On deck for MLB’s 2nd half: Trades, playoff races and prizes
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SAN FRANCISCO — Across the globe, everybody is watching Shohei Ohtani in awe and intrigue.
MLBl likely loves the attention from around the world surrounding the Angels’ two-way star and the spotlight he’s brought to the sport.
Can Ohtani stage an encore to a sensational first half? He leads the majors with 33 home runs and has shown no signs of slowing down or slumping and soon should have a healthy Mike Trout back in the lineup with him.
The rush to the playoffs — and the judgments — for fans all over begin Thursday night when the second half opens with one game: Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers and the AL East-leading Red Sox visiting Yankee Stadium to start an early stretch that could decide New York’s fate.
Here are some things to watch when play resumes:
Trade storylines
Trevor Story, Nelson Cruz and Kyle Gibson are sure to attract plenty of attention as the July 30 trade deadline — moved up a day this year — rapidly approaches.
Story becomes a free agent after this season, and Colorado might try to get something for the star shortstop. Rockies teammate C.J. Cron also will draw interest.
At 41, all Cruz does is continue to hit home runs. He’s got 18 this year and is batting .304. In a down year for the Twins, the big bopper at Target Field is sure to be a trade target.
Gibson, enjoying his best season on the mound, and slugger Joey Gallo could be on the move if Texas wants prospect packages for its All-Stars.
Arizona infielder Eduardo Escobar and Miami outfielder Starling Marte would be solid fits for plenty of contenders.
Surprise, surprise
At 57-32, the surprising San Francisco Giants — featuring a reinvigorated Buster Posey and resurgent Kevin Gausman — not only lead the talented NL West, they own the best record in baseball with two more wins than the Red Sox and Houston Astros, both at 55-36.
In a division the defending World Series champion Dodgers or San Diego Padres were expected to dominate, it’s second-year manager Gabe Kapler’s Giants with an unexpected place at the top.
“With our performance so far as a team we get asked a lot, ‘What’s the secret?’ ” said Farhan Zaidi, Giants president of baseball operations. “There’s no one thing. It’s a lot of things that have gone well. Our veteran guys not just performing well but really setting the tone in the clubhouse and how they go about it on a day-in, day-out basis.”
The Giants swept Juan Soto and the Washington Nationals in four straight at San Francisco ahead of the break.
“We’ve been battling day-in and day-out,” Nats manager Dave Martinez said. “But they understand that when we come back, we’ve got to come back and start off strong.”
Aaron Judge and the Yankees weren’t supposed to be eight games out of first place and 41⁄2 behind for a wild-card spot right now, but there they are. New York plays the Boston Red Sox in eight of its first 10 games out of the break, and a bad showing could turn the Yanks from buyers into sellers in a hurry.
And the prize goes to …
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. might add more hardware at season’s end — if he can keep pace with Ohtani. The pair look like front-runners for AL MVP. The 22-year-old Blue Jays slugger leads in average (.332) and RBIs (73), putting him in contention for a Triple Crown chase.
With Ronald Acuna Jr. out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL in his right knee, the door is open for Fernando Tatis Jr. to run away with the NL MVP. He has 28 homers, 20 stolen bases and 60 RBIs.
Jacob DeGrom is on course to win his third NL Cy Young Award. The Mets ace is more likely to be stopped by his own nagging health woes than another pitcher. Harder to pick a favorite in the AL — perhaps Gerrit Cole or White Sox teammates Lance Lynn and Carlos Rodon.