We've reached the final month of the 2024 MLB season and no team has established itself as truly elite, which is setting up a fascinating finish to several playoff races.
While some teams are relying on their top performers to continue their success in hopes of clinching a playoff spot, others are hoping to see underperforming stars regain their form quickly. With that in mind, here are 10 players who could make all the difference in MLB's playoff races as the regular season nears its end.
(All statistics and records are through Sunday’s games.)
Outfielder Corbin Carroll, Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona remains in the thick of both the National League West and wild-card races despite the absence of stars Ketel Marte and Christian Walker, largely due to Carroll's recent heroics. Any concerns about Carroll still feeling the effects of last season's shoulder injury should no longer exist, considering he's been one of the hottest hitters in the NL over the past two months.
Since July 1, Carroll has hit 17 of his 19 home runs and collected 41 of his 64 RBI this season while producing a slash line of .258/.333/.611. With Walker and Marte potentially returning this week, the Diamondbacks could still be a threat to win the NL West crown if Carroll can continue his torrid pace.
Right-hander Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees
Cole, the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, missed the first two-and-a-half months of the season with a right elbow injury. While he's gotten shelled in a few outings since his return, Cole continues to look sharper with each passing start. After having a 4.91 ERA in July, the 33-year-old rebounded nicely in August, posting a 1.93 ERA with 31 strikeouts in five starts.
Considering New York's starting rotation has the 13th-worst ERA since Aug. 1 (4.52), Cole will need to be a workhorse over his final handful of starts to help ensure the team hangs onto its division lead.
First baseman Pete Alonso, New York Mets
The impending free agent hasn't had the contract year he envisioned, as Alonso has posted a career-low .469 slugging percentage to go along with his 30 home runs and 76 RBI. Even so, the four-time All-Star has shown signs of heating up over the last month, with his eight homers since Aug. 1 ranking 11th in the majors during that span. If Alonso can put it all together at the plate, particularly when runners are in scoring position, the Mets could secure the final NL wild-card spot and enter the postseason with one of the deepest lineups in baseball.
Infielder Royce Lewis, Minnesota Twins
The oft-injured Lewis has been underwhelming by his standards since returning from a right adductor strain on July 26, batting .232 with six homers and 25 RBI over his last 33 games. However, Lewis' go-ahead three-run homer in Sunday's 4-3 win against Toronto might suggest he's turning the corner at the right time, which would greatly benefit Minnesota's chances in the American League Central race.
When healthy, Lewis is undoubtedly a top player in MLB, having hit .286 with 33 homers and 100 RBI in 127 career games. Assuming his recent power surge is here to stay, Lewis could be one of the most impactful hitters in the majors across the season's final month.
Outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres
All-Star rookie Jackson Merrill deserves consideration after a stellar showing in August, though Tatis' performance in September could make the biggest difference in the NL West race for the Padres. The star outfielder has been out since June 21 with a stress reaction in his right femur but is being activated from the injured list ahead of Monday's series opener against Detroit. Prior to the injury, Tatis was enjoying his best season since 2021, slashing .279/.354/.468 with 14 home runs, 36 RBI and eight stolen bases in 80 games.
First baseman Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves
Despite being decimated by injuries, the Braves enter Monday's action with a one-game lead over the Mets for the final NL wild-card spot. Olson, a two-time All-Star, failed to build on last season's top-five finish in MVP balloting and while he has largely been a disappointment, it's worth noting he's coming off his best month of 2024. In addition to posting an impressive .911 OPS, Olson collected 18 of his 57 extra-base hits this season in August.
Shortstop Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles
If the Orioles intend to overtake the Yankees for the AL East lead, they'll need more from the slumping Henderson. The reigning AL Rookie of the Year performed like an MVP candidate in the first half of the season, hitting 28 homers and driving in 63 runs, but he has struggled dramatically since the All-Star break. Over his last 41 games, Henderson is batting just .253 with five home runs and 17 RBI.
Right-hander Seth Lugo, Kansas City Royals
Even though star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. is having an MVP-caliber season, there's not much more the 24-year-old can do to help Kansas City remain in the AL Central hunt. While the bullpen is the biggest X-factor down the stretch, many of the Royals' problems can be masked if Lugo is more consistent than he has been over the last two months.
Despite ranking third in the majors in wins (14) and 10th in ERA (3.12), Lugo hasn't been particularly effective in his last 10 starts, posting a 4.86 ERA with 50 strikeouts. Nonetheless, Lugo's performance in last Friday's 3-2 loss to Houston, during which he allowed just one run and racked up nine strikeouts in seven innings, provides optimism that he's regaining his All-Star form.
Outfielder Steven Kwan, Cleveland Guardians
It wasn't long ago that Kwan was sporting a .396 batting average. Unfortunately, the All-Star outfielder is hitting just .204 with 33 hits, four home runs and 14 RBI since the midsummer break, resulting in his batting average dipping to .298 on the season. With only 3.5 games separating Cleveland from Kansas City and Minnesota in the AL Central standings, the Guardians desperately need Kwan to provide more stability from the leadoff spot.
Outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs
With a seven percent chance to make the postseason, according to FanGraphs, the Cubs are still a long shot in the NL wild-card race, though they're making things interesting, thanks in part to Crow-Armstrong's emergence. Over his last 27 games, the former first-round pick is slashing .330/.386/.560 with four home runs, 17 RBI and six stolen bases while posting a 158 wRC+, the 22nd-highest in the majors in that span.
