Who’s That Guy? Ordinary Players Who Could Have Extraordinary Moments in the MLB Division Series

For every crew, we’ve chosen a participant who is comparatively unknown to the broader baseball world who has an opportunity to alter that in a rush within the MLB Division Sequence.

The MLB postseason is a microscope.

All of the stretched out little issues and aggregated averages of a 162-game season get blown as much as statuesque proportions within the month when statues are earned.

Underneath that microscope, the 26-man roster turns into extra distinct. The characters of the summer season’s ensemble solid discover their approach into the highlight in climactic moments.

And a few of them change the course of the season. This, then, is our try at an introduction to a few of the pivotal gamers of October whom you won’t know. But.

For every crew, we’ve chosen one participant who is comparatively unknown, unheralded or maybe unfamiliar to the broader baseball world who has an opportunity to alter that standing in a rush as their groups cost into their Division Sequence matchups.

Bear in mind these names.

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Michael Massey, Kansas Metropolis Royals

Lifted by the heroics of freshly minted famous person Bobby Witt Jr. and the stalwart Salvador Perez, the Royals boast solely three certified hitters with above-average uncooked worth+ (RV+), and one in every of them (Vinnie Pasquantino) simply returned with a surgically repaired thumb. RV+ measures contact, plate self-discipline and injury achieved upon contact with the league common being 100. (RV- measures pitchers’ means to stymie these talents.)

Massey, a second baseman with some pop, performed solely 100 regular-season video games resulting from damage, however he is perhaps No. 5 seed Kansas Metropolis’s greatest wager at lengthening the lineup within the subsequent spherical of the playoff bracket towards the AL East-champion New York Yankees.

He has typically discovered himself within the leadoff position regardless of lackluster on-base abilities, with energy simply threatening sufficient to make pitchers’ lives tough as Witt’s bat looms behind him.

Luke Weaver, New York Yankees

One of many items the Arizona Diamondbacks acquired of their ill-fated Paul Goldschmidt deal, Weaver seemed for all of the world like a man on his approach out of the majors only one 12 months in the past. Throughout 2022 and 2023, his stat sheet confirmed 5 totally different groups and an ERA that began with a six.

As a starter, Weaver by no means discovered a constant third providing to affix his fastball-changeup arsenal. However late in 2023, Weaver began working in a cutter (under by way of Baseball Savant).

This 12 months, working solely out of the bullpen, he has honed that three-pitch combine and stepped up within the Bronx bullpen combine.

In September, he struck out an MLB-best 55.6% of the batters he confronted whereas typically closing video games. In October, he’ll seemingly be referred to as upon within the Yankees‘ highest-leverage moments.

Sean Manaea, New York Mets

New face? No. New arm angle? Very a lot so. The tall lefty on a short-term deal took his “show it” 12 months to a brand new stage when he determined, halfway by means of, that maybe he might throw from the dastardly angles that assist make seemingly NL Cy Younger winner Chris Sale so efficient. He dropped down decrease on the fly round midseason and, because it seems, he was proper.

The broader angles accentuated his horizontally oriented arsenal – sinker, sweeper, changeup – and helped him assault hitters extra confidently and enhance his whiff+ to a 114, which ranked 18th within the majors. (Whiff+ measures the power to normal swings and misses).

Within the second half, he logged extra strikeouts, fewer walks and helped fill what might have been a void left by Kodai Senga’s misplaced season. After the Mets shocked the third-seeded Milwaukee Brewers in Sport 3 of the wild-card spherical, Manaea is prone to begin an Nationwide League Division Sequence sport towards the rival Phillies.

Cristopher Sanchez, Philadelphia Phillies

Discovering an unheralded contributor on Dave Dombrowski’s second-seeded Phillies is like on the lookout for an area who doesn’t like Wawa. So forgive us for choosing a starter who ranked within the prime 20 in RV-. The late-blooming lefty carried his 2023 breakout by means of his first full season – 31 begins, a 3.32 ERA and the third-best homer prevention numbers of any certified starter.

His out pitch is a twisting changeup that he retains tightly bunched along with his sinker, resulting in a number of “oops” swings and softly hit grounders.

No, greater than being neglected, Sanchez’s emergence as a trusted arm represents the Phillies’ greatest edge. Behind ace Zack Wheeler, the Phillies have higher choices than anybody else in area. Philadelphia has the home-field benefit as the upper seed towards the Mets and Sanchez may even begin Sport 2 forward of mainstays Aaron Nola and Ranger Suarez.

Parker Meadows, Detroit Tigers

The fifth-seeded Tigers, however, are the “Who’s That Man” All-Stars. Past presumptive AL Cy Younger winner Tarik Skubal, supervisor AJ Hinch informed reporters to count on “pitching chaos.” Since singling out any one in every of their low-ERA, low-Q rating relievers feels foolish, let’s pay attention to a younger outfielder whose development has helped spark their dash to face the second-seeded Cleveland Guardians within the American League Division Sequence.

Meadows’ numbers throughout 82 video games, his second style of the large leagues, gained’t bowl you over, however the lanky lefty hitter’s momentum has tracked with that of the Tigers. The place lots of Detroit’s hitters are downright affected person, Meadows is a contact additional up on the spectrum. He’s selective, prepared to assault when he can drive the ball.

After Aug. 15, he slashed .291/.345/.483 with 5 homers and three triples. He added one other homer towards the Houston Astros in a wild-card sequence sport for good measure.