The MLB All-Star Game is just around the corner.
Now that each team has played more than half of its games, the teams are starting to consider making the playoffs.
Some teams have exceeded expectations, while others have so far failed to live up to them.
Below, we take a look at three MLB teams that exceeded expectations and three that fell short.
3 Surprising MLB Teams That Exceeded Expectations
Some teams have fared much better than expected this MLB season.
All statistics and records below are current as of July 5th.
Here are three teams that exceeded expectations:
Cleveland Guardians
The Cleveland Guardians finished third in the AL Central last season with a record of 76 wins and 86 losses.
They were one of the league’s weakest offensive teams last year.
This year is completely different.
As of July 5, Cleveland is in first place in the AL Central and first in the American League with a record of 54 wins and 31 losses.
This year their offense is completely different.
They ranked in the league’s top 10 in runs scored, home runs, RBIs, strikeouts, stolen bases and slugging percentage.
Their relief pitchers have been very good this year.
The bullpen led the league in ERA, runs allowed, WHIP, and batting average against, and was second in home runs allowed.
Cleveland has been a great team overall and has been one of the biggest surprises in the league.
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals already need just seven more wins to match last year’s total.
They finished last in the AL Central last season with a record of 56 wins and 106 losses.
This year, they went 48-41, falling just half a game short of a wild card spot.
Their offensive success can be attributed to Bobby Witt Jr., who would have undoubtedly been the American League MVP if not for Aaron Judge.
In the American League, Witt ranked third in runs scored and stolen bases, first in hits and doubles, tied with teammate Vinny Pasquantino for sixth in RBIs, second in batting average, and fifth in slugging percentage.
Seth Lugo also had a great season for the Royals.
He led MLB in ERA with a 2.17 ERA.
After a terrible season last year, no team has exceeded expectations as much as the Royals.
Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers won the National League Central last year, but lost star pitcher Corbin Burns this offseason.
Burns currently plays for the Orioles.
The Brewers weren’t expected to be as good as they have been this year.
They are currently in first place in the National League Central Division with 52 wins and 36 losses.
This year the offense has improved significantly.
They ranked in the top 10 in the league in runs, hits, RBIs, stolen bases, batting average, on-base percentage and OPS.
Despite losing Burns, their pitching was very good.
As a team, the Brewers ranked in the top 10 in the league in ERA and runs allowed.
Milwaukee has been better than expected and has been one of the most surprising teams of the year.
3 Disappointing MLB Teams That Fail to Live Up to Expectations
Some teams started the season with high expectations but have not lived up to those expectations.
All statistics and records below are current as of July 5th.
Here are three teams that failed to live up to expectations:
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays went 89-73 last year.
They’ve made the playoffs two years in a row.
But this season is going differently for the Blue Jays.
They finished with the worst record in the AL East with 39 wins and 48 losses.
Toronto is currently 8.5 games back of the wild card spot.
Their pitching last season was some of the best in the league.
This year it was the opposite.
They are a team that ranks bottom 10 in the league in ERA, hits allowed, runs allowed, home runs allowed, strikeouts, WHIP, and batting average against.
After making the playoffs the past two years, the Blue Jays have been a huge disappointment this season.
Texas Rangers
The last World Series champions had a disappointing performance this year.
They finished third in the AL West with a record of 39 wins and 48 losses.
The offense hasn’t been as good this year as it used to be.
Compared to last year’s most powerful offensive team, their offense is just average.
Adolis Garcia hit 39 home runs last year, but has just 16 this season.
Texas’ offense was expected to be much better this year.
The Rangers have not lived up to expectations and have been a huge disappointment so far this season.
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs came out on top in the second half of last year, finishing the season with a record of 83 wins and 79 losses.
They finished second in the NL Central.
This season, they finished last in their division with 40 wins and 48 losses.
The offense has been strong since last year’s All-Star Game, but they haven’t been able to maintain that momentum this season.
The Cubs’ pitching staff was similar to their offense, with both teams being average in the league.
After last year’s hot finish, the Cubs were hoping to continue that momentum this season.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case, and this year was disappointing.
