As the MLB season barrels past the All-Star break and approaches the trade deadline, the race for postseason contention intensifies. With the 2024 MLB All-Star Game and draft recently concluded, teams are now laser-focused on the pivotal games ahead. Let's delve into the latest developments shaping the landscape.
Cardinals Making Waves in the National League
Since May 11, the Cardinals have posted the best record in the National League with an impressive 35-22 performance, translating to a .614 winning percentage. However, this formidable run still finds them trailing the Milwaukee Brewers by 4.5 games in the NL Central standings. The Brewers, holding a 55-42 record, currently lead the division with a 6-1 season series advantage over the Cardinals.
Meanwhile, the Guardians and Phillies have also shown similar resilience since May 11. The Guardians match the Cardinals' winning percentage with a 34-21 record, while the Phillies sit closely at 34-22 (.607).
Blue Jays' Wild-Card Hopes Dim
The Toronto Blue Jays face a steep climb to postseason play. With a 44-52 record, they are 9.5 games out of a wild-card spot. FanGraphs puts their postseason odds at a slim 1.8%, making their path to October increasingly difficult as the season progresses.
Historic Pace for Elly De La Cruz
Emerging as a standout player, Elly De La Cruz leads the majors with 46 stolen bases as the All-Star break concludes. The pace he has set is reminiscent of baseball greats, with De La Cruz on track to steal 78 bases by season's end. This performance would eclipse Ronald Acuña Jr.'s 73 stolen bases last year. The last player to achieve such a feat was José Reyes, who also stole 78 bases in 2007. Looking further back, Rickey Henderson swiped 93 bases in 1988, and Vince Coleman recorded a staggering 109 steals in 1987. Such historic comparisons add to the excitement surrounding De La Cruz's season.
Dodgers Navigate Pitching Challenges
The Los Angeles Dodgers have faced significant adversity with injuries to key starters such as Walker Buehler, Tyler Glasnow, Tony Gonsolin, and Clayton Kershaw. In response, the Dodgers have had to be resourceful, utilizing 31 different pitchers this season. Their recent acquisition of Brent Honeywell off waivers from the Pirates indicates a proactive approach to bolster their pitching depth.
The endurance of starting pitchers is becoming a rare commodity. Last season, only five pitchers reached the 200-inning mark, including stalwarts Logan Webb, Zac Gallen, and Gerrit Cole. This year, Logan Gilbert has accumulated 132 1/3 innings, leading the league. Close behind, Seth Lugo has logged 127 innings, and Logan Webb has pitched 124 1/3 innings, showcasing their durability and consistency.
Rookies to Watch
On the brighter side for talent development, Nolan Schanuel made headlines by becoming the first player since 2020 to debut in the MLB the same year he was drafted. Similarly, anticipation surrounds Chris Cortez as he eyes his major league debut. Cortez's stellar performance at Texas A&M, highlighted by a 2.78 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 64 2/3 innings, has set high expectations.
As the trade deadline looms less than two weeks away, teams are making strategic decisions to strengthen their rosters for the final push towards the playoffs. This period of the MLB season is always a mix of calculated risks and potential rewards, promising excitement and unpredictability on the road to postseason glory.