The fourth swing of Mookie Betts' first game back from the injured list Monday resulted in a home run, a two-run shot that set the tone in the Los Angeles Dodgers' victory over the National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers. The Dodgers had spent weeks keeping their heads above water amid a flood of injuries, all while trying to hold off the hard-charging San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL West. In one moment, on the heels of a two-month absence caused by a fractured left hand, Betts provided the type of jolt they had been longing for.
That's going to be a major theme in Major League Baseball these next six weeks.
MLB's postseason landscape could ultimately be shaped by returning stars like Betts. No team is on pace for 100 wins. Tight races are everywhere, for wild-card berths and for the top spot in at least three divisions. And whatever star power was lacking on this year's transaction wire -- only two 2024 All-Stars and two prospects on Kiley McDaniel's latest top 100 were moved ahead of the trade deadline -- could be made up by the injured list. There were 584 IL stints through July, according to ESPN Stats & Information. That's the fifth most in the past 40 years, part of a recent trend that has seen each of the top five occur since 2018.
Many of the injured are impact players, many are on their way back and many reside on playoff hopefuls seeking every edge they can get.
Here are the most notable names to watch down the stretch.
Ozzie Albies, Atlanta Braves
Expected return date: Shortly after Albies fractured his left wrist on July 21 -- when his glove collided with an approaching baserunner on an errant throw to second base -- the Braves estimated he would miss somewhere in the neighborhood of eight weeks. That aligns with a Sept. 15 return. In the meantime, Albies has been keeping his arm loose so that he largely has to worry only about hitting once his wrist is fully healed. He told the Braves' broadcast last week that he hopes to begin a rehab assignment in early September, which would keep him on schedule.
What he means to the team: The Braves, seen by many as the sport's most complete team heading into the season, have absorbed significant injuries this year. Ronald Acuña Jr., the reigning NL MVP, is out for the year. So is Spencer Strider, Atlanta's ace. Sean Murphy missed two months early in the season with a strained oblique, and Michael Harris II, who hit a grand slam in his return Wednesday, missed two months shortly thereafter with a strained hamstring. Albies' departure has been just as significant. He brings major production to a premium position, but he is also very much a part of the heart and soul of this team. The Braves are 10-13 since he went down.
Carlos Correa, Minnesota Twins
Expected return date: Lingering pain in his right heel finally forced Correa to go on the IL on July 20, shortly after receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection in hopes of alleviating another bout with plantar fasciitis. Correa, 29, progressed to sprinting last week but said his heel still wasn't responding adequately. His timetable remains unknown, depending on how his foot feels on any given day. The hope, it seems, is that he will return at some point before the end of the month. But Correa played through a similar condition on the other foot last year and doesn't want to return before he's ready.
What he means to the team: Correa, Royce Lewis and Byron Buxton have combined to slash .288/.355/.548 this season. That's good. Not good: All three have been in the same starting lineup in just 17 of the Twins' 121 games. Correa was in the midst of a resurgent offensive season before going down, carrying an OPS of .896 that qualifies as the third highest of his career. His bat is critical, but so is his defense at shortstop and his ability to navigate October. Correa was far from healthy last year, but he still managed to go 9-for-22 through the first two rounds of the postseason. He's the type of presence the Twins desperately need down the stretch.
J.P. Crawford, Seattle Mariners
Expected return date: Crawford was hit on the back of his right hand by a changeup on July 22, suffering a fractured pinkie that would require a four-to-six-week stint on the IL. He began throwing Sunday and will undergo a follow-up MRI on Monday, at which point the Mariners hope he will be cleared for full baseball activities. If that is the case, early September would seem reasonable. Crawford had his best offensive season by a wide margin last year, but the left-hitting shortstop missed about a month with an oblique injury earlier this season and has played in just 63% of the Mariners' games in 2024. His OPS has dropped 173 points year over year.
What he means to the team: By the end of July, the Mariners had produced the majors' highest strikeout rate (28%), third-lowest OPS (.672) and eighth-fewest runs per game (4.08). The trade deadline addition of Randy Arozarena, the emergence of Victor Robles and the return of Julio Rodriguez have certainly helped. But the Mariners need more offense to support their dominant starting rotation and take the division back from the surging Houston Astros, who have won eight consecutive games. Only two Mariners regulars -- Robles and Cal Raleigh -- have produced an OPS+ at least 10 points above league average this season. A healthy Rodríguez and Crawford hitting to their capabilities would do wonders.
Starling Marte, New York Mets
Expected return date: It's a matter of days. The Mets want Marte, out since June 22 with a bone bruise in his right knee, to play in back-to-back games in Triple-A before activating him. Marte has played in four games already, going 3-for-11 with a home run and turning in a nifty catch Tuesday. He should be back in the Mets' outfield by next week's home series against the Baltimore Orioles.
