The first half of the 2019 regular season is in our rear-view mirror not unlike the stranger's mailbox that we've just obliterated with a borrowed '79 Buick Riviera (sliding bench seats, leather, all four windows rolled down). That means it's time for us to rank the top 100 players in baseball at the midpoint.
For this first installment of the season, these rankings were based upon reasonable expectations, using things like age and recent performance history to arrive at those expectations. Now, it's all about the value those players have produced within the confines of the current season. As such, the rankings you're about to see reflect nothing more than who has been the best for the first half of the 2019 season. The preceding has been italicized for emphasis.
As for what matters, with position players it's a mix of batting, defense, and base-running. On offense, we're not concerned with things like RBI. Getting on base and hitting for power matter above all, as do playing time, context of the player's home ballpark, and production relative to positional peers (e.g., the offensive bar is lower for shortstops and catchers than it is for first basemen and DHs). For pitchers, run prevention and workload will be the drivers, but we'll also give some consideration to underlying fundamental indicators like strikeouts and walks. Also, we're ranking players based on actual baseball considerations as opposed to anything having anything to do with fantasy (although there's obviously some overlap). Whether any of these performances are sustainable over the full season doesn't matter.
Above all, remember that this is Internet Street, and only righteous grievances -- and defeated mailboxes -- live here …
100 |
Andrew Cashner
Baltimore Orioles SP
|
Cashner in his age-32 season has limited hard contact to the tune of a 120 ERA+ in 96 1/3 innings. Don't be surprised if he gets moved before the July 31 trade deadline. | |
99 |
J.D. Martinez
Boston Red Sox DH
|
Martinez has taken a step back from his 2018 levels, but you can do that and still be a darn productive hitter. After 79 games, he has an OPS+ of 136 with 18 homers and 19 doubles. | |
98 |
Hunter Dozier
Kansas City Royals 3B
|
Dozier's overall value has been dinged a bit by an upper body injury, but when healthy he's been outstanding in 2019. The third baseman has a 136 OPS+ with 32 extra-base hits in 68 games. | |
97 |
J.T. Realmuto
Philadelphia Phillies C
|
Realmuto is in the discussion for best defensive catcher in baseball, and while his offensive numbers are down from last year they're still strong as catchers go. | |
96 |
Walker Buehler
Los Angeles Dodgers SP
|
Buehler struggled to start the season, but he's been much more in character since a rough April. At the break, he's got an ERA+ of 121 with 99 more strikeouts than walks. | |
95 |
Paul DeJong
St. Louis Cardinals SS
|
DeJong's developed into a plus fielding shortstop, and this season he's putting up quality offensive numbers by positional standards. | |
94 |
Christian Vazquez
Boston Red Sox C
|
Boston's catcher concerns are no more, as Vazquez has stabilized the vital role while batting .299/.332/.520 with 14 dingers in 74 games. | |
93 |
Aaron Nola
Philadelphia Phillies SP
|
Nola endured a rough start to 2019, but of late he's been flashing the skills and results that landed him third in the NL Cy Young balloting last season. Overall, he's got a 120 ERA+ in 110 2/3 innings. | |
92 |
Kyle Hendricks
Chicago Cubs SP
|
The changeup artist and one of the most underrated pitchers in the game is at it again in 2019: 127 ERA+ with a career-best 4.47 K/BB ratio. | |
91 |
Sonny Gray
Cincinnati Reds SP
|
It's been a nifty renaissance for Gray in Cincinnati after a rough 2018 with the Yankees. After 17 starts this season, Gray's pitched to a 3.59 ERA with a 3.12 K/BB ratio. |
