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The All-Star break allows a MLB manager to take stock of how his team has performed in the opening half of the season and what could be expected at the end of the year.
Here we take a look at five managers who could be feeling the heat heading into the Midsummer Classic.
MLB managers who are in dire straits at the All-Star break
#5 Ron Washington, Los Angeles Angels
Having its two biggest stars, Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon, on the IL, the Los Angeles Angels are fourth in the American League West with a 36-50 record.
Nevertheless, Logan O'Happe, Zach Neto and Luis Regnifo have stepped up to the challenge in their absence. The Angels are above .500 over the past month, so Ron Washington can hope for a good second half of the season.
#4 Oliver Marmol, St. Louis Cardinals
Oliver Marmol was under extreme pressure earlier in the season, as the St. Louis Cardinals fell nine games under .500 after a seven-game losing streak in May.
The team has performed much better since then, with a 45-41 record, allowing it to hold on to the last playoff berth in the National League. Yet, Marmol will likely be dismissed if the Cardinals fail to reach the playoffs for the second straight season.
#3 Craig Counsell, Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs offered Craig Counsell a five-year, $40 million contract to be its manager in 2024, making him the highest-paid manager in MLB history.
However, the Cubs are last in the NL Central with a 39-48 record and six games behind a wildcard berth. Counsell will likely not be fired if the Cubs don't reach the playoffs, but his reputation as a manger is bound to take a massive hit.
#2 John Schneider, Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays reached the playoffs in three of the past four seasons but lost in the wildcard round each time.
The Blue Jays were expected to push deeper this year, but with a 39-47 record, they occupy the last spot in the AL East and are highly unlikely to make the playoffs.
The front office will sell at the trade deadline, and manager John Schneider may be fired at the end of the year.
#1 Pedro Grifol, Chicago White Sox
Pedro Grifol became the manager of the Chicago White Sox at the start of the 2023 season, which ended with more than 100 losses for the club.
With their current 25-64 record, the White Sox are on pace to finish with the worst record in their history. All their star players could be sold at the deadline as they rebuild for the future. So, Grifol is unlikely to last beyond the end of the season.
