2020 MLB playoffs: One X-factor for each American League team

Houston Astros- RHP Jose Urquidy

For obvious reasons, the Houston Astros offense hasn’t been too productive. With a combined .238/.310/.402 slash line and 98 wRC+, it’s almost like they don’t know what’s coming.

If Houston wants to advance in the postseason, they are going to need dominant pitching performances out of their starters. Zack Greinke is going to pitch well, that’s a safe bet. Cristian Javier and Framber Valdez are young arms, but have been pitching well and Lance McCullers has been sharp his two starts since coming back from the Injured List.

But Houston also has another arm with World Series experience and a fresh arm in Jose Urquidy. After a delayed start due to a positive COVID test, Urquidy has thrown three-straight Quality Starts (just four total starts this season), but hasn’t seen his swing and miss stuff come around yet.

If Urquidy brings his strikeout stuff to the playoffs, the Astros will have a deep pool of pitchers to rely on to keep games within reach.

Cleveland Indians- DH Franmil Reyes

Everyone knows what to expect from Cleveland pitching at this point. Shane Bieber is a lock for the Cy Young Award and maybe eve a few MVP votes, Zach Plesac, Carlos Carrasco, and Aaron Civale have all been solid this year, and the Indians still have Cal Quantrill and Triston McKenzie to throw quality innings.

Despite a lackluster offensive performance (MVP candidate Jose Ramirez not included), the Cleveland Indians are winning ballgames and sticking with the White Sox and Twins for an AL Central title.

The difference between a playoff run and an early exit may be DH Franmil Reyes. The Franimal is one of the more imposing figures to step in a batter’s box in MLB and there have been stretches in his brief career where he has put up the numbers to back it up.

The Indians are going to need offense and Reyes can provide that. Through the first half of the season, Reyes hit .293 with six home runs and an .854 OPS, but the bat has cooled off. Reyes is hitting .263 with two home runs and a .739 OPS in the second half, but he’s walking more and continuing to get on base.

If Reyes can solidify the middle of Cleveland’s lineup in October, the pitching staff will be able to handle the rest.

Toronto Blue Jays- A pitcher not named Ryu

The Toronto Blue Jays are certainly building something impressive across the border, but a deep playoff run may not be in the cards quite yet. Still, it’s 2020 and anything can happen, so no one should count out the Blue Jays here.

The X-factor for Toronto will be whoever steps up behind Hyun-Jin Ryu and Taijuan Walker in the rotation. Will it be Matt Shoemaker who is 0-1 with a 4.71 ERA but a 1.08 WHIP? A 2.51 HR/9 IP rate isn’t promising against a playoff team, but you never know.

Tanner Roark has been worth more than 10.0 fWAR over the last four seasons, but he’s 2-3 with a 7.01 ERA and -0.5 fWAR in 2020. There’s also recently acquired Robbie Ray who has been more productive as a Blue Jay than a Diamondback but is still walking more than 14% of hitters he faces.

With rookie sensation Nate Pearson not having pitched since August 18th, any contribution he makes in the postseason will be out of the bullpen, leaving it up to one of the previously mentioned veterans to step up.

The 2020 MLB playoffs begin on Tuesday, September 29th, with all eight AL teams in action.