Cardinals, Mets and more: Ranking the 5 most disappointing MLB teams in the first half

The unofficial first half of the 2023 season ended on Sunday, and now MLB breaks for the All-Star Break in Seattle. There have been plenty of storylines (both positive and negative) through the first 90-plus games each team has played.

Domingo German of the New York Yankees threw a perfect game on June 28 against the Oakland Athletics in an 11-0 win. On July 8, the Detroit Tigers got a combined no-hitter from three pitches in a 2-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. German also made news earlier in the season when he served a 10-game suspension, as did Max Scherzer of the New York Mets, for being thrown out of a game for failing a substance check by umpires.

Along with the storylines, there have been teams playing better than they were expected to when the season began back in March, and some that have struggled. The Tampa Bay Rays have been the best team in the American League. However, they closed out the final week heading into the break losing seven of eight games. In the National League, the Atlanta Braves have been setting the pace not only in the NL, but also all of MLB and enter the break with a league-best 60-29 record.

Injuries have also played a part in the first three months, as they always do and they have played a part in some teams’ struggles. In the American League Central and National League Central, surviving the first half has set teams up to have a strong second half and they can get into the postseason as a division winner.

With all of that said, here are five teams that have disappointed through the first three-plus months of 2023.

Chicago White Sox have struggled despite a roster that should be contending

Let’s be honest, playing .500 baseball is not that hard in the AL Central. The Cleveland Guardians led the way at 45-45, followed by the Minnesota Twins at 45-46. The Detroit Tigers are 5.5 games back, followed by the Chicago White Sox at 38-54.

Entering the season, the White Sox were a team that was ready to make a move in the division and possibly win it. While it can still happen, it seems unlikely that they will and they will become sellers at the trade deadline.

They signed outfielder Andrew Benintendi in free agency to a franchise record five-year, $75 million contract to play beside Luis Robert in centerfield and he also provides a left-handed bat they needed. The problem with the White Sox this season is that they have not been able to play with any consistency in a division where consistency gets you near the top at the break.

Pitchers Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, Dylan Cease, and Joe Kelly will get some interest at the trade deadline, while it’s not out of the possibility that they entertain offers on shortstop Tim Anderson. There are more disappointing teams than the White Sox, but given the situation in the division, this feels like it’s going to turn into a missed opportunity when all is said and done after game No. 162.

St. Louis Cardinals have been a disappointment in the first half of 2023

Like the White Sox, the St. Louis Cardinals are in a similar situation in terms of a weak division with the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers leading the way, but things are been a disappointment from Opening Day for the Red Birds.

They have been buried in the basement of the division all season and sit at 38-52 at the break after winning two out of three of the White Sox over the weekend. How bad are things this season for the Cardinals? They are 14 games under .500 at the All-Star Break for the first time since 1986.

Adam Wainwright is pitching in what is likely his final season and even though St. Louis fans don’t want to hear it, they very well might be destined for a rebuild. If that’s the case, being sellers at the trade deadline is the way for them to go.

Paul Goldschmidt is not going to play his final couple of seasons with a team in a rebuild and would get them a decent package in return. Tommy Edman is someone who would draw some interest from teams looking for infield help and they should listen on some of their pitchers. Seasons like this have not happened much in St. Louis.

New York Mets have been a big disappointment in the first half

Ok, so it’s clear what the two biggest disappointments have been this season, it’s just a matter of who has been the biggest. The New York Mets are second and things began to spiral out of control before the first pitch of the regular season was even thrown.

Closer Edwin Diaz was injured in the World Baseball Classic in March and is one of the biggest injuries this season. He is coming off a 2022 season that saw him record 32 saves with a 1.31 ERA and this season, he was looking to top that number for the Mets.

Pitching has been an issue this season, as has been an offense that has been very inconsistent. Team owner Steve Cohen in June gave his support to GM Billy Epler and manager Buck Showalter and it appears that both will survive the season, regardless of how things play out. If there was going to be a change of any kind, it usually starts with the manager.

The Mets had a three-game road trip before the break against National League West leader Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres in what could have been considered a season-saving trip. They swept Arizona and won the first game in San Diego, before dropping the last two. The division is out of reach with the Braves rolling along and the Wild Card is quickly getting out of reach. The first two weeks after the break will decide the Mets’ direction at the deadline.

San Diego Padres are the biggest disappointment so far in 2023

The Mets could very easily be in this spot, but the San Diego Padres, despite winning two out of three before the break from the Mets, has the top spot as the argument could be made that their roster on paper is the best in the league. However, as we all know, paper doesn’t win anything.

There have been times this season where San Diego has got very good pitching performances and their offense has gone silent. There have also been times where their offense has erupted and their pitching struggled. They have not been able to consistently put it together until recently. In the final week for the break, they swept the Los Angeles Angels, then won two of three over New York.

Xander Bogaerts and Michael Wacha were signed as free agents from the Boston Red Sox, Fernando Tatis, Jr. returned from his suspension in April and made a position switch to the outfield because of the Bogaerts addition. Jake Cronenworth also moved a position switch to first base and could that move have affected him? Gary Sanchez has been one of the better pickups during the season and has solidified the catching and added some offensive pop.

Pitching is going to be the key to the Padres making a second-half move and getting into the playoffs. With the payroll, big-name players, and the expectations placed on them to begin the season, anything short of just getting into the playoffs at this point will be considered a failure.

It certainly has been a struggle for some teams in the first half, but the good thing about a 162-game season is that there is time to quickly turn things around and erase the memory of their first-half struggles. These teams will have that chance beginning Friday night.