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The do-or-die nature of the MLB postseason makes it so that any player can become a legend on any given night. It’s not just the superstars, either. Madison Bumgarner may have carved out his legacy during the San Francisco Giants’ 2014 World Series run, but Travis Ishikawa was king for a night*after*his walk-off home run in Game 5 of the NLCS.
Every team that wins a championship experiences moments like this. Superstars turn in dominant performances that seem otherworldly. Questionable starters*defy the odds and come through during the biggest moments, becoming legends for a night.
With that in mind, we here at The Stew looked at 12 players we think can be difference-makers for their clubs during the postseason.*If these guys can perform on the highest stage, their teams could bring home a World Series trophy when all is said and done.
DAVID ORTIZ, DESIGNATED HITTER, BOSTON RED SOX
You don’t need us to tell you about the pomp and circumstance surrounding David Ortiz this season. He’s playing in his final postseason — a stage where he’s thrived in his career — and the Red Sox look every bit like a World Series contender. His stunning farewell season has already included 38 homers, 127 RBIs and a league-high 1.021 OPS. Now, all eyes will be on Big Papi as he tries to end his career in the best way possible. (Mike Oz)
Clayton Kershaw has something to prove in the playoffs. (Getty Images/Lisa Blumenfeld) CLAYTON KERSHAW, STARTING PITCHER, LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Clayton Kershaw as well on his way to a historic season before a back injury he suffered in late June shut him down for over two months. After a drawn-out rehab process, Kershaw returned to the Dodgers in September and didn’t miss a beat, giving up four earned runs in 28 innings over five starts. The three-time Cy Young award winner has had his high-profile struggles in the playoffs, but all it takes is one monster October to put those concerns away forever. He looks ready to do just that. (Israel Fehr)
KRIS BRYANT, THIRD BASEMAN, CHICAGO CUBS
Some people just have it all. Bryant not only has big, dreamy blue eyes that perfectly match his uniform, but he’s also an exceptionally talented baseball player. The 24-year-old seems poised to win the NL MVP award after hitting .292/.385/.554, with 39 home runs, in 699 plate appearances. While regular season awards are great, we’re guessing Bryant would trade that in to give the Cubs their first World Series championship since 1908. (Chris Cwik)
AARON SANCHEZ, STARTING PITCHER, TORONTO BLUE JAYS
From a battle to be the fifth starter in spring training to All-Star by midseason, Aaron Sanchez proved he was absolutely ready to be in the rotation. But even despite his success, it appeared sure that Sanchez was going to end up in the Blue Jays’ bullpen because of an inning cap. And it was sure, until it wasn’t. Instead of converting him to a reliever, Toronto decided to skip a few of Sanchez’s starts to keep him fresh and in the rotation. If the Blue Jays beat Baltimore in the wild-card game Tuesday night and get through to the division series, the decision to keep Sanchez as a starter will be further validated. (Israel Fehr)
Bryce Harper needs to get going in October. (Getty Images/G Fiume) BRYCE HARPER, OUTFIELDER, WASHINGTON NATIONALS
You remember Bryce Harper, the 2015 NL MVP? Well, he’s not here anymore. Instead, we get the disappointing 2016 version of the Nats slugger. He’s struggled mightily after having a fantastic opening month. It’s either an extended slump or the result an injury he’s been playing through, which the Nats deny. Nonetheless, Harper hit .203 in September and only hit four homers in August and September combined. Before you dismiss Harper, though, keep this in mind. He thrives on the big stage and if he can get it together for October, the Nats are that much more dangerous of a team. (Mike Oz)
NOAH SYNDERGAARD, STARTING PITCHER, NEW YORK METS
Last year Noah Syndergaard was one of four fire-balling young pitchers on a Mets team that went to the World Series. Now he’s the last one standing. Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Steven Matz all went down with injuries this season, leaving Syndergaard on his own. He’ll get the start in the wild-card game against the Giants and stands out as the most important player for New York on Wednesday night and beyond. A win in that game would be a good place to start. (Israel Fehr)
THE GIANTS BULLPEN
We’re going to cheat here and throw in the collective Giants bullpen because it’s hard to pick just one player. The Giants ‘pen has been their weakness this season, blowing 30 saves and 13 of them after the All-Star break. It was bad enough to nearly make them miss the postseason. There no meltdown in the final few games of the season, as the Giants swept the Dodgers to get in, but every time Bruce Bochy goes to his relievers in the postseason, we’re going to wonder if they’ll implode. (Mike Oz)
Jason Heyward can erase a poor regular season with a transcendent postseason. (Getty Images/Michael Thomas) JASON HEYWARD, OUTFIELDER, CHICAGO CUBS
