MLB: Players World Series contenders can’t afford to lose
Every MLB team deals with injuries, but World Series contenders are typically deep enough to weather the storm. However, which players are absolutely essential for this year’s Fall Classic hopefuls?
Injuries have always been a part of baseball, but it seems MLB players – prominent ones, too – have been dropping like flies this season. Mike Trout, widely considered the best the game has to offer, has been out for over a month and is expected back around the All-Star break. It’s his first stint on the disabled list in his career.
For big league teams, navigating their way through various DL trips over the course of six months is as much a key to success as scoring enough runs or maintaining an effective pitching staff.
Some clubs get hit worse than others, but it’s a fact of life virtually every franchise has to deal with. That’s why depth is so incredibly important for MLB teams that hope to make the postseason and advance far once they get there.
The most well-equipped squads have serviceable players ready to fill in when their starters go down, but even those with World Series aspirations have at least one superstar who is just about indispensable. A guy who, if injured, would deliver a sizable hit to their chances.
With the 2017 season just about at its midpoint, it’s a good time to consider the players who have been bitten by the injury bug and perhaps cross your fingers for those who have managed to stay healthy.
Of the teams that have already asserted themselves as possible contenders for this year’s Fall Classic, which player could each simply not afford to lose? Let’s take a look at who holds their club’s fate in their hands.
Next: Beantown's Ace
Boston Red Sox – Chris Sale
After enduring somewhat of a slow start, the Red Sox have been playing much better of late and currently hold the top spot in the American League East. Much has been made of the David Ortiz-less lineup that doesn’t quite pack the same punch that it did a year ago. For that reason, you might say someone like Mookie Betts (who leads the team with 3.8 bWAR) can’t be out of the lineup for any extended period of time.
While Boston would certainly miss a player of Betts’ talent, starting pitcher Chris Sale currently makes the difference between the Red Sox as a World Series contender and just another good team. The lefty came over from Chicago with very high expectations, and he’s lived up to his billing.
Sale has posted a 10-3 record over 16 outings, with a 2.77 ERA. He leads the AL with 113.2 innings pitched, a 0.906 WHIP and 7.36 K/BB ratio. The eight-year veteran leads both leagues with 155 strikeouts, 12.3 K/9 and a sparkling 2.05 FIP. At the All-Star break, you would have to consider Sale an early favorite to win his first Cy Young Award.
The fact that the rest of the BoSox rotation has been fairly disappointing makes Sale even more vital. Reigning Cy Young winner Rick Porcello is struggling with a 5.06 ERA after 17 starts. After returning from injury, David Price continues to have trouble making it work in Boston. Drew Pomeranz has been serviceable but appears to be improving, and it’s hard to get too excited about Doug Fister recently entering the fold.
If the Red Sox are to make a long postseason run, they’ll need Sale to continue leading their staff. He’s a guy they can hand the ball in a must-win scenario and feel very confident about their chances. That’s worth gold in October.
New York Yankees – Aaron Judge
The Yankees have looked far from World Series contenders the past couple weeks, but they’re still in decent shape for the Wild Card and their +112 run differential (third best in baseball) reminds you just how explosive they could be over the first two and a half months of the season.
The Bronx Bombers’ recent swoon has coincided with a flurry of injuries that has had the club reaching into its farm system nearly every day this week. The one man they will thank their lucky stars is not on the injury report – and they’ll pray it stays that way – requires little introduction: Aaron Judge.
The 25-year-old looks like a legitimate threat to become the first player since Ichiro Suzuki (and third ever) to win the Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season. Judge has been an absolute monster at the plate, slashing .326/.449/.689 with a majors-leading 27 home runs and AL-leading 62 RBI. He’s far from a one-dimensional power threat as well, leading MLB with 58 walks and 70 runs scored.
The Yanks will have to get their rotation and bullpen back on track to return to their winning ways, but when everything’s clicking for them they appear as formidable as any team in the league. If they are to make more noise in the second half and reach the playoffs, Judge will need to keep working his magic.
Next: Bullpen Swiss Army Knife
Cleveland Indians – Andrew Miller
The Cleveland Indians didn’t exactly play like World Series contenders for much of the first half, with the surprising Minnesota Twins holding the AL Central lead the majority of the time. However, they’ve come on of late and have retaken first place. As defending AL champs, you have to give them that respect.
