MLB standings through 60 games in 2019

The Major League Baseball Players Association announced on Tuesday evening that all outstanding issues have been resolved and the players will report to spring training. The league is finalizing the 2020 schedule, but by all accounts, it will be a 60-game season starting approximately July 24th and running until September 27th.

This is the most significant shortening of any season in the four major men’s North American sports leagues, and far and away the shortest season in MLB history. It turns what is normally an eight-month marathon into a three month sprint to the playoffs. The small sample size alert is significant, and it could make for a wild season.

All we have to do is look back to the first 60 games of last season to see how much things can change. Below, we’ve posted the records and standings at the 60-game mark for each team, and follow it with their record at the end of the season.

You’ll see the Washington Nationals were 27-33 at 60 games and nowhere close to challenging for a World Series title, but we know how that ended up. Will they get off to another slow start in this shortened season?

Cleveland went on a tear after their 30-30 record, winning 63 and losing 39 to finish that stretch with a .617 winning percentage. Will they be able to get off to a better start than last season? They’ll need to.

There are plenty of other examples below of teams that either started hot or finished hot. This season will benefit those teams that start hot, as they won’t have another 100 games to make up ground. Teams with strong pitching staffs will have an advantage, as they won’t need to hold back their starters for rest as often.

It’s going to be a wild one!

AL East

1. New York Yankees: 38-22 (.633) — 103-59 (.636)
2. Tampa Bay Rays: 37-23 (.617) — 96-66 (.593)
3. Boston Red Sox: 31-29 (.517) — 84-78 (.519)
4. Toronto Blue Jays: 22-38 (.367) — 67-95 (.414)
5. Baltimore Orioles: 19-41 (.317) — 54-108 (.333)

AL Central

1. Minnesota Twins: 40-20 (.667) — 101-61 (.623)
2. Chicago White Sox: 29-31 (.483) — 72-89 (.447)
3. Cleveland Indians: 30-30 (.500) — 93-69 (.574)
4. Detroit Tigers: 23-37 (.383) — 47-114 (.292)
5. Kansas City Royals: 19-41 (.317) — 59-103 (.364)

AL West

1. Houston Astros: 40-20 (.667) — 107-55 (.660)
2. Texas Rangers: 32-28 (.533) — 78-84 (.481)
3. Oakland Athletics: 30-30 (.500) — 97-65 (.599)
4. Los Angles Angels: 29-31 (.483) — 72-90 (.444)
5. Seattle Mariners: 25-35 (.417) — 68-94 (.420)

NL East

1. Philadelphia Phillies: 33-27 (.550) — 81-81 (.500)
2. Atlanta Braves: 33-27 (.550) — 97-65 (.599)
3. New York Mets: 28-32 (.467) — 86-76 (.531)
4. Washington Nationals: 27-33 (.450) — 93-69 (.574)
5. Miami Marlins: 23-37 (.383) — 57-105 (.352)

NL Central

1. Milwaukee Brewers: 34-26 (.567) — 89-73 (.549)
2. Chicago Cubs: 34-26 (.567) — 84-78 (.519)
3. St. Louis Cardinals: 31-29 (.517) — 91-71 (.562)
4. Pittsburgh Pirates: 29-31 (.483) — 69-93 (.426)
5. Cincinnati Reds: 28-32 (.467) — 75-87 (.463)

NL West

1. Los Angeles Dodgers: 41-19 (.683) — 106-56 (.654)
2. Colorado Rockies: 31-29 (.517) — 71-91 (.438)
3. San Diego Padres: 31-29 (.517) — 70-92 (.432)
4. Arizona Diamondbacks: 30-30 (.500) — 85-77 (.525)
5. San Francisco Giants: 25-35 (.417) — 77-85 (.475)