The final week of the 2024 MLB regular season is here, and postseason races are heating up.
All the playoff spots and awards will be decided by Sunday. The long season has turned into a sprint to the finish line. Here are three MLB trends you should know as we near the end.
Tommy Edman Shines for Dodgers
The Dodgers have found a new star in Tommy Edman, who joined them from the Cardinals in a trade that also involved Erick Fedde and the White Sox. Though initially injured, Edman has made a big impact recently, hitting six homers and stealing three bases in his last 15 games.
Edman’s stats with the Dodgers include a .265/.310/.470 line over 31 games. He took some time to get back into form after his injuries but has become one of their key players. His versatility on defense is notable too:
– 20 starts in CF
– 9 starts at SS
– 1 game at 2B
Fans might think this trade was genius for the Dodgers.
“Really surprised with the power,” said Dave Roberts about Edman’s performance. “He’s hit six or seven homers for us already in a short period of time and they all seem like they were big.”
Cedric Mullins’ Comeback for Orioles
Cedric Mullins had a rough start this season but has turned things around dramatically. Earlier this year, he was so bad that it seemed like he might be playing through an injury.
By June 8, Mullins’ stats were dismal: .170/.221/.301. He even lost some playing time as coaches looked for answers. But since then, he’s been performing much better:
| Period | PA | AVG/OBP/SLG | HR | SB-CS |
|—————-|——|——————|—-|——-|
| First 57 games | 191 | .171/.221/.301 | 6 | 12-2 |
| Last 85 games | 288 | .268/.351/.476 |12 |18-4 |
Mullins now has an overall slash line of .228/.299/.404 and could achieve another career milestone with his second career 20-20 season.
“I think the biggest part was for me to stop chasing that season (30-30 in 2021),” Mullins said about his turnaround earlier this month via Baltimore Sun.
Sweeney Boosts Tigers’ Playoff Hopes
The Tigers are making waves as they aim for their first playoff spot since 2014. A key player helping them is Trey Sweeney, who came over from the Yankees in exchange for Jack Flaherty.
Sweeney’s numbers may not jump off the page—he slashed .267/.345/.450 with Triple-A—but he’s been an essential upgrade at shortstop compared to Javier Báez, who struggled before getting injured:
| Player | PA | AVG/OBP/SLG | HR |
|—————|——|——————|——|
| Sweeney |100 | .247/.290/.430 |4 |
| All other SSs |-475-|-.185/-232/-304—|-10—|
Earlier this week Detroit promoted top prospect Jackson Jobe, adding more excitement to their playoff push.
What do you think about these late-season changes?
