If you’re like me, and your attention has been focused on the mediocre play of the Cubs and the inexplicably amazing run by the Brewers, you may not have noticed a trend around baseball .Every team that was leading their division through June 18th has really been struggling, and many have dropped out of the top spot or are even in danger of missing the playoffs.
For these 6 teams, here is a summary of their best record (in terms of games over .500), the record since their high water mark, their record since July 1, their biggest lead in the division, and their biggest deficit or smallest lead since leading the division.
NL
New York Mets – NL East
Best Record (games over .500): 45-24 on 6/12
Record since best record: 19-32 (.373 winning percentage)
Record since July 1: 16-19 (.444)
Biggest Lead: 5.5 games on 6/12
Biggest Deficit: 5.5 games on 8/10 (currently 5 games)
Chicago Cubs – NL Central
Best Record (games over .500): 59-39 on 7/19
Record since best record: 9-12 (.429 winning percentage)
Record since July 1: 19-16 (.543)
Biggest Lead: 6.5 games on 6/17
Biggest Deficit: 7.5 games (current)
Los Angeles Dodgers – NL West
Best Record (games over .500): 56-32 on 7/3
Record since best record: 12-21 (.364 winning percentage)
Record since July 1: 15-21 (.417)
Biggest Lead: 9 games on 7/3
Biggest Deficit: 1 game (current)
AL
New York Yankees – AL East
Best Record (games over .500): 42-25 on 6/6
Record since best record: 22-35 (.386 winning percentage)
Record since July 1: 16-21 (.432)
Biggest Lead: 7 games on 5/28
Biggest Deficit: 6.5 games on 8/10 (currently
Detroit Tigers – AL Central
Best Record (games over .500): 59-34 on 7/8
Record since best record: 11-18 (.379 winning percentage)
Record since July 1: 17-20 (.459)
Biggest Lead: 14 games on 7/8
Smallest Lead: 5 games (currently leading by 6.5 games)
Houston Astros – AL West
Best Record (games over .500): 55-35 on 7/6
Record since best record: 13-18 (.419 winning percentage)
Record since July 1: 18-19 (.486)
Biggest Lead: 7 games on 7/6
Smallest Lead: tied (currently leading by 1 game)
Record since July 1 for these teams
| Team | W | L | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cubs | 19 | 16 | .543 |
| Astros | 18 | 19 | .486 |
| Tigers | 17 | 20 | .459 |
| Mets | 16 | 19 | .444 |
| Yankees | 16 | 21 | .432 |
| Dodgers | 15 | 21 | .417 |
This information does not negate the fact that the Cubs have not been doing as well the last two months as they did during the early season. But it should provide some perspective that it has been a weird season for many of the teams expected to win their divisions.
Cubs in 7 
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