Apr 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos (8) hits a walk off RBI single during the ninth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citizens Bank Park. credits: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports It’s been said by many folks over many years that baseball isn’t a sprint but a marathon.
It’s time to see who has the finishing kick that will land their team in the playoffs or who fades and ends up booking tee times in October.
With less than six weeks remaining, we look at 10 players who could determine if their team advances to the postseason or spends the offseason playing the what-if game:
Nick Castellanos, Philadelphia Phillies
Aside from COVID-19-shortened 2020, when he batted only .225, Castellanos hasn’t hit for a worse average than this season’s .250 as of Tuesday. He’s on a pace to knock in 82 runs, which isn’t bad, but an on-base percentage of .306 isn’t great. If he can get on a roll down the stretch, this lineup gets a whole lot better.
Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers
Jul 5, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (16) reacts after hitting a third home run of the game during the seventh inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports Smith’s batting average is trending towards a career low at .247 and his strikeouts (87) are trending towards a career high. That’s two trends you don’t want to see from one of your mainstays. With Freddie Freeman’s health a concern for the season’s remainder, LA needs Smith to return to form to hold off San Diego and Arizona.
Anthony Volpe, New York Yankees
May 23, 2024; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe (11) follows through on a double against the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports The young shortstop is worth his weight in gold on defense but simply doesn’t get on base enough and whiffs far too much. Volpe could be a 30 or 40-steal guy if he’d ever get his OBP to .300, and New York’s offense, which has been hit or miss at times, would be better off for it.
Lane Thomas, Cleveland Guardians
Jul 28, 2024; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Washington Nationals center fielder Jacob Young (30) celebrates with teammates after scoring off a double by right fielder Lane Thomas (28) against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Le-USA TODAY Sports Picked up from Washington in what looked like a sneaky-good move at the trading deadline, Thomas forgot to bring his bats with him. Thomas was hitting .253 with 28 steals for the Nationals, but is at a brutal .113 for Cleveland. Jose Ramirez, Josh Naylor and Steven Kwan need more help than this.
Devin Williams, Milwaukee Brewers
Sep 30, 2023; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Devin Williams (38) delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs in the eighth inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports Don’t look now, but Milwaukee is only a game behind the Phillies and Dodgers for the National League’s best record. And Williams, its ace closer, who just returned after spending most of the year on the injured list, has been sharp so far, with four saves in seven outings. If he keeps closing games, the Crew might spend a lot of time at home in October.
Jackson Merrill, San Diego Padres
Apr 9, 2024; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill (3) looks on during the ninth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Petco Park. credits: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports Not that Pittsburgh pitcher Paul Skenes has done anything wrong lately, but Merrill probably should be the NL Rookie of the Year. His three-run double that sank Minnesota Monday night gave him 69 RBI, seemingly all of them in clutch situations. The hashtag #MerrillMadness has become a thing in the 619.
Corbin Carroll, Arizona Diamondbacks
Corbin Carroll and the Diamondbacks are exciting to watch. source: AP It’s been a mostly painful sophomore season for the reigning NL Rookie of the Year—until lately. Carroll’s gotten his average to .219 and his surge has coincided with Los Serpientes’ recent run that’s pulled them within four games of the Dodgers in the West. He might have them poised for another October run.
Seranthony Dominguez, Baltimore Orioles
Aug 19, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Seranthony Dominguez (56) delivers a pitch against the New York Mets during the ninth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports With Craig Kimbrel in the middle of his yearly meltdown, Baltimore needs this recent trade acquisition to step up. Aside from allowing a walkoff bomb Monday night to the Mets’ Francisco Alvarez, Dominguez has been nails. The hard-throwing righthander could be the Orioles’ key to October success.
Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
Oct 23, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the ninth inning of game seven in the ALCS against the Texas Rangers for the 2023 MLB playoffs at Minute Maid Park. credits: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports The team that no one likes has reappeared as the team they’ve been for nearly a decade after a shockingly slow start, and Altuve has been at the forefront of the recent roll. The guy who’s cracked 22 postseason homers is back at .300 and appears ready to inspire more October memes about trash cans and buzzers.
Paul DeJong, Kansas City Royals
Jul 28, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox shortstop Paul DeJong (29) hits an RBI-single against the Kansas City Royals during the sixth inning at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports After gaining 40 games in the standings when acquired from the hapless Chicago White Sox last month, DeJong has said thanks by hitting .316 in his first 13 games for KC. Giving Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez that kind of help might just boost the Royals into their first October since winning it all in 2015.
