2019 MLB Power Rankings: Postseason Edition

MLB Power Rankings: Postseason Edition

10. Washington Nationals

After missing the playoffs in 2018 after three NL East Titles in the last four years, many thought the Washington Nationals were due for a decline. They failed to live up to their astronomically high expectations and they were considered one of the biggest disappointments in MLB history. With their former homegrown MVP Bryce Harper leaving to the rival Phillies, things looked like they could get worse.

However, Mike Rizzo and the Nationals front office thought otherwise. They made the first big splash in the offseason, signing starting pitcher Patrick Corbin to a six-year, $140 million contract on December 7. They quietly loaded their roster with valuable veterans like Aníbal Sanchez, Brian Dozer, and Kurt Suzuki to go along with their young core consisting of Juan Soto, Trea Turner, and Victor Robles.

Thus, the Nationals began the 2019 season with low expectations, but an excited fan base. This time, the Nationals did not disappoint. They finished the first half of play with a 47-42 record, which was enough to give them a half-game lead atop the crowded Wild Card standings. They continued to remain in the Wild Card hunt throughout the season. They managed to survive threats from the surging second-half Mets and Diamondbacks to come out on top of the Wild Card race.

Their offense, while catalyzed by their young core, has been anchored by superstar third baseman Anthony Rendon. After proving he deserves to be in the conversation among the league’s best all-around third baseman the past two seasons, Rendon reached a whole new level in 2019. In his first All-Star season, Rendon has produced a .325/.412/.608 slash line after an incredible second half that has given him a legitimate case for the NL MVP. He also leads the league in RBIs with 124 and ranks in the top-5 of almost every offensive category.

Their starting pitching staff has also been scary good. Max Scherzer, who has won three Cy Young Awards since 2013, has produced yet another dominant season. Although his innings are slightly down, he leads the league with a 2.37 FIP and 7.28 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Stephen Strasburg has put together one of his best years, posting a 3.37 ERA while leading the NL in wins (17) and innings pitched (203). And of course, Patrick Corbin has stellar as well, with a 3.05 ERA and 233 K’s. The Nationals have three aces in their playoff rotation, so no one in their right minds should count them out in October.

MLB Power Rankings: Postseason Edition

9. Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers are heading back to the playoffs for the second straight season. This is the first time the Brewers have made back-to-back playoff appearances since 1982. In 2018, they won their second NL Central division title in team history. They came up just short of winning their first NL pennant, losing in game 7 of the NLCS to the Dodgers.

Thus, expectations were high entering 2019. Fans carried the hope that they can finally break through and win their first World Series behind a strong bullpen, young starting pitching, and an offense powered by 2018 NL MVP Christian Yelich.

While they didn’t come out and dominant the NL Central, the Brewers did enough all season to set them up for a playoff run down the stretch. Christian Yelich not only replicated his MVP season, but even improved. In 2019, he hit .329/.429/.671 with 44 home runs and an OPS+ of 179. All of these numbers surpassed his 2018 MVP performance in 17 less games. Unfortunately, Yelich fractured his right knee cap on September 10th, thus prematurely ending his season.

Many thought the injury to Yelich would bury the Brewers in a very crowded NL Wild Card race. They were wrong. The Brewers proved their depth and resiliency, going 13-2 since Yelich went down. They have also 20-4 in September, and 42-26 in the second half to separate themselves from the contenders and cement themselves as true contenders in the

While Yelich was undoubtedly the best player in their lineup, the rest of the Brewers offense is no joke. Mike Moustakas has remained one of the most underrated third basemen in the league, slugging 35 home runs en route to his third All Star game appearance. Ryan Braun continues to be a consistent elite veteran presence at the top of the lineup. Newly-acquired Yasmani Grandal has produced one of the better offensive years from a catcher in 2019.

However, no one has been more valuable to the Brewers’ scorching-hot second half than rookie infielder, Keston Hiura. Originally stepping in for the struggling Travis Shaw, Hiura has proved he has the talent to be a big time contributor on the major league level. In 81 games, Hiura has hit .300/.366/.573 with 19 home runs and 49 RBIs. The young star will look to fill the void Yelich has left and anchor the Brewers lineup in October.

The Brewers’ bullpen has been scorching-hot as well. In September, they have compiled a 2.58 ERA, 3.31 FIP, and 1.00 WHIP. Drew Pomeranz has turned into one of the best trade deadline acquisitions, putting up a 2.16 ERA in 24 appearances out of the bullpen for the Brew Crew. Brent Suter has returned from Tommy John surgery, and has pitched extraordinarily well out of the bullpen thus far. He looks to contribute in October. And of course, Josh Hader is one of the best closers in the MLB.