Heyward didn’t live up to expectations during the first year of his eight-year, $184 million deal with Chicago, hitting just .230/.306/.325, with seven home runs. Thankfully, the playoffs offer Heyward a blank slate: A chance to start over on the right foot. If there’s a positive here, it’s that expectations won’t be as high for Heyward this time around. Given the Cubs’ strong lineup, Joe Maddon can bury Heyward low in the lineup and hope for the best. A strong October could salvage what was otherwise a disastrous first season on the North Side. (Chris Cwik)
MARK TRUMBO, OUTFIELDER, BALTIMORE ORIOLES
All Mark Trumbo cost the Orioles in an offseason traded was a backup catcher. The hulking slugger rewarded them by leading the majors in home runs with 47 and bolstering an already powerful lineup. The Blue Jays, Baltimore’s opponent in Tuesday night’s wild-card game, are well aware that Trumbo can change the outcome of the game with one swing of the bat. He looms large, literally and figuratively, in the Orioles’ lineup and for whoever he’ll face in the postseason. (Israel Fehr)
TREVOR BAUER, STARTING PITCHER, CLEVELAND INDIANS
Bauer didn’t even open the season in the Indians starting rotation. Now, he’s the club’s No. 2 starter. That says less about Bauer’s performance and more about the team’s depleted rotation. With both Danny Salazar and Carlos Carrasco injured, the Indians need Bauer to step up now more than ever. He’s always had tantalizing stuff, but the results haven’t matched. Now would be the perfect time to put it all together. (Chris Cwik)
Yu Darvish could be the key to the Rangers’ success in October. (Getty Images/Jason O. Watson) YU DARVISH, STARTING PITCHER, TEXAS RANGERS
The Texas Rangers lineup is deep, but their pitching isn’t without question marks. They enter the postseason ranking 22 of 30 in team ERA, which isn’t what you expect from a team that was the best in the AL. That’s why the Rangers need the best out of Yu Darvish. Cole Hamels is their No. 1 at this point, since Darvish only pitched part of the season as he returned from Tommy John surgery. Results were up and down, but Darvish had a couple of his best outings in his last two starts. He struck out 12 in six innings on Friday and threw seven shutout innings on Sept. 24, allowing just two hits and striking out nine. If he’s finding his groove, the Rangers will be that much tougher to beat. (Mike Oz)
RICK PORCELLO, STARTING PITCHER, BOSTON RED SOX
What a turnaround. In just one season, Porcello went from untradeable contract to Game 1 starter. Yes, Rick Porcello is starting Game 1 of the ALDS over David Price and it’s absolutely the right decision. Over 223 innings, the 27-year-old posted a 3.15 ERA., He is entering the postseason on a roll, finishing the regular season as the September pitcher of the month. Turning in a great regular season performance is one thing. Consistently beating other No. 1 starters in a tough playoff series is something else entirely. (Chris Cwik)
More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:
Every team that wins a championship experiences moments like this. Superstars turn in dominant performances that seem otherworldly. Questionable starters*defy the odds and come through during the biggest moments, becoming legends for a night.
With that in mind, we here at The Stew looked at 12 players we think can be difference-makers for their clubs during the postseason.*If these guys can perform on the highest stage, their teams could bring home a World Series trophy when all is said and done.
DAVID ORTIZ, DESIGNATED HITTER, BOSTON RED SOX
You don’t need us to tell you about the pomp and circumstance surrounding David Ortiz this season. He’s playing in his final postseason — a stage where he’s thrived in his career — and the Red Sox look every bit like a World Series contender. His stunning farewell season has already included 38 homers, 127 RBIs and a league-high 1.021 OPS. Now, all eyes will be on Big Papi as he tries to end his career in the best way possible. (Mike Oz)
Clayton Kershaw as well on his way to a historic season before a back injury he suffered in late June shut him down for over two months. After a drawn-out rehab process, Kershaw returned to the Dodgers in September and didn’t miss a beat, giving up four earned runs in 28 innings over five starts. The three-time Cy Young award winner has had his high-profile struggles in the playoffs, but all it takes is one monster October to put those concerns away forever. He looks ready to do just that. (Israel Fehr)
KRIS BRYANT, THIRD BASEMAN, CHICAGO CUBS
Some people just have it all. Bryant not only has big, dreamy blue eyes that perfectly match his uniform, but he’s also an exceptionally talented baseball player. The 24-year-old seems poised to win the NL MVP award after hitting .292/.385/.554, with 39 home runs, in 699 plate appearances. While regular season awards are great, we’re guessing Bryant would trade that in to give the Cubs their first World Series championship since 1908. (Chris Cwik)
AARON SANCHEZ, STARTING PITCHER, TORONTO BLUE JAYS
