If you blinked, it would have been pretty easy to miss a wild first half of the 2023 season going into the MLB All-Star Break. Not only was the first half filled with great baseball, but also some of the most interesting storylines the sport has seen in some time. Those fun stories haven’t gone away. In fact, some are just getting going.

Here are the three major storylines to watch in the second half of the season.

1. One Wild Trade Deadline

The trade deadline is always a highlight of the second half, but this year’s deadline could provide a little extra excitement. The first half showed that nothing is guaranteed as favorites like the Mets, Padres and Cardinals each disappointed. But surprise teams like the D-backs, Reds and Marlins are each squarely in the middle of playoff races and have put themselves in position to be buyers.

But the biggest story of the deadline will be the future of the best player in the world, Shohei Ohtani. With Mike Trout on the injured list for the next six to eight weeks, the chance for the Angels to make a serious push toward a playoff spot seems extremely remote. Do the Angels do what many think might be the unthinkable and trade Ohtani?

Nothing should be off the table, which means all eyes will be on Southern California.

2. Luis Arraez’s Chase for .400

It’s been 82 years since Red Sox legend Ted Williams hit .400 in a season, and while there have been a select few who have gotten close, none have been able to reach .400. But Luis Arraez, who already has a batting title to his name, has begun to knock on the door of history.

In an era of the average fastball climbing toward 100 mph and breaking balls resembling something from a video game, what Arraez has been able to do defies logic. But night in and night out, the Marlins’ best hitter compiles hits with ease. The MLB record for five-hit games in a season is four, held by Tony Gwynn, Ty Cobb, Stan Musial and Ichiro Suzuki.

Arraez had three in the month of June alone.

Currently sitting at .383 entering the second half, Arraez’s pursuit for Williams’ mark won’t be easy. But if there was someone who could give the Hall of Famer a run for his money, it’s Arraez.

3. Ronald Acuña Jr.’s Quest for 40-40 — and More!

No player this season has been more electric than the Braves’ leadoff man. It’s the reason that Ronald Acuña Jr. is currently the frontrunner for NL MVP. But Acuña’s impressive first half has put him in rarified air and on pace to be a part of MLB history. Acuña was the first player in MLB history to have 20+ homers and 40+ stolen bases before the All-Star break.

But that’s not the only history that’s on the horizon for baseball’s most dynamic player. Acuña is currently on pace to become the fifth member of the 40-40 club, potentially joining Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Alfonso Soriano, who was the last to accomplish the illustrious feat in 2006.

The wild part about Acuña’s insane season is that he’s not only on pace for 40-40, but he could finish the season with over 40 homers and 70+ stolen bases. It would be the best 40-40 season in league history by far.