Major League Baseball players are accustomed with a hectic working arrangements. Time off is challenging to come by through the marathon season, which stretches from February to October, and teams may go weeks lacking any off day.

That makes all the annual All-Star break a fascinating case in personal preference. Most players, who just crammed MLB The Show 18 Stubs roughly 100 games in the last three-plus months, are in possession of four days to chill. If these people were lucky enough for being invited towards the All-Star activities in New York City that becomes just 2 days off before regular season play resumes on Friday.

Rest might appear to be a a valuable thing, especially with playoff races and also the weather heating, but think about the timing on the break for teams much like the Dodgers and Phillies who are within the fringe of playoff contention and also have gained ground in recent weeks?

"I think people needed [a break]," Clayton Kershaw told RealGM. "It's always good to have a little rest. We were with a pretty good streak. I hope that doesn't kill our momentum, but we needed the remaining for now."

The Dodgers, winners of seven of these last 10 games, are only 2.5 games back from the Diamondbacks inside the National League West.

"I think we are only excited that we employ a chance to get inside the playoffs," Kershaw added. "Three weeks ago we had arrived 10 games out and if there we were there now, the wife or husband would look somewhat bleak. Where we're at now, we've got a terrific shot at it and this's all we could ask as bad even as played."

Paul Goldschmidt, who's Diamondbacks the Dodgers are chasing, isn't positive that there is usually a right answer with regards to the pros and cons with the midsummer break.

"We had 20 inside a row, so it is nice to no less than get one day off. It's good timing I think, but I are not aware of," the very first-time All-Star told RealGM. "You play a few within a row and after that you think it's essential to employ a day off. Then most of a sudden it turns another way. You don't define, but it really's always good to obtain rest."

The defending World Series champion Giants are scuffling. Four games over .500 after beating Atlanta on June 14, San Francisco is 43-51 after losing 20 in their last 28 games. They are only 6.5 games back inside NL West, but Buster Posey thinks the All-Star break came at a fantastic time for his club.

"I think it'll help to adopt a step back," Posey said. "We did play better within the last series in San Diego, so I think it's great to require a step back for any few days."

Posey is hitting .325/.395/.536 with 13 home runs and 56 RBI this current year, following inside the career numbers he posted in 2012. He might not need some time off, but catcher knows it ought to help the Giants capture their collective breath.

The Phillies are 6.5 games out inside the NL East, but in superior position than we were holding this time last season.

"We operate hard, just trying to hold moving. We've got great veteran leadership inside the clubhouse so we're about to take it on the second half," Domonic Brown said. "We were back a good deal more a year ago. I don't even remember what steps back we had arrived, but we created a nice push for the end with the season."

Cliff Lee, Brown's teammate, is looking on the break optimistically. Philadelphia continues to be playing well, but his opinion won't change how Major League Baseball handles the schedule.

"We were playing excellent MLB 18 Stubs leading to the break, but there is however no other option aside from to take four days off," Lee said.

"Every team does it and you simply can't change the timing than it because there's a plan. I'm about to try to look advertising online as positive as I can and imagine that it's going for being good -- guys will get rest. I felt like it turned out really hot leading in to the break for individuals, so I think the others is about to be beneficial to some guys."