MLB Midseason Totals Check-in: How Healthy are the Top 11-20 teams?

Another grueling MLB season is reaching the midway mark meaning a need for a check-in is in order. After 81 games the path to a winning or losing season is more clear for teams while many with futures tickets can start to see if they made the right decision. There will be nail-biting finishes to some totals while others are already headed for a particular side, below are thoughts on each team's trajectory going forward and how injuries have affected them to this point. Earlier in the week we went through the top 10 teams win totals by projection, here are teams 11-20:

Seattle Mariners 2023 Win Total: 86.5 

Current Record: 38-42

The Mariners pitching was bitten hard early by the injury bug, losing Robbie Ray for the season and stellar RP Andres Munoz for 59 games. The pitching staff is currently also without inning eater Marco Gonzales who has missed 28+ games due to a troublesome forearm strain. Going into the season Seattle had limited depth in the rotation and bullpen which has shown visible this season through injury. Offensively the team has escaped major injury but the pitching issues have been enough of a dent to likely push them under their win total.

Milwaukee Brewers 2023 Win Total: 86.5 

Current Record: 43-39

The Brew Crew win total will truly be a nail-biting finish if they replicate their first half wins (43) in the second half. Good news for Milwaukee is star SP Brandon Woodruff will be back shortly after the All-Star break which will be a boon as he has missed 80+ games. Offensively they have taken hits to the outfield with Garret Mitchell (shoulder - out for season), Jesse Winker and Tyron Taylor all missing 20 games or more leaving the Brewers to shift players into different positions. Woodruff coming back and a trade deadline OF acquisition may be the difference in the over/under.

Cleveland Guardians 2023 Win Total: 86.5 

Current Record: 39-42

In 2022 the Guardians were one of the healthiest teams and this year they have begun in similar fashion finishing dead last in man games missed (279) placing just ten players on the IL in 2023. Record wise it has been an underwhelming season for the Guardians in arguably the most underwhelming division but with one game behind the Twins a division title is more in play than an over hit on their wins.

Minnesota Twins 2023 Win Total: 84.5 

Current Record: 41-42

The Twins have dealt with a mass amount of injuries to both the pitchers and hitters but the good news oft-injured outfielder Bryon Buxton has missed just 12 games so far. Players that were penned in to contribute like SPs Tyler Mahle and Kenta Maeda, infielders Jorge Polanco and Nick Gordon have all missed 40+ games. The Twins lead the AL Central by just a game and with a little push could clear their win total but a losing streak or injury to another key contributor would dash any optimism.

Chicago White Sox 2023 Win Total: 83.5 

Current Record: 36-48

The White Sox have carried their disappointing play from last year into 2023 with the squad currently 12 games under .500. Chicago has lost 20+ games due to injury from star hitters Tim Anderson, Eloy Jimenez and Yoan Moncada while the pitching staff has dealt with injuries to Mike Clevinger and Liam Hendricks who sensationally returned from cancer but is now on IL due to elbow inflammation. More poor play than injury is the cause for the White Sox cruising to an under total.

Los Angeles Angels 2023 Win Total: 82.5

Current Record: 44-40

Infield depth has been a major issue for the Angels at the midway point with the Angels currently nursing three infielders on the injured list. Anthony Rendon, Zach Neto and Gio Urshela have all missed the 10+ games with the latter out for the season due to a pelvis fracture. Reinforcements have come in including Daniel Murphy's corpse but the win total is a nail-biter due to the two-way play of Shohei Ohtani. He currently sits at 30 HRs while punching in 127 Ks and if his stellar play continues the Angels may boost themselves to just over 82 wins.

Texas Rangers 2023 Win Total: 81.5 

Current Record: 49-33

One of MLB's surprising teams of 2023, the Texas Rangers are currently sitting pretty atop the AL West with a 4 game lead over the Houston Astros. Texas has been kept afloat by their offense which ranks number one in almost every category. Injuries have been limited on offense besides a 35 game IL stint for Corey Seager but the Rangers showed their depth in his absence with the spectacular play of Ezequiel Duran who hit 6 HRs and drove in 20 runs in his absence. Fortunately for Texas the biggest injury on the squad has yet to affect them in a negative way standing wise. Big money buy pitcher Jacob DeGrom again could not stay healthy and is out for the season but the Rangers will likely blow by the over due to their potent offense.

San Francisco Giants 2023 Win Total: 81.5 

Current Record: 46-36

The Giants have dealt with a laundry list of IL stints this year with a total of 20 different players needing a turn. Key players like outfielder Joc Pederson and infielder Thairo Estrada have missed 10+ games with the former requiring two separate stints but both are back and contributing. On the track they are on some would say they are overperforming with the roster as bland as it is but San Francisco is well on its way to cashing the over total midway through the season.

Boston Red Sox 2023 Win Total: 78.5 

Current Record: 41-42

Boston came into the season with lower expectations than in recent years due to the injuries already stacked up before the year began. Infielders Trevor Story (UCL surgery) and Adalberto Mondesi (knee surgery) have yet to play this year while after a hot start OF Adam Duvall missed 60 games (wrist) leaving the offense shorthanded for most of the first half. Pitching wise multiple starters have made trips to the IL including big lefty Chris Sale who has missed the last 29 games but will resume throwing soon. If they keep up the way they are playing Boston will finish just over their projected win total but will need Sale to return and pitch well.

Chicago Cubs 2023 Win Total: 76.5 

Current Record: 38-42

Offensively the Cubs have improved drastically going from 22nd to 12th in runs per game. Injuries have been a huge part of the success with Chicago dealing with one major absence in outfielder Cody Bellinger who missed 27 games due to a knee issue. After missing the first 56 games of the year SP Kyle Hendricks has returned to stabilize the rotation. The NL Central has been a dog fight all year but the Cubs have fought hard and if they continue on the same path as the first half they should inch over their projected win total.