What you need to know
- Milwaukee hold the best record in MLB at 69-41 after beating the Angels 3-1.
- The Dodgers fell to 69-42 following a 3-2 defeat by the Red Sox.
- Atlanta lead the NL East at 66-45; Tampa Bay lead the AL East at 65-45.
- The AL West is the tightest division, with Houston 57-55 and Texas 55-56.
- The trade deadline closed on 31 July with roughly 50 games remaining.
The Milwaukee Brewers hold the best record in Major League Baseball entering the first week of August, moving to 69-41 with a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday, while the Los Angeles Dodgers slipped to 69-42 after a 3-2 defeat by the Boston Red Sox.
The two clubs lead the National League Central and West respectively and are separated by a single game in the loss column, with roughly 50 games of the regular season remaining.
Where do the division races stand?
The Atlanta Braves lead the National League East at 66-45 after an 8-3 win over the Washington Nationals. The Chicago Cubs are second in the Central at 63-48 following a 5-2 win over the New York Yankees.
In the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays lead the East at 65-45, ahead of the Yankees on 62-49 and the Red Sox on 59-51.
| Division | Leader | Record |
|---|---|---|
| NL Central | Milwaukee Brewers | 69-41 |
| NL West | Los Angeles Dodgers | 69-42 |
| NL East | Atlanta Braves | 66-45 |
| AL East | Tampa Bay Rays | 65-45 |
| AL Central | Chicago White Sox | 58-52 |
| AL West | Houston Astros | 57-55 |
The closest races are in the American League. The Chicago White Sox lead the Central at 58-52, with the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Guardians level on 56-56. The Houston Astros top the West at 57-55, one game clear of the Texas Rangers and three ahead of the Seattle Mariners.
Who leads Major League Baseball in August 2026?
As of 2 August 2026, the Milwaukee Brewers hold the best record in Major League Baseball at 69-41, having overtaken the Los Angeles Dodgers, who stand at 69-42. The Brewers lead the National League Central and the Dodgers the National League West. The Atlanta Braves lead the National League East at 66-45. In the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays lead the East at 65-45, the Chicago White Sox lead the Central at 58-52, and the Houston Astros lead the West at 57-55, making the American League West the closest division race in baseball. The New York Mets sit last in the National League East at 47-65, while the Los Angeles Angels hold the worst record in the major leagues at 42-69. The trade deadline closed on 31 July with roughly 50 games remaining.
Which teams are furthest adrift?
The New York Mets are last in the National League East at 47-65, 19 games behind Atlanta, after a 6-2 defeat by the Miami Marlins. The Los Angeles Angels hold the worst record in the majors at 42-69, with the Colorado Rockies on 44-67 and the Athletics on 45-66.
What did the trade deadline change?
The deadline on 31 July produced several moves among contenders. The White Sox acquired right-handed pitcher Luis Castillo from the Seattle Mariners, sending three players in return. The Braves acquired outfielder Lane Thomas and left-handed pitcher Bailey Falter from the Kansas City Royals. Reports also linked the Dodgers with a move for Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal, a two-time Cy Young Award winner.
Elsewhere on Saturday, the Philadelphia Phillies shut out the Baltimore Orioles 5-0, the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Cleveland Guardians 12-8, and the Colorado Rockies beat the Kansas City Royals 12-6.
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Sources for this report
The Redline News Desk
The Redline News desk files and edits world reporting. Every story carries the sources it was built from, and corrections are published on the story itself.
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