These players will be key for their teams in the second half

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.

Jump to: AL East | AL Central | AL West | NL East | NL Central | NL West

American League East

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

Yankees: OF Aaron Judge
Stop us if you’ve heard this before – Judge is chasing home run history while attempting to carry the Yankees to the postseason. Yes, as Yogi Berra might have said, this feels like déjà vu all over again. While Judge aims for his own single-season American League home run record (he enters the second half on pace for 57), the captain’s team is trying to ward off the type of skid that turned the latter half of 2022 into a one-man show. The difference this time is that Judge has a Robin to his Batman … and a quite formidable one, in Juan Soto. -- Bryan Hoch

American League Central

Guardians: 3B José Ramírez
The honest answer is that there are six or seven players who could be listed here. The Guardians have been able to have so much success this year because they have been able to lean on different players at different times. They need Gavin Williams and Tanner Bibee to excel in the second half to help the rotation. They need Steven Kwan and Josh Naylor to keep contributing to the offense. They need the bullpen to be lights out. But without Ramírez, everything would become 10 times harder. So, the six-time All-Star’s power, RBI production and consistency at the plate will be critical for Cleveland yet again in the second half. -- Mandy Bell

Royals: LHP Kris Bubic
A lot will rest on the shoulders of the stars: Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez in the lineup, as well as starters Cole Ragans and Seth Lugo in the rotation. There’s a case to be made here for others in the Royals’ lineup, too – Maikel Garcia, Vinnie Pasquantino and MJ Melendez are all key to the young, homegrown core and this lineup clicking. But Bubic could be crucial for the bullpen. He’s coming off of Tommy John surgery last year, and his ticket back to the Majors was in the bullpen. He’s pitched four innings so far without allowing a run, a small sample size to be sure, but Bubic is a reliable arm who can throw multiple innings, can run it up to 95 mph at the top of the zone and offers a tinkered arsenal that gets swing and miss. With Major League experience, he also has the right temperament to handle high-leverage innings and the volatility that comes with being a big-league reliever. The Royals have been seeking depth in their 'pen. Internal improvement can sometimes be just as helpful as a new face. -- Anne Rogers

Tigers: OF Parker Meadows
While Riley Greene is the center of the Tigers offense, and rookie Colt Keith and Justyn-Henry Malloy are figuring things out in a hurry after the slow starts, Detroit’s lineup is much more dangerous when Meadows is healthy and productive. After a rough start to the season landed him at Triple-A Toledo, he returned two weeks ago and had a solid all-around series in Cincinnati before a hamstring strain landed him on the injured list. His ability to crush fastballs for power, put tougher pitches in play and put his speed to work makes him a tough matchup for right-handed pitchers. Plus, his elite defense in center field allows Greene to focus on left, tempering the wear and tear on his legs. -- Jason Beck

Twins: 3B Royce Lewis
Someone getting really hot can almost be enough by itself to pave the path for a deep playoff run -- and Lewis has shown that he can be that guy, crushing four homers in six games as part of his postseason debut last season. His potential stardom and penchant for scalding hot streaks appear established -- and the Twins just need him to be (and stay) healthy, which was almost an issue last year when a late September hamstring strain put his playoff availability in question. -- Do-Hyoung Park

White Sox: LHP Garrett Crochet
Crochet, a first-time All-Star and prime AL Cy Young contender, really is the only choice for a team sitting 44 games under .500. He could be traded before the Deadline on July 30, which would make him key for a significant return the White Sox would receive in exchange for one of the game’s best starters. The White Sox won’t make such a move without that return. If Crochet stays, he will be pitching with a consistently reduced workload as his 107 ⅓ innings at the All-Star break represent 34 ⅓ innings more than he has thrown combined over his previous three seasons in relief. He will continue working every fifth or sixth day as a starter, which was Crochet’s preference when the workload became an issue. Crochet is a testament to what belief in oneself and hard work, when coupled with talent, can truly mean. -- Scott Merkin

American League West

Angels: OF Mike Trout
Trout, a three-time AL MVP and 11-time All-Star, has been out since April 29 with a torn meniscus in his left knee but is tracking a return in late July. He’s been doing some light running on the field and is nearing taking batting practice. It’s been a long recovery for Trout, who has seen the injuries pile up in recent years. But he’s itching to get back and prove he’s still one of the game’s best players. He was showing plenty of power and speed before getting hurt with 10 homers and six stolen bases in 29 games, but had an uncharacteristic .220 batting average. Trout, 32, remains under contract through 2030, so a big second half could propel him to big things in the coming years. -- Rhett Bollinger

Astros: OF Kyle Tucker
Tucker was making a push as an early-season MVP candidate when he fouled a ball off his shin June 3 and didn’t play again in the first half, leaving the Astros without a huge bat in their lineup. At the time he went on the IL, he was fourth in OPS in MLB behind Aaron Judge (1.080) and Juan Soto (1.027) of the Yankees and Marcell Ozuna of the Braves (1.000). He also ranked second in the AL in walks (46) and third in slugging (.584) and was the only qualifying player in the AL with more walks than strikeouts. Tucker is the third player in franchise history with at least 19 homers in the team’s first 59 games. -- Brian McTaggart