If the Brewers have a weak point, its their lack of depth at starting pitching. While Zach Davies and Brandon Woodruff give them a good 1-2 punch, there is a noticeable drop off in quality. Hopefully Jordan Lyles can continue his dominance since coming over at the deadline. In 11 starts, Lyles is 7-1 with a 2.45 ERA.

The Brewers are the hottest team in the MLB entering the playoffs. Like last season, they are peaking at the right time. Their absurd September has earned them the right to make another run at their first World Series title. And by the way, they are only one game behind the Cardinals for the NL Central lead. If the Brew Crew stays this hot, the rest of the league better watch out.

MLB Power Rankings: Postseason Edition

8. St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals are back in the postseason for the first time since 2015. However, their path was not easy, mostly due to the mediocracy of the NL Central for a majority of the season. At the All-Star break, the Cardinals sat in third place behind the Cubs and Brewers, with a 44-44 record.

To emphasize just how bad the NL Central was at that point, the last-place Reds were 41-46 but only sat four and 1/2 games behind the first-place Cubs.

Thus, it was the NL Central was anyone’s race going into the second half. The Cardinals took full advantage of this opportunity, going 46-23 since the break. They are 21-9 in their last 30 games and are riding a 6 game winning streak after sweeping the rival Cubs to eliminate them from NL Central contention. Now, they look to lock up the NL Central early this week.

There were high hopes for the 11-time Champs coming into 2019. Infielder Matt Carpenter was coming off one of the best second-half performances of all-time in 2018, bright young stars like Paul DeJong and Harrison Bader were starting to emerge, and they acquired perennial All-Star and MVP candidate Paul Goldschmidt.

After slow starts for many of their big-name players, the Cardinals have turned it around in the second half. No one is more emblematic of this turnaround than 24-year-old infielder Tommy Edman. Edman is having a breakout rookie season. In 87 games, Edman has compiled a .298/.340/.500 slash line with 11 home runs, 33 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. He looks to make an impact at the top of the lineup in October.

Their starting rotation looks formidable, with the emergence of Jack Flaherty as their ace. The 23-year-old has lived up to his high expectations this year, posting a 2.96 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 3.63 FIP in 31 starts this season. Veteran Adam Wainwright has enjoyed a resurgence in 2019 at the age of 38. His postseason experience will most likely pencil him into the number two slot in October. Miles Mikolas has struggled to replicate his All-Star year in 2018, where he finished 6th in Cy Young voting, However, he has done enough to prove himself worthy of earning postseason starts. Dakoda Hudson will most likely serve as the number four starter in their playoff rotation.

The most pleasant surprise for the Cardinals has been their bullpen strength. They lead the league in saves with 52, with Carlos Martinez earning the closer role down the stretch. They rank third in bullpen ERA at 3.79. Andrew Miller, Jordan Hicks, John Gant, and Giovanny Gallegos have all had strong seasons, and look to continue their dominance in October.

However, the fact that St. Louis plays in the NL Central resulted in them ranking at the bottom of the playoff list. They also lack some of the depth that other teams ahead of them thrive on. They should not be taken lightly by any team, however, as the Cardinals have had some magical Octobers in their organization’s rich past.

MLB Power Rankings: Postseason Edition

7. Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays have secured a playoff birth for the first time since 2013. In a division where both the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox won over 100 games in 2018, the Rays somewhat quietly won 90 games. However, they gained national attention for Kevin Cash’s invention of the “opener” strategy, which was unsuccessfully utilized by the A’s in the 2018 AL WIld Card game. In 2019, will face the same foe in the 2019 AL Wild Card game.

Many thought the Rays were bound for a rebuild after they traded away Evan Longoria in the beginning of the 2018 season. However, the Rays’ front office made some sneakily great moves to propel their team back to the playoffs. They dealt longtime ace Chris Archer to the Pirates at the deadline for Tyler Glasnow, Austin Meadows, and Shane Baz. That deal turned out to be incredible for the Rays, as Meadows and Glasnow have become a promising young duo in 2019.

Meadows has been the Rays’ best offensive player this season. He earned his first All Star appearance after a productive first half. On the season, he has slashed .291/.364/.558 with 33 home runs and 89 RBIs. The 24-year-old slugger with anchor a young, yet talented lineup.

The Rays also acquired outfielder Tommy Pham from the Cardinals at the 2018 trade deadline. Pham was incredible for the Rays in the second of half of 2018, hitting .331 with 8 home runs and 28 RBIs. He has put up another productive season for the Rays, and looks to become a key contributor in a potential postseason run.

In the offseason, the Rays reloaded an already good roster. Most notably, they acquired former Houston Astro Charlie Morton to their largest free agent in franchise history. Fortunately, Morton has been everything they paid for and more. Following a 2018 campaign where he earned his first All Star game appearance, Morton has continued to be one of the best starting pitchers in the American League. He pitched to a 16-6 record with a 3.05 ERA, 2.82 FIP, and an American League-leading 0.7 home runs per nine innings.

Morton will start for the Rays in the Wild Card game, after Blake Snell has failed to follow up with his 2018 Cy Young performance in 2019. Regardless, the Rays have a formidable 1-2 punch with Morton and Snell, with breakout starters Yonny Chirinos, Ryan Yarborough and Tyler Glasnow giving them solid options deep in a playoff series.

While the Rays have fielded a good lineup and starting rotation, their biggest strength by far is their bullpen. They have the lowest bullpen ERA at 3.62. While they don’t have a dominant closer, their depth is what makes them so good. Oliver Drake, Diego Castillo, Chaz Roe, and Emilio Pagan have all been effective, and their bullpen goes much deeper that. Kevin Cash’s ability to properly deploy all his weapons has gotten the Rays to where they are now.

The Rays got off a scorching hot start in 2019, and they never looked back. They started off the season an AL-best 19-11 through the first two months of the season. While they could not keep up with the Yankees in the AL East, the Rays have put together a scrappy young team with a dominant bullpen that can surprise a lot of people in October.

MLB Power Rankings: Postseason Edition

6. Oakland Athletics

The Oakland Athletics will play in the AL Wild Card game for the second straight season. They have done so 6th lowest payroll in baseball. The only other playoff team with a lower payroll is the Tampa Bay Rays, who they will face off against in the AL WIld Card game.

Much of the A’s success has come from players developed within their farm system. Matt Olson, Ramon Laureano, and Mark Cahna are all home-grown talents who have made big time contributions to the A’s in recent years. However, no young home-grown talent has been quite as important as Matt Chapman.

Chapman has proven to be one of the brightest young stars in the MLB. Chapman won his first gold glove at third base in 2018, his first full season in the league. He has even improved on his already elite-level defense this year, raising his UZR from 10.9 to 15.4. He showed flashes of an elite bat in 2018 as well, and has proved to be a force in 2019. En route to his first All Star game appearance, Chapman has slugged 36 home runs with 91 RBIs. Chapman’s 6.6 WAR will most likely grant him a top-10 MVP finish, and his future is even brighter.

While Chapman has gained all the attention, another infielder has been even more important to the Athletics. That would be Marcus Semien. Semien is in the midst of the best season of his career. The 28-year-old shortstop is hitting .285/.370/.523 with 33 home runs and 91 RBIs from the leadoff spot. What has made him so valuable is his durability at the top of the lineup. Semien played in all 162 games in the regular season, and had a league high 747 at bats. His outstanding all around performance and durabilty has resulted in a 8.1 WAR, which is the 4th best in the league.

The A’s have managed to find success in their starting pitching without a dominant clear ace. Mike Fiers has become their number 1 starter, with a 15-4 record and a 3.90 ERA to show for (and a No-Hitter). Veteran Brett Anderson has been great, along with fellow veterans Tanner Roark and Homer Bailey, who have given them solid starts and will give them depth in the postseason. Chris Bassitt has had a good season, and Sean Manaea has looked like the ace he showed signs of becoming before suffering a serious arm injury. In 4 starts this season, he has a perfect 4-0 record with an outstanding 1,21 ERA and 30 strikeouts. It will be a tough decision whether to start Manaea or Fiers in the AL WIld Card Game.

Whoever they decide to start, they will be reinforced by a great bullpen. While former All-Star closer Blake Treinen has been demoted in the bullpen after struggling in the role, Liam Hendriks has taken over the job effectively. He has pitched to a 1.80 ERA and 1.88 FIP with 25 saves and 124 strikeouts en route to an All Star nod. Hendriks and Treinen are reinforced by the likes of Yusmerio Petit, Joakim Soria, and Daniel Mengden, to name a few. The Oakland bullpen can play with anybody.

The A’s are on a mission to prove the doubters wrong. They want to prove that they are a legitimate threat to win the AL pennant and fight for a championship. There first step is winning the AL Wild Card game, which they weren’t able to do last year in New York. This year, they have home field, and they look to make a deep October run in 2019.

MLB Power Rankings: Playoff Edition

5. Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins have powered themselves to the AL Central title for the first time since 2010. In the first year under manager Rocco Baldelli, the Twins have bulldozed opponents offensively en route to their division crown.

After earning a Wild Card spot in 2017, the Twins failed to reach the postseason in 2018, finishing with a disappointing 78-84 record. This prompted the firing of manager Paul Molitor, who failed to build upon his previous success with a young, exciting core.

However, the Twins turned everything around in 2019. Right out of the gates, the young Twins proved they could hit. Jorge Polanco was an early MVP Candidate, putting his PED suspension behind him and proving he can be the elite shortstop he has the tools to be. In the first half, Polanco hit .312 with 13 home runs and 42 RBIs and earned the start in the All Star game.

Other young stars have taken their talents to the next level as well. Max Kepler, Miguel Sano, Eddie Rosario, and Mitch Garver all slugged over 30 home runs. To go along with the youngsters, the veterans have produced as well. Offseason acquisition Nelson Cruz has been an unstoppable force in the middle of the lineup. He is arguably having his best season at the age of 39. He has slashed .305/.389/.630 with 40 home runs and 106 RBIs. Other offseason additions like C.J. Cron, Jonathan Schoop, and Marwin Gonzalez have strengthened an already strong offense.

While all the attention has gone to the Twins’ offense, their bullpen has quietly been among the best in the league. They have the 4th lowest bullpen ERA, and many unknown pieces who have made large contributions. Trevor May, Zack Littell and Tyler Duffey have been outstanding, and Taylor Rodgers has been dominant as of late. While the Twins’ closer has dealt with his fair share of struggles, he has converted 13 straight save opportunities. Finally, having an experienced veteran like Sergio Romo as an option can help any team in October.

Starting pitching will be the biggest question mark for the Twins in the postseason. Jose Berrios and Jake Odorizzi will take Game 1 and Game 2, but the suspension of Michael Pineda creates a lot of uncertainty about the depth of their playoff rotation. Kyle Gibson will likely be their third starter, with Martín Perez next in line. If their starters can find some postseason magic, the Twins are a legitimate World Series contender.

Regardless of what happens in October, this season has been historic for the Twins. On September 1st, the Twins shattered the All-time, single-season home run record with their 268th long ball. Since then, they haven’t slowed down. On September 25th, they became the first team ever to surpass 300 home runs in a season. However, the Yankees are breathing down their back for that record. They are only a few home runs back, and look to spoil their pursuit of history. To sweeten the pot, it appears like the Yankees and Twins are going to meet in the ALDS. If you are a fan of home runs, get your popcorn ready.

MLB Power Rankings: Postseason Edition

4. Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves are one of the most exciting young teams in MLB. After the Braves won their first NL East title since 2013 last season, they entered this year with high expectations.

After being eliminated in the NLDS by the Dodgers, the Braves improved on every front in 2019. In the offseason, they signed former MVP Josh Donaldson to a 1-year, $23 million contract. After playing only 16 games in 2018, Donaldson has returned to the slugger he once was. In 2019, he has hit .255/.377/.520 with 37 home runs and 89 RBIs to give the Braves a veteran bat in the middle of the lineup.

On the other corner of the infield, fellow superstar veteran Freddie Freeman has put up another monster season. The four-time All-Star has slashed an impressive .296/.391/.555 to along with 38 home runs and 121 RBIs, both of which are career highs.

While the veterans make a formidable duo in the middle of the lineup, the most valuable Brave hits at the top of the lineup. Ronald Acuña Jr. is only 21-years-old, and he is already considered one of the best in MLB. After winning the 2018 NL Rookie of the Year Award, Acuña continued to show off his 5-tool talent in 2019. He has 41 home runs and 101 RBIs to go along with an NL-leading 37 steals and 127 runs scored. He is looking to become only the fifth member of the 40-40 club, and first since Alfonso Soriano in 2006. Oh, and did I mention he’s only 21?

What keeps the Braves outside the top-3 is their pitching staff. There are a lot of questions surrounding how they will structure their playoff starting rotation since they have no clear ace. The best bet to start game 1 is Dallas Keuchel, who was acquired in June to bolster their rotation. Keuchel has pitched decent, posting a 3.59 ERA in 18 starts. His postseason experience is what will most likely earn him the game 1 nod.

