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“Hot Streaks: Key Players Making Waves for MLB Playoff Contenders”

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⁣ Players surging on MLB playoff contenders

⁤ ​

Eugenio Suárez, 3B, D-backs
​ ⁤
⁣ This season has been marked‍ by two vastly different halves for ⁢Suárez:

Through June 30: ‍ A slash ⁤line⁣ of .196/.279/.312 with six home runs across 276‍ at-bats, resulting in a 67 wRC+,⁢ which ranks as the second-worst among qualified hitters.
​

Since July 1: ​His performance has significantly improved, boasting a slash line⁣ of .322/.373/.678 with an astounding 22 home runs in ⁣just 236 at-bats, leading ​the MLB, and ⁤achieving⁤ a 182 wRC+, the seventh-best among qualified hitters.

⁤ ​Suárez has played a pivotal role in establishing the D-backs as the⁤ top offensive team in baseball. ⁢Remarkably, in September, he‌ has maintained ⁤this momentum, hitting .452‌ (19-for-42) with a phenomenal 1.534 OPS⁤ and seven home runs in only⁣ 11 games. Since August 25, he has recorded three games with⁢ at least four hits and ⁣a ‍home run, a feat unmatched by any player in the Majors this ​season.

Framber Valdez, LHP,⁣ Astros
After a slow season start, the ⁤Astros are now on course for​ their seventh AL⁢ West title‌ in eight years, ⁢largely due to Valdez’s standout performance. Initially, his ⁢results were decent, with a 3.56 ERA over the first four months of the season, but he⁣ has⁣ been nothing short​ of‌ spectacular since August⁢ began.

That⁤ month commenced with Valdez narrowly‌ missing his second career no-hitter. Over the ‍past six weeks, his ⁤strikeout rate has ‍surged ⁣from 22.5% to 29.7%, while batting opponents have struggled against him,‌ managing‌ only a⁣ .391 OPS. This performance‍ ranks as⁣ the second-best among pitchers with at least 30 innings pitched since August 1. His ERA⁣ during this stretch, at 1.33, is unmatched.

**Musgrove,⁤ RHP, Padres**
Let’s disregard Musgrove’s start against the Giants on September‍ 8, where he navigated through ​three flawless innings before conceding three​ home runs and seven successive hits in a ‌tumultuous six-run fourth inning. This misstep ‌doesn’t reflect how​ well Musgrove has performed since his return from the injured ‍list on⁢ August 12. Prior to that, the right-hander had a challenging ⁤season plagued by‌ right elbow issues, ‌resulting in a 5.66 ERA, 10 home⁣ runs allowed in​ 49 1/3 innings, and two IL stints, the second of which lasted 11 weeks.

That extended⁤ recovery period ​proved beneficial for Musgrove, as he yielded only ⁤four earned runs and did not allow​ any home runs‍ in his​ first five starts back (covering 27 2/3 innings). Demonstrating ​increased velocity on several pitches, Musgrove’s​ strikeout-minus-walk‌ percentage improved from 13.6% to 20.2%, ‌while his opponents’ OPS plummeted from .895 to .439. This performance ⁤makes one wonder if that outing against⁣ San Francisco‍ was⁣ merely an ⁤anomaly.

**Matt Olson, 1B, ⁢Braves**
Injuries have impacted many ⁣of the Braves’ ⁣top hitters⁤ this year, including Ronald Acuña Jr., Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies, and Michael Harris II. In contrast, Olson has⁣ yet to miss a⁤ game since joining Atlanta at⁣ the beginning of the 2022 season. While his ⁤presence in the lineup has⁢ been consistent, ‍his production was inconsistent for a significant portion of this season. After ⁤leading ⁤the league ‌with 54 ‍home runs in ⁤2023, ‌Olson managed only 13‍ home runs ​in his first 102 games of 2024, causing⁤ his OPS to dip below .700⁤ and his slugging percentage to fall to .389, ranking 107th among qualified hitters.

Then a transformation occurred.‍ Olson has been making ​solid contact with the ball…

The ball has been consistently hit since July 27; his ⁤barrel rate of ⁢17.1% during this period places him sixth in MLB (minimum 150 plate appearances) and⁣ represents a significant enhancement from his earlier 9.7% barrel⁢ rate during the⁢ season’s initial four months. He has⁢ registered a .550 slugging⁣ percentage and‍ has ⁤nearly doubled his‍ home run ⁣total, ‌launching 12 balls out of the park. Over the past few weeks, Olson’s performance has been remarkable, posting ​a .315/.370/.603 slash line along with 13 extra-base ‌hits over his last 19 ⁤games.

