8 players who could flip their '24 script in October

No matter what happens during the regular season, the postseason is a clean slate.

For players whose seasons haven’t gone as expected, that means an opportunity at redemption.

The eight players below have all underperformed in 2024, but they’ll have a chance to flip the script on the postseason stage and could serve as crucial pieces for their teams in October.

All stats below are through Saturday.

Walker Buehler, SP, Dodgers
Buehler’s return from his second Tommy John surgery hasn’t gone smoothly, as the right-hander has posted a 5.63 ERA with a 5.70 FIP and an 8.1 K/9 over 15 starts this season -- his last before free agency. However, with Tyler Glasnow (elbow) and Gavin Stone (shoulder) not expected to return this year and Clayton Kershaw (toe) a question mark as well, Los Angeles could be forced to rely on Buehler to start in October, which would give the 30-year-old an opportunity to boost his own free-agent stock while also helping Los Angeles' championship pursuit. Buehler does have a history of success in the playoffs, notching a lifetime 2.94 ERA with 101 K’s over 79 2/3 innings.

Nick Castellanos, OF, Phillies
Castellanos has rebounded after recording just six homers with a .199/.264/.308 slash over his first 56 games this season, but his numbers on the year -- 22 homers, 84 RBIs and a .719 OPS -- are still down from his All-Star campaign in 2023 (29 HR, 106 RBIs, .788 OPS). The free-swinging slugger also has the cloud of last year’s National League Championship Series hanging over him, having gone 1-for-24 (.042) with 11 K’s in the Phillies’ seven-game loss to the D-backs. None of that will matter, though, if he puts together a big postseason and helps the Phils get over the hump this year.

Edwin Díaz, RP, Mets
After missing all of last season with a torn patellar tendon suffered during the World Baseball Classic, Díaz has struggled to recapture the form he showed in 2022, one of the most dominant relief seasons in recent memory (1.31 ERA, 0.90 FIP, 17.1 K/9). The hard-throwing righty owns a 3.49 ERA and has converted just 76% of his save chances, the third-lowest percentage of the 27 pitchers with at least 15 saves in 2024. Díaz has looked better of late, however, striking out 21 of the 41 batters he’s faced while allowing just one run in 11 1/3 innings since his last blown save on Aug. 28. With little margin for error in the playoffs, the Mets will be counting on Díaz to carry his recent success into October and keep things on lock at the end of games.

Rhys Hoskins, 1B, Brewers
While Hoskins ranks second on the Brewers with 25 homers this season, he has been a below-average hitter overall, slashing .211/.296/.412 with a 96 wRC+ -- including an 82 wRC+ in 87 games since returning from a right hamstring strain on May 31 . That’s a steep dropoff from the 126 wRC+ Hoskins produced over six seasons with the Phillies before missing all of 2023 while recovering from a torn ACL in his left knee. The Brewers need Hoskins to step it up in the playoffs to help fill the void in their lineup left by Christian Yelich, who is out for the season following back surgery.

Merrill Kelly, SP, D-backs
Kelly was integral to Arizona’s surprising run to the World Series in 2023, serving as Arizona’s No. 2 starter behind ace Zac Gallen and going 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA and 28 strikeouts over four starts. Although he missed nearly four months earlier this season with a right shoulder injury and has made just 12 starts this season with a 3.71 ERA and a 7.3 K/9 (3.33 ERA, 8.7 K/9 in 2022-23), the veteran righty is once again poised to play a pivotal role for the team this October. With Brandon Pfaadt, Eduardo Rodriguez and Jordan Montgomery all struggling, it’s likely going to be Kelly lining up as the team’s No. 2 starter after Gallen in the playoffs for the second straight year, assuming the right calf cramp that forced him from Saturday's start doesn't prove to be a long-term issue.

Joe Musgrove, SP, Padres
Musgrove made two trips to the injured list with right elbow inflammation earlier this year, missing significant time due to injury for the second straight season. However, he’s healthy now and could be primed to make a major impact for San Diego in the playoffs. Musgrove had a 5.66 ERA when he went on the IL for the second time back on June 1, but he has pitched to a 2.05 ERA with 51 strikeouts and seven walks in 44 innings over eight starts since making his return on Aug. 12.

Adley Rutschman, C, Orioles
Rutschman was the American League’s starting catcher in this year’s All-Star Game, but his production at the plate has been far below All-Star caliber for nearly three months. Though the catcher insisted earlier this month that injuries aren’t to blame for his struggles, he hasn’t looked the same since being hit in the right hand by a foul ball behind the plate on June 27. Rutschman has slashed .181/.279/.273 with four home runs in 65 games since that date, down from .300/.351/.479 with 15 homers through 77 games this season. Rutschman, though, has a chance to erase all of the frustration if he can deliver for the O’s in October.

Gleyber Torres, 2B, Yankees
Unlike his teammate Juan Soto, Torres has had a free-agent walk year to forget in 2024, hitting .253 with 14 homers and a .695 OPS over 148 games. That said, Torres’ production has ticked up since the All-Star break, and he’s impressed as the team’s everyday leadoff hitter since Aug. 16, slashing .304/.382/.428 over 33 games. If New York keeps him in that spot, he could be a key figure for the club in the playoffs, setting the table for Soto and Aaron Judge.