As the final week of the 2024 MLB regular season arrives, the stage is set for high-stakes action with postseason and awards races set to be decided by Sunday. The stakes have rarely been higher, and several key players and teams are making headlines as they push toward the finish line.
Tommy Edman: A Late-Season Surge
Tommy Edman has captured plenty of attention in recent weeks. Having hit six home runs and stolen three bases in his last 15 games leading into Tuesday, Edman has been a significant contributor to the Dodgers' late-season success. Edman's impressive performance is particularly notable given his tumultuous journey earlier this year, which included offseason wrist surgery and an ankle injury during his rehab assignment.
Edman hadn't seen any game action until this late-season burst, but he’s made the most of his time on the field. Since joining the Dodgers from the Cardinals in the three-team Erick Fedde trade involving the White Sox, Edman has posted a .265/.310/.470 line in 31 games. Over his last 23 games, those numbers have improved to .284/.333/.523, a testament to his growing comfort and confidence at the plate.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed his admiration for Edman's performance: “Really surprised with the power. I know that he has an apt to put the barrel on the ball. Certainly versatile defensively. But in the batter's box, he just really takes good at-bats. He's hit six or seven homers for us already in a short period of time and they all seem like they were big. He's gotten a lot of big hits for us.”
In addition to his offensive contributions, Edman's defensive versatility has been a boon for the Dodgers. He has started in center field (20 starts), shortstop (9 starts), and second base, showcasing his ability to adapt to multiple positions and making a 1.0 WAR contribution over 31 games.
Cedric Mullins Finds His Groove
Cedric Mullins' season has been a tale of two halves. On June 8, Mullins was struggling with a .170/.221/.301 slash line. Since then, however, he has turned things around dramatically. Mullins' overall season line has improved to .228/.299/.404, including 18 home runs.
Mullins attributes his resurgence to a change in mindset: “I think the biggest part was for me to stop chasing that season (30-30 in 2021). That season was awesome, but at the same time, I think the reason I'm putting up numbers that are similar to it is because I'm no longer chasing that guy. I'm just being who I am.”
This shift in approach has paid dividends, with Mullins recording a positive 2.4 WAR in his last 85 games, a stark contrast to the minus-0.4 WAR over the first 57 games of the season. His turnaround has been a key factor in stabilizing the team’s performance down the stretch.
The Tigers' Youth Movement
On the team front, the Detroit Tigers are on the verge of securing a wild-card spot, eyeing their first playoff berth since 2014. This potential achievement is even more impressive considering the youth of their roster. Six of Tuesday's starting nine position players for the Tigers were 24 or younger, a clear signal of the franchise’s promising future.
Following Javier Báez's season-ending hip injury on August 22, Trey Sweeney stepped up to become the starting shortstop. Acquired in the Jack Flaherty trade with the Dodgers, Sweeney has made the most of his opportunity, starting 29 of 32 games since Báez's injury. A former first-round pick by the Yankees in 2021, Sweeney has shown his potential with a .267/.345/.450 slash line in Triple-A this year, along with 15 home runs and 20 steals in 107 games.
In addition to Sweeney, the Tigers' farm system recently called up top prospect Jackson Jobe, further bolstering their hopes for current and future success.
With postseason aspirations and individual accolades on the line, the final week of the MLB regular season promises to be a thrilling conclusion to an already dramatic year. As teams and players make their final pushes, fans are set for a spectacle that embodies the heart and soul of baseball.