MLB Top 5: Second half scorchers ---Must Read

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MLB Wed, Jul 13, 2005
MLB Top 5: Second half scorchers
Ryan Stetson

Now that the All-Star Game festivites have come and gone for another year, it`s time to get back to the daily grind. Here are five teams that could start the second half of the MLB season with a bang.

1. Houston: 44-43 SU, 36-48-3 over/under

What’s not to like about Houston Astros in the second half? We all knew they weren’t that bad.

They were 15 games below the .500 mark in late May. Now they`re in the thick of the wild card race after winning 16 of their last 20 contests heading into the All-Star break.

Now it all depends on Hoston’s bats. Morgan Ensberg`s probably not going to keep hitting like this, but if he can continue to be a consistent force in the middle of the order, bettors may be able to ride this team for much of the second half.

This club is finally working for some runs instead of just waiting for somebody to launch one 12 rows deep. Willy Taveras has a lot to do with that. The 24-year-old speedster has sparked the top of the order with a solid .298 batting average to go along with 22 steals. When he gets on, good things tend to happen with Craig Biggio, Lance Berkman, and Ensberg waiting in the wings.

The ‘Stros are also going to need Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and the rest of the starting staff to give them solid innings if they`re going to make a big run like they did last year. Pettitte takes the ball Friday to open a four-game set with the Cards.

2. San Diego: 48-41 SU, 41-41-7 over/under

Check out the Fathers. They’re sitting pretty atop the NL West, 5 ½ games clear of the second place D-Backs and the news only gets better.

Within the next two weeks, expect to see second baseman Mark Loretta, first baseman Phil Nevin, and super starter Adam Eaton back in the mix. That’s like turning in a loaner Civic and rolling out in your comfy Lexus after a tune-up.

The Pads will likely have to do without the big trio for this week’s set against those Diamondbacks, but they’re doing just fine as it is. With a deep bench helping ease the pain of the key injuries, the club’s sitting seven games above .500.

The Padres are learning to manufacture runs in Petco and take care of tight leads. With a few superstars coming off the shelf and maybe a deadline acquisition or two, they could run away with the worst division in baseball.

3. Detroit: 42-44 SU, 37-47-2 over/under

There are some good vibes circulating around Comerica Park these days. All-Star weekend was a blast and the Tigers may be able to feed off this energy when they get back to work on today.

They host the lowly Royals for a four-game set as the second half of the season begins after winning five of their last six games heading into the break. This offense is just waiting to blow up. Judging by Monday’s Home Run Derby, Pudge Rodriguez looks pretty comfortable at the dish right now, while lesser-known Tigers like Brandon Inge and young cleanup hitter Chris Shelton have made things happen all year.

If Detroit starts scoring in bunches, look out.

This club already owns one of the most promising pitching staffs in the bigs. The arms are working on a solid 3.62 team ERA, but what’s really scary is the fact that the staff may be just starting to get it together. The starting five still struggles to nail down wins, but has a ton of upside.

With some help from the bats, don’t be surprised if the young rotation starts showing a bit of what it’s capable of in the second half.

4. Baltimore: 47-40 SU, 36-46-5 over/under

Think the O’s are going to fade away as the Yanks and Sox duke it out at the top of the AL East? I don’t. This is a solid club.

Not to say one of the big two won’t take the division, but Baltimore isn’t going away. The Orioles will get a huge boost when Erik Bedard returns to the rotation within the next week, then they`ll get another big lift when catcher Javy Lopez returns near the end of the month.

And by the sounds of things, the O’s aren’t going to be sitting on their hands when the trade deadline rolls around, either. They`re one of about six or seven teams currently talking to the Florida Marlins about highly-coveted starter A.J. Burnett.

The O’s slipped a bit near the end of the first half, but rebounded nicely in taking three of four from the BoSox just before the break. They get back to work with a four-game set against Kansas City this week and don’t see the Yanks or Sox again until August.

5. Chicago Cubs: 43-44 SU, 36-45-6 over/under

It’s hard to get too excited about the Cubs, what with the sky-high prices and the curse and all. But they do have a lot going for them coming out of the break – namely, their health.

Mark Prior and Kerry Wood are both back on the hill, while Todd Walker has energized the top of the batting order since reclaiming his spot at second base on the field and in the two-hole of the lineup. Derrek Lee’s tweaked shoulder looks like it was just that and there’s even whispers that Nomar Garciaparra could be back to lend a hand for the final two months of the season.

Plus, it seems that GM Jim Hendry and Dusty Baker have finally realized that the guy they got for Sammy - Jerry Hairston Jr. - may actually deserve an at-bat every now and then. Since he took over leadoff duties, the club’s had no problems getting somebody on for the big bats in the middle of the order. Who would have figured that putting your two best on-base guys at the top of the order would translate into crooked numbers on the scoreboard?

They may need a move or two, and really need to get it together quickly, but everything’s in place for a big run. Whatever that’s worth.
 

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