90 |
Tommy Pham
Tampa Bay Rays LF
|
Pham's been a defensive asset in left for the Rays while running an OPS+ of 123 in 83 games. | |
89 |
Brandon Woodruff
Milwaukee Brewers SP
|
Woodruff's been a vital part of the Milwaukee rotation this season. After 18 starts and 108 innings, he's put up a 3.67 ERA with 126 strikeouts against just 25 walks. | |
88 |
Robinson Chirinos
Houston Astros C
|
Chirinos has given the Astros almost 600 defensive innings behind the plate while maintaining an OPS+ of 112 with the bat. | |
87 |
Domingo Santana
Seattle Mariners LF
|
Santana's first season in Seattle is going quite swimmingly. The 26-year-old has played in 90 games, and along the way he's posted a slash line of .286/.354/.496 with 18 homers and 19 doubles. | |
86 |
Manny Machado
San Diego Padres 3B
|
Machado has met expectations in his first season in San Diego. He's been an asset at third base and capable at short while producing in line with career norms at the plate. | |
85 |
Matthew Boyd
Detroit Tigers SP
|
The prize of the trade deadline? Boyd might be the guy. The 28-year-old lefty has a 123 ERA+, and he leads the AL with a K/BB ratio of 7.10. | |
84 |
Jacob deGrom
New York Mets SP
|
The reigning NL Cy Young winner isn't up to last year's level -- how could he be? -- but deGrom is still turning in a strong campaign: 3.27 ERA, 138 strikeouts versus just 24 unintentional walks. | |
83 |
Tommy La Stella
Los Angeles Angels 2B
|
La Stella's laid up with a leg fracture, but his pre-injury body of work is more than enough to land the second baseman on this list: 125 OPS+ and 16 homers in 78 games. | |
82 |
Alex Verdugo
Los Angeles Dodgers CF
|
The Dodger rookie has been a plus glove man in center this season while at the plate running an OPS of .839. | |
81 |
Omar Narvaez
Seattle Mariners C
|
Narvaez isn't the strongest defensive catcher, but an OPS+ of 130 in 76 games is special stuff for someone at his position. |
80 |
Hunter Renfroe
San Diego Padres LF
|
The .308 OBP through 81 games played isn't ideal, but Renfroe more than makes up for it with his .613 SLG and 27 homers. | |
79 |
Tanner Roark
Cincinnati Reds SP
|
Roark's been a nice addition for the Reds, as he's pitched to a 132 ERA+ after 92 ⅓ innings. He's also running career-best strikeout numbers. | |
78 |
Daniel Vogelbach
Seattle Mariners DH
|
Finally given a full-time opportunity at age 26, Vogelbach has responded in a big way: .881 OPS and 21 home runs in 85 games. | |
77 |
Tim Anderson
Chicago White Sox SS
|
The Sox's shortstop is having his best season yet. Through 70 games played, Anderson a 119 OPS+, 11 home runs, and 15 stolen bases. | |
76 |
Stephen Strasburg
Washington Nationals SP
|
Strasburg's on pace to top 200 innings for just the second time in his career, and he's got a 125 ERA+ with 138 strikeouts. | |
75 |
Chris Paddack
San Diego Padres SP
|
The rookie Paddack has sparkled thus far for San Diego: 2.84 ERA with 87 strikeouts against 18 walks. | |
74 |
Wade Miley
Houston Astros SP
|
Miley's development of a cutter has changed his career. Through 18 first-half starts, Miley has ridden his capacity to induce weak contact to a 3.28 ERA/136 ERA+. | |
73 |
Anthony Rizzo
Chicago Cubs 1B
|
Rizzo's played 86 games, and over that span he's batted .272/.384/.519 with 19 home runs. | |
72 |
Jake Odorizzi
Minnesota Twins SP
|
The 29-year-old is well on his way to the best season of his career. In 88 2/3 innings for the first-place Twins, he's got a 3.15 ERA and a 3.20 K/BB ratio. | |
71 |
Brandon Lowe
Tampa Bay Rays 2B
|
Lowe's on the IL with a shin injury, but he's already banked enough value to pass Top 100 muster. The Rays' primary second baseman owns a 125 OPS+ with 16 home runs in 76 games. |
70 |
Whit Merrifield
