With each of the 30 MLB clubs having played at least 81 games, Major League Baseball has officially entered its second half.

It’s been a memorable year for some — and miserable for others — but 2018 has seen plenty of intriguing storylines across the sport in just a few short months.

Here are some musings on the first half of America’s Pastime:

Rivalry heats up: The Yankees-Red Sox rivalry has been as good as it’s ever been this year, and with both teams winning with a solid, younger core, it should stay that way for years to come. Entering Wednesday’s games, Boston had a one-game lead over the Bronx Bombers, but New York has still played four fewer games because of postponements earlier in the season. With Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton leading the Yanks, and Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez in the tops of hitting categories in baseball for the Red Sox, this battle should come down to the team with the better arms. As it stands, the Red Sox have the edge in that category, but never count out the Yankees for a big trade to boost their rotation. The only thing standing in the way of these two teams meeting making a run at the World Series this season may just be each other — and the Houston Astros.

Pirates back to reality: After one of the better starts in baseball, Pittsburgh came back down to earth with a rough month of June that placed them near the basement of the National League Central. After trading their ace (Gerrit Cole) and face of the franchise (Andrew McCutchen), it’s hard to blame this current group of Pirates for struggling. However, fans of the Bucs should be encouraged by some of the performances of the younger players, including Colin Moran and Austin Meadows, who should prove to be cornerstones of this team down the road. If the team does continue to embark on its rebuild, there are plenty of trade-worthy candidates that should also help the team get prospects before this year’s trade deadline.

Reds resurgence: Also in the NL Central, a team that has done almost the exact opposite of PIttsburgh has been one of baseball’s most captivating stories in recent weeks. Cincinnati began the season at 3-15. It was the franchise’s worst start, and one of the worst in baseball history. It cost manager Bryan Price his job, and it looked like it would be a completely lost season for the Redlegs. However, the Reds have bumped their record up to 36-48 entering Wednesday, and have lost just five times over their last 20 games. The team has one of baseball’s best offenses, with the NL leader in batting average (Scooter Gennett, .332), on base percentage (Joey Votto, .433), and RBI (Eugenio Suarez, 61). Instead of battling the Pirates at the bottom of the division, Cincy has a good shot to turn a miserable start into a .500 season.

Big trades coming: This year’s July trade deadline is shaping up to be one of the biggest yet, with marquee names such as Manny Machado, Adrian Beltre and Mike Moustakas all expected to be moved from a non-playoff team to a contender. There are also plenty of teams that are on the fence about moving some of their star players. Do the Mets decide to trade either of their two aces in Noah Syndergaard of Jacob DeGrom? Do the Rockies part ways with a Nolan Arenado or Charlie Blackmon? Those questions still have almost a full month to be answered, with the only certainty being that plenty of contenders will be looking to beef up some of their roster’s weakest spots.

Changing of the guard: If the season were to end today, the Phillies, Mariners and Braves would all have postseason berths locked up. You don’t have to be a baseball expert to know that these three franchises have been among the game’s worst over the past decade or so. Seattle hasn’t made the postseason since 2001, the longest streak in any of the four pro sports. Atlanta and Philadelphia battled each other and take turns finishing last in the NL East over the last five years. However, new managers and a patient approach with young players is paying off for each of the three teams. With new playoff contenders moving in, that also means that some familiar franchises most likely won’t be playing baseball in October. The Washington Nationals –despite having several of the best hitters in baseball–have struggled to a .500 record. The Orioles, who have made the postseason in four of the last seven years, are currently on-pace to set the MLB record for most losses in a season. Although baseball doesn’t have the usual playoff turnover rate of the NFL or the NHL, it will be intriguing to see new players, cities and franchises have a role in the pennant races come September rather than the usual cast of characters.