López, RHP, Twins

Minnesota’s Opening Day starter entered his June 23 outing against the A’s with a​ troubling 5.63 ERA, ranking as the second-highest ⁢among qualified starters. However, he excelled that day, ⁢pitching eight scoreless innings ⁢while ⁢striking out 14 batters, showcasing his potential.

López demonstrated improvement in July ‍and became nearly unhittable through most of August. ⁣By⁤ the ⁤end of that month, he had achieved three consecutive scoreless starts.‌ His 23⁣ 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings⁢ marked the‍ longest‌ such streak by a Twin in ‌a single season since ‍2019. Now holding an ERA of 3.88, he has reduced⁣ it by nearly two full runs from less than three ⁢months prior and boasts a minuscule 0.79 ERA across his​ last six starts. This right-hander, who emerged ​as a postseason hero‌ for Minnesota last​ year, looks ready​ for October baseball.

Parker

Meadows, OF, Tigers

Meadows’ late-season performance has aligned ‍perfectly with ⁢Detroit’s ascent in the Wild‍ Card standings. As of​ Saturday, ⁢the team posted an impressive 21-9 ‍record since August 11, placing them just 2 1/2⁤ games behind ⁢a playoff⁤ spot. Meadows boasts ⁤an .810 OPS, including 13 extra-base hits, across⁢ 28 games since that date. At the ​start of the ‌season, ⁢he ⁣was ranked as ‍the Tigers’ No. 6 prospect and began the ​year as the team’s Opening Day center fielder, batting leadoff⁤ early in the season. Unfortunately, he struggled, going 7-for-73 with 32 strikeouts, leading ⁤to his demotion to⁢ the Minors on May 7. After approximately two months, ‍he returned to the majors but soon after experienced a right hamstring strain, sidelining​ him ⁤for⁣ nearly another month.

Read more:  Brewers vs Athletics Prediction & Pick - MLB (April 20) | ATG

Upon ‍his activation on August⁢ 3,⁤ the 24-year-old made an immediate⁤ impact, recording two ⁢hits in⁤ each of⁢ his first five games and earning his place back⁣ in the Tigers’‍ lineup. In his⁤ last eight⁣ games, Meadows has posted⁣ five multi-hit‍ performances and driven in ‌12 RBIs.

The outcome of every baseball game carries equal significance—it’s either a win ‌or a ​loss. However, for teams⁤ competing for playoff positions, each victory in ​September feels even ‍more ⁣rewarding, while each defeat​ stings a little more. ‌The ramifications of every​ result grow more substantial during⁣ this critical period.

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5:30 PM⁤ UTC

The result ⁣of every baseball game holds equal significance—it’s either a win⁢ or a loss.

However, for teams‌ competing for a playoff position, ⁣victories in September ‌carry an extra sweetness. Each win is felt more deeply, and the implications of each ‌outcome weigh heavier on everyone involved. Consequently, teams strive to perform at their ⁤peak.

The eight players highlighted below⁤ are currently showcasing outstanding performances. Despite facing challenging periods earlier⁢ in the season, they have turned things around ‌at just⁢ the right moment, significantly contributing to their team’s ⁣postseason aspirations.

All statistics ⁢are current as ​of Friday.

Austin Wells, C, Yankees
Wells took some time to adjust in his first⁢ full season in the majors, but he found his rhythm in July. This⁢ was ‍particularly ‌fortuitous⁤ as catcher Jose Trevino⁣ was placed on the ​injured list due to a ⁣strained quadriceps⁢ on July 13. At⁣ that time, Wells had a .219/.312/.369‍ slash line but responded with​ a three-run homer in a victory against the Orioles‌ and has since ‌maintained a .283 average‍ with an .861 OPS, ranking fifth among catchers with ‌at least 100 plate appearances. The 25-year-old has ⁤primarily batted ⁤fourth, often positioned between​ Aaron​ Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.

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Cedric Mullins, ​OF, Orioles
The Orioles’ ‌celebrated offense has struggled recently,⁢ posting a .203 ⁢batting average and averaging 3.8 runs per game while ​losing ​14 out of their last 25⁢ games. They nearly faced a⁤ no-hitter on Friday. Despite this, Mullins has stood out during this difficult stretch with a ⁢.390​ on-base percentage and an ⁢.858 OPS. He has blasted four home runs in 11 games​ this month, including​ a two-homer game ‌against ‍the Red Sox on Tuesday.

