MLB Power Rankings: Each team's MVP at the All-Star break

Welcome to the eighth edition of theScore's MLB Power Rankings. This week, at the All-Star break and the 2021 season's unofficial halfway point, we focus on each team's MVP so far.

1. San Francisco Giants

Kevin Gausman has been the Giants' linchpin. Among qualified starters, only Jacob deGrom has a better ERA than Gausman's 1.73. It's safe to say San Francisco wouldn't own baseball's best record at the break without the 30-year-old.

2. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers are so stacked that it's tricky to identify one player who stands above the rest, but first baseman Max Muncy leads the team in home runs, RBIs (tied with Justin Turner), OPS, wRC+, and fWAR. Los Angeles has the best run differential in baseball, and Muncy has led the charge.

3. Houston Astros

With due respect to the pitchers who've stepped up for the Astros in the face of injuries, this team's MVP is Jose Altuve, and it's not close. He leads the team in almost every offensive category and is still providing that spark to a group playing with a huge chip on its shoulder. Love him or hate him, Altuve is the straw that stirs the Astros' drink.

4. Chicago White Sox

Choosing between Lance Lynn and Carlos Rodon for White Sox MVP was tough. Lynn owns a better ERA, but Rodon has a far superior FIP (2.36 compared to Lynn's 3.20), more strikeouts, and tossed a no-hitter earlier this year for the division leaders. Rodon it is.

5. Tampa Bay Rays

Despite his injury, Tyler Glasnow has been the key factor in the Rays' success over the first half of their season. He still leads the team with 2.5 fWAR and posted a 2.66 ERA while punching out 12.58 batters per nine. With Glasnow expected to miss significant time, Tampa Bay will need someone else to step up in the second half.

6. Boston Red Sox

Xander Bogaerts leads the Red Sox in fWAR, average (.321), and OBP (.385). Rafael Devers has accrued the most homers (22) and RBIs (72) and boasts the best slugging percentage (.564). It's a borderline coin flip even before you consider that J.D. Martinez is right there with them in all offensive categories. Give it to Bogaerts for now because of his proximity to the AL batting title, but it's incredibly tight.

7. San Diego Padres

Don't overthink it, Fernando Tatis Jr. has been the best player in San Diego. He has a legitimate shot at a 40-40 season as he enters the break with 28 home runs and 20 stolen bases while slashing .286/.364/.656 over 74 games.

8. Oakland Athletics

The A's are balanced on both sides of the ball, but if there's one player who has stood a bit above the rest, it's slugging first baseman Matt Olson. His 23 home runs lead the team by a mile and his 156 wRC+ ranks sixth in baseball.

9. New York Mets

As if there's any doubt about this pick. Jacob deGrom is in the midst of a potential history-making campaign thanks to a 1.08 ERA through 15 starts. The Mets ace has a chance to break three notable pitching records by season's end and is the clear front-runner for what would be his third NL Cy Young award.

10. Milwaukee Brewers

You can easily split this award among the starting pitchers, who have lifted the Brewers atop the NL Central. But their overwhelming struggles offensively make Willy Adames the choice here. Since arriving via trade on May 21, Adames has put up a team-leading .909 OPS, and his nine homers already rank third on the club.

11. Cincinnati Reds

The All-Star duo of Nick Castellanos and Jesse Winker share the honors here. Castellanos is a bona fide MVP candidate who's enjoyed raking at the cozy Great American Ball Park to the tune of a 1.198 OPS. Winker may not be as well-known but leads the Reds in homers with 19 (one more than Castellanos) and was very deserving of starting the Midsummer Classic in left field.

12. Toronto Blue Jays

It took a few years longer than many expected, but Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has finally announced his arrival. On a team loaded with offensive stars, the 22-year-old leads the club in home runs, RBIs, walks, average, on-base percentage, slugging, and WAR.

13. New York Yankees

It's been a trying season for the Yankees, but manager Aaron Boone can rest easy every five days when Gerrit Cole takes the mound. Cole is enjoying a remarkable campaign, giving the Yankees everything they hoped for and then some when they handed him a $324-million contract. Without him, the Yanks might already be sunk.

14. Philadelphia Phillies

Zack Wheeler's 6-5 record would look much better if he had some run support. The right-hander owns a 2.26 ERA and a nearly identical 2.25 FIP through 18 starts. Wheeler is posting career-best numbers in strikeout and walk rates while continuing to suppress the long ball.

15. Chicago Cubs

Not only is Kris Bryant propelling the Cubs offensively, but he's turned himself into a uniquely versatile weapon, too. The All-Star third baseman's started at least 10 contests at five different positions this year and has actually played more games in the outfield than at the hot corner. If Bryant is traded before the deadline, the Cubs will feel his loss for well beyond the final two months of this season.

