8 impact players who could return down the stretch

The stretch run has arrived and many teams are working towards finalizing their playoff spot or getting there in the first place.

Luckily for many of these clubs, there could be reinforcements on the way to give them a boost not only for the regular season but also in the postseason.

Here are eight impact players who are poised to potentially return this month and give their teams an extra boost.

Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees

Let’s start with the biggest name on the verge of returning and one of the game’s premier superstars. Judge, the Yankees’ captain and three-time AL MVP, has not played in the Majors since May 31 due to a right rib stress fracture. Luckily, he’s set to possibly return as soon as next week during New York’s next homestand -- he traveled with the team on its current West Coast road trip and took batting practice on Friday in San Diego. The Yanks have admirably performed in his absence but Judge’s return immediately makes New York a force to be reckoned with come playoff time.

Corbin Burnes, RHP, D-backs

If there’s one thing the D-backs have been lacking in recent years, it’s a true shutdown ace -- or even someone to perform close to that level. In Arizona’s defense, they did sign Burnes before the 2025 season for that exact reason, only for the right-hander to undergo Tommy John surgery just 11 starts into his D-backs’ tenure, with a right teres major strain further prolonging his recovery. He just made his first rehab starts, though, and could return sometime in the next few weeks. That’s huge for a D-backs club fighting tooth and nail with the Padres for the final NL Wild Card spot.

Nick Pivetta, RHP, Padres

We’ll pivot to those aforementioned Padres given that battle with the D-backs. Pivetta was a standout starter and de facto ace for San Diego in his first year with the club in 2025, posting a 2.87 ERA with 190 strikeouts in 31 starts last season. He’s been on the shelf with right elbow inflammation since mid-April but is progressing closer to a return in the coming days. His return will be welcomed for a Padres team that’s managed to remain in contention despite a rocky rotation.

Garrett Crochet, LHP, Red Sox

It’s been a tough season for Crochet, who has been out since late April due to left shoulder inflammation and had a 6.30 ERA in his first six starts before succumbing to injury. Crochet, who finished second in AL Cy Young Award voting last year thanks to a 2.59 ERA and an MLB-leading 255 strikeouts, was expected to lead Boston’s rotation this year. Instead, the combination of Sonny Gray, Ranger Suarez and Payton Tolle have excelled and it’s possible we see Crochet return in a relief role later this month. The left-hander threw a side session of 16 pitches on Friday, marking the first time he pitched off the mound in over three months.

Shohei Ohtani, RHP, Dodgers

Ohtani hasn’t pitched since July 3 due to left knee, right biceps and overall soreness and it’s unclear if he’ll return to the mound this season. That is an uncertainty that increases with every passing day -- he's been out of the lineup as a hitter for three straight days due to those ailments and could end up on the injured list. Obviously, Ohtani is a unique case and has still contributed plenty strictly as a hitter, posting a .906 OPS with 30 home runs, although that’s even below his usual norms likely due to his various injuries. Ohtani looked to be firing on all cylinders on both sides of the ball to begin the season and the two-way star returning to that form would go a long way towards helping the Dodgers three-peat.

Carlos Correa, 3B, Astros

Correa, who underwent peroneus brevis tendon repair surgery on his left ankle on May 11, is still attempting a 2026 comeback, which seemed improbable at the time of his surgery. Correa is ramping up the intensity of his workouts and running at 95 percent, with his next step being a return to game action at some level -- he has shifted his rehab to the team's Spring Training facility in West Palm Beach, Fla. Correa’s results have fluctuated in recent years, but he posted .787 OPS in his first 32 games this season and he owns a career .860 OPS in 85 playoff games. If Correa returns and he’s right, that could be a humongous boost for the Astros.

Robert Suarez, RHP, Braves

The Braves signed Suarez as their closer over the offseason and he was flat out dominant to begin his tenure in Atlanta, posting a miniscule 0.56 ERA in his first 31 appearances. Right elbow inflammation has sidelined him since late June, though, and the hope is Suarez will return before the end of the season. Suarez threw a pain-free bullpen session on Wednesday and is scheduled to throw a 25-pitch session on Monday. Given the importance of shutdown relievers in the playoffs, the Braves hope they see Suarez at his best in October.

Edward Cabrera, Cubs

It's been a tough first year in Chicago for Cabrera, who has been on the IL since August 17 due to a finger blister and had a 5.68 ERA in his first 15 starts with the Cubs. Cabrera is already gearing up for a return with multiple rehab appearances and the plan is for him to shift to the bullpen when he's back. That transition is why Cabrera is on this list despite his struggles -- the right-hander has solely operated as a starter in the Majors but his high-octane stuff could make him a real threat in the playoffs.