What he means to the team: The Mets' Grimace-inspired run of excellence hit a bit of a snag this month, as New York suffered seven losses in its first 11 August games. The Mets still find themselves only two games back of a wild-card spot. Beginning next week, though, they'll play nine games against the loaded Orioles and two of baseball's hottest teams, the Padres and D-backs. Marte, who was slashing .278/.328/.416 before his injury, could provide a boost at a time when the Mets desperately need one.
Grayson Rodriguez, Baltimore Orioles
Expected return date: Rodriguez was scratched from his Aug. 6 start after experiencing discomfort in his upper back and shoulder. Four days later, Orioles general manager Mike Elias said Rodriguez would be shut down from throwing for at least 10 days but expressed confidence that he would return before season's end, calling the strain in his shoulder "relatively mild." There are still a lot of unknowns, though. Rodriguez will undergo another MRI at the end of August. More will be revealed then.
What he means to the team: Orioles starters Kyle Bradish, John Means and Tyler Wells all have been lost for the season. The front office responded by acquiring Trevor Rogers from the Miami Marlins and Zach Eflin from the Tampa Bay Rays before the trade deadline, but a healthy Rodriguez following Corbin Burnes in October could be a game-changer. Rodriguez, who is 24 and was a 2018 first-round pick, was 13-4 with a 3.86 ERA and 130 strikeouts through 116⅔ innings in his second major league season. His status provides the Orioles with yet another incentive to surpass the division-rival New York Yankees, secure one of the two best records in the American League and earn a first-round bye. The more time they can give Rodriguez to rejoin their staff, the better. You could say something similar about infielder Jordan Westburg, who fractured his right hand on the first day of August and will cut it close on whether he'll return before the end of the regular season.
Clarke Schmidt, New York Yankees
Expected return date: Yankees general manager Brian Cashman recently told MLB Network Radio that Schmidt will begin a rehab assignment before the end of next week, putting him on track to return to the Yankees' rotation around the second week of September, if not sooner. Schmidt, 28, has been out since late May with a lat strain. But he restarted his throwing program before the end of June and has taken part in three live BP sessions; his latest one, on Wednesday, lasted 32 pitches. He's expected to throw one more before getting into minor league games.
What he means to the team: The Yankees' rotation has combined for a 5.20 ERA since the middle of June. The only team with a higher mark? The Colorado Rockies. In the immortal words of former Yankees manager Joe Girardi, "It's not what you want." Luis Gil is in uncharted territory with his innings total. Marcus Stroman went through a rough stretch, getting charged with 18 earned runs in 20⅔ innings before bouncing back against the Texas Rangers on Sunday. Nestor Cortes has a 7.12 ERA in his past six starts despite shutting out the lowly Chicago White Sox his last time out. Schmidt had a 2.52 ERA in 11 starts before going down. And while Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s injured elbow has triggered angst in the Bronx, Schmidt's return should be a major boost down the stretch.
Trevor Story, Boston Red Sox
Expected return date: What was once seen as a long shot is now, according to Red Sox manager Alex Cora, probable. "I'm truly believing, right now, that he's going to be part of this," Cora said of Story last Friday. That day, Story, who dislocated his left shoulder during a diving attempt April 5, revealed that he had progressed to on-field batting practice. He spent the better part of three months thinking the 2024 season was a wash, but he began to turn a corner while taking swings off a tee in late July and now, barring a setback, seems primed to return at some point in September. Because the injury occurred on his non-throwing shoulder, Story's comeback is almost entirely contingent on swing progression. He's mostly ready to go on defense.
What he means to the team: The Red Sox lead the majors with 88 errors. They have dominated opposing right-handed pitchers but could use a boost against lefties. Story, a right-handed hitter who's a historically good defender at shortstop, should help significantly in both aspects. It's fair to wonder what type of production the Red Sox will get from him, both because of how long he's been out and because his OPS+ has been six points below the league average since 2021. But the Red Sox, 10-14 since the All-Star break, will take all the reinforcements they can get at this point. Another big one, first baseman Triston Casas, is due back early next week.
Ranger Suarez, Philadelphia Phillies
Expected return date: If all goes well, perhaps next weekend in Kansas City. Suarez, out since July 22 with soreness in his lower back, threw a 60-pitch simulated game Wednesday and will take part in another outing Sunday -- in the minors or in a controlled setting with the team. If that goes well, Phillies manager Rob Thompson told reporters, Suarez's next outing could be in the major leagues.
What he means to the team: Here's a shocking stat: Before snapping a four-game losing streak with a win over the last-place Marlins on Wednesday, the Phillies held a 7-16 record since the All-Star break. The only team with a worse winning percentage in that stretch? The White Sox, who could go down as the worst team in modern history. It has been a stunning turn of events for a team that not too long ago was widely considered the class of the sport. The reality is that Philadelphia's rotation has pitched to a 4.94 ERA since the All-Star break. Taijuan Walker returned Tuesday, though, and Suarez will follow shortly thereafter.
Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres
Expected return date: Tatis' situation is a little less clear than some of the others on this list. The last significant update came around the All-Star break, when an MRI revealed that the stress reaction in his femur had healed enough for him to take part in light baseball activities. He spent last week working out at the team's complex in Peoria, Arizona, while the Padres were on the road, then rejoined San Diego for its three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier this week. But Tatis, out since June 21, hasn't begun to ramp up yet, and there's still no definitive timetable for his return.
What he means to the team: The Padres have been one of baseball's best teams since the All-Star break, winning 19 of 23 games. Their lineup, which seems to fit together quite nicely, has produced an OPS of .800 in that stretch, fourth best in the majors. Now imagine Tatis near the top of it. In his absence, the Padres have deployed a combination of David Peralta and Bryce Johnson in right field and watched them slash a modest .255/.303/.428 in that time. Needless to say, a healthy Tatis takes the Padres to another level. He adds significant power to the sport's best contact team, brings a platinum glove to what has been a below-average defensive unit, and adds dynamic speed to an offense that could use more stolen base potential. He takes a Padres club that already looks primed for October and puts it solidly among the favorites to win it all.
Justin Verlander, Houston Astros
Expected return date: Verlander made his second and presumably final rehab start for the Astros' Double-A affiliate Thursday, giving up a run and throwing 57 pitches in four innings. Verlander's age-41 season began with a three-week stint on the injured list because of a shoulder injury. He returned to make 10 starts -- with a 3.95 ERA, 51 strikeouts and 17 walks in 57 innings -- before neck stiffness sent him back to the IL. The three-time Cy Young Award winner has been out since June 9. He needed 140 innings -- in addition to a clean bill of health -- to trigger a $35 million option for 2025, but he certainly won't reach that threshold now.
What he means to the team: You'd be hard-pressed to find a team that has navigated more injuries to its rotation than this year's Astros. Cristian Javier, Jose Urquidy and Lance McCullers Jr. have been lost for the year. Luis Garcia still hasn't made it back from the Tommy John surgery he underwent 15 months ago. And Verlander has missed a little more than half his starts. He'll soon return, joining a dominant Framber Valdez, a revelatory Ronel Blanco, a recently acquired Yusei Kikuchi, and an improving Hunter Brown and Spencer Arrighetti, one of whom will probably be bounced from the rotation. The Astros are still waiting on right fielder Kyle Tucker, who was putting up MVP-caliber numbers before a shin contusion popped up in early June. But perhaps their rotation has finally stabilized for the stretch run.
Christian Walker, Arizona Diamondbacks
Expected return date: Walker experienced discomfort in his left oblique while making a slick, over-the-shoulder catch against the Washington Nationals on July 29. Luckily for the D-backs, an MRI revealed only a low-grade strain. Walker told reporters he expects to miss about three weeks, which, if that holds, would have him back in the lineup by some point next week. In the meantime, Josh Bell, acquired from the Marlins to temporarily replace Walker, has provided a .967 OPS in 13 games.
What he means to the team: The D-backs are not only without Walker -- they're also without catcher Gabriel Moreno, who's nursing an adductor strain with no clear timetable, and second baseman Ketel Marte, who has a low-grade ankle sprain but isn't expected to go on the IL. Yet they haven't skipped a beat. They boast an OPS since the All-Star break of .888, tops in the majors, and have won 18 of their past 21 games. Still, Walker is the best defensive first baseman in the game and was on pace for his third straight 30-homer season before the injury. He should've been an All-Star this year. He'll have his say down the stretch.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers
Expected return date: If everything goes to plan, perhaps early to mid-September. Yamamoto, out since the middle of June with a strained rotator cuff, took part in his third bullpen session Tuesday, throwing roughly 40 pitches. He'll rejoin the Dodgers in St. Louis and take part in a two-inning simulated game Friday. If that goes well, he can progress to a rehab assignment. Then it'll be mostly about building enough length to start in a major league game. At one point, not long ago, Yamamoto's return seemed questionable at best. Now it's starting to feel like a reality. But there are still a lot of steps required, and a lot of uncertainty.
What he means to the team: Dodgers officials still marvel at what Yamamoto was able to do at Yankee Stadium on June 7, when he shut out one of the sport's most dangerous offenses through seven innings and threw harder than he ever had in the major leagues. Whether the added velocity was a precursor to his subsequent injury is hard to determine. But the Dodgers have been dreaming about what Yamamoto joining Tyler Glasnow and Jack Flaherty atop their October rotation could mean. Betts came back earlier this week, and Max Muncy and Tommy Edman will follow next week -- but a healthy Yamamoto could be the biggest difference-maker, given the rotation troubles that plagued the Dodgers last October.