Several division and wild-card races are coming down to the wire with five weeks left in the Major League Baseball season.
The trade deadline passed in late July, but teams can soon make upgrades as rosters are set to expand from 26 players to 28 on Sunday.
With that in mind, here are three potential September call-up candidates who could impact MLB’s playoff races.
(All statistics and records are through Sunday.)
Outfielder Jasson Dominguez | New York Yankees
The Yankees sputtered in June and July, but the Baltimore Orioles couldn’t capitalize on those struggles, setting up a nail-biting division race entering the season’s final stretch. New York sits 1.5 games ahead of the Orioles in the American League East, and while it has the second-highest OPS among teams in August (.802), there’s a glaring hole in the lineup.
Massive disappointment Alex Verdugo, a left fielder, has struggled at the plate. Since July 1, he has a slash line of .202/.274/.298 with two home runs and 11 RBI. He’s posted a dismal 62 wRC+, the ninth lowest among qualified hitters.
It’s almost certain that Dominguez, New York’s top prospect, will be recalled, and he should immediately assume left field duties in place of Verdugo. Dominguez, who began the season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery before landing on the injured list in June with an oblique strain, has performed well when healthy. In 32 games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the switch-hitting outfielder is slashing .305/.360/.453 with four homers, 17 RBI and 13 stolen bases.
“The Martian” proved last season he can be an impact bat at the major league level as he slashed .258/.303/.677 with four home runs and seven RBI in just 31 at-bats. If the 21-year-old can deliver a similar hot stretch, the Yankees may pull away from Baltimore before the final week of the season.
Right-hander Edgardo Henriquez | Los Angeles Dodgers
Although Henriquez isn’t on Los Angeles’ 40-man roster, the club could be inclined to make room for him before Sept. 1. Aside from the fact that the hard-throwing right-hander is eligible for the Rule 5 Draft, Henriquez, who missed all of 2023 after undergoing Tommy John surgery, has been dominant at four minor league levels this season.
Henriquez began the season with Low-A Rancho Cucamonga carrying little expectations, though his breakout season has led to him now being an important piece in the Triple-A Oklahoma City bullpen. The Venezuela native has an effective four-pitch mix with his electrifying fastball, which has topped out at 103 mph, being the best pitch in his arsenal. Overall, Henriquez has a 2.68 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 79 strikeouts in 47 minor league innings this season. He has held hitters to a .195 batting average.
Los Angeles’ bullpen is one of the best in the majors, ranking fourth in ERA (3.57) and second in WHIP (1.18), but the Dodgers should further bolster the unit. After all, there’s plenty of uncertainty surrounding Los Angeles’ injury-riddled starting rotation, so having the extra pitching help could ensure the team doesn’t blow its three-game lead in the National League West.
With RHP Joe Kelly struggling (4.85 ERA), it might be best for the Dodgers to designate him for assignment in favor of Henriquez.
First baseman Kyle Manzardo | Cleveland Guardians
The first-place Guardians have a few other intriguing call-up candidates, but none can match the power that the former second-round pick Manzardo has. Manzardo, MLB Pipeline’s No. 52 overall prospect, made his major league debut in May, but failed to impress, batting .207 with 17 hits and seven RBI in 87 plate appearances.
There’s risk involved in recalling Manzardo, particularly because he has had trouble with off-speed pitches and breaking balls. However, Manzardo still has a .928 OPS in 79 games for Triple-A Columbus, and the Guardians desperately need offensive reinforcements.
Cleveland hasn’t fared well against right-handed pitching this season, posting a .687 OPS, the 10th-lowest mark in the majors, and the lineup has struggled overall in recent weeks. Since Aug. 1, the Guardians have the seventh-worst offense in the majors in wRC+ (91).
The first-place Guardians wouldn’t need to rely on Manzardo heavily if he were to be called up. He would likely serve in a platoon DH role with David Fry, who has a .701 OPS against right-handers. Additionally, Manzardo could fill in at first base to keep Josh Naylor fresh. He has a .207 batting average and .680 OPS since the All-Star break.
