10 non-All-Stars poised for a big second half

Full 2026 All-Star Game rosters were unveiled over the weekend and there was no shortage of star talent.

While many of the usual names will be participating in the Midsummer Classic, there are many players not selected who could be poised to make a big difference the rest of the season.

With that in mind, here are 10 non-All-Stars poised for big second halves.

The following numbers are entering Monday’s games.

Fernando Tatis Jr., OF, Padres

It’s been an exceptionally strange season for Tatis, who has a .284/.345/.386 slash line with five home runs in 88 games. Tatis, rather notably, didn’t homer until his 56th game of the season and has added four more since that point. To be clear, Tatis has not been bad -- his 104 OPS+ and 1.8 WAR (per FanGraphs) still show he’s been a valuable player. It’s just been a far cry from his career 133 OPS+ and the 6.1-WAR season he put together in 2025.

Max Fried, LHP, Yankees

Fried (left elbow bone bruise) has been on the injured list since May 16, but threw live batting practice last week and could be set for a rehab start in the near future. The second-year Yankee was excellent in his first 10 starts of the season, posting a 3.21 ERA and 2.61 expected ERA before he hit the IL. When Fried returns, he’ll join a rotation featuring the likes of Cam Schlittler and Gerrit Cole, which will present a serious challenge for opposing offenses.

Cal Raleigh, C, Mariners

It was always going to be tough to match his 60-home run season that resulted in a second-place MVP finish in 2025, but Raleigh endured a difficult beginning to the season. Through Sunday, Raleigh had a .573 OPS with nine home runs in 59 games, and also spent about a month on the injured list earlier this season. The star catcher has been one of baseball’s best catchers for a half-decade and at 29 years old, there’s ample reason to think Raleigh will turn things around.

Ronald Acuña Jr., OF, Braves

Injuries have unfortunately been a part of Acuña’s career and that’s been the case again this season. While not quite as serious as his multiple knee surgeries, Acuña has been on the injured list since June 10 with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain. When Acuña is fully operational, he’s one of the most dynamic players in baseball. He owns a career .287/.383/.518 slash line with 193 home runs and 220 steals. If he’s back to his normal form this year, the Braves are going to be a tough matchup for any team.

Hunter Brown, RHP, Astros

Brown spent roughly 2 1/2 months on the injured list with a right shoulder strain, but returned in the middle of June. He has walked more batters than he did during his breakout 2025 season -- he made his first All-Star team and finished third in AL Cy Young Award voting thanks to 2.43 ERA and 206 strikeouts -- but it’s only a six-start sample. The Astros, despite a 45-47 record, are firmly in the playoff mix and could really use the ‘25 version of Brown.

José Ramírez, 3B, Guardians

One of the underrated aspects of Ramírez’s greatness is his durability. With the star third baseman being on the injured list since June 14 with a left hamate fracture, Ramírez won’t reach 150 games for the first time in a season (excluding the shortened 2020 season) since 2019. Even though he wasn’t performing quite up to his usual level (.757 OPS in 2026, career .852 OPS), Ramírez could easily turn that around when he returns, and give the Guardians a boost to win the AL Central.

Hunter Greene, RHP, Reds

Greene missed the first half of the season after undergoing surgery to remove bone chips in his right elbow. His first start on July 4 did not go great, as he allowed eight runs (all earned) in 3 1/3 innings, but we’re still talking about one of the most dynamic pitchers in baseball when he’s healthy. From 2024-25, his 2.76 ERA was sixth best among all pitchers with at least 250 innings, while his 29.2 percent strikeout rate ranked eighth best. If he returns to form, he’ll be a huge boost for the Reds during the second half.

Freddy Peralta, RHP, Mets

Peralta is one of many Mets players to endure down seasons in Queens. Acquired during the offseason from the Brewers, Peralta had a 4.81 ERA in his first 18 starts of the season and has seen his strikeout rate drop by 6.4 percent. Peralta had a 3.59 ERA in parts of eight seasons with Milwaukee and was consistently one of the best strikeout artists in baseball -- he struck out 200-plus batters in each season from 2023-25. Given where the Mets stand, it’s possible that Peralta, who is an impending free agent, ends up on the move this Deadline.

Trevor Rogers, LHP, Orioles

Despite only making 18 starts last season, Rogers was one of the top pitchers in baseball thanks to a sparkling 1.81 ERA across 109 2/3 innings. While most ERA indicators thought he was a little over his skis, Rogers’ ERA rising to 4.70 this season seems quite dramatic. This has been part of Rogers’ career arc, as he’s dominated in both 2021 and ‘25, but has struggled to put it together in the other years. As an impending free agent on a struggling Orioles team, Rogers could be on the move if Baltimore continues to struggle, or the left-hander could help the club turn it around.

Colt Emerson, SS, Mariners

For the last selection, we’re going with a top prospect entering the season, and someone who has the chance to give the Mariners a boost down the stretch. Emerson, who entered the season as MLB Pipeline’s No. 9 prospect, has more than held his own with a .707 OPS and seven home runs in his first 41 MLB games. If he shows progression down the stretch, that could make the difference for Seattle in the AL West.