8 unlikely contributors for contending clubs

Over the course of the long season, every contender must lean on its depth at times to withstand the inevitable challenges that arise.

While this often comes in the form of young players stepping up, each season also tends to have its share of unheralded veterans who emerge as key contributors out of nowhere.

The players below certainly fit that bill. With the 2024 regular season in its final weeks, here are eight of the most unlikely veterans who have made meaningful contributions for playoff contenders this year.

Ronel Blanco, SP, Astros
When this season began, Blanco was only expected to be a placeholder in the Astros’ rotation until the team got back some of its starters from the IL. However, he threw a no-hitter in his first start and has been a consistent option all year as injuries have continued to mount on Houston’s staff. After posting a 4.78 ERA in 24 games (seven starts) across 2022-23, the 31-year-old ranks fourth in the AL with a 2.99 ERA over 150 1/3 innings this season. He could remain an important arm for Houston in the postseason, whether it’s as a long reliever or as a starter in place of the struggling Justin Verlander.

Jose Iglesias, INF, Mets
Although he didn’t make his Mets debut until May 31, the well-traveled Iglesias has emerged as a key figure for New York this season. The Mets were 23-33 before he joined the big league roster, but the veteran helped change the tenor of their campaign, with his hit Spanish-language song “OMG” becoming the club’s anthem during a red-hot June. Iglesias is more than just a vibes guy, though, having hit .321 with an .811 OPS and tying for fifth on the team in WAR (2.0, per FanGraphs) despite appearing in just 71 games. He’s become even more crucial for the Mets since Jeff McNeil fractured his right wrist on Sept. 6.

Ramón Laureano, OF, Braves
It seemed like a minor move at the time, but the Braves’ decision to sign Laureano three days after losing Ronald Acuña Jr. to a torn ACL is paying off months later. Laureano was released by the Guardians in May after starting off 10-for-70 (.143) with 32 strikeouts over 31 games, but he has rebounded in a Braves uniform and has been drawing regular playing time during the stretch run. Over 31 games (28 starts) dating back to Aug. 8, Laureano has slashed .324/.366/.514 with five homers and 15 RBIs.

Ben Lively, SP, Guardians
Lively didn’t make an MLB appearance from 2020-22 before returning to post a 5.38 ERA over 88 2/3 innings for the Reds last year, after which he signed a one-year deal with the Guardians. Although he entered this season with a lifetime 5.05 ERA in the Majors, he’s gone on to become one of the most reliable rotation options for the first-place Guardians, who lost Opening Day starter Shane Bieber to Tommy John surgery in April and have gotten a combined 5.45 ERA over 81 starts from Triston McKenzie, Gavin Williams, Logan Allen, Carlos Carrasco, Joey Cantillo and Xzavion Curry. The 32-year-old Lively ranks second on the team in starts (26) behind Tanner Bibee and has pitched to a 4.01 ERA over 137 innings.

Jurickson Profar, OF, Padres
Profar was picked by the fans to start the All-Star Game for the NL, so it’s not like the 11-year veteran’s unlikely breakout has been flying under the radar. But as the Padres move closer to clinching a postseason berth, we wanted to give another shoutout to the 31-year-old, who remains an integral part of San Diego’s lineup. After signing a one-year, $1 million deal with the Padres in February, Profar has produced a .281/.384/.458 slash with 22 homers, 82 RBIs and 85 runs scored this season. He hasn’t batted lower than third in the club’s order since June 5.

Colin Rea, SP, Brewers
Thanks to the emergence of rookie righty Tobias Myers and the acquisitions of Aaron Civale and Frankie Montas on the trade market, the Brewers’ rotation looks a lot different now than it did at the beginning of the season. The two constants throughout 2024? Opening Day starter Freddy Peralta and Rea, a 33-year-old righty who made just 10 MLB appearances across 2017-22 before reviving his big-league career a year ago. Rea’s recent struggles have inflated his overall ERA, but the veteran deserves credit for helping the Brewers build a sizable lead in the National League Central, having gone 12-4 with a 3.61 ERA over his first 25 appearances (22 starts) this season.

Miguel Rojas, SS, Dodgers
After posting a 69 OPS+ over 2022-23, Rojas did not seem likely to play a sizable role for Los Angeles when Spring Training got underway. Seven months later, though, the 35-year-old is poised to enter the postseason as the Dodgers’ starting shortstop. Gavin Lux was the club’s initial choice for that role, but he didn’t even make it to Opening Day before being replaced due to throwing issues. Up next was Mookie Betts, but after the former MVP fractured his left hand on a hit-by-pitch in mid-June, Rojas suddenly found himself starting every day. Rojas seized the opportunity, performing well enough that the team felt comfortable sticking with him even after Betts returned from the IL on Aug. 12, with Betts moving back to the outfield. Overall, Rojas has amassed 312 plate appearances this season and produced a .294/.335/.419 slash (114 OPS+) with 2.7 fWAR.

Albert Suárez, SP, Orioles
After going more than six years without an MLB appearance, Suárez made his return to the big leagues earlier this season and has improbably become a quality starting option for the Orioles, helping the team weather a multitude of injuries. Suárez briefly lost his starting spot when Baltimore acquired Zach Eflin and Trevor Rogers at the Trade Deadline, but he returned to the rotation after Grayson Rodriguez was scratched minutes before his start on Aug. 6 due to a right lat/teres strain. Suárez tossed five scoreless innings against the Blue Jays that day and has recorded a sparkling 2.43 ERA over seven starts altogether since Rodriguez went down, lowering his ERA on the year to 3.39 (3.43 as a starter).