National League mid-term grades

Baseball Betting Lines

07/12/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In the National League, those preseason predictions are little more than a distant memory. A pair of surprising teams have emerged -- the Cincinnati Reds and San Diego Padres -- at the top of the class, while the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets seem ready to unseat the two- time defending NL champion Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East.

The Phils are just one of a few teams that are failing to meet expectations. More was also expected out of the Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Injuries have been a factor, as always, and a pair of coaching changes have already gone down in the Senior Circuit.

With the 81st annual All-Star Game upon us, here's a look at how the National League stacks up so far, with grades provided for each club.

HEAD OF THE CLASS

Cincinnati Reds - The Reds haven't been in first place this late in a season since 1999 and are aiming for their first playoff appearance since 1995. They have an MVP candidate in Joey Votto, who is among the league leaders in average, homers and RBI, and are leading the league in average, home runs and runs scored as a team. Cincinnati's pitching hasn't been too shabby either, with Bronson Arroyo, Johnny Cueto and rookie Mike Leake leading the rotation and closer Francisco Cordero and Arthur Rhodes guiding the bullpen. Rhodes' amazing season at the age of 40 has perhaps best symbolized how the Reds have come out of nowhere to contend. Cincinnati still needs to add a pitcher, but they have reserves in a rehabbing Edinson Volquez (Tommy John surgery) and minor leaguer Aroldis Chapman.

Grade: A+

San Diego Padres - Petco Park has always been known as a place where pitchers can dominate, so its no surprise that the Padres are among the major league leaders in team earned run average. Jon Garland, Clayton Richard, Mat Latos and Wade LeBlanc all have earned run averages under four and Latos is perhaps the best pitcher that nobody is talking about. San Diego is also among the league leaders in shutouts, and the club has gotten just enough offensive contributions from Adrian Gonzalez, David Eckstein and Chase Headley to come out on top in a tough and tight National League West. The Padres are perhaps the biggest surprise in the Senior Circuit other than the Reds, but they will need to add offense if they want to be a legitimate threat.

Grade: A

Atlanta Braves - I picked the Braves to be my NL wild card team before the start of the season, but I never envisioned them at the top of the NL East standings. Still, there they sit, holders of one of the top home marks in baseball. Martin Prado has stepped in beautifully at second base as a starter, Troy Glaus and Jason Heyward have added some much-needed power and the bullpen has been one of the best in the league. Add in a healthy and dominating Tim Hudson to lead the rotation, and the return of Jair Jurrjens, and the Braves have the arms to contend. Atlanta's second-half goal should be to improve its play on the road.

Grade: A

DESTINED FOR HONOR ROLL

St. Louis Cardinals - Though they have to be surprised to find themselves chasing the Reds, but the Cardinals are still in position to grab their fifth NL Central title in seven seasons. Albert Pujols has performed below his standards but is still having a good season, while Matt Holliday has come on after a slow start. Starter Jamie Garcia has been a surprise while both Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter have been strong, but St. Louis needs help at the back end of its rotation. If the Reds continue to play well, the pressure will be on the Cardinals to make a move prior to the trade deadline, but with Pujols still anchoring the lineup, anything is possible.

Grade: A-

New York Mets - The Mets have rebounded from their injury-plagued 2009 season to contend with the Braves for first place heading into the All-Star break. David Wright has already surpassed his home run total from a season ago and both Ike Davis and Angel Pagan have put together solid contributions, though the club would like to see more from free agent pickup Jason Bay. Starters Mike Pelfrey and Jon Niese have both helped take some of the pressure off the surprisingly inconsistent Johan Santana, who has also been let down at times by the offense. Like the Braves, the Mets have been much stronger at home than on the road, but getting Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran healthy in the second half could put them over the top.

Grade: B+

Colorado Rockies - The biggest story of the season for the Rockies -- and maybe the entire league -- has been the performance of Ubaldo Jimenez, who has emerged as the favorite to capture the NL Cy Young Award and is the first pitcher NL pitcher to reach 15 wins before the All-Star break since Greg Maddux in 1988. Don't sleep on Colorado's offense, though, which features emerging young star Carlos Gonzalez, the steady Troy Tulowitzki (though he is currently injured) and the always-dangerous Brad Hawpe. The Rockies have shown an ability to finish strong down the stretch and few teams would want to face Jimenez in a short playoff series.

Grade: B

Los Angeles Dodgers - The two-time defending NL West champions find themselves trailing in the race at the break, not surprising given how streaky the team has been this year. Manny Ramirez has struggled to stay healthy, and both Andre Ethier and Chad Billingsley have spent time on the disabled list. Matt Kemp has mirrored the club's hot-and-cold tendencies and more consistency from him will go a long way in getting the Dodgers back to the top of the standings. On the pitching side, Clayton Kershaw has put it together to become the club's ace and the team has still shown signs of being contenders in the National League.

Grade: B-

NEED TO STAY AFTER CLASS

San Francisco Giants - The Giants have cooled off since their quick start in April, but have managed to remain in the hunt in the tight NL West. Two-time defending NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum has looked shaky at times this year, but is still one of the top hurlers in the game and is getting excellent support from a deep rotation that features a resurgent Barry Zito as well as Matt Cain and Jonathan Sanchez. Offense is always hard to come by for San Francisco, but rookie Buster Posey is showing signs of breaking out and Aubrey Huff has been a solid contributor as well. Even Pat Burrell has rediscovered his game since joining the club in late May. If the Giants are to reach the postseason, however, it will be because of their pitching.

