MLB Postseason: Five Unheralded Names to Watch in October

Mike Trout is going to be the proverbial “face” of the upcoming MLB postseason for the next month or so. We can quibble about how much star power baseball needs to move the television ratings at another juncture. If you’ve paid attention to baseball this year it’s becoming increasingly clear teams need a complete, useful 25-man roster (and some help from the minors) to stay afloat.

In turn, some less-than-heralded players are going to make an impact an October, even if they lack Subway endorsement contracts. For the purpose of this brief post I left out the Tigers/Royals/Athletics/Mariners. Three of the four are going to wind up in the playoffs, but we can examine their rosters, if you’d like, at a later date.

Anthony Rendon, Washington

If there’s a candidate for “breakout” player in the MLB postseason, it’s probably Rendon. In his second year in the majors, Rendon is arguably the Nationals best offensive player without even a fraction of the hype of teammate Bryce Harper generates. The 24-year-old is second in the baseball behind Mike Trout in runs scored (108) and perhaps his most impressive tribute is a low-ish strikeout rate. Rendon’s hit 20 homers and only struck out 98 times in 585 at bats. For a quick comparison teammate Ian Desmond has 28 homers but a league-high 178 whiffs.

Rendon’s play at third has also negated the impact of Ryan Zimmerman being held to only 53 games this year.

We still don’t know how Matt Williams is going to line up his postseason rotation, but if Tanner Roark moves to the bullpen he could be a bit of a breakout player, or at least produce a late-inning option besides Rafael Soriano or Drew Storen.

Steve Pearce, Baltimore

“Next Man Up” is a football term and was the titled of a book about the Baltimore Ravens, but it’s pretty much been the philosophy at Camden Yards this year. Yes, the American League East is down this season but Baltimore leading the division by 14.5 games as of Thursday morning is impressive given the amount of injuries to key players and a vastly underrated pitching staff which owns the third-best ERA in the American League (3.45) despite lacking anyone you’d readily label a “marquee” name.

Pearce embodies the 2014 Orioles fairly well. It’s difficult to come up with a term other than “journeyman” to describe the 31-year-old first baseman, in fact his full legal name might read Journeyman Steve Pearce. Baltimore will certainly take 20 home runs and an OPS over .900, especially with (a struggling) Chris Davis suspended for the start of the postseason.

Baltimore does field one legit star in Adam Jones, but if Buck Showalter coaxes a deep run in October leaning heavily on the likes David Lough, Ryan Flaherty, Miguel Gonzalez and Darren O’Day, they might have to build a life-size statue of him out of Old Bay seasoning outside Camden Yards.

Joe Smith, Los Angeles Angels

Smith is back in his familar role as a set-up guy after the Halos acquired Huston Street. Statistically Smith is putting together a great season in the pen, allowing only 43 hits in 71 innings. Post-All Star break the side-armer is holding batters to a .141 average.

Overall, the Angels bullpen ERA is middle of the pack with a 3.45 ERA, but with Smith, Street and Kevin Jepsen there are some valuable arms for Mike Scioscia to lean on in the postseason.

Josh Harrison, Pittsburgh

If you picked up Harrison off waivers in your fantasy baseball league at some point this summer, congrats. Harrison’s played third, short and second along with both corner outfield sports. Harrison’s managed to provide nice pop wherever he’s played, slugging over .500 with 13 homers, earning a place on the All Star Team earlier this year.

Pittsburgh on the whole is a secretly potent offensive team, with nine players posting double-digit home runs. Harrison’s bat will be all the more important with Pedro Alvarez likely done for the season due to a stress fracture in his foot.

Yes, you could quibble the Pirates are only 2.5 up on the Brewers for the second National League Wild Card, but I’m going to anticipate a second straight season of #Buctober.

Justin Turner, Los Angeles Dodgers

What if I told you a utility infielder has the second-best OPS on the Dodgers? What if I told you Tuner’s .862’s OPS is actually better than Yasiel Puig’s? What if I told you Turner’s OPS is almost at 1.000 after the All Star Break?

Should I couch this? (Yes.) Turner’s only had 272 at bats in 2014, but he’s been quite productive for Don Mattingly’s team. Even so, Puig and Kershaw will dominant the headlines for the Dodgers in October but its guys like Turner and Scott Van Slyke who’ll be needed if the team looks to end its World Series drought dating back to 1988.

(This may or may not have been Yardwork, but have fun making a comment anyway.)