From a battle to be the fifth starter in spring training to All-Star by midseason, Aaron Sanchez proved he was absolutely ready to be in the rotation. But even despite his success, it appeared sure that Sanchez was going to end up in the Blue Jays’ bullpen because of an inning cap. And it was sure, until it wasn’t. Instead of converting him to a reliever, Toronto decided to skip a few of Sanchez’s starts to keep him fresh and in the rotation. If the Blue Jays beat Baltimore in the wild-card game Tuesday night and get through to the division series, the decision to keep Sanchez as a starter will be further validated. (Israel Fehr)
You remember Bryce Harper, the 2015 NL MVP? Well, he’s not here anymore. Instead, we get the disappointing 2016 version of the Nats slugger. He’s struggled mightily after having a fantastic opening month. It’s either an extended slump or the result an injury he’s been playing through, which the Nats deny. Nonetheless, Harper hit .203 in September and only hit four homers in August and September combined. Before you dismiss Harper, though, keep this in mind. He thrives on the big stage and if he can get it together for October, the Nats are that much more dangerous of a team. (Mike Oz)
NOAH SYNDERGAARD, STARTING PITCHER, NEW YORK METS
Last year Noah Syndergaard was one of four fire-balling young pitchers on a Mets team that went to the World Series. Now he’s the last one standing. Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Steven Matz all went down with injuries this season, leaving Syndergaard on his own. He’ll get the start in the wild-card game against the Giants and stands out as the most important player for New York on Wednesday night and beyond. A win in that game would be a good place to start. (Israel Fehr)
THE GIANTS BULLPEN
We’re going to cheat here and throw in the collective Giants bullpen because it’s hard to pick just one player. The Giants ‘pen has been their weakness this season, blowing 30 saves and 13 of them after the All-Star break. It was bad enough to nearly make them miss the postseason. There no meltdown in the final few games of the season, as the Giants swept the Dodgers to get in, but every time Bruce Bochy goes to his relievers in the postseason, we’re going to wonder if they’ll implode. (Mike Oz)
Heyward didn’t live up to expectations during the first year of his eight-year, $184 million deal with Chicago, hitting just .230/.306/.325, with seven home runs. Thankfully, the playoffs offer Heyward a blank slate: A chance to start over on the right foot. If there’s a positive here, it’s that expectations won’t be as high for Heyward this time around. Given the Cubs’ strong lineup, Joe Maddon can bury Heyward low in the lineup and hope for the best. A strong October could salvage what was otherwise a disastrous first season on the North Side. (Chris Cwik)
MARK TRUMBO, OUTFIELDER, BALTIMORE ORIOLES
All Mark Trumbo cost the Orioles in an offseason traded was a backup catcher. The hulking slugger rewarded them by leading the majors in home runs with 47 and bolstering an already powerful lineup. The Blue Jays, Baltimore’s opponent in Tuesday night’s wild-card game, are well aware that Trumbo can change the outcome of the game with one swing of the bat. He looms large, literally and figuratively, in the Orioles’ lineup and for whoever he’ll face in the postseason. (Israel Fehr)
TREVOR BAUER, STARTING PITCHER, CLEVELAND INDIANS
Bauer didn’t even open the season in the Indians starting rotation. Now, he’s the club’s No. 2 starter. That says less about Bauer’s performance and more about the team’s depleted rotation. With both Danny Salazar and Carlos Carrasco injured, the Indians need Bauer to step up now more than ever. He’s always had tantalizing stuff, but the results haven’t matched. Now would be the perfect time to put it all together. (Chris Cwik)
The Texas Rangers lineup is deep, but their pitching isn’t without question marks. They enter the postseason ranking 22 of 30 in team ERA, which isn’t what you expect from a team that was the best in the AL. That’s why the Rangers need the best out of Yu Darvish. Cole Hamels is their No. 1 at this point, since Darvish only pitched part of the season as he returned from Tommy John surgery. Results were up and down, but Darvish had a couple of his best outings in his last two starts. He struck out 12 in six innings on Friday and threw seven shutout innings on Sept. 24, allowing just two hits and striking out nine. If he’s finding his groove, the Rangers will be that much tougher to beat. (Mike Oz)
RICK PORCELLO, STARTING PITCHER, BOSTON RED SOX
What a turnaround. In just one season, Porcello went from untradeable contract to Game 1 starter. Yes, Rick Porcello is starting Game 1 of the ALDS over David Price and it’s absolutely the right decision. Over 223 innings, the 27-year-old posted a 3.15 ERA., He is entering the postseason on a roll, finishing the regular season as the September pitcher of the month. Turning in a great regular season performance is one thing. Consistently beating other No. 1 starters in a tough playoff series is something else entirely. (Chris Cwik)
More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports: