Major League Baseball: X-Factors for potential postseason teams

With just two weeks left in the Major League Baseball regular season, potential contenders are gearing up for postseason play.

No matter what you achieve during the grueling six month regular season, Major League Baseball has always been about what you accomplish in October, during the postseason.

Divisional winners, including record setting win totals, mean nothing once the playoffs begin. Just ask the 2001 Seattle Mariners, who won an American League record — tying the all-time Major League Baseball total–with 116 wins, coming up just short of making the Fall Classic. Also in 2015, the St. Louis Cardinals won 100 games, before bowing out to their hated divisional rival, the Chicago Cubs, rendering those victories nearly meaningless.

Speaking of those “wild Cards”, they’ve proven time and time again that if you qualify for postseason play, anything can happen. Even though they won their division in 2006, they had MLB’s lowest win total with only 83 victories, but caught fire in October, beating the Detroit Tigers for the ultimate crown, knocking off the heavily favored New York Mets in the process. Who can forget the rally squirrel of 2011, who aided the Cardinals to an improbable World Series title run?

Do any of the 2017 contenders have what it takes to win it all and dethrone the Chicago Cubs? Will the Cubbies be the first team to repeat since the 2000 New York Yankees?

Each team has their own obvious strengths, but what variables or X-factors does each potential playoff team posses?

We will take a look at each MLB division, exposing the key factors for each potential playoff team’s chances of making a run deep into October, then decide who will ultimately take the crown.

Chicago Cubs

Coming off of their first World Series championship since 1908, the Cubs are primed to be the first team to repeat since the 2000 season. Having mashers such as Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, to go with their depth at starting pitching with the likes of Jake Arrieta, John Lackey and company, their key to winning it all comes from the back-end of their bullpen, an position which was heavily upgraded in the off-season.

 X-Factor: Wade Davis

The experienced reliever, who was a key part of the successful Kansas City Royals teams of 2014 and 2015 as both a set-up man and closer, will be what could put the boys from the Windy City over the top once again. Perfect in save opportunities this season — 31 of 31 — anytime the Cubs lead after 8 innings, it’s lights out for opposing teams.

Milwaukee Brewers

For the first time since 2011, the Brewers are in contention to either snag a wild card spot, or are within in striking distance of catching the Cubs for the N.L. Central divisional title.

As these two sayings go, defense wins championships and speed kills, which encompasses this player for the Brewers.

 X-Factor: Keon Broxton 

In maybe the most athletic, and important catch of the season, Broxton literally saved a game that had dire consequences, when he robbed Randal Grichuk of a (potential) game winning home-run to end the game, which resulted in a two game swing. The Cardinals and Brewers keep see-sawing back and forth with one another in the standings.

The key-piece that will put the Brewers over the top is this unsung hero, who continues to flash that leather, and show off that speed, which has already saved key games.

St Louis Cardinals

Up until their weekend series with the Chicago Cubs, the St. Louis Cardinals were hitting full-stride, but now they are now six games behind the Cubs in the N.L. Central, after getting swept in Chicago in a crucial three-game set.

They also trail the aforementioned Brewers, so the path isn’t much easier in their quest for the final N.L. Wild Card spot, where they will have to leapfrog both those Brewers and also the Rockies in the process. In order to make up those games, they will need production and a spark from their biggest catalyst to make that deep run that Cardinals fans have become accustomed to.

 X-Factor: Tommy Pham 

The Cardinals slugger is having a dream season and his production must continue over the club’s final 13 games in order for them to steal a playoff spot. Pham is the first Cardinals player since Reggie Sanders in 2004 to hit 20 homers and snag 20 bags. If Pham can get to the 25-25 mark, the Cardinals may be able to make the playoffs after all, which no one on the other-side of opposing dugouts wants to see.

Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals have never been to a World Series, but could this be the season they finally breakthrough and win it all? They have the starting pitching, with five starters who could be aces on most MLB staffs. Their first-ever draft pick as an organization, Ryan Zimmerman, is having a career season, while Daniel Murphy continues his two season tear, but there is another who will be the key factor to their postseason success.

 X-Factor: Bryce Harper

The 2015 NL MVP was on pace for that very award this season, until a gruesome injury sidelined the phenom. However, Harper is recovering quite well, which could put him back in action as early as the Divisional round of the playoffs. If so, he could be the spark that lifts the Nationals over the favored Dodgers if the two teams were to meet in the NLCS. More than just his eye-popping numbers, Harper’s swagger and “it’ factor give the Nationals some major mojo.

Here are Bryce Harpers 2017 stats, before his injury:

.327 batting average, 29 HRs, 87 RBI, and 94 runs scored in just 402 AB. Here are the career accolades for the young superstar:

• 2012 Rookie of the Year
• 2015 National league MVP
• 5 time N.L. All-Star
• 2015 Silver slugger award
• 150 career home-runs
• 782 career base-hits

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers made it through most of the dog days of summer, on pace to break the all-time MLB record for wins in a season. After a tremendous slump and losing streak, teams have nearly caught the Dodgers, but there is no need to panic for you fans in sunny So-Cal. Your savior has returned.

 X-Factor: Clayton Kershaw

The best pitcher of our generation, and maybe all-time, has to prove that he can finally get it done when the stakes are highest, during the postseason. With a microscopic career regular season ERA (2.35), Kershaw is back from injury and already transitioning into late-season form, which could spell doom for the rest of Major League Baseball.

Arizona Diamondbacks

After a disappointing 2016 campaign, the Diamondbacks are making up for it in spades in 2017, with a chance to set a franchise record in wins. In most seasons, they would have already clinched the N.L. West, but they play in the same division as the previously mentioned Dodgers.

My favorite player on their squad is no doubt Paul Goldschmidt, who is a five tool/complete player, who is a living nightmare for opposing teams. With that being said, his newly added teammate, could be the lift that hoists the Diamondbacks over the top in October.

 X-Factor: J.D. Martinez

The Diamondbacks, with one of the best trades in recent memory, could be the team to beat in the National League, if they can sneak out of that hated Wild Card game. Martinez has already crushed 40 homers, but also has a batting average of .297, displaying his consistency at the plate. If their pitching holds up, look out for the Diamondbacks this postseason, with the duo of Goldschmidt and Martinez leading the charge.

Colorado Rockies

In 20 plus years as a franchise, the Rockies have only been to the postseason two times. With the Brewers and Cardinals making late-season charges, the Rockies want to see if a third playoff run could be charm, but they must hold off those pesky N.L. Central squads. They have the right man leading the helm to compete this October, who fits into the Rocky Mountains with his gruff, mountain-man look, to go with his stellar play.

 X-Factor: Charlie Blackmon

No need to say any more, it’s Charlie Blackmon, as this thrilled youngster steals all my words.

Even for Colorado, Blackmon’s stats are just flat out impressive — .332 BA, 33 HR, 131 Runs, 93 RBI — which could allow him to snatch the N.L. MVP away from Ryan Zimmerman or Daniel Murphy, especially if the Rockies qualify for the playoffs.

More than just those numbers, his leadership and chemistry with the rest of the ball club could be what gives the Rockies a chance to make the World Series for the first time since 2007.

Cleveland Indians

The Indians nearly ended a 68 year World Series title dry spell, but fell just short last season in game seven against the Chicago Cubs. Truly a balanced team from top to bottom, there is a key element which could see the Tribe back in the Fall Classic, with a chance at redemption after last year’s brutal ending.

 X-Factor: Andrew Miller

After being traded from the Yankees to the Indians in the middle of last season, Miller took his game to a whole new level. His versatility and availability when the Indians needed him the most, almost single-handily won them the World Series by blanking their opponents long enough to stay in ball games or hold them off. Look for the southpaw to continue his stingy trend, by blanking opposing hitters and leaving them baffled, all the way home towards the off-season.

Minnesota Twins

The Twin Cities have something else to root for other than just warmer weather, with their Twins in contention for the first time in, well, its been a while. Ervin Santana and Jose Berrios provide that one-two punch in the starting rotation, but there is one who has been with the Twins for many moons, who is still playing at a high-level.

 X-Factor: Joe Mauer

Leading the team in batting at .307, the former catcher is just grinding out at-bat after at-bat, where he is closely approaching 2,000 career hits. In order for the Twins to have any fighting chance, Mauer needs to use his postseason experience and show these new faces how its done.

Boston Red Sox

“We all love the Red Sox.” Who else remembers that dreadful fan-made song from the mid-2000’s? If you’re able to get that awful tune out of your head, you might be able to see clearly that the Red Sox mean business and have one of the best overall teams in the Majors.

Even with beloved and future Hall of Fame legend “Big Papi” David Ortiz now retired, the Red Sox have shown that they are more than just a one man show. In-fact, I would argue they are even better this season than last. One reason for that is bolstering that starting rotation, adding an ace who is nearly un-hittable.

 X-Factor: Chris Sale

Coming over from those other Sox, Sale has added what the Red Sox were lacking last season, that shut ’em down, top tier ace of the staff. The lefty started another All-Star game this season, and looks to start his very first World Series, as he is approaching 300 strikeouts on the season.

New York Yankees

The first half of the season, you couldn’t turn on sports-talk radio with hearing Aaron Judge this, and Aaron Judge that, and rightfully so. However, the slugger has cooled off, allowing us to see clearly, the glue that holds together the Yankees lineup, a true unsung hero of the team.

 X-Factor: Didi Gregorius

The shortstop is as steady on the field as he is at the plate with a .293 batting average, 24 home runs, and 81 RBI, where he has been consistent all season, unlike Judge, who has been either red hot, or ice cold.  If the Yankees want to make any noise once September ends, they will have to get the continued rock-steady play of their shortstop, who is truly the leader of that clubhouse.

Houston Astros

Over the weekend, the Astros clinched their first division title since 2001, and first as an American League squad. Time will tell if they learned from their late season and postseason collapses of the past few years, but what we do know is this team is, from top to bottom, the cream of the crop not only in the A.L., but in all of Major League Baseball.

With no true weakness in their lineup, starting rotation, or when they call to the pen, their is one who stands out the most, who should easily win the American League Most Valuable Player award, in Jose Altuve. However, his counterpart in the infield could be what puts them over the top.

 X-Factor: Carlos Correa

The slick shortstop was having another stellar season, until injuries halted his production for a bit. Since the Astros had balance and good enough record, his time away did little to no damage, and he is now rested and ready to go. With he and Altuve roaming around in that middle infield, this team will be the toughest out come postseason play.

Los Angeles Angels

Hanging on via life-support, the Angels have been able to salvage this season, even with two-time MVP (and three time runner-up) Mike Trout missing quite a bit of playing time. There is one who helped pick up the slack in his absence, one who is no stranger to playing well into October.

 X-Factor: Albert Pujols

When Pujols signed that mega contract just before the 2012 season, the Angels were supposed to begin a new era of deep playoff runs and memorable moments. Well, with only one playoff appearance in five plus seasons in sunny So-Cal, the Angels look to make up for lost time, with a deep playoff run in 2017. They must pass the Twins in order to do so, and they will need more than just Trout to accomplish that goal. We will need to see glimmers of the past, where Pujols was unstoppable in October, or really at any time during the season. If the Angels can find a way in, the leadership of the veteran could spawn a surprise run from a second Los Angeles team.