Division Races, Record Chases, MVP Battles: MLB's Biggest Second-Half Storylines

Division races. MVP battles. Record chases. And the July 31 trade deadline that's on the horizon.  

These are among the things we're excited about in the second half of the MLB season – including whether surprise teams like the Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays can continue making noise.

We break down baseball's 15 biggest storylines to watch for:

1. Will Cal Raleigh Record the Best Catching Season … Ever?

Coming off the high of winning the Home Run Derby, Raleigh is on pace to record the best hitting season by a catcher in baseball history, all while being a threat to win the American League MVP. Raleigh kicks off the second half leading the majors in home runs (38) and RBIs (82). He has a .376 on-base percentage with a 1.011 OPS (190 OPS+). The switch-hitter is on pace for 64 home runs, which would shatter the overall AL record (set by Aaron Judge in 2022 with 62 homers), and all eyes will be glued to his performance the rest of the way. - Thosar

2. Will Aaron Judge Win the Batting Title?

He came close last season, threatening to win the Triple Crown, but ultimately falling just short. Judge led the league in home runs (58) and RBIs (144) last year, and finished third in batting average (.322) behind Bobby Witt Jr. (.332) and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (.323). He opens the second half leading MLB with a .355 average, with Athletics rookie shortstop Jacob Wilson behind him with a .332 average. Judge is hoping to become the 10th Yankee to win the batting title, and the first since DJ LeMahieu in 2020. -Thosar

3. Trade Deadline Is July 31. Which Team Shakes It Up?

The most interesting team to watch is the Diamondbacks, who entered the break at 47-50 and in fourth place in the tough NL West. They boast the