Last season, only one of the MLB division races, the NL West race between the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers, was decided by fewer than five games.
That doesn't mean that there wasn't any late-season drama. The NL West came down to the final day of the regular season, and the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, and Seattle Mariners were all vying for the AL's two Wild Card spots in what was a dramatic final weekend.
Nor are the MLB standings a strange sight based on recent history. In fact, 2012 was the last time that three or more division ra ces were decided by fewer than five games.
Even in deep divisions, the outcome is often decided before the final stretch. For example, the AL East had four teams with 91+ wins last season, but the Tampa Bay Rays finished eight games clear of the Red Sox and Yankees.
How will things shake out this season? At the All-Star break, things are tight at the top in three divisions, while they are not so tight in the other three divisions.
2022 MLB Division Leaders & Races (As of the All-Star Break)
The New York Yankees (63-28) have been in command of the AL East for most of the season. At the All-Star break, their lead in the division is 13.5 games, with the Tampa Bay Rays (50-41) in second.
With the surprising surge that the Baltimore Orioles have had recently, the AL East is the only division in which all five teams are currently over .500.
The Chicago White Sox were expected to dominate the division for the second straight year, but t hey have spent most of the season mired in mediocrity.
Instead, it is the Minnesota Twins who have had a hold on first place most of the way so far. The Twins (50-43) lead the Cleveland Guardians (46-44) by 2.5 games at the break, with the White Sox (45-46) four games back.
Can the Twins hold on? Despite their inconsistency and injury issues this season, the White Sox haven't let the division get away from them.