Fresh from their league’s first All-Star game victory in 14 years, teams across the national league are energized to take the home field advantage in the World Series. But first, they have to get there. Across the league, no second place team is further than four games off the pace, which should make for a fight to the finish from west to east.

Everyone’s wondering: Just how have the San Diego Padres done it? How have they taken what looks on paper to be a mediocre lineup and put themselves ahead of the pack in the NL West? The answer is pitching, pitching and more pitching. Leaders in ERA, opponent’s batting average and runs allowed, the San Diego hurlers have been stingy up to this point, and their mastery is going to need to continue, because they’ve got three teams breathing down their neck. Colorado, L.A. and San Francisco each have a shot at overtaking the Padres in the second half and walking away with the division. In the NL West, we’re going to find out whether pitching really does trump all.

In the NL Central, the Cincinnati Reds have been quietly getting it done all year. That is, until being swept by the Phillies going into the All-Star break. This has cut their division lead to just one game over the St. Louis Cardinals, who are always dangerous in the second half. The Cardinals certainly have the personnel to make a strong play for the division championship this year, so Cincinnati is going to need to return to top form to avoid being overtaken right out of the gate in the second half.

The Atlanta Braves are again atop the NL East and this is Bobby Cox’s last year as manager. They’d like to give him a send off he’ll remember forever, maybe even with a World Series win. But to get there, they’re going to have to outfight the Mets and the Phillies, neither of whom is going to go away. Both New York and Philadelphia have key players returning from injuries, which could turn up the heat on an aging Atlanta squad.

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