7 burning questions as June approaches

As June approaches, several key questions arise regarding Major League Baseball. Last year on June 1, three teams—the Brewers, the Blue Jays, and the Guardians—were at least 5 1/2 games out of first place, but managed to drastically improve their standings by the end of the month. The Brewers, in particular, cut their deficit in half by the end of June. Additionally, Cal Raleigh was named the AL Player of the Month last June, hitting 11 homers and setting himself up for a remarkable season.

Here are seven major storylines to monitor as the calendar flips to June:

1. How long can Sánchez and Miz keep putting up zeros? The race for the NL Cy Young Award is heating up, featuring remarkable performances from pitchers like Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Harrison, Chase Burns, and Zack Wheeler. Yet, Cristopher Sánchez of the Phillies and Jacob Misiorowski of the Brewers dominate the headlines. Sánchez is on a scoreless inning streak that puts him within reach of Orel Hershiser’s record.

2. Can early disappointments save their seasons? Teams like the Mets, Red Sox, Orioles, and Tigers are struggling significantly below .500. Each team faces a critical juncture: must turn around their season in June or risk major changes by July.

3. Will Trade Deadline season get going? Notable trades have historically occurred in June, such as the blockbuster deal sending Rafael Devers to the Giants last year. Speculation surrounds players like Tarik Skubal, Sandy Alcantara, and Yordan Alvarez, depending on how their teams perform leading up to the trade deadline.

4. Will there be more clarity in the NL Central? June may clarify the standings in the NL Central, which has so far hosted highly competitive teams without a losing record. The Brewers have created distance, but the Cubs, Pirates, Reds, and Cardinals remain close behind, each with their own challenges and potential for playoff contention.

5. Can the Rays keep this up? Impressively, the Rays are succeeding with a strong home record and effective starting pitching. A four-game series at Dodger Stadium mid-month will serve as a critical test of their World Series aspirations.

6. Can Yordan sustain a Triple Crown run? Yordan Alvarez of the Astros is on an impressive trajectory. His statistics this season could position him for a Triple Crown, as he leads the American League in average, home runs, and runs batted in.

7. Are the Mariners about to take control of the AL West? The Mariners, once favorites to dominate the AL West, have faced a slow start but remain in contention as they work to find their rhythm before the critical month of June.