Top 10 Storylines of the 2nd Half

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NUMBERS 1 and 8 are Orioles-related.

A Fascinating Second Half Awaits

(By Tim Kurkjian)

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/11215236/top-10-storylines-second-half-mlb

1) September (or Before) Call-Ups

A number of top prospects, including Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco, have been recalled, but on the way are even more kids, some of whom might help a contender down the stretch.

The Dodgers don't have a true center fielder; maybe they will bring up Joc Pederson -- a true center fielder -- to see if he can add something in the pennant race. A scout who saw the Orioles' Dylan Bundy recently clocked him at 92-94 mph with good command -- maybe he could throw a few important innings in September. The Pirates could take a look at right-hander Nick Kingham in hopes that he could do something resembling what Gerrit Cole brought to the pennant race last year.

Other call-ups could include four right-handers: the Mets' Noah Syndergaard, Archie Bradley (if healthy) of the Diamondbacks, the Twins' Alex Meyer and Mike Foltynewicz of the Astros.

2) Jon Lester

3) Derek Jeter's Final Game

4) What will Tony La Russa do?

5) The Next Commissioner

6) The Awards Races

7) Injuries

8)Pennant Races

They should be great.

Baltimore has created some room in the AL East, but no team is good enough to run away in that division. Can Toronto make the playoffs for the first time since 1993? The Tigers have gotten hot again, but the Royals are still in the hunt to make the playoffs for the first time since 1985. The AL West might send three teams to the playoffs. The A's are the game's best team, but they can't shake the Angels, and the Mariners are also dangerous.

The NL East could go down to the final day between two teams, the Nationals and Braves. Same for the NL West with the Dodgers and Giants. The NL Central could go to the final day with four teams in contention: the Brewers, Cardinals, Reds and Pirates.

9) The Trade Deadline

10) Will David Price get Traded?

[waroriole]

1. Don't see Bundy getting called up. He has a ways to go.

2. Who cares.

3. Will occur in the regular season.

4. Something douchey.

5. Hopefully MacPhail.

6. Trout, Felix, Kershaw, ? Maybe Kershaw

7. Happen

8. O's win the East, nothing else matters.

9. Will be uneventful.

10. Doubtful.

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2. Who cares.

I care.

I wouldn't mind seeing Lester leave the American League East after the way that he has pitched in his 27 career starts against the Orioles.

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9. Will be uneventful.

I thought that it turned out to be eventful.

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2. Who cares.

I care.

I wouldn't mind seeing Lester leave the American League East after the way that he has pitched in his 27 career starts against the Orioles.

Lester was traded to the Athletics for Yoenis Cespedes and a 2015 compensation draft pick.

He (Lester) is making his debut for the Athletics today against the Royals, while Cespedes is making his Red Sox debut today against the Yankees.