(PhatzRadio Sports / AP / USA Today Sports) —- The All-Star break has finally arrived, putting a 2017 season that has been full of surprises on pause.
The Chicago Cubs are two games under .500, the Colorado Rockies have the second-best record in the National League, and the Houston Astros are just 26 wins shy of eclipsing their 2016 total.
Lest we forget the rookie pheonoms, New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge and Los Angeles Dodgers first basemen Cody Bellinger seem destined to compete for home run crowns for a long time.
Before they take aim at Marlins Park’s’ home run structure in Monday’s Home Run Derby, a look at some eye-opening numbers from the major leagues’ first half:
Dodger dominance: The Dodgers’ plus-163 run differential is the best in National League history for a team heading into the All-Star break. They have won 26 of their last 30 games. Twenty-six of 30.
The Judge: Judge’s 30 home runs are the most at the break since Chris Davis hit 37 in 2013.
With Judge on pace to finish with 57 home runs, Mark McGwire’s record for the most home runs by a rookie (49) could be in danger.
Blast off: The Astros trail only the Dodgers for the most wins at the half, and while the Dodgers may boast the best run differential entering the second half in the history of the NL, the Astros have made their own mark.
Houston’s 143 first-half home runs are the most since the Texas Rangers hit 147 in 2005. On top of that, their team slugging percentage (.500) is second all-time, trailing only the Seattle Mariners’ mark of .503 through the first half of the 1996 season.
And as if that weren’t enough, the pitching staff’s 895 total strikeouts are also a record — breaking the standard set by the Dodgers only one year ago when they struck out 866 batters before the All-Star break.
Defensive downturn: The Oakland Athletics have been doing their opponents a lot of favors, as their 77 errors lead the major leagues. So far this season, the Athletics have allowed 52 batters to reach base on an error — the most since the Padres allowed 61 in 2001.
Sale force: Boston Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale’s 178 strikeouts at the break is the most since 2002, when Curt Schilling struck out 186 in 19 games.
For what it’s worth, Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer isn’t far behind Sale with 173.
Red legs: With 26 triples in the first half, the Reds posted the highest mark in the category since the Florida Marlins and Boston Red Sox had 31 and 30, respectively, in 2003.
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A look at what’s happening all around the majors today:
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DERBY DAY
Fresh off launching two more longballs in Miami’s final game before the break, Giancarlo Stanton returns to Marlins Park to defend his All-Star Home Run Derby crown. No doubt, many fans want to see Stanton swing away against Yankees rookie sensation Aaron Judge for the title. The first-round matchups: Stanton vs. Gary Sanchez, Judge vs. Justin Bour, Cody Bellinger vs. Charlie Blackmon, and Mike Moustakas vs. Miguel Sano.
Maybe someone will light up the kooky home run sculpture beyond the outfield wall in Miami. Josh Hamilton put on quite a show in the 2008 Derby at Yankee Stadium, homering on 13 straight swings. But not every slugger does damage — Mike Piazza, Jim Thome and defending champ Robinson Cano are among those who whiffed in shutout rounds.
ALL ACES
The starting pitchers will be announced for Tuesday night’s All-Star Game: Chris Sale and Max Scherzer are the likely choices.
Scherzer, the defending NL Cy Young Award winner, leads the majors with a 2.10 ERA and is 10-5 with 173 strikeouts for Washington. Sale has fanned a major league-most 178 and is 11-4 with a 2.75 ERA in his first year with Boston.
Clayton Kershaw is 14-2 for the Dodgers, but he pitched Sunday and is therefore ineligible to play in the summer showcase.
HELP WANTED
The Mariners are looking to add a bullpen coach after former big league pitcher Mike Hampton resigned. He was in his second season when he left following Seattle’s last game before the All-Star break. The team says a new person will be in place before its resumes play Friday. The Mariners are 43-47 and rank near the bottom of the AL in team ERA.