16. Cleveland Indians

Jose Ramirez is the heart and soul of Cleveland's lineup, stepping up to the tall task of producing at an elite level without Francisco Lindor by his side. The third baseman leads the Indians in hits, runs, doubles, homers, and RBIs.

17. Atlanta Braves

Ronald Acuna Jr. wasn't just the Braves' first-half MVP, he was one of the top players in baseball. The 23-year-old ranks first across MLB in runs, third in fWAR, fourth in steals and slugging percentage, and fifth in homers. Unfortunately, Acuna's season ended Saturday when he suffered a torn ACL.

18. Seattle Mariners

With a little more playing time, Jake Fraley could emerge as Seattle's top player, but his impressive 39-game sample is just a touch thin. Mitch Haniger has been the team's best story in his return from multiple injuries. He's hit 20 home runs and leads his team in runs scored and RBIs.

19. Los Angeles Angels

Shohei Ohtani is perhaps the easiest choice as he's currently the front-runner for AL MVP on account of doing unprecedented things on both sides of the ball. His 33 homers lead the majors by five, and he's posted a 3.49 ERA over 13 starts. Incredible.

20. St. Louis Cardinals

Nolan Arenado might not be hitting the way he was at Coors Field, but he's still a feared bat who's essential to the Cardinals' success. Arenado leads the team with 17 homers and is one of only two St. Louis hitters (alongside Tyler O'Neill) sporting an OPS above .800 and slugging percentage above .500.

21. Washington Nationals

There is a strong argument in favor of Kyle Schwarber and his 25 home runs, but shortstop Trea Turner has been the better overall player. Turner's .318 average trails just Nick Castellanos and Adam Frazier in the batting title race, and he's swiped a team-leading 19 bases while playing above-average defense. He's also tied for fifth among qualified position players with 3.9 fWAR.

22. Miami Marlins

Trevor Rogers hasn't only been the Marlins' first-half MVP, but he's also in a prime position to win NL Rookie of the Year. The 23-year-old owns a 2.31 ERA and 2.49 FIP with 122 strikeouts in 101 1/3 innings.

23. Minnesota Twins

Jose Berrios has been one of the few bright spots in a very disappointing season for the Twins. Berrios has been the club's best starter by far and is a steadying hand for Minnesota's beleaguered pitching staff.

24. Colorado Rockies

Trevor Story has been solid and Ryan McMahon leads the Rockies in homers, but it's right-handed starter German Marquez who's earned top marks in the first half. He's posted 3.06 ERA across 12 starts at hitter haven Coors Field. Marquez has saved his best stuff for his last 10 starts, going 6-2 with a 1.88 ERA that includes an outing where he allowed eight earned runs. Remove that game and his 0.87 ERA since May 21 is ridiculous.

25. Detroit Tigers

Former No. 1 pick Casey Mize has lived up to the hype and is the Tigers' most consistent starter. While they'll likely try and limit his workload over the second half, Mize is giving Detroit a chance every time he steps on the mound, and that's about all the club can ask for. His future is very bright.

26. Texas Rangers

Adolis Garcia is turning into a fantastic story. The rookie outfielder came out of nowhere to give Joey Gallo a little help in a very thin lineup, slugging 22 homers and 34 extra-base hits to earn an All-Star berth. In a year that Rangers fans won't remember fondly, Garcia's emergence has been a very fun bright spot.

27. Kansas City Royals

Whit Merrifield is in the midst of another stellar campaign for the Royals, leading the team in fWAR, doubles, and runs. The 32-year-old has also swiped the most bases in MLB and has been caught just once.

28. Pittsburgh Pirates

Bryan Reynolds has certainly rebounded after an abysmal 2020 campaign (.189/.275/.357). The outfielder has 16 homers, a .387 OBP, and a 146 wRC+ in 364 plate appearances. He was well deserving of his first All-Star appearance.

29. Baltimore Orioles

Cedric Mullins has been exceptional during a poor first half for the Orioles. The young outfielder made his first All-Star appearance thanks to a .314/.380/.541 slash line with 16 homers, 23 doubles, 35 RBIs, and 16 steals. He leads the AL in hits and owns a .921 OPS.

30. Arizona Diamondbacks

There hasn't been much for the Diamondbacks to brag about during an atrocious season, but Eduardo Escobar has been solid. The 32-year-old already has 20 homers and 60 RBIs, which has placed him on several teams' radars ahead of the July 30 trade deadline.