The stars, surprises and trade possibilities to watch as MLB season stretches into summer

The spring playoffs have just about reached the final rounds, with plenty of attractive storylines still in play.

The Rangers have a chance to capture their first Stanley Cup in 30 years.

The Celtics, off a conference final sweep, can nudge past the Lakers for the most titles in NBA history.

And Dallas still has a shot at becoming the first city ever to pull off the NBA-NHL double of championships in the same year.

But the passing of Memorial Day historically turns the summer focus to MLB, and there have been some interesting trends and newsworthy events that figure to shape the rest of the 2024 season, both nationally and locally.

Here are five to watch in the coming weeks and months:

Bats all, folks?

Through Sunday, the 30 major league teams were hitting a combined .240, which would represent the lowest collective batting average since the league hit a paltry .237 in 1968, otherwise known as the Year of the Pitcher. As someone born that year, and having finally succumbed to needing glasses for the first time in my 56 years, take my word that it was a long time ago.