Aaron Judges status, Dodgers three-peat chase and trade deadline: MLBs biggest second-half storylines

The All-Star Game is over and the true second half of the MLB season begins Thursday night, when the Mets visit the Phillies in a stand-alone game on ESPN in a matchup that probably seemed bigger when it was scheduled.Here’s a look at some of the top storylines the rest of the way as teams battle to get to October:Perhaps no development will be bigger in the second half than the status of Aaron Judge. Out since June with a fractured right rib, Judge was expected to get imaging of the injury during the All-Star break, with the Yankees hoping it showed enough healing in the area for him to start working out.There’s still no timeline for Judge’s return, other than general manager Brian Cashman saying: “The time frame that it would take to heal should allow him to be back with us this season.”That uncertainty could doom the Yankees.They entered the break atop the AL wild-card race, but they talked extensively this spring about the importance of not just making the postseason, but of winning the AL East. They came up a game short last season and then lost to the Blue Jays in the ALDS.Their best chance of getting past the first-place Rays, who have a three-game lead on the Yankees (four in the loss column), is to get Judge back in the lineup.They’ve proven to be as good as any team in the American League with him and simply mediocre without their superstar.Three years ago, the Yankees missed the playoffs when Judge was affected by the torn ligament in his toe, and their lineup has mostly gone in the tank without him this time around, although they did sweep Washington heading into the break.Getting Judge back isn’t the only thing the Yankees are waiting on, as they will try to upgrade the catching position and bullpen before the Aug.

3 trade deadline.Besides that, there’s the George Lombard Jr.watch, which figures to move into high gear in the coming weeks, as the team’s top prospect comes back from a hand injury.

The Yankees clearly need help at sho...