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JULY 05: Matt Olson #28 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates his solo home run with Sean Murphy #12 in the ninth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on July 05, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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MLB Midseason Report Card
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – JUNE 09: Corbin Carroll #7 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates his seventh inning grand slam home run with Pavin Smith #26 and Jose Herrera #11while playing the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on June 09, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

MLB Midseason Grades: NL West

2023 MLB midseason report card — Los Angeles Dodgers: B-

  • Preseason win projection: 95.5 
  • Current Record: 51-38
  • Pace: 93-69

Yes, they’re in a tie for first place but the Dodgers are not performing as well as expected. Coming off a 116-win season, they were projected to top the National League. However, they are trailing the Braves by ten games and the Diamondbacks by one and a half games in the NL West. They’re jockeying with other teams, such as the Marlins, Giants, and Phillies, for a wild-card spot.

While the Dodgers had a successful run in early May, winning 14 out of 16 games and briefly holding first place in the NL, they have since struggled with more three-game losing streaks than winning streaks due to issues with their starting rotation, including All-Star Clayton Kershaw who’s gone on the IL.

According to FanGraphs, the Dodgers’ starting pitchers have a combined ERA of 5.34 since May 16, which is second worst in the league behind the Rockies(7.39). The underperformances of Chris Taylor, Yency Almonte, David Peralta, Miguel Rojas, Trayce Thomson, and Noah Syndergaard have yet to help.

2023 MLB midseason report card — Arizona Diamondbacks: A-

  • Preseason win projection: 75.5
  • Current record: 52-39
  • Pace:  93-69

Surprisingly, Arizona became the first NL West team and the fourth overall team to reach 50 wins, considering the preseason predictions.

While behind the Dodgers in May, the Diamondbacks took the lead in early June and held it for almost a month.

Ketel Marte has regained his 2019 form as an NL MVP candidate, and rookie Corbin Carroll, before injuring his shoulder on Thursday, has been making a strong case for this year’s NL MVP award with a .290 batting average, 18 home runs, and 24 stolen bases.

However, losing Merrill Kelly to the IL due to a blood clot could be a significant setback for Arizona’s pitching. They were already looking to add a starting pitcher before the trade deadline, but now it’s even more crucial.

2023 MLB midseason report card — San Francisco Giants: B

  • Preseason win projection: 81.5
  • Current Record: 49-41
  • Pace: 88-74

The Giants have proven themselves as a playoff contender. They climbed the standings with a 10-game winning streak in June and sport an impressive 38-25 record since May.

Despite initial concerns about the team’s player signings, they have received remarkable performances from their entire roster. Key players like Logan Webb, Camilo Doval, and the Rogers twins have been dominating in the bullpen, while underrated offensive contributors like Joc Pederson, J.D. Davis, LaMonte Wade Jr., and Patrick Bailey (a 24-year-old catcher taken in the first round of 2020) have been stepping up.

2023 MLB midseason report card — San Diego Padres: F

  • Preseason win projection: 93.5
  • Current Record: 43-47
  • Pace: 77-85

The Padres’ star-studded lineup needs to perform consistently. While Juan Soto and Fernando Tatis Jr. have been impressive, Xander Bogaerts and Manny Machado are still finding their footing after signing deals worth $630 million this offseason. Unfortunately, the Padres lack depth beyond these four players, making it difficult to stay afloat when two are struggling.

The team’s +39 run differential is also a positive sign, but they must make up a lot of ground to enter the wild-card conversation.

Winning an extra-inning game would be a significant boost, especially considering the team’s current 0-8 record in such games.

2023 MLB midseason report card — Colorado Rockies: D

  • Preseason win projection: 65.5
  • Current record: 34-57
  • Pace: 61-101

On June 24, the Rockies suffered a significant loss of 25-1 against the Angels. Unfortunately, their pitching has been subpar throughout the season.

After their shutout win against the Phillies on May 14, the Rockies allowed multiple runs in 49 consecutive games, which amounted to 327 runs. This statistic is the highest among all teams by 67 runs. On average, they have allowed almost six runs per game. It’s not new for the Rockies, as they have consistently struggled with their pitching for three decades, especially Coors Field. This season, they have had 11 different pitchers with an ERA of 4.70 or worse who have made multiple starts.

Additionally, they need more firepower to hit their way through bad pitching, with only one player, Ryan McMahon, hitting 10 or more home runs.

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