Andre Ethier has helped the Dodgers go 23-6 versus NL West clubs.
The All-Star Game has come and gone and the second half of the
MLB baseball season is in full force. That means there aren't any more interleague games and far more division
MLB baseball matchups.
That's good or bad, depending on the team
For instance, Minnesota opens a three-game home series Monday against AL Central Division rival Cleveland The Twins are 22-13 versus Central foes.
That record has helped Minnesota stay competitive with Chicago and Detroit in the AL Central. Both the White Sox and Tigers have losing division marks at 17-19 and 16-20, respectively, through Saturday.
Cincinnati was leading the National League Central Division entering Sunday's action in large part because of its 25-15 record versus division foes. St. Louis and Houston also have winning NL Central marks.
The Astros, winners in 20 of their first 35 NL Central Division games, were a combined 17-39 through Saturday when meeting clubs outside of their division. Houston travels to Wrigley Field to begin a three-game series against the Cubs on Monday. Chicago was just 15-25 in NL Central Division action. Real time odds
The New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays have been dominant against fellow AL East clubs. The Yankees were 21-12 through their first 33 AL East games, while the Rays were even better at 23-11 through their first 34 division contests.
Tampa could pad its division record even more Monday when it opens a road series against last-place Baltimore. The Orioles had lost 29 of their first 38 AL East matchups facing a brutal gauntlet of the Yankees, Rays, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays.
Texas and the Los Angeles Angels, the top two teams in the AL West, are also doing well in division play. The Rangers are 14-7 versus their division rivals, while the Angels had won 19 of their first 30 AL West matchups.
The Seattle Mariners are a semi-respectable 28-32 against all non-division foes, but a horrendous 7-24 in AL West competition going into Sunday.
The San Francisco Giants also have suffered during division play, evidenced by their 9-20 ledger. They are 2-12 in 14 games against the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. The Giants open a three-game road series Monday against the Dodgers.
By contrast, the Dodgers are 23-6 versus NL West foes. Arizona is the only other NL West team besides San Francisco to have a losing division mark. The Diamondbacks had dropped 24 of their first 34 NL West contests.
The MLB National League East is the one division where there is not a wide variance in division records.
Atlanta and Florida were the only two clubs to have a winning division mark going into Sunday. The Braves were 17-15, while the Marlins were 18-17.
The other three clubs were either at .500 or had losing division marks, including the two-time defending National League champion Philadelphia Phillies at 15-17. Washington had split in its first 32 NL East games, while the New York Mets were 19-20.