Grade: C+

Florida Marlins - Things seemed destined to explode in South Beach when Hanley Ramirez and former manager Fredi Gonzalez butted heads in mid-May, and sure enough, Gonzalez is gone, replaced by Edwin Rodriguez. Starter Josh Johnson has pitched like a Cy Young Award candidate, but the rest of rotation has struggled. Meanwhile, rookie Mike Stanton has shown promise and Ramirez and Dan Uggla remain dangerous, but the offense and pitching is hovering around the middle-of-the-pack to leave the club near but below the .500 mark. The Marlins have found a way to contend over the last few seasons, but some of their magic may be running out.

Grade: C

Philadelphia Phillies - Though their record is near where it was at this stage in 2009, the Phillies find themselves not on top of the NL East, but third behind the Braves and Mets. Injuries to Chase Utley, Placido Polanco, Jimmy Rollins and Carlos Ruiz have wreaked havoc on the lineup and the pitching staff has also missed Ryan Madson, Chad Durbin and J.A. Happ. But the offense wasn't hitting when injuries weren't as big an issue and the Phillies seem to be losing some of their swagger that comes with back-to-back NL championships. One also has to wonder where they would be without All-Star Roy Halladay, who could easily have another three or four more wins if not for the inconsistent offense.

Grade: C-

BOUND FOR SUMMER SCHOOL

Washington Nationals - The Nationals surprised many when they got off to a 20-15 start that had them near the top of the standings, but the club has since settled into its customary last-place spot in the NL East just behind the Marlins. The emergence of Stephen Strasburg has some hype surrounding the club, but the rest of the rotation (minus the surprising Livan Hernandez) has been pretty bad, which is a shame given how well the offense has played at times. If leadoff man Nyjer Morgan can get it going the second half, runs could come at a faster pace unless the team decides to trade pending free agent Adam Dunn. Still, the club is on pace to finish below 100 losses for the first time in three years and that has to count for something, right?

Grade: C-

Chicago Cubs - Expectations are always high in the Windy City and the Cubs have failed to even come close to meeting them this year. They will carry a sub-.500 record into the break and are facing hurdles with the out-of-control Carlos Zambrano and well as a brutal slumps by Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee. If not for a bounce-back season from Carlos Silva and an All-Star year so far by Marlon Byrd, two of Chicago's offseason acquisitions, the Cubs could be sitting further down in the standings. Lou Piniella's club will need to find some consistency in the second half or sweeping changes could be headed Chicago's way.

Grade: D+

Houston Astros - The Astros have never really recovered from an 0-8 start to the season and it looks as though Brad Mills' club will be sellers in the second half. Roy Oswalt, the head of an otherwise lackluster rotation, is probably gone, which will leave first-year Astro Brett Myers as the club's top hurler. Lance Berkman has begun heating up in the power category and Hunter Pence is also rebounding from a horrid start to the season, but Houston is already looking ahead and is giving playing time to youngsters like Jason Castro and Chris Johnson. Houston's pitching staff could also receive an injection of minor league talent by season's end.

Grade: D

Milwaukee Brewers - Despite a powerful offense that features two of the top sluggers in the game, the Brewers just can't seem to get over the hump and 2010 is looking no different. Milwaukee appears closer to the 80-win team it fielded last year than the 2008 club that made the postseason and it could lead to the club deciding to trade Prince Fielder rather than pay the first baseman, who has struggled in driving in runs this season. Corey Hart could also get moved, leaving Ryan Braun as the club's lone and brightest star. A recent injury to All-Star hurler Yovani Gallardo could also cripple the club given how bad the rest of the rotation has been.

Grade: F

Arizona Diamondbacks - It has already been a long summer in the desert for the Diamondbacks, who own one of the worst records in baseball and have made a midseason managerial change for the second straight year. That has done little to spark the club, which has seen scant production offensively from Stephen Drew, Justin Upton and Mark Reynolds. Mix in default ace Dan Haren's struggles, and it is of little surprise that the club has one of the worst earned run averages in the game. Even Edwin Jackson's no-hitter came with some eye- rolling, after he walked eight batters en route to the milestone. Thought to be possible contenders for the NL West crown, the D-Backs have instead been the league's biggest disappointment.

Grade: F

LIKELY TO GET HELD BACK

Pittsburgh Pirates - It doesn't look like the Pirates will be able to avoid an 18th straight losing season, but come on, did anyone really expect any different? Pittsburgh is always looking towards next season and that has been the highlight of 2010 as the "Big Three" -- Pedro Alvarez, Jose Tabata and Brad Lincoln -- have all been brought up from the minors to earn some big league experience. That trio is meshing with fellow youngsters Lastings Milledge, Neil Walker and Evan Meek as the Pirates continue to go through the motions. Low expectations prevent Pittsburgh from getting a low grade as it nets partial credit for its minor league call-ups.

Grade: Incomplete, repeat next year