Prior to that game, Mullins mentioned that he had stopped trying to replicate⁢ the player he was in‌ 2021, when he earned a Silver Slugger award and ranked among the top 10 for AL MVP voting. Since the start of 2022, he has been ‌only

For this season, the veteran center fielder has​ performed slightly ‌better than the‍ league average ‌at the plate, boasting a wRC+ of ‍104. Although the majority ​of this year has presented challenges for him, he appears to‌ be recognizing pitches more effectively. ‌In his ‌last 107 plate ⁤appearances, Mullins has only struck out 12 times, translating to an 11.2%⁣ strikeout rate.

“I ⁤attribute my ⁣performance this year to the fact ‌that I ⁣am no longer‌ trying to emulate another‌ player,” he stated. “I’m simply focusing on being myself.”

Eugenio Suárez,⁣ 3B, D-backs
Suárez’s season⁤ has unfolded in two markedly different segments:

Through ⁣June 30: ⁢He recorded a slash line of .196/.279/.312,​ hitting six‌ home runs in 276‍ at-bats, resulting in a ‍wRC+ of 67, the second-lowest among qualified hitters.

Since July 1: His performance improved dramatically,⁢ achieving a slash line ‌of .322/.373/.678 with an MLB-leading 22 home runs in 236 at-bats,‌ culminating in‌ a wRC+ of 182, which ​ranks ⁤seventh among qualified⁣ hitters.

He has been a key contributor to the D-backs, who currently lead the league in offensive production. Remarkably,⁢ Suárez has excelled ⁣in September, hitting .452 (19-for-42) with⁣ a 1.534 OPS and seven home runs over 11 games. Since‍ August 25, he⁢ has completed three‌ games with‌ at least four hits and a ⁤homer, an ⁢achievement no other Major League player has matched ⁢more than⁣ three times this season.

Framber Valdez, LHP, ⁢Astros
Following a slow start to ⁢the ⁣season,​ the Astros are on ⁢track to secure their seventh AL ‍West title in eight years, largely thanks to ⁤Valdez. He has‌ played a significant role in restoring the elite status of Houston’s pitching rotation. Valdez’s early-season results were satisfactory⁤ (3.56 ERA), but he has​ showcased extraordinary ‍performance since the beginning of August.

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Joe Musgrove, RHP, ‌Padres
Let’s disregard Musgrove’s September⁢ 8⁢ start against the Giants, where he began with⁤ three perfect ‌innings but ended up ​yielding three home runs and seven consecutive hits,‌ leading to a six-run ​fourth⁣ inning. This performance ‌does‌ not reflect Musgrove’s overall effectiveness since his return from the injured ​list on August 12. Prior to that, elbow issues plagued the right-hander, resulting in a 5.66 ERA, 10 home runs allowed in⁣ 49 1/3 innings, and two ​stints on the injured list, the second ⁢lasting 11​ weeks.

The extended break benefited Musgrove⁤ significantly, as he allowed just four earned runs and no home runs in his first ‍five starts back (27 2/3 IP). With ​a slight uptick ⁤in velocity on several pitches, Musgrove’s strikeout-minus-walk rate improved from 13.6%⁣ to ‍20.2%, and his⁢ opponents’ OPS dropped dramatically from‌ .895 to .439. This performance suggests that his outing against San Francisco might ⁢have been an‍ anomaly.

Matt Olson, 1B, Braves
The injury plague‌ has ​affected many of the Braves’ top hitters this season, including Ronald Acuña ‍Jr., Austin ‌Riley, Ozzie Albies, and Michael Harris II. In contrast, since joining Atlanta⁣ before the 2022 season, Olson has not missed a game. While his reliability in the lineup is unquestionable, his performance ⁣was‍ inconsistent for much of this year. After leading⁤ the league with 54 home‍ runs in​ 2023,⁤ Olson managed only 13 ​home runs ‍in his first 102 games in 2024, resulting ‍in an OPS that fell below .700 and a⁢ slugging percentage of .389, ranking 107th among ⁣qualified hitters.

A turning point occurred, ‍however. Since July 27, ​Olson has consistently made solid contact, posting ⁣a 17.1% barrel rate during this span, which ranks sixth in ⁤MLB (min.​ 150⁣ PA) and marks a significant improvement over ⁣his ‌9.7% barrel ⁢rate⁣ from the first four months of ​the season. He’s achieved a .550 slugging percentage ⁣and nearly doubled​ his ‍home run​ count, hitting 12 home runs. Olson’s momentum has carried ⁣into ‌the recent weeks, ⁤as ⁤he boasts a slash line of‌ .315/.370/.603⁢ along with 13 extra-base ‍hits‌ in his last⁣ 19​ games.

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