Let’s Talk AL Hopefuls
With All-Star Game festivities in Arlington coming to a close with the AL’s 5-3 win over the NL, MLB fans can look ahead to a second half of the season that is well-poised to create exciting pennant races, wild-card battles, and potential individual milestones. Here are a few of the storylines that are well set up as we head out of the All-Star break with a busy slate of action on Friday.
Pennant Race to Watch: AL East
Few fans or pundits gave much hope to the postseason prospects of the Boston Red Sox before the season began, but a 10-3 run to head into the break has left them only 4.5 games back of the Baltimore Orioles. The New York Yankees started the year 52-27 but have lost 13 of their last 19 games. The chasing Red Sox face the Yankees and Orioles seven times each in the second half.
Wild-Card Fever
The postseason expansion has its supporters and its critics, to be sure, but there’s no doubt it keeps skin in the game for more organizations. Five teams remain within 7.5 games of the last wild-card spot at the break, including the defending World Series Champion Texas Rangers.
Judge Chasing Himself
With 34 homers at the break, Yankees superstar Aaron Judge has a shot to catch himself for the AL Home Run record, which he set at 62 in the 2021-22 campaign. That year, Judge had 33 home runs at the All-Star break.