Kansas City Royals RF
|
In his age-30 season, Merrifield has a batting line of .306/.355/.495 with 43 extra-base hits in 91 games. He's also seen time at five different positions. | |
69 |
Luke Voit
New York Yankees 1B
|
Voit powered up in a big way after being traded from the Cardinals to the Yankees in July of last year. This season, he's got an OBP of .393 to go with 17 homers. | |
68 |
Trevor Bauer
Cleveland Indians SP
|
Bauer right now leads the majors with 132 innings, and he trails only Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer in innings/start. Bauer also has an ERA+ of 129 and 149 strikeouts to his credit. | |
67 |
Lance Lynn
Texas Rangers SP
|
Lynn's got an ERA under 4.00 at the break, which scales to a 128 ERA+. He also boasts a K/BB ratio of 4.73 in 115 innings. | |
66 |
Byron Buxton
Minnesota Twins CF
|
Buxton spent some time on the IL, which keeps him from being higher on this list. He remains a stellar defender and baserunner, and he's putting up good numbers at the plate. | |
65 |
Michael Brantley
Houston Astros LF
|
Remember when it seemed like Brantley's career might be effectively over after the 2017 season? The 2019 All-Star has played in 84 games this year with a slash line of .324/.383/.511. | |
64 |
David Price
Boston Red Sox SP
|
Remember when Price was a supposed disappointment in Boston? After 16 starts, the veteran lefty boasts an ERA+ of 147 and an FIP of 2.84. On a rate basis, it's shaping up to be one of the best seasons of his career. | |
63 |
Jon Gray
Colorado Rockies SP
|
Gray's topped 100 innings while averaging more than a strikeout per frame, and despite working 43 innings at Coors Field he's got a sub-4.00 ERA. | |
62 |
Patrick Corbin
Washington Nationals SP
|
Corbin hasn't disappointed in his first season after inking a $140 million contract with the Nats. He's got a 3.34 ERA/136 ERA+ after 18 starts and 113 1/3 innings. | |
61 |
Shane Bieber
Cleveland Indians SP
|
Bieber's been a rotation savior for Cleveland this season. The 24-year-old "sophomore" and All-Star Game MVP boasts a 3.45 ERA and 3.36 FIP after 112 1/3 innings. |
60 |
George Springer
Houston Astros CF
|
A hamstring strain cost Springer roughly a month, but when on the field he's batted .303/.384/.589 while serving as Houston's primary center fielder. | |
59 |
Spencer Turnbull
Detroit Tigers SP
|
The rookie right-hander is dealing with shoulder issues, but he's still been a bright spot for the struggling Tigers. He's got a 3.31 ERA/143 ERA+ after 17 starts. | |
58 |
Joey Gallo
Texas Rangers CF
|
Even with the lost time to injury, Gallo earns a strong spot in the rankings. He's taken well to center field and has thus far been an elite "take and rake" hitter at the plate. He's long had some of the most impressive raw power in the game. Gallo has yet to hit into a double play this season. | |
57 |
Clayton Kershaw
Los Angeles Dodgers SP
|
Velocity loss certainly hasn't knocked Kershaw off his lofty perch. In the first half, the future Hall of Famer put up a 3.09 ERA through 15 starts with a K/BB ratio of 5.69. | |
56 |
Mike Moustakas
Milwaukee Brewers 3B
|
Moose has spent time at second and third for the Brewers, and along the way he's batted .263/.334/.551 with 25 homers. | |
55 |
Max Kepler
Minnesota Twins RF
|
Kepler's a standout defensive right fielder, and he's batting .263/.337/.523 (125 OPS+) with 21 home runs thus far in 2019. | |
54 |
Rhys Hoskins
Philadelphia Phillies 1B
|
Hoskins has been Philly's big bat this season. He's slashing .263/.401/.530 with 20 homers, 20 doubles, and an NL-leading 68 walks. | |
53 |
Charlie Blackmon
Colorado Rockies RF
|
Blackmon's halfway to one of his best seasons: 138 ERA+, 1.010 OPS, 20 homers, and an NL-leading seven triples. | |
52 |
Juan Soto
Washington Nationals LF
|
Still just 20, Soto is producing right in line with what he achieved in 2018, when finished runner-up in the NL Rookie of the Year vote. Childish Bambino right now has an OBP of .406 with 34 extra-base hits in 79 games. | |
51 |
Roberto Perez
Cleveland Indians C
|
In addition to being one of the best defensive catchers in baseball, Perez this season has reached new heights with the bat -- especially in terms of power. How was he not an All-Star? |
50 |
Eduardo Escobar
Arizona Diamondbacks 3B
|
The veteran infielder has helped the Diamondbacks stay relevant in the post-Paul Goldschmidt era. He's played 89 games and produced a line of .296/.353/.543. | |
49 |
Mookie Betts
Boston Red Sox RF
|
While Betts has slipped from his MVP heights of 2018, he remains one of the most complete players in the game today. | |
48 |
Marcus Stroman
Toronto Blue Jays SP
|
Stroman's been laid up with a pectoral injury, but his success in 2019 has made him one of the most buzzed-about names leading up to the July 31 trade deadline. In 104 2/3 innings, Stroman's got an ERA+ of 141. | |
47 |
Zach Davies
Milwaukee Brewers SP
|
Davies has been a rotation savior for the reigning NL Central champs. In 96 2/3 innings, he's rung up an ERA+ of 146 while inducing 11 double plays. | |
46 |
German Marquez
Colorado Rockies SP
|
Marquez ranks second in the NL in innings despite making half his starts in Coors Field. That's a feat. To go with that impressive load, he's got an ERA+ of 119 and a 4.46 K/BB ratio. | |
45 |
Max Muncy
Los Angeles Dodgers 1B
|
The eminently useful Muncy has seen time at three different infield positions while batting .266/.366/.531. He's on pace to threaten 40 homers and 100 walks. | |
44 |
Yonny Chirinos
Tampa Bay Rays SP
|
Chirinos showed promise in his rookie campaign, and the 25-year-old has been even better in 2019. He's got 100 innings under his belt at the break, and over that span he's got a 144 ERA+ with 81 strikeouts and 21 unintentional walks. | |
43 |
Lucas Giolito
Chicago White Sox SP
|
Giolito, formerly one of the top prospects in all of baseball, had failed to live up to the press clippings until this season. Now he's looking like a top-tier starter in the AL. | |
42 |
Francisco Lindor
Cleveland Indians SS
|
Lower-leg problems delayed Lindor's start to the season until April 20. Since then, though, it's been vintage Lindor. He's picked it at short while registering an .866 OPS in 69 games. | |
41 |
Mike Soroka
Atlanta Braves SP
|
The 21-year-old former first-rounder is looking every bit the young ace in 2019. After 15 starts, Soroka has a 188 ERA+ and just four home runs allowed. |
40 |
Nolan Arenado
Colorado Rockies 3B
|
Arenado is of course still a plus at third base (although not quite at peak levels anymore), and he remains a highly productive hitter even after you put Coors Field in context. | |
39 |
Jeff McNeil
New York Mets 2B
|
McNeil's played four different positions for the Metropolitans in 2019, and all the while he's produced in a big way at the plate: .349/.409/.509 with 101 hits in 76 games. That batting average leads the majors. | |
38 |
John Means
Baltimore Orioles SP
|
Here's a bright spot for the mostly hapless Orioles. The 26-year-old rookie lefty has a 183 ERA+ through 14 starts and four relief appearances this season. | |
37 |
Rafael Devers
Boston Red Sox 3B
|
In case you forgot, Devers -- not so long ago one of the top prospects in baseball -- is still just 22 years of age. At that age of 22, he's busting out in a big way. Devers right now is batting .324/.377/.546 with 16 homers and 25 two-baggers. | |
36 |
Carlos Santana
Cleveland Indians 1B
|
The 33-year-old is on his way to the best season of his career. Right now, he's got a 149 OPS+ with 19 home runs in 87 games and more walks than strikeouts. | |
35 |
