The San Francisco Giants wrapped up the first 95 games of the season with a 52-43 record, leaving them one game behind the first place Los Angeles Dodgers.
While it's impossible to predict what's in store for the Giants in the second half, here are five questions that need to be answered if the team expects to overtake the Dodgers for the NL West crown:
5) Do they need to make a trade at the deadline?
The Giants are in an interesting situation when it comes to the trade market.
Despite going 10-22 in their last 32 games, the Giants are still just one game out of first place and tied for the fourth best record in the National League.
That makes them part of the buyer's market on the surface, but the question they need to ask themselves is whether a trade will help turn their struggles around, or just delay the inevitable.
There are certainly helpful pieces out there, but San Francisco can't afford a repeat of the 2011 Carlos Beltran deal, where they made a high price acquisition of a rental player to improve a team that was very clearly a pretender.
That's not to say the 2014 team isn't a true contender, but the front office has about two weeks to figure out if it's worth going all-in on this season.
If the answer is 'yes', San Francisco would do well to acquire a true lead-off hitter (provided Pagan's back limits his availability), an upgrade at second base, or added depth off the bench.
4) Who will close down the stretch? 
Santiago Casilla has been impressive in limited opportunities since taking over the closer role two weeks ago (4.2 scoreless innings, six strikeouts and three saves) while Sergio Romo has gained some of his confidence back since losing it (5.2 IP, 3.18 ERA and nine strikeouts).
The best course of action would be to ride the hot hand – which would mean Casilla controls the ninth inning until his performance forces Bochy to make another switch.
Chances are that Romo will see save opportunities at some point before the season is over, but there isn't anything to suggest that Casilla won't be capable of holding down the job the rest of the way.
If Romo can get back to being his usual dominant self, the Giants should feel comfortable throwing either him or Casilla out there to close – possibly switching between the two on any given night.
Bochy is savvy when it comes to bullpen management, meaning the closing situation should be the least of the Giants' worries down the stretch.
3) How much production will come from second base?
The Giants got a cumulative .179 batting average and seven home runs from the second base position in the first half.
Frankly, there needs to be rapid improvement in the second half.
With Marco Scutaro back in the fold, and Joe Panik proving competent against major league pitching, the team may have their solution already.
The best case scenario is for Scutaro to get healthy enough to start four or five games a week, while mixing Panik in the other days.
Realistically, just league average production out of Scutaro/Panik would be enough of an improvement over the horrendous first half showing at the position.
Upgrading the position via trade remains a possibility as well, with Chase Utley and Ben Zobrist two likely targets.
2) Will Matt Cain improve after a disappointing first half?
The highest paid member of the Giants rotation was arguably the worst of the bunch in the first half.
With a 2-7 record and 4.18 ERA through 15 starts, Cain is off to the worst start in his career.
He hasn't been so bad that a temporary move to the bullpen would be realistic, but he is pitching with the least amount of confidence of any member of the rotation.
The most glaring problem is the amount of home runs he is giving up – already 13 in 15 starts.
With a 3.5% home run rate allowed (compared to his career average of 2.2%) Cain has been victimized by the long ball, while most of his other ratios have stayed fairly consistent to his career averages.
Improving upon those numbers would go a long way towards helping him turn his performance around, which in turn could help the rotation sustain a run of dominance that has only been seen in short bursts this season.
1) Can the lineup find a lead-off hitter if Angel Pagan doesn't return?
It seems like no one truly appreciates Pagan's value until he's gone.
Just like last season, the offense has plummeted ever since Pagan's injury, leaving a revolving door of ineffective lead-off hitters atop the lineup.
Pagan posted a .314 average and .363 on-base percentage in 58 games as the lead-off hitter.
In his place, Gregor Blanco hit just .202 with a .292 on-base before Bochy went with Hunter Pence instead.
While Pence has been passable out of the top spot – .293 average and .341 on-base – he just isn't the same impact hitter at the top of the order that Pagan is, and is better served in the two through five spots.
If Pagan can return relatively soon, the team can breath a sigh of relief.
However, if he misses extended time, or returns with limitations – like Scutaro's current injury – the Giants will need to find a solution at the lead-off spot before it's too late.
Unfortunately, that may require looking outside the organization - a process Brian Sabean has likely already begun in earnest.
For more content by Chris Kersevan, check out his writer’s page and on Twitter @cker7
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