The rest of their postseason rotation is up for debate. While Mike Soroka has had an incredible rookie season and has undoubtedly been their most consistent starter, his struggles pitching at home are a legitimate concern. Mike Foltynewicz, who had an incredible 2018, struggled to replicate his All-Star performance. However, he has been on a tear recently, posting a 0.69 ERA in September. Max Fried and Julio Teheran are also options to pick up postseason starts.

If the Braves pitching can hold up, they have a legitimate chance to chase an NL Pennant. Their offense is electric with Acuña at the top, and their bullpen has been underratedly good despite the struggles of their high-profile deadline acquisitions, Shane Greene and Mark Melancon.

MLB Power Rankings: Postseason Edition

3. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers are the premium team of the National League. In each of the last seven years, they have won the NL West. They have also claimed two straight NL Pennants, but have yet to claim their first World Series title since 1988.

The Dodgers stayed relatively quiet in the offseason. Their only notable acquisitions being reliever Joe Kelly and outfielder A.J. Pollack. More notably, they traded away Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig to the Reds.

However, the Dodgers have shown no signs of slowing down in 2019. They dominated the NL West all season long, going 45-25 against their division foes. At the All-Star break, they held the best record in the NL at 60-32. They would go on to hold that position for the rest of the season and will roll into October with home-field advantage.

Fueling the Dodgers’ success is their outstanding starting pitching. The Dodgers rank first in the MLB in overall starter ERA with a whopping 3.15. Leading that rotation is Hyun-Jin Ryu. Ryu has always been a good starter in since his debut in 2013, but this year he has been incredible. He leads all of baseball with a 2.41 ERA. He has also posted a 3.18 FIP and a 6.50 strikeout-to-walk ratio. While he has come back down to after an absurd first half, where he was nearly unhittable with a 1.73 ERA, he still remains a legitimate candidate to take home the NL Cy Young crown.

Walker Buehler has also cemented himself as one of the best young pitchers in MLB. After a rookie year where he posted a 2.62 ERA in 23 starts, Buehler has continued to show he has premium strikeout stuff. The 24-year-old righty has a 13-4 record with a 3.25 ERA, 3.03 FIP, and 207 strikeouts.

The Dodgers also have a guy named Clayton Kershaw who is supposed to be pretty good, too. He’s 15-5 with a 3.15 ERA with his eighth All-Star appearance. It is probably wise not to forget about him if you’re an opposing team.

The Dodgers’ starting pitching is complemented by an elite offense. They have set a franchise record with 268 home runs as a team. 46 of those have come off the bat of Cody Bellinger. Bellinger experienced somewhat of a sophomore slump after an outstanding Rookie of the Year campaign in 2017. However, if there were any doubters that Bellinger would return to stardom, he has put them to rest. He has compiled a ridiculous .302/.404./.628 slash line while also leading the NL in total bases with 341. To add the cherry on top, he leads the entire league with an 8.6 WAR. Bellinger has been an MVP candidate all season, and he looks poised to take home the award.

If there are any weak spots on the Dodgers’ roster, it’s their bullpen. While they still have the 4th ranked bullpen in the NL, they lack depth in the back end. They failed to pick up a high-end set-up man or closer at the trade deadline, and are forced to roll with what they have. Furthermore, Kenley Jansen has not been the same this year. He has posted a career worsts in ERA (3.90) and blown saves (8). If any team is going to beat the Dodgers, it is going to be through their bullpen. However, the boys in blue are on hungry to finally take home that elusive World Series title.

MLB Power Rankings: Postseason Edition

2. New York Yankees

The New York Yankees are on a quest to claim their 28th World Series title in 2019. Despite winning 100 games in 2018, the Yankees claimed a Wild Card spot and got dominated by their rival and eventual World Series champion Boston Red Sox. With a powerful roster, the Yankees made sure they wouldn’t get embarrassed again.

In the offseason, GM Brian Cashman somewhat quietly improved his already strong roster. After making an early splash to land lefty starting pitcher James Paxton, Cashman made smart moves that avoided the headlines dominated by Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. He re-signed veterans Brett Gardner, C.C. Sabathia, Zack Britton, and J.A. Happ to team-friendly deals, while also adding All-Star reliever Adam Ottavino.