Freddie Freeman
Atlanta Braves 1B
|
What a hitter. The ruthlessly consistent Freeman is having another strong season. At the break, he leads the NL in hits, and he's got 50 extra-base knocks. | |
34 |
Marcus Semien
Oakland Athletics SS
|
Semien's having a strong defensive season as shortstop for the contending A's, and he's also running a career-best OPS+ of 116. Right now, Semien also leads the majors in games played and plate appearances. | |
33 |
Fernando Tatis
San Diego Padres SS
|
It says here that Tatis is the most exciting player in baseball. He's also been one of the best, as the Padres' shortstop has slashed .327/.393/.620 with 13 stolen bases. If not for a hamstring injury that cost him more than a month, Tatis would be near the very top of these rankings. | |
32 |
Cole Hamels
Chicago Cubs SP
|
Hamels' late-career renaissance, if it keeps up, is going to put him squarely in the Hall of Fame discussion. This season he's been one of the NL's best starting pitchers. | |
31 |
Yoan Moncada
Chicago White Sox 3B
|
Moncada's breakout season has arrived. The 24-year-old third baseman owns a line of .308/.364/.544 with 16 home runs, 18 doubles, and only one GIDP. |
30 |
Trevor Story
Colorado Rockies SS
|
Story remains a top-tier defensive shortstop, and at the plate he owns a 115 OPS+ in 349 plate appearances. | |
29 |
Ronald Acuna
Atlanta Braves CF
|
Acuña looked like a present and future star during his rookie season of 2018, and that's still the case in 2019. Thanks to his excellence at the plate, in the field, and on the bases, he's on pace to approach 6.0 WAR for the season. | |
28 |
Kris Bryant
Chicago Cubs 3B
|
The shoulder woes that compromised Bryant's 2018 campaign haven't hindered him this year. He's got a 144 OPS+ with 46 walks and, tidily enough, 46 extra-base hits. | |
27 |
Gleyber Torres
New York Yankees SS
|
Steady as she goes for the gifted young Torres. In his second season, he's got an OPS+ of 132 with 19 home runs, and he's also logged the hefty majority of his defensive innings at shortstop. | |
26 |
Javier Baez
Chicago Cubs SS
|
Baez has pinned down shortstop for the contending Cubs while slugging .556 with 22 homers. He remains one of the most exciting players in baseball. | |
25 |
Xander Bogaerts
Boston Red Sox SS
|
The most underrated player in baseball? It seems an odd question to ask about a Red Sox shortstop who earned a ring in 2018, but here we are. Bogaerts continues to put up excellent numbers, particularly by positional standards. | |
24 |
James McCann
Chicago White Sox C
|
It remains to be seen whether it's sustainable, but an excellent first half is in the books for McCann: .316/.371/.502 in 63 games. It's a growth economy for hard-hitting catchers in Chicago. | |
23 |
Anthony Rendon
Washington Nationals 3B
|
Rendon in 75 games has a slash line of .304/.386/.611. The 29-year-old's next contract will be well into nine figures. | |
22 |
Gary Sanchez
New York Yankees C
|
Sanchez was a strong bounceback candidate heading into 2019, and he's done that and then some. Thanks to his elite power production from the catcher position, he figures to be in the AL MVP discussion. | |
21 |
Gerrit Cole
Houston Astros SP
|
When he's on, Cole is as dominant as any starting pitcher in the game today. Thus far in 2019, he boasts 3.09 ERA, and he's struck out 36.7 percent of opposing batters -- a remarkable figure for a starter. |
20 |
Ketel Marte
Arizona Diamondbacks 2B
|
He's a middle infielder with a plus glove, and at the break he's got 44 extra-base hits and 198 total bases. | |
19 |
Yasmani Grandal
Milwaukee Brewers C
|
Grandal remains a skilled pitch-framer, and he's having perhaps his best season at the plate thus far in 2019. | |
18 |
DJ LeMahieu
New York Yankees 2B
|
