Major League Baseball has been full of surprises this season. Teams like the Royals and Red Sox have exceeded expectations, while others like the Brewers and Guardians have emerged as contenders. Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge continue to shine, with rookie Paul Skenes making a name for himself as well.
Experts Rowan Kavner and Deesha Thosar discussed their thoughts on the biggest surprises of the first half. Thosar believes in the Red Sox, citing their resilience and scrappiness as key factors. Kavner, on the other hand, has faith in the Guardians, highlighting their strong bullpen and offensive firepower.
When it comes to Ohtani and Judge, Kavner leans towards Ohtani due to his impressive offensive performance coming off major surgery. Thosar, however, is more impressed with Judge’s ability to bounce back from a slow start and lead the Yankees.
Looking ahead to the second half, Thosar picks the Rangers as a team that could turn things around and make a playoff push. Kavner, on the other hand, has his eyes on the Diamondbacks, who have shown resilience despite facing adversity.
As for the All-Star Game, both Kavner and Thosar are excited to see young talent like Skenes and Bobby Witt Jr. showcase their skills. They both predict an American League victory, given the stacked lineup of the AL squad.
In terms of All-Star memories, Kavner fondly remembers Cal Ripken Jr.’s final All-Star Game, while Thosar misses the days when the game had real stakes.
Overall, the MLB season has been full of surprises, and the All-Star Game promises to be an exciting showcase of talent and competition. Fans can look forward to seeing some of the best players in the game go head-to-head in a battle for bragging rights.