The Tribe has plenty of crucial players, from Corey Kluber to Francisco Lindor to Jose Ramirez. But for my money, the one they need to have healthy down the stretch and into the playoffs is relief pitcher Andrew Miller.
If you need an explanation, perhaps highlights from last year’s postseason would do the trick. They would probably be more effective than any written account. But Miller truly was brilliant as the do-it-all man in the Cleveland bullpen during October.
The imposing left-hander was virtual unhittable in the ALDS and ALCS, tossing 11.2 scoreless innings while allowing just five hits and striking out 21. He stumbled a bit in the World Series but still did a good job, surrendering three runs on three hits over 7.2 frames with nine punchouts.
Miller may not be Cleveland’s closer, but that doesn’t stop him from being the most important man in their bullpen. He’s enjoying another dominant season in 2017, posting a 1.52 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and 13.9 K/9 in 41.1 innings. With the ability to pitch more than one inning if necessary, Miller is a real security blanket for the Tribe, and one they’ll again be glad to have in the playoffs.
Next: Houston's Sparkplug
Houston Astros – Jose Altuve
There are so many directions you can go in answering this question for the Houston Astros. That’s probably why they’ve been baseball’s best team to this point. They have contributors up and down the roster that it’s hard to see them being absolutely doomed by the loss of any one of them.
However, second baseman Jose Altuve feels like the glue that holds it all together. He does a little bit of everything for the Astros. An All-Star four of the last five years, the AL leader in hits the last three, and the third-place finisher in the MVP race last season, Altuve is putting together another fine campaign in 2017. In 79 games he’s slashing .330/.401/.528 with 11 home runs and 40 RBI. He also contributes on the base paths, swiping 14 bags.
It really has been a team effort, though. George Springer leads the club with 24 home runs, the primary power source for a team that makes frequent use of the long ball. Shortstop Carlos Correa, still just 22 years old, has taken a step forward offensively, batting .308 and leading the squad with 53 RBI. Marwin Gonzalez‘s performance can’t be understated either. Dallas Keuchel is Houston’s ace on the mound and will be a crucial weapon in the postseason (though they haven’t fared too poorly while he’s been on the shelf).
Losing any of these guys would be a blow, but Altuve is the engine of this team and the loss of his consistency would likely be felt the most.
Next: The Capital Arm
Washington Nationals – Max Scherzer
If the Washington Nationals can ever find a shutdown closer, he very well might earn this distinction. But right now the player they clearly can’t afford to lose is Max Scherzer. The veteran righty has been sensational since joining the Nats in 2015, but this year he’s taking it to another level.
Scherzer leads the majors with a 2.06 ERA, 0.783 WHIP and 212 ERA+ over 113.2 innings. His 2.72 FIP, two complete games, 151 strikeouts and 12.0 K/9 are all tops in the National League. He’s become a potential no-hitter practically every time he takes the mound. At the moment you have to fancy Scherzer’s chances of capturing his second straight Cy Young and the third of his career.
Ryan Zimmerman has been phenomenal in a season that should net him the Comeback Player of the Year Award. Bryce Harper is Bryce Harper, and Daniel Murphy and Anthony Rendon have swung fearsome bats as well. You could even say that if the Nationals did lose Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez are not bad fallback options.
However, Scherzer is the kind of pitcher who can carry a team through the postseason and if he reaches October in this kind of form, the rest of the league should watch out. A few trademark Scherzer gems in the playoffs could have the Nats on the cusp of their first-ever Fall Classic, regardless of how well they get their bullpen situation sorted out.
Next: Most Valuable Cubbie
Chicago Cubs – Kris Bryant
Yes, the Cubs have hibernated their way through the first half and don’t exactly look primed to defend their title. Yet despite their listless play and .500 record, they remain just two games off the pace in the NL Central. With all due respect to the surprising Brewers, Chicago still feels like the team that is going to come out of this division. If they can finally hit their stride in the second half, we all know what their core of young talent is capable of.
The player they could least afford to lose is also the one who had a major scare just a few days ago. Kris Bryant rolled his ankle stepping on third base after catching a pop-up on Wednesday in one of those injuries that can be best described as a freak accident. While it initially looked like it could be bad, Bryant says he’s been feeling better and could be back in the lineup as early as today.
The reigning NL MVP leads his team with 2.5 bWAR and while his production is below last year’s award-winning level, he’s still having a strong season. Bryant owns a .264/.395/.520 slash line in 74 games with 16 homers and 32 RBI. The Cubs will be encouraged that he’s taking more walks (16.1 percent BB rate, up from 10.7 percent) and continuing to trim down on the strikeouts.
