As the final week of the 2024 MLB regular season approaches, the air is thick with anticipation. With postseason spots and awards races on the line, every game has taken on extraordinary significance. One player who has stood out in recent weeks is Tommy Edman of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Since joining the team in a three-way trade from the Cardinals, Edman has been nothing short of spectacular.
Edman’s recent performance has been a revelation. Over the last 15 games, he has notched six home runs and stolen three bases. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed his amazement at Edman's power. “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,” Roberts said.
Edman’s journey has not been without its challenges. He underwent offseason wrist surgery and later struggled with an ankle injury during his rehab assignment. Before his recent hot streak, he hadn't seen any game action. Despite these setbacks, Edman has emerged as a key player for the Dodgers, boasting a .265/.310/.470 line over 31 games with the team. Notably, in his last 23 games, he has posted an impressive .284/.333/.523 line. Furthermore, his versatility has been a boon for the Dodgers, as he has made starts in center field, shortstop, and second base, contributing to a 1.0 WAR.
Meanwhile, Cedric Mullins' season has been a tale of two halves. On June 8, he was struggling with a .170/.221/.301 slash line. However, Mullins has turned his season around dramatically, bringing his overall slash to .228/.299/.404 with 18 home runs. Over his last 85 games, Mullins sports a positive 2.4 WAR, a significant improvement from his minus-0.4 WAR over the first 57 games. Reflecting on his season, Mullins said, “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 have also made headlines as they are on the cusp of securing a wild-card spot, a notable achievement considering this would be their first playoff berth since 2014. The youthful Tigers have relied heavily on their young core, with six of Tuesday's starting nine position players being 24 or younger. Trey Sweeney, who took over as the starting shortstop following Javier Báez’s season-ending hip injury on August 22, has been a key contributor. Sweeney has started 29 of 32 games since Báez’s injury and was acquired in the Jack Flaherty trade with the Dodgers. A former first-round pick by the Yankees in 2021, Sweeney has posted a solid .267/.345/.450 slash line in Triple-A this year, recording 15 home runs and 20 steals in 107 games.
Looking to the future, the Tigers recently called up top prospect Jackson Jobe, signaling their commitment to building a competitive team through their farm system. As the final week of the season unfolds, the Tigers and their fans are filled with hope and excitement for what lies ahead.
In summary, the last stretch of the MLB regular season has been electrifying, filled with remarkable individual performances and heated team battles for postseason spots. Players like Tommy Edman and Cedric Mullins have provided memorable moments and essential contributions to their teams, while the Detroit Tigers’ youth movement has reinvigorated a franchise on the verge of a playoff return. As the excitement reaches its peak, fans can only wait with bated breath to see how these compelling stories will conclude.