The final week of the 2024 MLB regular season has arrived, and the race for the postseason and individual awards is heating up. One player causing a stir in the National League is Tommy Edman, who joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-team trade involving the Cardinals and White Sox. Edman’s late-season resurgence has been nothing short of impressive, given his challenging year of injury setbacks.
Edman's Remarkable Resilience
Edman’s path this season has been far from smooth. An offseason wrist surgery was followed by an ankle injury during his rehab assignment, keeping him out of game action until late in the season. However, since returning, he’s shown why the Dodgers were keen to acquire him. With six home runs and three stolen bases in his last 15 games leading into Tuesday, Edman has been an essential figure in the Dodgers’ lineup.
Over 31 games with the Dodgers, Edman has posted a .265/.310/.470 line, showing his versatility by starting in center field, shortstop, and second base. More recently, his performance has improved with a .284/.333/.523 line over his last 23 games. His contributions have led to a 1.0 WAR during this period, a testament to his impact on both offense and defense.
“Really surprised with the power,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “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: A Turnaround Season
Another story of resilience comes from Cedric Mullins, who faced significant struggles earlier this year. On June 8th, Mullins had a dismal .170/.221/.301 slash line and a negative 0.4 WAR over his first 57 games. However, his fortunes changed dramatically over the last 85 games, during which he slashed .228/.299/.404 while hitting 18 home runs, accumulating a positive 2.4 WAR.
Mullins attributes his turnaround 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.”
The Detroit Tigers Eye a Wild-Card Spot
Meanwhile, in the American League, the Detroit Tigers are on the verge of securing a wild-card spot, aiming for their first playoff berth since 2014. The Tigers have relied on a youthful roster, with six of Tuesday’s starting nine position players being 24 or younger.
One notable contributor has been Trey Sweeney, who took over the starting shortstop role following Javier Báez’s season-ending hip injury on August 22. Sweeney has started 29 of the 32 games since then and brought a solid .267/.345/.450 slash line from Triple-A. Additionally, he has recorded 15 home runs and 20 stolen bases in 107 games this year.
Sweeney's journey to Detroit involved a mid-season trade with the Dodgers, where he was part of the deal that sent Jack Flaherty to the West Coast. A former first-round pick by the Yankees in 2021, Sweeney has shown his potential and resilience amidst the Tigers' playoff push.
The Tigers’ farm system also called up top prospect Jackson Jobe recently, adding another layer of excitement and talent to the team as they strive for postseason success.
As the final innings of the regular season play out, players like Edman, Mullins, and Sweeney will be key in determining their teams' fates. Their stories of resilience and adaptation add rich narratives to a season already brimming with drama and anticipation.