What happened: Mark DeRosa traced how Alec Burleson's swing has changed over the past three years on MLB Central. The breakdown focused on the adjustments that have helped Burleson play to his strengths.
Why it matters: St. Louis entered the weekend 3.5 games out of a wild-card spot, making Burleson's production central to its stretch run. His place among MLB's leading run producers gives the mechanical progression tangible results.
By the numbers: Burleson's 96 RBIs rank second in Major League Baseball, behind only Sal Stewart.
What to watch: Burleson's pursuit of the MLB RBI lead is the next marker as the regular season enters its final weeks.