However, no offseason acquisition was more impactful than D.J. LeMahieu. For some unknown reason, LeMahieu flew under the radar in the offseason. The three-time All-Star and Gold Glove second baseman has been the Yankees’ most valuable player all year long. Entering this week, LeMahieu has hit .328/.376/.520 with 26 home runs, 99 RBIs, and 6.0 WAR. He has been the most consistent and versatile Yankee, making him invaluable at the top of their lineup.

The rest of the Yankees’ lineup is pretty good, too. Lead by sluggers like Aaron Judge, Gleyber Torres, and Gary Sanchez, the Yankees,  have shattered the MLB single-season home run record. They currently lead Twins 298-297, who are also chasing the all-time record. However, it hasn’t been the power that has elevated the Yankees to this level. It’s been their depth.

The Yankees have dealt with an obscene amount of injuries this year. Over 30 players have gone to the injured list, which is another single-season record. However, the next men up have stepped up. Mike Tauchman, Mike Ford, Cameron Maybin, and Austin Romine have all produced in the face of injuries.

However, no one embodies their “next man up” mentality quite like Gio Urshela. Urshela, who has journeyed through the MLB unable to find his footing, has been a revelation for the Yankees this year. After Miguel Andujar went down with a shoulder injury, Urshela had his opportunity to contribute. Subsequently, Urshela became one of the Yankees’ most important players. Along with elite defense at third base, Urshela has hit .315/.356/.532 with 20 home runs and 73 RBIs. He has come through when they needed him the most, and that makes him an X-factor in October.

The Yankees’ powerful lineup is complemented by a powerful bullpen. Tommy Kahnle, Adam Ottavino, Chad Greene, Zack Britton, and Aroldis Chapman give their bullpen more elite depth than any other team in the league. If the Yankees can get quality starts out of their starting pitchers, they will be hard to beat in the postseason.

That is a big if, however. It is no secret that the Yankees starting pitching is their biggest weak spot. J.A. Happ has been awful all year, Masahiro Tanaka has been decent but inconsistent, and Domingo Germán was placed on administrative leave for domestic violence. However, James Paxton has been a bright spot in the rotation down the stretch. After struggling to start the season, Paxton has become the dominant pitcher the Yankees traded for in the offseason. In 24.2 innings pitched in September, Paxton has an incredible 0.36 ERA.

Oh, and Luis Severino is back, too. If he continues to look as good as he has through two starts, the Yankees will be a hard to team to beat.

MLB Power Rankings: Postseason Edition

1. Houston Astros

The Houston Astros sit at the number one spot going into the postseason. The Astros own the best record in MLB and have arguably the most complete team in baseball.

After a 10 year period of mediocrity, which included a move to the AL West and a franchise-worst finish in 2012 (51-111), the Astros found sudden success in 2015. Since then, they have won three straight AL West titles and claimed their first World Series in 2017 over the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 2018, they lost in the ALCS, but the Astros have returned better than ever in 2019.

In the offseason, they acquired long-time Cleveland Indian Michael Brantley. Brantley has dealt with a number of injuries in his career, but whenever he has been healthy, he has been one of the best pure hitters in the league. In 2019, he has been just that for the Astros. He has produced a .313/.374/.501 slash line with 21 home runs (a career-high) and 86 RBIs. His 4.6 WAR has proven his value.

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The most unlikely contributor to an already stellar offense has been rookie phenom, Yordan Alvarez. The 22-year-old slugger broke into the league in a big way this year, hitting an incredible .326/.422/.681 with 27 home runs and 77 RBIs in 82 games. He is likely on his way to winning AL Rookie of the Year.

Alvarez is not the only Astro chasing an award. 25-year-old superstar third baseman Alex Bregman has opened up a legitimate AL MVP case thanks to a ridiculous second half. He currently sits with a .295/.419/.590 slash line, 40 home runs, and 109 RBIs. His 8.0 WAR trails only Cody Bellinger and Mike Trout, who is his only real threat to his MVP case. If Bregman finishes the season on a tear, he might be taking home his first MVP trophy

But wait, we’re not done. Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole are competing with each other for the AL Cy Young. Both have been absolutely dominant in 2019. Their stats are near-identical. Verlander leads Cole in wins 20 to 19, but Cole has the very slight edge in ERA, 2.52 to 2.53. Cole leads the league in strikeouts with 316, but Verlander is second with 288. You can make a case for either to take home the hardware, but the bottom line is that no one in the league wants to face these guys twice in a playoff series.

To make things even more unfair, the Astros acquired former Cy Young and six-time All-Star Zack Greinke. Good luck getting past these guys. Paired with a strong bullpen, the Astros enter the postseason as the most complete team.