Athletics: 2B Zack Gelof
Gelof’s rough start to the season was magnified due to the heavy preseason hype generated as a result of his breakout 2023 rookie campaign. The overall numbers are still not great, though the A’s have seen clear improvement from Gelof as the season goes along. After hitting .188 through his first 52 games, Gelof went into the All-Star break hitting .241 (21-for-87) with seven homers and 20 RBIs over his last 24 games. Among the many second-half goals for the A’s, getting Gelof fully back on track to the player they expect him to be is atop the list. -- Martín Gallegos

Mariners: OF Julio Rodríguez
He showed in spurts over the past two weeks how drastically he can change the dynamic of the entire team when he’s playing to his full potential. Over 12 games in July, he’s 17-for-38 with three homers and a 1.263 OPS. And if he’s shown anything in his first two seasons, it’s at this time of year where he really heats up. Last August, he was the best player in baseball -- and not coincidentally, the Mariners set a franchise record with their most wins in a single month. They don’t necessarily need him to play at that gaudy level, but rather, a more consistent one than what he showed for most of the first half. -- Daniel Kramer

Rangers: 2B Marcus Semien
It’s easy to say one of the heavy hitters like Corey Seager or Adolis García, but Semien is truly the engine that gets the Rangers offense rolling. The veteran infielder hit .261/.327/.443 with 11 home runs across the first 64 games of the season through June 9 before falling into a weeks-long slump that he’s only recently clawed his way out of. Manager Bruce Bochy always trusts his guys, and he’s never wavered from Semien’s spot at the top of the lineup, but more consistent production from him could transform the Rangers’ struggling offense quickly. If Texas wants to avoid becoming sellers at the Deadline, it very well may begin and end with Semien’s contributions. -- Kennedi Landry

National League East

Braves: 1B Matt Olson
Marcell Ozuna has provided MVP-caliber production for more than a calendar year and Austin Riley returned to his elite level over the past month. It’s Matt Olson’s turn to get back to where he was last year, when he set franchise records in home runs and RBIs. Olson has 13 home runs and a .714 OPS. At this same 95-game mark last year, he had 32 homers and a .944 OPS. It seemed like he righted himself during the first two weeks of June. But he produced a .446 OPS over his final 26 games before the break. Jarred Kelenic is showing comfort in the leadoff spot and Michael Harris II is nearing a return from the injured list. This underachieving Braves lineup has potential. But the key to truly overcoming Ronald Acuña Jr.’s season-ending knee surgery rests on Olson’s ability to prove he can be the third member of this lineup providing MVP-caliber production. -- Mark Bowman

Marlins: LHP Jesús Luzardo
Luzardo being dealt seemed like a foregone conclusion until he landed on the 60-day injured list with lumbar stress reaction, making him unavailable to pitch until at least after the July 30 Trade Deadline. Even before this extended absence, Luzardo had missed time with left elbow tightness. After a breakout 2023 season, the 26-year-old has a 5.00 ERA in 12 starts, with a lower K/9 rate and a higher BB/9 rate. -- Christina De Nicola

Mets: RHP Kodai Senga
After missing the entire first half due to a strained right shoulder capsule and resulting complications, Senga will return from the All-Star break achingly close to a return. While there are no guarantees he’ll immediately regain his status as the Mets’ best pitcher, Senga offers something many others on the staff lack -- frontline potential. If Senga can prove both healthy and effective, he’ll add a dash of realism to the idea not just of a playoff run, but also a deeper ride through October. -- Anthony DiComo

Nationals: OF James Wood
Wood, ranked as the Nationals’ No. 1 prospect and MLB No. 2 overall, made his Major League debut on July 1. He is not only a key to the Nats’ second half of the season, but their future as well. The 6-foot-7, 21-year-old outfielder who dazzles with power and agility offered a glimpse into his potential in his first week in the bigs, reaching base his first seven days while collecting his first home run, stolen base, multi-RBI game and multi-hit game. -- Jessica Camerato

Phillies: C J.T. Realmuto
Realmuto has not played since June 9 because of right knee surgery, but Rob Thomson said he could be activated from the injured list before next Monday’s game in Minnesota. Phillies catchers Garrett Stubbs and Rafael Marchán picked up the slack while Realmuto has been away, but there is no question the Phillies will be thrilled to get Realmuto back behind the plate and in the lineup. He could hit fifth behind cleanup hitter Alec Bohm. -- Todd Zolecki

National League Central

Brewers: 1B Rhys Hoskins
Hoskins’ 100 OPS+ at the All-Star break means he was a league-average hitter. On one hand, that’s pretty good considering Hoskins missed all of 2023 with the Phillies following a knee injury that needed surgery. On the other hand, he signed with the Brewers aiming for better, and the hope is that he’ll hit for more power in the second half now that Hoskins has his legs under him. He’s 5-for-38 in July but it’s notable that all five of those hits inflicted damage: Three home runs and two doubles and 10 RBIs so far this month. The Brewers need more of that right-handed pop after a disappointing 13-13 record against left-handed starters in the first half. -- Adam McCalvy

