Toronto Star

Tight races could lead to lots of movement

- JAY COHEN

CHICAGO— Mookie Betts and the Major League-leading Red Sox are on pace for 100-plus wins. Same for Aaron Judge and the Yankees, and the World Series champion Astros, too.

The Orioles, White Sox and Royals are on track to lose more than 100. It’s the haves and the have-nots as baseball returns after the all-star break.

“There’s a few good teams out there that they’re going to make it interestin­g in the second half,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “We had a great first part of the season, but that doesn’t guarantee us anything in October, going to October.”

The Dodgers know all about October, and they are a World Series contender once again. Especially with the addition of Manny Machado. The NL West leaders got a head start on the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline by sending five prospects to Baltimore on Wednesday for Machado, an all-star shortstop capable of powering Los Angeles to its first title in 30 years.

Cleveland bolstered its bullpen by acquiring all-star closer Brad Hand and rookie Adam Cimber in a trade with San Diego on Thursday, sending catching prospect Francisco Mejia to the rebuilding Padres.

Machado might be the biggest star to switch teams this month, but there will be plenty of players on the move.

If the last-place Mets decide to rebuild, aces Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaar­d could shake up the playoff race. Rangers left-hander Cole Hamels and Reds pitchers Raisel Iglesias and Matt Harvey also could be headed for new homes. Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas and Twins second baseman Brian Dozier could provide hitting for a contender.

The Padres could ship out relievers Kirby Yates and Craig Stammen. They are the only team out of the NL West conversati­on, where L.A.’s lead over fourth-place San Francisco is just four games. The Cubs have the best record in the NL after chasing Milwaukee for much of the first half, and the NL East looks like a three-team race.

Washington was supposed to be one of the haves this year, but it hasn’t worked out so far. The Nationals hit the break with a .500 record, looking up at the surprising Phillies and Braves.

But ace right-hander Stephen Strasburg, first baseman Ryan Zimmerman and closer Sean Doolittle are set to return from injuries, and it looked as if Bryce Harper regained some of his swagger with the Home Run Derby win at his home ballpark.

While the NL has three tight races, there is nothing like the duel in the AL East, or the AL West for that matter. The Red Sox and Yankees have MLB’s top two records, and one of them very well could be headed for the wild-card game. The Astros are in prime position to become the first repeat World Series winner since the Yankees from 1998-2000, but any stumble and the Mariners or surging Athletics could push Jose Altuve and Co. into a more precarious spot.

There is a lot to love about Boston, too. Betts is making a case for the AL MVP award, and Chris Sale leads the strikeout-crazy majors with a whopping 188 Ks. The Red Sox also have received surprising contributi­ons from all-star first baseman Mitch Moreland and lefthander Eduardo Rodriguez.

Of course, the Yankees don’t look like they are going anywhere either, not with Judge anchoring a deep lineup and Luis Severino at the front of their rotation. Expect the AL East rivals to be on the hunt for help at the non-waiver deadline, hoping to avoid that dicey wild-card matchup.

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