Where would the Yankees be without LeMahieu? More than anyone else, he helped not only withstand but also thrive through those early season injuries. In addition to excellent overall numbers at the plate, he's been one of the MLB's top clutch hitters thus far in 2019. | |
17 |
Josh Bell
Pittsburgh Pirates 1B
|
What a breakout season for Bell, who in 2019 has established himself as one of the game's top power hitters. He's on target to make a run at 50 homers. | |
16 |
Willson Contreras
Chicago Cubs C
|
With a 139 OPS+, a .381 OBP, and 18 home runs in 77 games, Contreras has been the most productive catcher in baseball this season. | |
15 |
Pete Alonso
New York Mets 1B
|
Alonso right now would be the runaway choice for NL Rookie of the Year. He's on pace to top 50 homers for the season in part because of his elite exit velocities. | |
14 |
Jose Berrios
Minnesota Twins SP
|
The young right-hander continues his ascent. At the break, he's got a career-best 3.00 ERA and career-best 4.52 K/BB ratio in 117 innings this season. | |
13 |
Justin Verlander
Houston Astros SP
|
Age 36 has brought no sign of decline for the former MVP and Cy Young winner. Right now, Verlander boasts a sub-3.00 ERA, and he leads the majors in innings. He's also on target to make another run at 300 strikeouts. | |
12 |
Zack Greinke
Arizona Diamondbacks SP
|
No sign of a decline phase yet for Greinke, who's closing in on his 200th career win. He's got a sub-3.00 ERA with only one unearned run allowed with 108 strikeouts against 14 unintentional walks. | |
11 |
Alex Bregman
Houston Astros 3B
|
The All-Star third baseman is producing at a high level once again. In 88 games, he's cracked 23 home runs while running an OBP of .393. |
10 |
Matt Chapman
Oakland Athletics 3B
|
Chapman may be the best defensive third baseman in baseball, and at the plate he's got a slash line of .265/.353/.534 with 46 extra-base hits in 89 games. | |
9 |
Jorge Polanco
Minnesota Twins SS
|
A plus-fielding shortstop with an OPS in the neighborhood of .900? Polanco this season has quietly been one of the best players in baseball. | |
8 |
Charlie Morton
Tampa Bay Rays SP
|
Morton has been an ace and then some for the Rays this season. In 112 2/3 innings, he's struck out 142 batters against 36 walks and put up an ERA of just 2.32. | |
7 |
Luis Castillo
Cincinnati Reds SP
|
Thanks in part to a tweaked changeup, Castillo has emerged as the ace of a quietly impressive Reds rotation. He's also in the midseason discussion for NL Cy Young honors. | |
6 |
Christian Yelich
Milwaukee Brewers RF
|
Regression? The opposite has happened so far, contrary to most expectations. The reigning NL MVP is on pace to breeze past 50 homers for the season. | |
5 |
Mike Minor
Texas Rangers SP
|
Minor in his age-31 season has taken the unlikely leap from solid, which is what he was in 2018, to possible Cy Young frontrunner, which is what he is in 2019. He's been a huge part of the Rangers' surprising relevance thus far. | |
4 |
Hyun-Jin Ryu
Los Angeles Dodgers SP
|
Ryu is halfway to a career year and then some. Right now he boasts a sub-2.00 ERA and has almost 10 times as many strikeouts as walks. | |
3 |
Max Scherzer
Washington Nationals SP
|
Scherzer's coming off an utterly dominant June, and the overall body of work is what you expect from Peak Max. That is, he's again been one of the best pitchers on the planet. | |
2 |
Cody Bellinger
Los Angeles Dodgers RF
|
Thanks to an OPS+ that's hanging around 200 and strong defensive metrics, Bellinger right now leads MLB in WAR by a fairly comfortable margin. | |
1 |
Mike Trout
Los Angeles Angels CF
|
Trout's on pace to join Babe Ruth, Rogers Hornsby, Willie Mays, and Walter Johnson as the only players ever to record more than three 10-WAR seasons. Trout, of course, is still just 27 years of age. |