The Final Countdown: MLB Regular Season Nears Its End
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 spotlight is on several players and teams navigating the last stretch, hoping to either cement their legacy or rewrite narratives that have unfolded throughout this rollercoaster season.
Tommy Edman's Renaissance
Tommy Edman's late-season surge has been nothing short of remarkable. The versatile Dodger has transformed into a pivotal asset, hitting six home runs and stealing three bases in his last 15 games leading into Tuesday. Edman's journey this season is the epitome of resilience and adaptability.
Initially, Edman was sidelined after joining from the Cardinals in the three-team Erick Fedde trade involving the White Sox. Following offseason wrist surgery and an ankle injury during his rehab assignment, Edman hadn't seen any game action until this late-season burst. Despite the setbacks, his performance has been notable, sporting a .265/.310/.470 line in 31 games with the Dodgers and a more impressive .284/.333/.523 over his last 23 games.
Edman's defensive versatility has been a boon for the Dodgers, contributing in center field (20 starts), shortstop (9 starts), and second base. His all-around contributions have amounted to a 1.0 WAR over 31 games. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts lauded Edman’s unexpected power surge, saying, “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.”
Cedric Mullins' Redemption Song
Cedric Mullins faced a tough start to the season, bottoming out with a .170/.221/.301 slash line on June 8. The subsequent adjustments saw him benched for nearly half of the next eight games. However, Mullins found his rhythm, ending the season with an overall .228/.299/.404 slash, including 18 home runs.
Mullins attributes his turnaround to a mental shift, abandoning the pressure to repeat his standout 2021 season. "I think the biggest part was for me to stop chasing that season (30-30 in 2021)," Mullins shared earlier this month. "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 newfound approach has led Mullins to a positive 2.4 WAR in his last 85 games, a stark contrast to his initial minus-0.4 WAR over the first 57 games.
Tigers' Youth Movement
Elsewhere in the league, the Detroit Tigers are on the verge of securing a wild-card spot, eyeing their first playoff berth since 2014. A youth-led lineup has driven this resurgence, with six of Tuesday's starting nine position players being 24 or younger. An essential figure in this youthful core is Trey Sweeney, who stepped up as the starting shortstop after Javier Báez's season-ending hip injury on August 22. Since then, Sweeney has started 29 of 32 games.
Sweeney, acquired in the Jack Flaherty trade with the Dodgers, has been a revelation for Detroit. A former first-round pick by the Yankees in 2021, Sweeney hasn't been among the top-100 prospects but has delivered solid Triple-A performances this year with a .267/.345/.450 slash line, accompanied by 15 home runs and 20 steals in 107 games. His steady hand and contributions have been vital in stabilizing the Tigers' infield.
In addition to Sweeney, Detroit’s farm system is showing promise with the recent call-up of top prospect Jackson Jobe, injecting further excitement and hope into the fanbase.
As the curtain falls on the regular season, these narratives highlight the ebbs and flows of a dynamic MLB landscape. Whether it's seasoned veterans like Edman and Mullins finding form or young guns like Sweeney making their mark, the final week promises to be an enthralling prelude to the postseason drama. The coming days will reveal who can weather the pressure and emerge as heroes in this thrilling conclusion to the 2024 campaign.