Baseball's second half begins this weekend, kicking off a thrilling two-and-a-half-month stretch run. Entering play Friday, 19 of the 30 teams are within six games of a playoff spot, and none of the six division leaders finished first last season.
With the trade deadline two weeks away and compelling pennant races ahead, it's time for some bold predictions.
Darren Yamashita/USA TODAY Sports
Tom Verducci
The Giants win the NL West, forcing the Dodgers and Padres into a one-game playoff. With the health of the Dodgers’ and Padres’ pitching in question, the door is open for San Francisco to end Los Angeles’s run of division titles.