FT Leadoff

PECOTA projected three teams to finish with under 80 wins in the AL Central, but it’s not trending that way.

The Cleveland Guardians have uncharacteristically compiled the best record in the American League, sitting 4.5 games ahead of the second-place Twins.

Perhaps the biggest surprise in the AL Central is the Kansas City Royals. Bobby Witt Jr. and the Royals are eight games over .500 and just one game out of a Wild Card spot.

While Paul Skenes’ early success may not necessarily shock the world, what he’s doing right now is nothing short of historic.

His 11 games in the big leagues are the fewest ever by an All-Star. Skenes is 6-0 with a 1.90 ERA and has struck out 12.1 batters per nine innings to start his career.

Don’t believe it’s challenging to win in baseball? Look no further than last year’s pennant winners.

The defending World Series Champion Texas Rangers have struggled mightily throughout the first half, although they hit a nice stretch (7-2) before the break to improve their record to 45-50.

It’s a similar story for the Arizona Diamondbacks, who even after a recent hot streak, are only two games above .500.

Oregon State 2B Travis Bazzana made history on Sunday by becoming the first Australian-born player to be selected number one overall.

Bazzana was the first of eight straight college players to be drafted, the most to start a draft in the 2000s.

The Cincinnati Reds then shocked draft experts everywhere by selecting Wake Forest flamethrower Chase Burns instead of Charlie Condon. Condon went one pick later to the Rockies.

View - Check out our draft special last night with JJ Cooper from Baseball America!

• View - A’s hit EIGHT homers on Sunday in 18-3 win over Phillies.

• View - Dodgers have transferred Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the 60-Day IL.

• View - Shohei Ohtani clubs 200th career HR.

• View - Tigers walk off the Dodgers on two consecutive days.

• View - Aaron Judge sets Yankees franchise record with 34th HR before All-Star break.

• View - Orioles walk off Yankees in WILD first-half finale.

• View - Mets IF Jose Iglesias will perform his single ‘OMG’ at the All-Star Game.

• View - Dane Myers fractures left ankle after kicking a door.

Watch - Kenley Jansen discusses the possibility of retiring as a Dodger and how being followed by a Netflix documentary is impacting the Red Sox.

Watch - Marlins manager Skip Schumaker elaborates on tough conversations with players regarding trade rumors and his future with the Marlins.

Watch - The FT Crew previews the HR Derby, and the guys reveal their predictions for the winner.

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