Now {that a} thrilling All-Star Game is behind us, it is time to look forward to what guarantees to be an incredible second half of the common season main as much as October.
With a two-way famous person persevering with to do issues we have by no means seen earlier than, a grasp craftsman on the plate who has a official probability to hit .400 for the season, a number of shock contenders vying for the postseason and far more, the stretch run will likely be full of storylines to observe the remainder of the best way.
Here’s a take a look at seven second half storylines sure to captivate the baseball world within the months forward:
What will Shohei do subsequent … and the place?
Angels two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani simply continues to dazzle us together with his dominance on the mound and on the plate, even after it appeared he could not probably prime his personal wonderful feats from the previous. In 2021, he was named American League MVP due to an unprecedented mixture of success as a pitcher and a hitter. But this season, he is been even higher, particularly on the plate.
Ohtani enters the second half of the 2023 marketing campaign main the Majors with 32 dwelling runs, six triples, a .663 slugging proportion, a 1.050 OPS, a 182 OPS+ and 226 complete bases. In different phrases, he is been the very best hitter in baseball whereas concurrently posting a 3.32 ERA and a 32 % strikeout fee in 17 begins on the mound.
With the Angels reeling, shedding 9 of their last 10 video games previous to the All-Star break, the query surrounding Ohtani past what he’ll do subsequent on the sector is: Where? With the Aug. 1 Trade Deadline lower than three weeks away and Ohtani scheduled to be a free agent following this season, will the Halos deal him? Either approach, Ohtani figures to land a report contract this offseason.
Will Arraez rise to the event and do the unthinkable?
Nobody has hit .400 for the reason that legendary Ted Williams completed the 1941 season with a batting common of .406. A handful have come shut, significantly George Brett in 1980 (.390) and Tony Gwynn in 1994 (.394).
Given the plethora of pitchers that hitters are confronted with in immediately’s recreation, in addition to the elevated velocity and assortment of pitches they see, many could have thought .400 was unreachable. But then Luis Arraez got here alongside, and he isn’t solely vying to win back-to-back batting titles after successful the crown with the Twins final 12 months, he is wanting develop into the primary man to hit .400 over a full season in 82 years.
Arraez enters the second half batting .383, and he already has three five-hit video games to his title this season. He additionally leads the Majors with 126 hits and a .434 on-base proportion.
Will he do it? Will he end the season over .400? We’ll simply have to observe and see.
Will Acuña make power-speed historical past?
Entering the 2023 season, we knew Ronald Acuña Jr. was a menace to affix the 40-homer/40-steal membership. After all, previous to accidents derailing him, the Braves’ famous person outfielder launched 41 dwelling runs and swiped 37 bases in 2019.
But midway via this season, Acuña has already topped that steal complete and we’re questioning whether or not he’ll develop into the primary participant in AL/NL historical past to hit 40 or extra homers and steal 50 or extra bases in the identical 12 months.
In reality, at his present tempo, we could possibly be wanting on the first 40/70 or 40/80 participant when it is all mentioned and accomplished. And Acuña is doing all this after tearing his proper ACL simply earlier than the All-Star break in 2021. He mentioned on MLB Network previous to this 12 months’s Midsummer Classic that it took him two years to get again to one hundred pc. That can be, effectively, now.
There’s no telling what we’ll see within the second half from the best power-speed menace within the recreation immediately. One factor is for sure: it is going to be thrilling to observe Acuña and his powerhouse Braves the remainder of the best way.
Since reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge injured his toe whereas making a spectacular catch and crashing via the outfield fence at Dodger Stadium on June 3, solely two groups have scored fewer runs than the Yankees’ 123 — the Twins (116) and the Royals (114). So the query on everybody’s minds, particularly the Yankees’ minds, is: When will Judge be again within the lineup?
That’s an enormous unknown proper now. But if the Yanks are going to get the “Bombers” again into “Bronx Bombers,” they’re going to want their captain again quickly in what is probably the hardest division in baseball. Entering the second half, New York is eight video games again of the AL East-leading Rays and one recreation out of an AL Wild Card spot.
Will the Reds maintain Cruzin’? What concerning the different shock groups?
The 2023 season to date has featured many surprises, maybe none better than among the groups that discovered themselves in playoff place on the All-Star break.
The Orioles head into the second half 19 video games over .500 and simply two video games behind Tampa Bay within the AL East. The Rangers, in the meantime, lead the AL West after a primary half wherein they misplaced ace Jacob deGrom for the season.
In the NL, the Marlins have gained 59 video games and occupy the highest NL Wild Card spot, and the D-backs are in a digital tie for first place within the NL West with the Dodgers.
A typical thread amongst these golf equipment is younger, thrilling stars seizing the reins. None is extra thrilling than Cincinnati’s Elly De La Cruz, who has electrified the baseball world together with his unimaginable energy and velocity. In simply his fifteenth MLB recreation, he hit for the cycle, turning into the primary Reds participant to take action in 34 years. Then, simply earlier than the All-Star break, he stole second base, third and residential within the span of three pitches.
De La Cruz is simply the tip of the iceberg with regards to younger, rising stars fueling inconceivable runs for his or her groups. There’s NL Rookie of the Year Award favourite Corbin Carroll in Arizona, All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman and rookie infielder Gunnar Henderson in Baltimore, and All-Star third baseman Josh Jung in Texas, amongst others.
What’s subsequent for this disappointing trio?
The Mets, Padres and Cardinals have been all postseason groups final fall, and coming into the 2023 marketing campaign, many projections had all three again within the postseason this 12 months. As issues stand heading into the second half, issues aren’t wanting good for any of them.
Despite a report payroll, the Mets discover themselves a whopping 18 1/2 video games out of first place within the NL East and 7 video games again of a Wild Card spot. The Padres, in the meantime, are 8 1/2 video games again within the NL West and 6 video games out of a Wild Card spot. The Cardinals have been the worst of the lot, 14 video games below .500 to open the second half and 11 video games out of a playoff slot.
What occurs subsequent for these golf equipment? New York and St. Louis have proven indications that they might be in a minimum of a partial promote mode with the Aug. 1 Trade Deadline approaching, whereas San Diego hasn’t proven its hand simply but.
What will the Trade Deadline have in retailer?
There are numerous examples of gamers who have been acquired earlier than the Trade Deadline and ended up serving to their golf equipment down the stretch, even successful all of it in some instances. Look no additional than the Braves in 2021, when Atlanta acquired Adam Duvall, eventual NL Championship Series MVP Eddie Rosario and eventual World Series MVP Jorge Soler that July.
What will we be saying once we look again at this 12 months’s Trade Deadline? Some of the outstanding names which have come up in commerce rumors embody beginning pitchers Marcus Stroman, Shane Bieber, Jack Flaherty, Jordan Montgomery, Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, Eduardo Rodriguez and Michael Lorenzen.
On the place participant facet, there’s intrigue involving the foundering Cardinals and Padres — would possibly Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado and even Juan Soto be out there?
From the quick approaching Trade Deadline to the potential for history-making performances, the second half of the season affords fascinating storylines galore. While we cannot know the way it all shakes out till the ultimate pitch of the World Series, it is going to be extremely thrilling to see it unfold.
Content Source: www.mlb.com