Cardinals: 3B Nolan Arenado and 1B Paul Goldschmidt
Strong seasons from Alec Burleson, Willson Contreras, Brendan Donovan and rookie Masyn Winn have helped the Cardinals overcome the season-long struggles of Arenado and Goldschmidt. No one has seen more 0-2 counts this season than Goldschmidt, who has often looked in between on pitches too often. As for Arenado, injuries to both arms have robbed him of his power. If the Cards are to put together a playoff push and a deep run, they must get their cornerstones going offensively. -- John Denton

Cubs: OF Cody Bellinger
If the Cubs were to shift into pseudo-sell mode, Bellinger looked like a potential trade chip. Given his recent trip to the injured list due to a fractured middle finger, that looks unlikely now, especially with his uncertain timeline for return. Bellinger’s situation was already complicated due to his ability to opt out of his three-year deal after both ‘24 and ‘25. More than likely, Bellinger will still be a Cub in the second half and perhaps for at least one more season. When he does return, the goal for Bellinger will be to find the slugging percentage that has gone missing (.354 SLG in the 54 games before landing on the IL). That would go a long way in helping the offense keep turning things around. -- Jordan Bastian

Pirates: SS Oneil Cruz
Some streakiness from Cruz was expected after he missed almost all of 2023, and his overall stats on the season are above average, crushing 14 home runs with seven stolen bases and a 107 OPS+. He clearly has another gear, though, and if he can tap into it, it could be a massive boost for this offense. He certainly finished the first half of the season strong, homering three times with a. 325 batting average and a .978 OPS in his final 11 games before the break. The Pirates went 7-4 in those games. That’s not coincidental. When Cruz heats up, it’s usually enough to carry the team’s stellar pitching. -- Alex Stumpf

Reds: SS Elly De La Cruz
The 22-year-old first-time All-Star is easily on pace for a 25-homer, 70-steal season but has been prone to some mental mistakes in the field and on the bases during his second big league season. De La Cruz getting hot offensively and creating run scoring opportunities for himself and the team would be a huge boost for the Reds. In wins this season, the switch hitter is batting .315 with a 1.014 OPS and 11 homers. In losses, he is batting .198 with a .648 OPS and six homers. -- Mark Sheldon

National League West

D-backs: OF Corbin Carroll
Carroll has picked things up a bit since his slow start to the season, but he’s still not performing at the level that he expects of himself. The D-backs remain confident that Carroll will take it up a notch because of the combination of his talent and work ethic. If Carroll is able to catch fire at the plate, the D-backs offense will likely take off because when Carroll gets on base, his speed causes chaos. Carroll’s presence on the base paths also opens up RBI opportunities for All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte as well as Christian Walker. -- Steve Gilbert

Dodgers: SS Mookie Betts
The first step for Betts is to get healthy and return after suffering a fractured left hand on June 16. Once he’s back, Betts will need to find a way to recapture the form that made him the NL MVP favorite over the first month and a half of the season. Perhaps moving off of shortstop and going back to second base could help Betts get back into form at the plate. When Betts is at his best offensively, the Dodgers have the potential to be a nightmare to face for any pitcher. -- Juan Toribio

Giants: LHP Blake Snell
The reigning National League Cy Young winner endured a disappointing start to his Giants tenure, but he ended the first half on a high note, tossing a combined 12 scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts and three walks in his first two outings since returning from the injured list. Snell has historically performed better in the second half, so he could be poised to dominate down the stretch and give the Giants a co-ace to pair with All-Star Logan Webb at the top of their rotation. -- Maria Guardado

Padres: RHP Joe Musgrove
When he’s on, Musgrove can be one of the league’s most dominant arms. But he’s been sidelined for most of the season while dealing with a bone spur in his right elbow that caused inflammation and triceps tendinitis. Musgrove was scheduled for his first bullpen session on Wednesday, and he’s trending toward an August return. The Padres’ thin rotation could desperately use a stabilizing force. -- AJ Cassavell

Rockies: OF Jordan Beck
The Rockies believe Beck can have a major impact, and he demonstrated enough power, speed and defense to get regular starts despite his .190 average (2 HR, 4 2B) in 80 plate appearances before he sustained a broken left hand on May 25. Beck has been rehabbing in Arizona, and it’s expected that he’ll be back in the lineup when healthy. The Rockies have seen an impact from several young players – shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, center fielder Brenton Doyle and (from a power standpoint) first baseman Michael Toglia. Beck’s presence makes for a competitive outfield situation, as Nolan Jones tries to shake back injuries and regain 2023 form and Sean Bouchard and Hunter Goodman (when not catching) try to forge places for themselves. -- Thomas Harding