Every day, Pinstripe Alley offers updates on what the Yankees’ top American League opponents are up to through the Rivalry Roundup. The AL East is well-trodden ground there, but with the season’s final month halfway over, we’re going to take a peek around MLB as a whole and check in with each of the other five divisions. Who’s surprising? Who’s underwhelming? Who’s simply mediocre at the moment? Read on and find out.
(Note: Records and standings are up to date through games played on Sunday, September
13th.)
First Place: Atlanta Braves (88-62)
Top Position Player: Michael Harris II (4.0 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Chris Sale (5.7 fWAR)
Believe it or not, the Atlanta Braves have had a below-average offense statistically so far in 2026, despite boasting elite names like Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson, Michael Harris II, and Drake Baldwin. They rank 19th in wRC+ with a 98 mark.
The pitching has done the heavy lifting despite dealing with lots of injuries from the start. Right now, talented hurlers like Spencer Schwellenbach, Spencer Strider, Bryce Elder, and Robert Suárez are on the injured list, yet the team is fourth in MLB with a 3.59 ERA.
With a 3.41 ERA, the Braves’ bullpen is the best in the National League. It’s led by closer Raisel Iglesias (2.78 ERA), Didier Fuentes (2.27 ERA, 31.5 K%), Dylan Lee (3.09 ERA), and other unheralded heroes like Dylan Dodd, Víctor Mederos, Ray Kerr, and Brent Suter. The addition of Tyler Mahle (1.25 ERA in seven starts as a Brave) at the deadline was just what the doctor ordered, and Chris Sale (2.18 ERA) has been as good as ever.
Harris’ all-around game sets the tone, and Acuña’s power-speed prowess (17 HR, 20 SB in 97 G) elevates the team’s ceiling. Having Matt Olson picking up the power pace with 39 homers after two straight campaigns with 29 also helps, of course. The Braves, as their record indicates, are very hard to beat. Suárez returning from injury soon could make them even tougher.
Second Place: Philadelphia Phillies (83-67)
Top Position Player: Bryce Harper (3.5 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Christopher Sánchez (5.8 fWAR)
Bryce Harper refuses to decline and is sporting a cool 140 wRC+ with 28 home runs this year. He and Kyle Schwarber, who has 44 homers and owns a 132 wRC+, are virtually the Phillies’ offense, though: the unit has put up the fourth-worst wRC+ in baseball with a 92 mark. Trea Turner (83 wRC+) has had a rough season, and the same can be said about JT Realmuto (78 wRC+), Alec Bohm (89 wRC+), Luis Arraez (80 wRC+), and Justin Crawford (82 wRC+). Runs are hard to come by in Philadelphia.
Christopher Sánchez (2.79 ERA), Jesús Luzardo (2.87 ERA), and Zack Wheeler (3.14 ERA) are a formidable rotation trio, but Aaron Nola has been inconsistent, and there are now questions about the health of Luzardo’s shoulder.
Despite solid seasons from Jhoan Durán, Tim Mayza, and Jonathan Bowlan, the bullpen is more ‘meh’ than ‘great’. This team will go as far as the rotation takes it, although a rebound from some of their struggling hitters would certainly help matters. The Phillies are fighting with the Chicago Cubs for the top Wild Card spot in the senior circuit. Unless the offense improves, however, it’s hard to see them making much noise in October.
Third Place: Miami Marlins (74-76)
Top Position Player: Otto López (5.4 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Sandy Alcántara (3.1 fWAR)
The Marlins are 7.5 games behind the final Wild Card spot, so they aren’t really contending. After their disastrous 2024 and decent 2025, however, 2026 has been about finding potentially useful long-term pieces. And they have had some success.
As expected, Otto López’s stats have considerably diminished in the second half (79 wRC+, 1 HR, 13 SB) after a really strong performance before the break (137 wRC+, 9 HR, 17 SB). Still, a 10-homer, 30-steal season with a 116 wRC+ and 5.4 fWAR is nothing to sneeze at.
The Marlins’ offense, a perfectly average unit that ranks 14th in baseball, has some interesting hitters. With the exception of Joe Mack and Jakob Marsee, every starter boasts an above-average wRC+: Javier Sanoja, Xavier Edwards, Heriberto Hernández, Griffin Conine, Kyle Stowers, Esteury Ruiz, and López.
Before going down with a neck strain in July, Max Meyer (2.68 ERA in 20 starts) showed enough to be considered a frontline guy and a building block. Alcántara has been steady, and Eury Pérez had a huge summer before hitting a wall in September.
Overall, the Marlins have a solid core and a top-ten farm that includes injured pitching prospects Thomas White and Robby Snelling. If they play their cards right, they might make some noise next year.
Fourth Place: Washington Nationals (70-81)
Top Position Player: James Wood (4.1 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Cade Cavalli (3.6 fWAR)
Speaking of making noise, the Nationals’ offense can certainly score some runs. The group is fifth in MLB and fourth in the National League with a 104 wRC+, and ranks fourth in homers with 198. Of course, having James Wood (30 HR, 21 SB, 147 wRC+) and CJ Abrams (30 HR, 29 SB, 125 wRC+) certainly helps matters. These two will be a problem for MLB pitching staffs for a long time.
Dylan Crews’ development has stalled, and they don’t have Curtis Mead and Luis García Jr. anymore, but there’s a lot of talent in Washington’s offense besides the two aforementioned stars. Daylen Lile (20 HR, 15 SB) and Keibert Ruiz (113 wRC+) have had solid offensive seasons, and Brady House has potential. Former Yankees prospect Andrés Chaparro has been excellent against both lefties and righties.
Pitching, however, is a problem. Washington has the worst staff in the National League and the second-worst in the majors with a 5.14 ERA. Cade Cavalli (3.12 ERA) has had a breakout campaign, and Andrew Álvarez has been solid. There’s not much else beyond that, although adding the injured Connelly Early was a nice coup. The Nationals, with a solid core and a top-ten farm, are at the very least interesting again.
Fifth Place: New York Mets (69-80)
Top Position Player: Carson Benge (3.3 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Nolan McLean (3.1 fWAR)
The season in Queens has been a disaster, but it at least gave them a strong platform to develop Carson Benge and he’s looking like a budding star. The rookie outfielder is slashing a cool .271/.334/.411 with a 109 wRC+, 17 home runs and 22 steals after a brutal start. Juan Soto has survived two injured list stints to post a 147 wRC+ and 25 round-trippers, and Francisco Lindor reached 20 dingers with a solid 111 after having to deal with hamate bone surgery.
A.J. Ewing emerged as another potential building block in the outfield, although it remains to be seen if he’s a starter or more of a fourth outfielder. Brett Baty, who was brutal for most of the first half, is closing the season strong with a 125 wRC+ after the break and a 236 mark in September so far.
Despite trading away Clay Holmes, Freddy Peralta, and lots of relievers at the deadline, the Mets have a top-ten ERA in the second half, at 3.38. Zach Thornton and Nate Lavender have been amazing stories in the rotation and bullpen, respectively, and Nolan McLean and Christian Scott are excellent building blocks.
With a few interesting young pieces, two superstars, and lots of money to spend, the Mets could be dangerous in 2027, if there’s baseball. The 2026 campaign, however, was a huge disappointment.
