MLB trends: Elly De La Cruz’s new trick, the Yankees’ great find and an ABS challenge update

Only one week and four days remain in the 2026 MLB regular season. Four teams (Brewers, Dodgers, Rays, Yankees) have clinched postseason berths, so eight spots remain up for grabs, and chances are at least a few of them will come down to the final weekend. There are also awards races to sort out. Only so much baseball remains, but there's still a lot to be decided.

Here now are three late-season trends to keep an eye on as the regular season winds down.

There are some players who look like they were put on this Earth to play baseball and only to play baseball, and Reds star Elly De La Cruz is one of those players. The natural gifts — the power, the speed, the arm, the athleticism — are so overt that it's almost frustrating to watch him play, because as good as he is, it feels like De La Cruz is still only scratching the surface of his talent.

Make no mistake, though, De La Cruz is a star. He went into Tuesday ranked third among position players in WAR, behind only Pete Crow-Armstrong and Bobby Witt Jr., and he's reached another level over the last few…

Original source: https://www.cbssports.com/