1) David Wright, New York Mets
It wasn’t but a few short weeks ago that the New York Mets lineup was looking more minor than major league: John Mayberry Jr hit third, Eric Campbell fourth. Suddenly, the once-meager Metropolitans are monsters, dominating both sides of the game and loaded with lineup options after acquiring Yoenis Cespedes, Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson. Now if the Mets can get healthy, the group that recently found their power game could move into MLB’s elite.
Catcher Travis d’Arnaud has already returned from missing over 75 games; if he stays on the field New York will boast one the best hitting backstops in the game. Michael Cuddyer was underwhelming for much of the season, but if his balky knee bounces back, the veteran outfielder will only deepen the Mets’ bench.
Then there’s the real x-factor in the Mets mix: the health of David Wright. The third baseman remains the face of the franchise despite a down 2014 and missing nearly all of this season with spinal stenosis. Considering the depth of the Mets pitching staff, there might just be enough offense available for the team to reach October for the first time in nearly a decade. Still, the return of a healthy Wright, who is reportedly on the verge of a rehab assignment, would be akin to adding another blockbuster bat: a seven-time All-Star being surrounded by their deepest group since the Shea Stadium days of Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes. However, considering the seriousness of his condition, such a prospect remains a fantasy of Mets fans until Wright proves his back will hold up.
Oh, and one last thing about New York: a rotation that’s allowed two runs or fewer in 10 of the last 11 games is still awaiting the return of Steven Matz, the pitching phenom who dazzled over two starts in late June and July before suffering a partial tear of his left lat muscle. A September return would move an already insane rotation into a whole other universe.
2) Luis Severino, New York Yankees
Despite a need for starting pitching depth, the New York Yankees didn’t acquire Cole Hamels, David Price, or even Scott Kazmir at the trade deadline. While their old Boss, George Steinbrenner, might have pressed general manager Brian Cashman to deal away prospects prospects such as Aaron Judge and Rob Refsnyder to help reel in the biggest fish, today’s bosses, sons Hank and Hal, are happy to be patient, even-keeled and measured. For some Yankees fans it could take some getting used to, this seeking out youth, flexibility and financial efficiency, along with resisting the pressures to part with potential future stars.
Of course common sense also says why part with the family jewels when your chief prospect is Luis Severino, a 21-year-old Dominican Republic born phenom who posted a 1.91 ERA along with a sub 1.000 WHIP in 11 starts for the Yanks’ Triple-A club in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The timing of his arrival works well: front-end starter Michael Pineda only just hit the disabled list, and so New York are in immediate need of a quality starter. Severino could be much more than that of course, a hurler described as fearless, who attacks the strike zone with a live fastball that jumps out on hitters, and a pair of different looking breaking balls that feature varying speeds. Both the Boston Red Sox and Yankees got a taste of what’s to come on Wednesday when Severino became the first hurler in American League history to allow two or fewer while walking none and striking out at least seven in a debut, one in which he was a hard-luck loser.
New York are on top of the AL East, in the midst of a 16-7 run that includes more air-tight bullpen work from the likes of Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller, and an offense led by Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez, one that recently pummeled opponents to the tune of 90 runs in just nine games. So while Severino doesn’t have the sex appeal of a Price-like acquisition, he could be more than enough to ensure the Yankees return to the post-season for the first time since 2012.
3) George Springer, Houston Astros
George Springer has been out of Houston’s lineup since 1 July with a fractured wrist, but that hasn’t stopped him from bringing fog machines into the clubhouse, and badgering his manager, AJ Finch, with his omnipresent personality. So, no, the Astros don’t actually miss George Springer the man, but they do miss his bat, badly.
Yes, Springer has become well known for his strikeouts, but you can’t deny the value of the springy outfielder that never seems to lack for energy. Behind the rookie sensation Carlos Correa, Springer has the second highest OPS (.822 with 13 home runs) on the ballclub, and despite missing time, he’s also second on the Astros in the WAR department.
Of course, the most troubling aspect of having Springer out of the lineup is the Astros’ record with the 25-year-old on the pine: Houston are just 15-19 without him and 45-20 with him. When you take away Houston’s hot 15-7 start, they’re just three games over .500, and are coming off a series sweep at the hands of the rising Texas Rangers. So, despite their first place status in the AL West, and a bevy of young talent that’s helped fuel a monumental turnaround for the franchise, the Astros’ inexperienced ecosystem remains fragile. All the more reason that getting Springer back in the lineup some September can’t happen quickly enough.
4) Josh Harrison, Pittsburgh Pirates
Life in Pittsburgh was free and easy for the cruising Pirates, that is, until rotation stalwart AJ Burnett went down with a strained flexor tendon. The good news is that the injury is actually a heck of a lot better than the alternative: potentially career-threatening ulnar collateral ligament surgery for the 38-year-old. The bad news is that he could be throwing softballs at PNC Park upon his return, so now the starting rotation is a bit thin after Gerrit Cole and Francisco Liriano, putting the onus on the offense and the bullpen to pick up the slack. Both units have performed well, but the lineup has a few glaring holes, particularly at third base. That’s usually home to leadoff hitter Josh Harrison, but since the all-star went down with a thumb injury in early July, George Polanco has taken over the top spot in the batting order. More alarmingly, Aramis Ramirez and his freezing .294 OPS has spent a bit of time at the hot corner in his absence. That can’t continue, especially if Pittsburgh’s bats, who have put up the sixth most runs in the National League, are going to push the accelerator button and boost the Buccos’ offense. Harrison, who was in the midst of a downturn following his breakout 2014 season a year ago, should be back in early September, just in time for a stretch run that could send a World Series calibre Pittsburgh team to their third consecutive playoff berth.
5) Derek Holland, Texas Rangers
If you believe that the 2015 Rangers are a long shot to make the post-season you’re not alone. A quick check of playoff probabilities over at fangraphs.com reveals that Texas have just a 14.3% chance of reaching the next stage, however, that’s up 7.5% since their acquisition of Philadelphia Phillies ace Cole Hamels at the deadline. So, yes, we’re saying there’s a chance for these Rangers, who were blistering in May before bombing in June and July.
Even after bringing in Hamels, a move that will give Texas a one-two punch with the injured Yu Darvish in 2016 and beyond, pitching is still an issue in Arlington. Their bullpen is abysmal and their starters injury racked - yet, the team that struggles to win games at home are very much in the race, and that’s because they can flat out rake. Rookie manager Jeff Banister has been able to keep the team afloat thanks to Prince Fielder, Mitch Moreland, Rougned Odor, Adrian Beltre, Josh Hamilton, Shin-Soo Choo and Delino DeShields. Now add Holland, a middle-of-the-road starter into the rotation and you have a reasonable group that includes Hamels, Colby Lewis and Yovani Gallardo. Holland struggled in his second rehab start on Tuesday, but he could return in a few weeks from a shoulder injury and bring a boost to the staff. It wouldn’t be the kind of injection a Hamels brings of course, but this group certainly can’t pitch any worse, and the way Texas swing, well, they’re in a position to win a wild card spot with a formula not dissimilar to what the Red Sox tried to do at the outset of 2015. After winning seven of eight games, a run that includes a series sweep of the first place Astros, confidence, like their playoff probabilities, is rising.
