MLB halfway grades for every National League team: Dodgers, Braves ace first half, Mets score easy 'F'

With July and then the All-Star break just around the bend, we're now roughly halfway through the 2026 Major League Baseball regular season and every team has played at least 81 games. That means roughly three months of play are behind us, and that means it's time to check in on all of MLB's 30 teams. Specifically, we're here to hand out grades to each team based on how the first half of the season has gone to date.

It's not a simple matter of eyeballing the standings. Rather, the grades to come are informed by the standings, the team's underlying performance, and how those two measures compare with reasonable expectations entering the 2026 season. There's no such thing as a good team with a bad grade, but teams that were expected to be good won't be graded as highly as those teams that qualify as "pleasant surprises." The same principle applies to the other, uglier end of the continuum.

First up, it's the National League, with the American League to follow on Tuesday.

Arizona Diamondbacks: C

The D-backs were angling to bounce back from a disappointing 80-82 campaign last season, and thus far they're not really doing that with their .500-ish record and run differential that's solidly in negative territory. They're still in the wild-card race, and Corbin Carroll is looking like an MVP candidate thus far. On the downside, the rotation has been a major weak spot, with the exception of Eduardo Rodríguez. Corbin Burnes can't get back soon enough. -- Dayn Perry

Atlanta Braves: A

I considered giving the Braves a B, given how hard they've stumbled the last few weeks. They're leaning on the cushion they built earlier this year more than I think they would like right now, but, ultimately, that cushion counts, and the Braves have one of the best records in the game. Between injuries and performance downturn -- plus the lack of depth that hampered them in recent years -- the Braves are definitely taking on water. The arrow will continue to point down until they get healthy and get help at the trade deadline. -- Mike Axisa

Chicago Cubs: B

This is one of the most extreme up-and-down teams in a half in baseball history. The Cubs have already won 10 straight games twice and also had a 10-game losing streak. After that second 10-game winning streak, they lost 22 of their next 29 games, but now they've won 12 of 16. It's just back and forth between being great and terrible. It's been more good than bad, though, and they are on pace for 89 wins with the fifth-best run differential in baseball. -- Matt Snyder

Cincinnati Reds: C

The Hunter Greene injury (he's been out all season) and Elly De La Cruz IL stint have definitely hurt the Reds, but they've still been very disappointing the last two months. They were 20-11 through April, but have gone 19-32 since. The Eugenio Suárez signing has been a bust, while Brady Singer and especially Nick Lodolo need to be better in the rotation. The season hasn't been a disaster or anything, and the Reds are right within striking range of another wild-card berth, but they need to be better in the second half. -- Snyder

Colorado Rockies: B-

Little was expected from the Rox in 2026, and little has been provided. Expectations met? In a sense, sure. This writing finds Colorado with the worst record and worst run differential in all of MLB. On the other hand, they're on pace to avoid 100 losses, and that's notable considering they lost 119 games a season ago. This season, the Rockies are "merely" very bad as opposed to historically awful, and that's progress of a kind. They might have a few interesting "sell" pieces leading up to the deadline, including outfielder Mickey Moniak and starter-turned-relief ace Antonio Senzatela. -- Perry

Los Angeles Dodgers: A

Angling for the elusive three-peat this season, the Dodgers are, true to recent form, managing their roster with an eye toward October and November. Injuries have again hit the rotation, but there's depth in place. Right now, the Dodgers are on target to once again be the consensus favorites by the time the playoffs arrive. They're on pace to top 100 wins after falling shy of that mark in 2024 and 2025, and their MLB-best run differential suggests they've been a bit unlucky so far. Will Shohei Ohtani add a Cy Young plaque to his overstuffed trophy case? That's very much in play. -- Perry

Miami Marlins: B

The Marlins closed May with a five-game losing streak and now have baseball's best record in June. That has pushed them into the wild-card race. It's basically a four-man offense (Xavier Edwards, Liam Hicks, Otto Lopez, Kyle Stowers) and Max Meyer has been their only comfortably above-average starter. The bullpen is deep and excellent, and Miami is really pushing the limit of how much a standout bullpen can carry a team. Bottom line, the Marlins are in the wild-card hunt now. I'm fascinated to see how they handle the trade deadline. Will president of baseball operations Peter Bendix buy, or stick with the long-term plan and ship out veterans? -- Axisa

Milwaukee Brewers: A

The Brewers' club record for wins in a season is 97, set last season. They are on pace for 100 wins at present. Jacob Misiorowski has graduated from talented youngster to bona fide ace, Kyle Harrison is pitching like a frontline starter and Brandon Woodruff, when healthy, is too. Jackson Chourio continues his ascension toward stardom while William Contreras and Brice Turang remain star-level producers. There's depth and talent all over the place here. The Brewers continue to own the Central. -- Snyder

