As the 2024 MLB season unfolds, several storylines emerge, capturing the attention of baseball enthusiasts. With the All-Star Game and draft now in the rearview mirror, the focus shifts to the rapidly approaching trade deadline, now less than two weeks away. A number of teams have been making headlines, either with their exceptional performance or their struggle to keep up.
Cardinals on the Rise
The St. Louis Cardinals have displayed remarkable resilience since May 11. Posting a dominant 35-22 (.614) record over this period, they boast the best record in the National League. Despite this impressive performance, the Cardinals find themselves trailing the Milwaukee Brewers by 4.5 games, holding a 50-46 record compared to the Brewers' 55-42.
The Brewers have had the upper hand in head-to-head matchups, leading the season series against the Cardinals 6-1. While the Cardinals' postseason aspirations remain alive, their journey will undoubtedly be a challenging one.
Competitive Phillies and Astros
Not to be overlooked, the Philadelphia Phillies have also showcased a strong post-May surge, going 34-22 (.607). Their consistent performance positions them as formidable challengers in the National League.
The Houston Astros, known for their relentless competitiveness, have matched the Cardinals' momentum with a 36-21 (.632) performance since May 11. The Guardians, demonstrating their prowess, stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Cardinals with a 34-21 record, mirroring a .618 winning percentage.
Blue Jays’ Challenges
Meanwhile, the Toronto Blue Jays find themselves in a precarious position. With their record at 44-52, they are 9.5 games out of a wild-card spot. FanGraphs evaluates their postseason odds at a mere 1.8%, indicating a steep climb ahead for the Blue Jays if they are to turn their season around.
Elly De La Cruz: Stealing Bases and Spotlight
One of the standout individual performances this season comes from Elly De La Cruz, who leads MLB with 46 stolen bases entering the All-Star break. Having played 97 games, De La Cruz is on pace to steal 78 bases for the season. This remarkable statistic hearkens back to the days of base-stealing maestros like José Reyes, who also swiped 78 bases in 2007, Ronald Acuña Jr.'s 73 stolen bases last year, Rickey Henderson’s 93 in 1988, and Vince Coleman’s astounding 109 in 1987.
Dodgers’ Pitching Quandary
The Los Angeles Dodgers have had a tumultuous season marked by significant injuries to key starters, including Walker Buehler, Tyler Glasnow, Tony Gonsolin, and Clayton Kershaw. The team has employed an astonishing 31 pitchers this year in an effort to navigate these challenges. One of their strategic moves involved claiming Brent Honeywell off waivers from the Pirates, hoping to bolster their pitching options as they battle on.
Despite these obstacles, only five pitchers reached the 200-inning mark last season. Among them were Logan Webb, Zac Gallen, and Gerrit Cole. This season, Logan Gilbert leads the league with 132 1/3 innings, followed closely by Seth Lugo with 127 innings and Logan Webb with 124 1/3 innings.
Rookies Making Waves
In the realm of new talent, Nolan Schanuel has marked a significant milestone. He became the first player to make his MLB debut the same year he was drafted since Garrett Crochet did so in 2020. Eyes are also on Chris Cortez, who is anticipated to make his mark in the major leagues this year. Cortez's promising statistics—boasting a 2.78 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 64 2/3 innings at Texas A&M—underline his potential impact.
As the trade deadline looms, it remains to be seen how these developments will shape the second half of the MLB season. Teams and players alike will need to dig deep, leveraging every available resource and ounce of talent to seize their opportunity in what promises to be an exhilarating finish.