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FanGraphs | Craig Edwards: Lance Lynn shut down the Houston Astros to begin the second half, showing real proof that he is a bona fide Cy Young contender. He has ranked first in WAR, FIP, FIP-, innings, third in strikeouts, and second in HR/9, so he is an arm to watch down the stretch.
The Ringer | Ben Lindbergh: With the waiver deadline now eliminated, this is the first trade deadline in a while that will truly be unpredictable. About 14% of all yearly trades take place in August, and in theory they’ll shift to July. There are also a record number of teams in contention, with even teams like the Reds and Rangers in the mix. With all of these factors, MLB should be hoping for something that looks like NBA free agency to generate some buzz.
Tangotiger Blog | Tom Tango: What kind of “aesthetic” are fans looking for in baseball? Generally speaking, fans are OK with the current league-average K-rate, but they would prefer fewer walks and more home runs, so a player like Alex Bregman, or a pitcher like Zack Greinke.