The 2024 All-Star Game is behind us and the second half of the season looms.
While much of the attention in the coming weeks will be about players on the move at the Trade Deadline, there are plenty of key players who will stay put and will have an outsized impact on their team’s chances of making the playoffs. For those teams that are out of playoff contention, some players could have large impacts on future squads — or even be possible trade chips.
With the help of each club’s MLB.com beat writer, here is every team’s key player in the second half of the season.
Blue Jays: RHP Yariel Rodríguez
Sure, the Blue Jays need to see a significant turnaround from several players — Bo Bichette among them — but Rodríguez’s finish carries so much weight. He’s looked fantastic of late, and if the Cuban right-hander can prove that he is a legitimate, long-term rotation option, that simplifies the Blue Jays’ offseason. It could also save them some serious cash on the open market, which could be used to address this lackluster offense. — Keegan Matheson
Orioles: RHP Grayson Rodriguez
Corbin Burnes is a bona fide ace, and the O’s know they’re going to get a quality start from the right-hander nearly every time he takes the mound. They’re also likely to bolster their rotation ahead of the Trade Deadline. But if Baltimore is going to make a deep run through October, it will likely need strong showings from Rodriguez. The 24-year-old right-hander allowed six-plus runs in three first-half starts, but if you remove those, he had a 2.43 ERA in his other 14 outings. — Jake Rill
Rays: OF Josh Lowe
After struggling during his first real opportunity with the Rays in 2022, Lowe appeared to break out as he hit .292/.335/.500 with 20 homers, 33 doubles, 32 steals and 83 RBIs last year. The Rays entered Spring Training with high hopes for Lowe, and he had even higher expectations for himself. But injuries sidelined him until May 6, and he missed more time in late May/early June. He hasn’t been himself since then, either, batting just .196/.269/.340 with a 34.3% strikeout rate in his last 30 games. Lowe is a key part of Tampa Bay’s lineup, now and moving forward, so it’s critical for the Rays that he finally hit his stride after the break. — Adam Berry
Red Sox: 1B Triston Casas
Already one of the biggest surprises in baseball with their performance before the All-Star break, the Red Sox figure to be even more dangerous once they get a healthy Triston Casas back from his prolonged absence due to torn cartilage in his left rib cage. Casas was supposed to be a cornerstone in Boston’s lineup this season but he hasn’t played for the club since April 20. August seems like a realistic timetable for Casas to return. He would make an already strong lineup better. — Ian Browne
