10 bold predictions for MLB's second half

Now that we know which league will host the World Series, it's time to figure out how the rest of the season will unfold. The first half of the 2016 campaign had its fair share of surprises, from 40-year-old David Ortiz's historic offensive tear to the San Francisco Giants and their MLB-best 57 wins. With the trade deadline and playoff races on tap, fans can rest assured more craziness is sure to follow. Our editors took a shot at guessing what some of those bold results might be:

Yankees fire Joe Girardi

Heading into this season, most people understood that, despite earning a spot in last year’s AL wild-card game, 2016 was to be a transition year for the Yankees. Though they’re only 5.5 games back of a playoff spot, being on the outside looking in has pretty much been the story in the Bronx, with a lot of expensive veterans stumbling through the final year of their contract while Brian Cashman conducts text-message bidding wars for Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman. With a new era looming, Girardi will be axed before the season ends, with Cashman giving his successor a couple extra months to get to know the veterans that’ll anchor a very different roster next year. - Jonah Birenbaum

Cubs trade Kyle Schwarber at deadline

This won’t be easy for the Cubs. They do value Schwarber a lot when he’s healthy - but he’s also their greatest asset right now. In order to break their 108-year drought they need to add a bullpen arm, or possibly another starter - and the injured Schwarber’s the piece to get them there. Theo Epstein’s been here before, of course: His 2004 deadline trade of beloved Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra was controversial, but it did bring in some key members of that team’s curse-breaking squad. Schwarber’s that guy for the Cubs in 2016. His destination as of now is unknown, but he will make his return to the diamond in another uniform. - Simon Sharkey-Gotlieb

Archer loses 20 games

Rays right-hander Chris Archer was supposed to contend for the Cy Young this year. Instead, he'll spend the second half trying to avoid a pitcher's worst nightmare. Not since Mike Maroth in 2003 has a pitcher lost 20 games in a season, and you'd have to go all the way back to Phil Niekro in 1977 and 1979 to find an All-Star pitcher who's suffered the humiliating fate. Just a year removed from the best season of his career, Archer is laboring through his worst, saddled with an MLB-high 12 losses, to go along with a 4.66 ERA and 1.44 WHIP. His command has suffered, his velocity is down, and batters are squaring up on the ball. A trip to the DL might be his only salvation. - Dan Toman

Ortiz caps off final year with MVP

What better way for David Ortiz to end his career than by capturing an award that has alluded him throughout his 20 years in the majors. The 40-year-old has made a strong case for consideration following a tremendous first half that sees him leading the league in doubles, on-base percentage, slugging, and OPS, while sitting second in RBIs. An equally strong second half paired with the Red Sox reaching the playoffs will push him over the likes of Mike Trout and Josh Donaldson en route to his first MVP award - despite the fact that he’s an exclusive DH. - Brandon Wile

Beltran leads KC to playoffs

The Kansas City Royals will reunite with aging slugger Carlos Beltran after acquiring him from the New York Yankees at the trade deadline. Beltran, who is in the midst of his best season since 2013, will continue to rake and give KC the pop their lineup is missing en route to their third consecutive postseason appearance, passing the Cleveland Indians for the division crown. Beltran, who played his first seven seasons in the Midwest, winning a Rookie of the Year in the process, will then sign a deal with the Royals to finish his playing career right where he started. - Bryan Mcwilliam

Tigers go all-in at trade deadline

Following an offseason spending spree, the Tigers won't waive the white flag like they did last season when they dealt David Price and Yoenis Cespedes despite being within striking distance of a playoff spot. Detroit's window for a championship is closing and the veteran-laden roster doesn't have the rental pieces to deal this time around. The Tigers 86-year-old owner, Mike Illitch, is financially commited to winning a championship so the front office should have the funds to absord a contract. The pitching staff should be the focus, so expect the team to add a front-line starter to compliment Jordan Zimmermann and Michael Fulmer, and a power arm in the bullpen. The Tigers don't have long before they turn into the Phillies or Angels. - BW

Ailing Kershaw nabs 2nd career MVP

In 2014, Clayton Kershaw became the first National League pitcher to win the MVP award since 1968. This year, the 28-year-old left-hander will join Walter Johnson, Carl Hubbell, and Hal Newhouser as the only pitchers in the live-ball era to win the award twice. In the midst of what’s likely the second-best season ever from a pitcher, Kershaw - who may only miss one turn through the rotation after the All-Star break - leads the majors in both ERA (1.79) and adjusted ERA (220 ERA+), with the best single-season WHIP (0.727) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (16.11) in history from a qualified starter. Barring a setback in his recovery, Kershaw should have a case compelling enough to get voters to suspend their “pitchers shouldn’t win MVP” bias and earn his second in the last three years. - JB

Blue Jays win division without their best starter

Given all the uncertainty around inning limits, pitcher health, and elbow ligaments, it isn't all that bold to suggest the Toronto Blue Jays will send young All-Star Aaron Sanchez to the bullpen this season. For the Blue Jays, though, the thought of successfully defending the AL East without their current No. 1 starter has to be daunting. But even without Sanchez starting - he's already eight innings over his combined MLB, MiLB, and playoff total from a year ago - Toronto will find a way to power through the choppy waters of the East and past its heavy-hitting rivals. It'll just require a little more lift from its own super-slugging lineup. - DT

Indians acquire Jonathan Lucroy

The Brewers are clearly in rebuild mode and rumors of a Lucroy trade continue to swirl. The Indians are riding high in the AL Central but could use a bit of a catching upgrade with Yan Gomes having regressed and thin depth behind him. Adding Lucroy, who has a cheap option for 2017, would beef up their offensive attack and be a tremendous help to the Tribe’s stellar young rotation. They’ll have to surrender a big package - at least one of their top outfield prospects, Bradley Zimmer or Clint Frazier, would have to lead the way to Milwaukee - but that’s worth it to add Lucroy, who would instantly make the Indians one of, if not the best club in the AL. The Indians will recognize this too, and make sure Lucroy’s playing in “The Land” by Aug. 1. -SSG

Marlins make the playoffs

One year after an incredibly disappointing season for the Marlins - one that saw Giancarlo Stanton's year end early, Marcell Osuna and Christian Yelich struggle, and Jose Fernandez the subject of persistent trade rumors - Miami finds itself right in the thick of the NL playoff race. The Marlins hit the break six games back of the division-leading Washington Nationals, and tied with the defending NL champion Mets for second place. With the Mets and Dodgers struggling to stay healthy, and the Cardinals and Pirates beating up on each other, don't be surprised when Stanton takes his swing to October. - George Halim