What happened: Bateman went 3-for-3 on Sept. 6, lifting his average to .347. He has batted .378 with 14 hits over his past 10 games.
Why it matters: The consistency strengthens Bateman's case for regular at-bats during the September stretch. Sustaining it would turn a small-sample surge into a meaningful late-season body of work.
By the numbers: Bateman has hit safely in 80% of his MLB games while averaging 1.4 hits per appearance. His .347 average is accompanied by a .412 on-base percentage.
What to watch: Watch whether Bateman can keep his average above .300 through the final weeks of the season.