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 Trade Deadline behind us, 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.
First Place: Chicago White Sox (59-52)
Top Position Player: Miguel Vargas (3.3 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Davis Martin (3.0 fWAR)
A few years
ago the White Sox were the lovable losers on the South Side of Chicago. Now, they are one of the youngest and most exciting clubs in the American League. The White Sox tied an all-time MLB record by recording 13 player debuts before the All-Star Break, matching the wartime-era 1944 Cincinnati Reds. Prior to play on Monday the White Sox held a three-game lead in the central.
In July the Sox put together a 13-12 record including a four-game series split with the Yankees. The team continues to display power at the plate with slugging sensation Munetaka Murakami back from injury and leading the charge. Since returning, Murakami has batted .258 with four home runs, 10 RBIs, and 14 runs scored. Rookie infielder Chase Meidroth and outfielder Sam Antonacci have both impressed since making their debuts.
On the rubber, Sean Burke stole the show in July. Burke made five starts, compiling a 2-1 record with a tidy 1.14 ERA. He allowed just four earned runs over 31.2 innings pitched while racking up 45 strikeouts and issuing only four walks. Six of those innings and 10 of the K’s came against the Yankees on July 30th.
The White Sox are going for it this year and made a few big deadline moves. Those moves included adding veteran starting pitcher Luis Castillo from Seattle and right-handed reliever Huascar Brazobán from the Mets.
Second Place: Cleveland Guardians (57-56)
Top Position Player: Brayan Rocchio (3.2 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Parker Messick (3.3 fWAR)
Coming into July, the Guardians were still hovering around .500 and they ended the month treading water around that same mark after going 12-13 over 25 games in July. As a squad, they scored 97 runs, collected 197 hits, and launched 29 home runs over the course of the month.
The offense in July was led by Chase DeLauter, who had a strong month, slashing .298/.368 /.489 good for a .857 OPS over 94 at-bats. He paced the offense with 28 hits, 10 extra-base hits, 11 walks, and 14 RBIs.
Cleveland’s bullpen also had a great month sandwiched around the All-Star break. Hunter Gaddis, a righty, made 14 relief appearances, logging a 1.50 ERA over 11.2 innings pitched while striking out 14 batters and securing seven holds. Cade Smith picked up six saves across 11 games while giving up just one earned run for a 0.77 ERA. Franco Aleman punished opposing hitters, racking up 16 strikeouts in 11.1 frames of work alongside a 1.59 ERA. Colin Holderman appeared in 13 matchups and posted a 2.31 ERA and four holds.
The Guardians made a swap with the Brewers once the calendar rolled to August. Cleveland sent catcher Bo Naylor and reliever Codi Heuer to the Brewers in exchange for right-handed reliever Craig Yoho and outfielder Blake Perkins. It was the usual small-market move that Cleveland has become known for as they know they are in the thick of it and always looking at the margins. However, they also made a more significant starting pitching add, picking up 2026 All-Star Foster Griffin from the Nationals, and went across state to pick up first baseman Nathaniel Lowe from the Reds.
Third Place: Minnesota Twins (56-57)
Top Position Player: Byron Buxton (2.6 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Joe Ryan (2.5 fWAR)
If Cleveland is heads, then the Twins are tails on the same coin as they sat one game below .500 before action on Monday. Despite last season’s firesale and many experts waiting for the same this season, Minnesota has been adding at the deadline and appear to believe they have enough to make a run at the AL Central crown. The Twins finished the month of July posting a 15-9 record to secure a second consecutive winning month.
Luke Keaschall was the belle of the ball on the offensive side in July. For the month he slashed .323/.447/.462. Kody Clemens, Roger’s son, led the Twins with six home runs and paced the club in slugging percentage during July, including a walk-off grand slam down by three on the 30th. Catcher, and trade rumor hero, Ryan Jeffers returned from injury and has continued his career year at the plate.
Joe Ryan has been the Twins ace for a while now and looked the part early in the month. That of course included a gem against the Yankees on July 7th where he went seven shutout innings while striking out nine. After making an appearance in the All-Star game, Ryan has been less than stellar and has battled some arm fatigue.
Despite the oft-injured Buxton missing time the Twins have managed to claw their way back into contention. The team has added Dean Kremer from Baltimore, Jeff Hoffman from Toronto, and A.J. Minter from the Mets in attempts to add a few more arms for the division race.
Fourth Place: Detroit Tigers (54-58)
Top Position Player: Dillon Dingler (5.0 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Casey Mize (2.9 fWAR)
For a team that came in thinking a ring could be the result of the season, the Tigers have shown how fast things can change. Detroit went 15-9 in July but officially waved the white flag and traded Tarik Skubal to LA. Fellow 2025 All-Star rotationmate Casey Mize was also sent packing to San Diego. To avoid feeling any more sadness about how the Dodgers are just the bullies I wish the Yankees would be again, lets move on.
The Tigers have several promising young bats to be excited about including Max Clark who recorded three hits in his debut at the end of July. Kevin McGonigle has continued his impressive season and was selected to the All-Star game. Colt Keith hit .340 for the month to pace the team in that category.
Before being traded Skubal was the talk of the town both due to the rumors and his performance. Working his way back from injury Skubal was dominant in July. He struck out 12 batters on July 24th against the Royals and achieved his 1,000th career strikeout on July 29th against Baltimore, solidifying his place in Detroit’s record books before his departure. Sigh.
Last Place: Kansas City Royals (46-67)
Top Position Player: Bobby Witt Jr. (4.8 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Michael Wacha (2.2 fWAR)
It has been an injury-ravaged year in Kansas City, marred by a staggering 14 players simultaneously landing on the injured list. That list includes elite superstar shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. who is suffering low back tightness and front-line ace Cole Ragans who required season-ending UCL surgery. The Royals completely slid out of contention before summer arrived. They now sit 21 games under .500.
Finding a silver lining for the Royals or even a player to highlight with Witt missing time is difficult. Due to this, general manager J.J. Picollo officially started selling-off some pieces over the weekend. The Royals traded away starting outfielder Lane Thomas and left-hander Bailey Falter to the Atlanta Braves, as well as injured 2025 All-Star Kris Bubic (who will join Skubal on the Dodgers). Reporters were right when they said this will be a soft sell as the team still wants to compete in 2027.
