They have built themselves back into the conversation. All four teams ahead of them in the WC races are not would I have expected at pre-season :Hoping to get healthier in the second half. Hoping Story, Sale, Kluber, Whitlock, and Houck all return and perform well. This team absolutely has a chance.
Baltimore is playing very well this season. They're on a five game winning streak and could possibly catch TB if TB' slast week is indicative of the rest of their season.
Houston is playing at an 89 win pace which is surprising for an incumbent WS champion that was on a lot of lists for winning it all this year,
Toronto is playing at an 89 win pace which is surprising as I thought that this year they were going to take off.
NYY is treading water without Judge. I would have guessed that they were going right to the bottom of the standings after the Sox swept them. Somehow, they're holding on. They may still be sinking, but a lot slower than I expected.