30 first-half MVPs for 30 MLB teams

First-half awards are unofficial in nature, but they still mean something. Each team has that one player they can point to and say, "Where would we be without him?"

With the first half now firmly in the rearview mirror, let's take a look at this year's first half MVPs for every team.

Arizona Diamondbacks - Jake Lamb: The Snakes have been underachieving after a splashy offseason, but Lamb's been doing his share to keep the team afloat, leading the National League in triples and slugging percentage.

Atlanta Braves - Julio Teheran: Teheran has been dominant on the mound for a team that rarely - if ever - comes close to being dominant.

Baltimore Orioles - Manny Machado: Not only is Machado the anchor of the first-place Orioles' dangerous lineup, but he's versatile. Thanks to injuries, he's played more games at shortstop (45) than third base (40) this year, and hasn't missed a beat.

Boston Red Sox - David Ortiz: Attempting to describe what Ortiz is doing is nearly impossible. Big Papi's having a farewell season for the ages, and he's trying to single-handedly carry the Red Sox to glory one last time.

Chicago Cubs - Kris Bryant: Last year's top rookie is a simply sensational sophomore. Bryant's been versatile - 53 games at third and 53 in the outfield, plus five at first and an inning at shortstop - while anchoring the Cubs' offense and leading the NL in homers and runs scored. He's only getting started.

Chicago White Sox - Chris Sale: Sale's been his usual steady self for the up-and-down White Sox, leading the league in complete games and innings pitched.

Cincinnati Reds - Jay Bruce: He still may be traded at the deadline, but for now Bruce is continuing to mash in Cincinnati, and the hapless Reds are thankful for that.

Cleveland Indians - Danny Salazar: Salazar's emerged as the force of the Indians' rotation and is quickly helping to lift the team to new heights.

Colorado Rockies - Nolan Arenado: With Tulo gone the Rockies belong to Arenado now, and he's put his stamp on the struggling team with another outstanding first half.

Detroit Tigers - Michael Fulmer: Fulmer burst onto the scene and has stabilized the Tigers' rotation while the arms around him have struggled. He's become the one sure thing among Tigers starters.

Houston Astros - Jose Altuve: The diminutive second baseman is on pace to shatter personal bests in almost every category and is on pace for a third straight 200-hit season. Oh, and he almost single-handedly got the Astros back into the playoff race, too.

Kansas City Royals - Eric Hosmer: The defending World Series champions have been hit hard by injuries but Hosmer's provided a steady hand at first base on the way to his first All-Star appearance.

Los Angeles Angels - Mike Trout: The Angels are not very good. To call Mike Trout "very good" would be an insult to Mike Trout, as well as his friends and family. His continued excellence is the only reason to watch an Angels game.

Los Angeles Dodgers - Clayton Kershaw: Kershaw has walked just nine batters this season. Read that sentence again. Kershaw has walked just nine batters this season.

Miami Marlins - Jose Fernandez: Marlins pitchers haven't been good this year, except for Fernandez, who's striking out 12.9 batters per nine innings while pushing the Fish back into the playoff race.

Milwaukee Brewers - Jonathan Lucroy: Still a trade candidate with the rebuilding Brewers, Lucroy's 2.4 WAR this year is more than double that of both Ryan Braun and the recently traded Aaron Hill.

Minnesota Twins - Eduardo Nunez: Once known solely as Derek Jeter's backup, Nunez has found a home in Minnesota, putting up career-best numbers while serving as perhaps the lone bright spot on the majors' worst team.

New York Mets - Noah Syndergaard: Injuries and slumps have been the story in Queens this year, but through it all Thor's been there as the Mets' rock.

New York Yankees - Carlos Beltran: It's been a throwback performance for the future Hall of Famer, who's leading the underwhelming Bronx Bombers in multiple categories and joining exclusive clubs on the way to his ninth All-Star appearance.

Oakland Athletics - Danny Valencia: It's another lost season in the East Bay, but Valencia's emerged as a valuable and potent bat in the cleanup spot. His true value to the A's could come in a few weeks if Billy Beane gets a nice offer for the third baseman from a contender.

Philadelphia Phillies - Odubel Herrera: Herrera's 3.9 WAR as a rookie led the 2015 Phillies, and his 2.1 WAR is pacing the 2016 edition. The 2014 Rule 5 pick has emerged as a true pillar of the Phillies' future.

Pittsburgh Pirates - Gregory Polanco: After signing a five-year extension before the season, Polanco has rewarded the Pirates with a breakout campaign, pacing the Bucs in multiple categories.

San Diego Padres - Wil Myers: San Diego's splashy 2015 offseason was a bust, to be sure, but it did bring the team Myers, who's put injuries behind him and is finally showing his full potential as the leader of the hapless Padres.

San Francisco Giants - Madison Bumgarner: Johnny Cueto is starting the All-Star Game - and deservedly so - but the Giants staff is still led by MadBum, who's having the best season of his career on the hill. He's not a bad hitter, either.

Seattle Mariners - Robinson Cano: This is the Robinson Cano Seattle paid for. He's emerged as the team's leader, his power is back, and he's hit .337/.396/.524 since the Mariners fell out of first place on May 29.

St. Louis Cardinals - Matt Carpenter: Carpenter's bounced between third and second seamlessly while holding the Cardinals together in a rare off-year by their standards. He's on the disabled list now, and they'll feel his absence big time.

Tampa Bay Rays - Evan Longoria: First half of 2016 Evan Longoria looked much more like the old franchise cornerstone. He's two off last year's career-low home run total, and has been one of the only constants in an otherwise disappointing Rays campaign.

Texas Rangers - Ian Desmond: Few could have envisioned Desmond giving the Rangers an offensive spark plug and a surprisingly solid glove after having less than a month to learn how to play the outfield when he signed on Feb. 29.

Toronto Blue Jays - Josh Donaldson: Donaldson actually put up better first-half numbers this season than during his MVP campaign of 2015. In a strange coincidence, the Jays' 51-40 first-half record in 2016 is far better than last year's 45-46.

Washington Nationals - Daniel Murphy: Somebody had to step up and help Bryce Harper, but nobody thought Murphy would finish the first half leading baseball in average, hits, and total bases.