Anthony Rizzo has also done his share of carrying the offensive load and would be hard to miss. It’s almost tempting to put Jon Lester here as well considering how underwhelming the Cubs’ rotation has been as a whole. But Bryant is the guy who could really spearhead this group to a second-half surge if he ups the ante a bit after the midseason break.
Next: Best in the Business
Los Angeles Dodgers – Clayton Kershaw
Like the Nationals and Scherzer, the Dodgers have much of their fate riding on the left arm of Clayton Kershaw. The 29-year-old has been one of baseball’s very best pitchers for years now, and despite some uncharacteristic home run trouble, he’s once again turning in a dominant performance.
Kershaw leads the majors with 12 wins, and he’ll give you innings every time he’s out there with an MLB-most 116.1 frames. He sports a 2.32 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 6.75 K/BB ratio. Those numbers may be a tad below his usual standards, but that only tells you how amazing he’s been over the past several seasons.
Winners of 13 of their last 15, L.A. has vaulted into first place in the NL West and suddenly looks like the most dangerous team in baseball. Kershaw’s rotation mate Alex Wood also deserves a lot of credit, and how can we forget the most awe-inspiring rookie bat this side of Aaron Judge in Cody Bellinger? Oh yeah, and Justin Turner is hitting .390 with a .475 OBP in 57 games.
But the key to the Dodgers’ postseason hopes remains their ability to give Kershaw the ball in Game 1 and any potential do-or-die scenario the postseason throws at them. If the Boys in Blue are to bring a championship back to their fans, Kershaw will be leading the way.
Next: Diamond in the Desert
Arizona Diamondbacks – Paul Goldschmidt
The Arizona Diamondbacks… World Series contenders? Only a few months ago it would have seemed absolutely crazy. But we can’t deny the fact that the D-Backs are nearly 20 games over .500 at the start of July. Yes, the Dodgers have leapfrogged them in the West thanks to their recent run, but Arizona retains a comfortable 9.5-game cushion in the Wild Card race.
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It’s possible the D-Backs could still fall back to earth, but with a +105 run differential and the third best record in baseball, they have yet to show any signs of slowing down. They owe much of their success to the continued excellence of Paul Goldschmidt, who remains one of the most underappreciated stars in the league.
Goldy is slashing .317/.433/.586 with 19 home runs and a majors-leading 66 RBI in 80 contests. His 4.0 bWAR is second among all position players, trailing only Aaron Judge. He’s quietly been so good for the past several years that it’s become easy to take Goldschmidt for granted. If he keeps this up, he’ll have to get serious consideration for his first MVP Award after finishing second in 2013 and 2015.
Zack Greinke and Robbie Ray have done much to change the perception of the D-Backs as a pitching-weak squad, and if they are indeed to make a run at October, they will need to keep getting strong outings from them. However, Goldschmidt is the kind of lineup stalwart that a team just feels naked without, and he’s the guy Arizona will continue to lean on.
Colorado Rockies – Nolan Arenado
Like the Yankees, the Rockies would have been an easy inclusion on this list of contenders a couple weeks ago, but a recent slide has taken some of the shine off their surprising season. Losers of eight of their last 10, Colorado has slipped to third in the NL West but remains up by seven games for the league’s second Wild Card.
As their young rotation appears to regress, the Rockies might be the team here most likely to fall out of serious contention. But they have to feel pretty darn good about their chances when they can pencil third baseman Nolan Arenado into their lineup each day. The 26-year-old boasts a .294/.347/.550 slash line with 15 home runs and 61 RBI. He also leads both leagues with 27 doubles.
While the Rockies have several big bats in their lineup including Charlie Blackmon and Mark Reynolds, Arenado enhances his value even more with his stellar defense. He has racked up 15 DRS (defensive runs saved) and a 16.5 UZR/150 at the hot corner. Who doesn’t love a slugger with a glove?
Next: 4 landing spots for J.D. Martinez
He began the season as a darkhorse MVP candidate, but Arenado has to be considered much more mainstream at this point. If Colorado is going to survive this dry spell and re-establish its place among the game’s top clubs, it will need its third baseman’s talents both at the plate and in the field.
Agree/disagree with any of these selections? Sound off in the comment section below.