With this in mind, we note that the Atlanta Braves are currently the favourite to win the 2024 World Series, but if this is going to happen, the team will need to supplement their amazing offense with a bit more starting pitching.

In fact, Valdez just kept improving until ostensibly showing some regression this year, when he endured his highest ERA since 2020. Still, his xFIP was lower than it was in 2021, he enjoyed his first 200-K season and showed improved command for the second straight year.

Once again, Red October is a thing. The Phillies wasted little time in dispatching Miami, and then took out arguably the best team in baseball (Atlanta) with minimal resistance.

In his final season, Cabrera saw less action, but hit a little better (675 OPS), and at the very least proved less bad than he’d been in 2022.

Armed with a clearer idea of Kiermaier’s potential career trajectory, we examined him closer, and would you look at that: suddenly he is performing at a career-best level, OPS wise, and is worth considering in AL-only leagues. Before taking an 0-fer on Monday, he had hit safely in seven straight games, and has hit extremely well in May (969 OPS) with speed (four steals).

Ozuna, meanwhile is a two-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger and a Gold Glove winner, but right now last season’s (sort of) bounce back is looking like a mirage. Given that just two years ago he tried to strangle his wife and then had a DUI arrest last summer, there’s plenty of baggage here that a World Series team does not need.

The rookie was roughed up in his second start of the season, and had a poor outing on Sunday, but otherwise has given up just three earned runs or fewer in all six of his other starts, including four with one earned run or fewer. In fact, since the start of July, Crawford’s ERA was an eye-opening 2.38 before Sunday.