New York Mets: F

The easiest F we'll give out at the season's midpoint and probably the entire season period. Other than Juan Soto and a handful of others, the Mets have underperformed every which way, and it cost manager Carlos Mendoza his job last week. They're near the bottom of the league offensively. The rotation started out shaky and has completely fallen apart over the last few weeks. Even some touted prospects in the minors have taken a step back. When Steve Cohen bought the team in 2020, he said he would consider it a disappointment if the Mets didn't win the World Series within 3-5 years. Well, this is now Year 6 of the Cohen era, and they're going to have to sell at the deadline. An unmitigated disaster from the top on down. -- Axisa

Philadelphia Phillies: B

The Phillies started 9-19, fired manager Rob Thomson, and are now 38-18 under interim Don Mattingly. That is exactly what teams hope will happen when they change managers in-season. Of course, that turnaround has more to do with Zack Wheeler returning and Brandon Marsh going on a major heater than it does Mattingly, but the record is the record. The Phillies have climbed to within striking distance of a wild-card spot and also to within a handful of games of the Braves for the NL East lead. The two teams are trending in opposite directions and they still have seven games remaining (Sept. 4-7 in Philadelphia and Sept. 11-13 in Atlanta). The NL East could be baseball's most compelling division race come the season's final month. -- Axisa

Pittsburgh Pirates: B

The Pirates are exactly .500 -- they haven't finished .500 or better since 2018 -- and are only 2 ½ games out of playoff position. That's a win right there. In light of where this franchise has been, contending has to get them a positive grade. There have been relative disappointments since that 16-11 start, though. And who would've ever thought this: The Pirates have lost eight straight Paul Skenes starts. That trend can't continue if they hope to keep contending. -- Snyder

St. Louis Cardinals: B+

Rebuilds just aren't done by this organization, and yet, this past offseason, the Cardinals clearly signaled that they are looking to prioritize the future over the present. And here they sit, above .500 and in contention; in fact, they hold a playoff spot right now. That's far beyond the expectations the Cardinals had heading into the season, where most people had them finishing in last place. They have lost seven of the last 10, though, and seemingly have forgotten how to score runs at home, which causes the grade reduction to B+ instead of an A. Still, this is a very successful season to this point, given the plan they had heading in. -- Snyder

San Diego Padres: B+

The Pads are just barely out of wild-card position despite a negative run differential. That's a concern moving forward, as the Padres could undergo a course correction based on that underlying quality of play. That said, having a closer like Mason Miller can theoretically help a team outplay its run differential. On another level, San Diego is winning without, to date, getting much from Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, and Jackson Merrill. However, Fernando Tatis Jr. is starting to round into form, and that's essential moving forward. Will lead decision-maker AJ Preller once again make a deadline splash despite a thinned-out farm system? -- Perry

San Francisco Giants: F

The 2026 season has not unfurled as hoped in San Francisco, and that's an understatement. New manager Tony Vitello, after making the unprecedented leap straight from the college ranks to the major-league dugout, has had his share of amateur moments and gaffes. They should be aggressive sellers at the deadline, but many of their hypothetical trades leading up to Aug. 3 figure to be of the salary-dump variety. They're right now on pace for 97 losses, which would give the Giants their worst record since 2017. June has been their best month to date, but it hasn't been a good month. -- Perry

Washington Nationals: B

Baseball's highest scoring offense has cooled the last two weeks or so and season-long shoddy bullpen work is beginning to catch up to them. Still, the Nationals were 41-40 at the season's 81-game midpoint after losing at least 91 games every year from 2021-25. Positive signs abound. CJ Abrams and James Wood are performing at MVP paces, Foster Griffin has been a free-agent steal after spending the last three years in Japan, and the farm system is on the upswing. I think you could make a case that the Nationals deserve an A relative to expectations coming into the season, though I think an A would require no-doubt postseason contention. This B will have to suffice. -- Axisa

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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'

Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.

The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.

Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.

But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.

'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.

'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'

The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.

Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'

A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs

Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts

But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'

A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.

'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.

Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.

'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.

'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.

'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.

'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'

'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.

'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'

Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming

Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.

The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.

Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.

They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.

Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.

Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'

Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad

The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year

Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'

Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'

But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.

Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.

He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.

Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.

Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.

Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.

It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.

An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.

An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million

In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.

In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'

After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.

The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'

Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.

'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'

Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.

Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.

Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'

Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.

And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.

A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.

'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.

'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.

It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.

Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'