:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/7900969/148400349.jpg)
Over halfway through the season, the Cleveland Indians aren't exactly faltering but they have been very disappointing considering their position at the top of the AL Central for much of the first half of the season.
Unfortunately, the Indians have been caught playing .500 ball at a time when the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers are surging. The White Sox came from behind to take the division lead right before the All-Star Break and have kept a torrid pace since, going 7-3 in their last 10 games. The Tigers have the same 10 game record and passed over Cleveland with a solid series win over the Orioles. Currently, the Indians are a half game behind the Tigers and four games behind the Sox in third place.
Fortunately for Cleveland, they have a stranglehold on a top three spot with Kansas City (10.5 games back) and Minnesota (13 games back) presenting no threat in the division right now. They still need to start winning games like they did at the start of the year if they want a chance to stay in the discussion until the end of the season -- their current form won't do.
The full standings for Major League Baseball can be found on MLB.com.
More on the Cleveland Indians can be found over at Let's Go Tribe. More news and analysis on MLB in general can be found over at Baseball Nation or on SB Nation's Youtube channel: