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The Major League Baseball postseason is upon us, featuring a mix of established superstars, award contenders, and potential Hall of Famers. The wild card round kicks off Tuesday with eight teams vying to extend their seasons.
Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez, the likely American League MVP, powered his team to the AL West crown. Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero, expected to be the runner-up, guided the Rays to the AL's best record. New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler, the probable AL Cy Young winner, takes the mound in Game 1 against the Boston Red Sox. Milwaukee Brewers All-Star Jacob Misiorowski, the NL Cy Young favorite, will start Game 1 against the winner of the San Diego Padres-Chicago Cubs series. Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, poised to dethrone Shohei Ohtani as NL MVP, aims to push the Cubs past the Padres in their three-game set at Petco Park, a rematch of last year.
The postseason is also filled with future Hall of Famers like Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman of the Dodgers, Manny Machado of the Padres, Jose Ramirez of the Guardians, Chris Sale of the Braves, Aaron Judge of the Yankees, Jose Altuve of the Astros, and Bryce Harper of the Phillies. Veterans like Cubs reliever Caleb Thielbar (39), Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman (38), Freeman (37), Sale (37), and Sonny Gray (36) bring experience. Young talents include 20-year-old Padres catcher Ethan Salas, who will be the youngest catcher ever in the postseason, and 22-year-old outfielders Jackson Chourio (Brewers), Roman Anthony (Red Sox), and Justin Crawford (Phillies).
With the field set, here is one player from each team who could have the biggest impact on whether they advance past the weekend.
Chicago Cubs: Alex Bregman, 3B
Just a week ago, Bregman's season was in doubt after he suffered multiple facial fractures from a foul ball near the on-deck circle. He returned with a bang, going 4-for-4 with two home runs on Sunday in his second game back. If he can replicate his form from his last 60 games (.298, 19 HR, 53 RBI, 1.000 OPS), the Cubs' offense becomes nearly unstoppable. Bregman has resumed taking ground balls but has been limited to DH duties since his return.
San Diego Padres: Michael King, RHP
The Padres' rotation has been inconsistent all year, except for King. He posted a 12-10 record with a 3.21 ERA and led the team with 185 innings. King will start Game 1 against the Cubs. If he falters and the Padres lose, their postseason could be brief, with Nick Pivetta (just back from the injured list) and Walker Buehler as other options. Despite having the best bullpen in baseball, San Diego needs King to dominate to have a shot at their first World Series title.
Philadelphia Phillies: Jesus Luzardo, LHP
The Phillies' late-season collapse wreaked havoc on their rotation, forcing ace Zack Wheeler to pitch Sunday to save their season. Now, they may have to rely on Luzardo, who returned Sunday for the first time since Sept. 7 due to shoulder inflammation. He needed just four pitches to record three outs in the eighth inning of their clinching game. The Phillies must decide if he's more valuable as an emergency starter or in their beleaguered bullpen. Regardless, they desperately need him. "I feel like I'm prepared to give the team whatever they ask, whatever they need," Luzardo told reporters Sunday.
Atlanta Braves: Chris Sale, LHP
The veteran turned in another Cy Young-caliber season, going 14-9 with a 2.16 ERA and joining Hall of Famer Randy Johnson as the only lefties to strike out 200+ batters in nine seasons. However, after Sale, the rotation drops off significantly with Tyler Mahle and Grant Holmes. For Atlanta to make a deep run, they likely need to win every game Sale starts.
Boston Red Sox: Willson Contreras, 1B
Contreras has been the Red Sox's best hitter all season, batting .276 with 27 homers and 81 RBI, but missed eight straight games after being hit on the right hand by a pitch on Sept. 17. He returned Sunday as the DH and is expected to be ready for the postseason, where his bat is crucial. "That's so much what the postseason is about," Red Sox manager Chad Tracy told reporters Sunday, "these big moments where one swing can change a game. So that power and that presence in the middle of the order is important."
New York Yankees: Cam Schlittler, RHP
With Aaron Judge expected to be absent for their heavyweight clash against the Red Sox and the offense struggling, the Yankees must lean on their pitching. Enter Schlittler, the Boston native whom the Red Sox let get away. He has dominated Boston in his career, going 2-1 with a 0.74 ERA in four starts. Schlittler is the likely Cy Young winner with a 1.95 ERA in 33 starts, but to become a Yankee legend, he needs to shine in October.
Chicago White Sox: Davis Martin, RHP
The White Sox will go as far as their rotation takes them, starting with Martin (9-8, 3.95 ERA). He was stellar in the first half (9-4, 3.41 ERA) but has struggled since the All-Star break (0-4, 5.12 ERA). He had a rough outing in his last start Saturday against the Rockies, failing to get out of the first inning. Chicago cannot afford another early exit or they'll be eliminated before they can enjoy some Texas barbecue.
Houston Astros: Yordan Alvarez, DH
The Astros, the first team in MLB history to win a division in a full season without a winning record, rely heavily on Alvarez. They go as he goes. Alvarez slashed .316/.432/.601 with 42 homers and 106 RBI this season and has extensive postseason experience, slashing .294/.393/.551 in 60 games. He must continue to terrorize opposing pitchers for Houston to keep their season alive. If Alvarez is shut down, so are the Astros.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: From Bregman to Luzardo, 8 players who will decide MLB playoffs wild card series.
Originally reported by yahoo.