The final week of the 2024 MLB regular season is upon us, and the excitement is palpable as playoff berths and individual accolades are set to be decided. Among the key storylines is Tommy Edman's remarkable resurgence with the Los Angeles Dodgers, a team that acquired him from the St. Louis Cardinals in a significant three-team trade involving the Chicago White Sox and Erick Fedde.
Edman's Electrifying Play
Tommy Edman has been on an impressive tear, hitting six home runs and stealing three bases in his last 15 games. This late-season burst has helped solidify his standing within the Dodgers lineup, after joining the team just this year. Manager Dave Roberts has taken particular notice of Edman's contributions.
“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,” said Roberts.
Edman, who underwent offseason wrist surgery and dealt with an ankle injury during his rehab assignment, hadn't seen any game action until this recent surge. His performance has been pivotal, as evidenced by his .265/.310/.470 line in 31 games with the Dodgers, which has climbed to .284/.333/.523 over his last 23 games. Edman's positional versatility has also been invaluable, with starts in center field, shortstop, and second base contributing to a 1.0 WAR over 31 games.
Mullins' Mid-Season Turnaround
Meanwhile, Cedric Mullins has experienced a season of two halves. On June 8, Mullins was languishing with a .170/.221/.301 slash line, but he has significantly improved his overall performance to a more respectable .228/.299/.404 slash including 18 home runs. Mullins attributes this turnaround to a change in mindset, no longer chasing the elusive 30-30 season he enjoyed in 2021.
“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,” Mullins explained.
His efforts have resulted in 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.
Tigers Eyeing Playoff Berth
Over in Detroit, the Tigers are on the cusp of securing a wild-card spot, a potential first playoff berth since 2014. Remarkably, the youth-laden squad fielded six starting players aged 24 or younger in Tuesday's game, highlighting the organization’s reliance on its young talent. Following Javier Báez's season-ending hip injury on August 22, Trey Sweeney has stepped in as the starting shortstop, starting 29 of 32 games since Báez's departure.
Sweeney, who was acquired from the Dodgers in the Jack Flaherty trade, was a former first-round pick by the Yankees in 2021. This season, he has posted a solid .267/.345/.450 slash line in Triple-A, along with 15 home runs and 20 steals in 107 games. His timely contribution has been essential for the Tigers as they make their postseason push.
The Tigers have also called up top prospect Jackson Jobe, signaling the franchise's belief in its farm system to carry them into the future.
As we head into the final days of the regular season, excitement abounds across the league. Performances like Edman's late-season surge, Mullins' mid-season revival, and the Tigers' youth-driven playoff chase encapsulate the drama and unpredictability that make baseball so compelling.