Season’s second-half focus on Ohtani
Can Angels’ star make more history amid dominance?
SAN FRANCISCO — Across the globe, everyone is watching Shohei Ohtani in awe and intrigue.
Major League Baseball can only love the attention from around the world surrounding the Angels’ two-way star and the spotlight he’s brought to the sport.
Can Ohtani keep this up with an encore to a sensational first half? He leads the majors with 33 home runs and has shown no signs of slowing or slumping — and soon should have a healthy Mike Trout back in the lineup with him.
Pitchers across the big leagues are doing their part so far, too.
There have been seven no-hitters in the majors this season, matching the mark for most in one year during the modern era. The record of eight was set in 1884, the first season overhand pitching was allowed.
Will Jacob degrom, Walker Buehler and Gerrit Cole join the list soon? And will the uproar over sticky substances tamp down?
Manager Torey Lovullo and the Diamondbacks are eager for a fresh start, determined to forget that record 24-game road losing streak in which they went more than two months without a win away from Chase Field.
The rush to the playoffs — and the judgments — for fans begins Thursday when the second half opens with one game: Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers and the American League East-leading Red Sox visiting Yankee Stadium to start a stretch that could decide New York’s fate.
Here are some things to watch when play resumes:
Trade Story-lines
Trevor Story, Nelson Cruz and Kyle Gibson are sure to attract plenty of attention as the July 30 trade deadline 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 former Bishop Gorman slugger Joey Gallo could be on the move if Texas wants prospect packages for its All-stars.
Oh, yes, Oh-tani
No matter which coast or division, all eyes are on Ohtani, especially after he topped 500 feet in the Home Run Derby and threw 100 mph heat as the winning pitcher in the All-star Game.
The two-way Japanese phenom is five homers ahead of All-star Game MVP Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Fernando Tatis Jr. for the big league lead. He’s also got 70 RBIS, three behind Guerrero for most in the majors.
Want more? He’s tied for the AL lead with four triples. No one has led in league in homers and triples since Jim Rice in 1978 (before that, Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays did it in 1955). Plus, Ohtani tops the Angels with 12 stolen bases.
On the mound, he’s 4-1 with a 3.49 ERA in 13 starts. He’s struck out 87 in 67 innings, allowing 46 hits.
“Obviously the difficult part is the preparation, you prepare differently as a pitcher and a hitter, and it’s different for me every day,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. “Just getting used to the preparation, that’s the biggest challenge.”
Surprise, surprise
At 57-32, reinvigorated Buster Posey, resurgent Kevin Gausman and the surprising Giants not only lead the talented National League West, they own the majors’ best record — with two more wins than the Red Sox and Astros, both at 55-36.
In a division the defending World Series champion Dodgers or 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.”