Tight division races and individual excellence mark first half of MLB season

San Francisco's slide back to the pack and Jose Altuve's batting success among top stories in Major League Baseball so far this season, writes Paul Freelend

Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros pumps his fist after scoring the go-ahead run in the eighth inning on a single by Chris Carter against the Boston Red Sox at Minute Maid Park on July 12, 2014, in Houston, Texas. Bob Levey / Getty ImagesShow less

With Major League Baseball pausing so everyone can focus on the All-Star Game, now is a good time to stop and take stock of an eventful first half of the season.

One positive development, at least for the fans, is that – the American League Central aside – every division is there for the taking. What is more, some of the top teams have magnanimously taken it upon themselves to fade and help prolong the drama.

For example, consider the San Francisco Giants. They looked imperious as recently as June, and another Bay Bridge World Series against their neighbours the Oakland Athletics appeared a nailed-on certainty. Then it all fell apart, stumbling from 42-21 and a healthy lead in the National League West on June 8 to 51-43 and second place in the division as of Sunday.

Credit must go to the Los Angeles Dodgers, of course, for chasing down the Giants after falling 9 1/2 games behind. Led by ace pitcher Clayton Kershaw, whose scoreless streak ended on Thursday after 41.2 innings, the Dodgers are starting to justify their inflated payroll and pre-season expectations.

Washington and Atlanta are tied atop the NL East, and the NL Central is a dead heat between Milwaukee and St Louis, with Cincinnati and Pittsburgh close behind. Milwaukee appeared head and shoulders above the rest of their division, only to come back to the pack by losing 11 of their last 12. Oakland and the Los Angeles Angels are the class of the AL West, and Baltimore has quietly taken hold of the AL East ahead of fading Toronto and the injury-riddled New York Yankees.

Individually, some of the most intriguing performances are happening further down the standings. Houston second baseman Jose Altuve – all 5 feet, 5 inches (1.65 metres) of him – leads the AL with his .339 batting average, providing a lift on a team whose greatest ambition is to avoid a third straight 100-loss season. It is quite a development for a player who was previously best known for being a unit of measurement.

Troy Tulowitzki of Colorado and Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton are mashing the ball to great effect in the NL, as are Nelson Cruz (Baltimore), Miguel Cabrera (Detroit) and Jose Abreu (Chicago White Sox) in the AL. Fans of pitching can revel in the duel between Kershaw and Adam Wainwright of St Louis, as well as the rise to prominence of White Sox ace Chris Sale.

Unfortunately, Masahiro Tanaka's elbow injury could sideline him long term, ending one of baseball's best stories this season.

The second half is shaping up nicely. After only two of the division titles were decided by fewer than five games last season, this season should bring greater drama and the promise of some new faces in the post-season.

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