The all-star break was typically used to split the first and second halves of baseball. While that’s always been misleading — teams often play about 90 games in the first half and only leave 72 for the second half — it’s even more extreme this season, with the All-Star game not happening until July 19 , at the latest It has been played in an entire season since 1977.
With teams set to hit their actual 81-game midpoint early next week, it’s a good time to turn to the majors for the most intriguing storylines from a season that as early as March seemed in danger of not being played.
One of these jars is not like the others
A look at this season’s ERA leaders shows a bright future for the game. Shane McClanahan, 25, a sophomore for the Tampa Bay Rays, led all starters with a 1.77 ERA through Thursday. Sandy Alcantara of the Miami Marlins finished second with a 1.95 – he’s only 26 years old. Seven of the top 10 were under 30, the youngest of whom, Alek Manoah of the Toronto Blue Jays, is a serious contender for the American League’s Cy Young Award at 24.
