AL Players to Watch

In order for any team to still be around in October, someone is going to have to take charge. Sometimes that player is someone you'd expect, for some teams, like the Indians, it is someone that at the start of the season you could have never predicted. Here I take a look at what player will be the most important for team on the outside looking in on an AL playoff spot.

AL:

Kansas City: 4.5 WCGB

Billy Butler: What's more of a surprise is that KC is still in it, not how important Butler will be. This year he is hitting .292 with 14 HR and 72 RBI. Kansas City is running out of time, and have a tough schedule with their next 15 games against teams above .500. If he doesn't continue his good play over those next 15 games, KC will end up where everyone expected them to be: not even close.

Cleveland: 3.5 WCGB

Joe Smith: I told you this one would surprise you. Of all the Cleveland pitchers I could have picked, such as Jimenez, Kazmir, Perez, this is the guy I pick. It would be the equivalent of saying that Kelly is going to be more important that Mo and Robertson down the stretch for New York, but I'll tell you why I like him. We all know how important your the bullpen is for any team in September. Well, guess who has been arguably the most valuable reliever for Cleveland this year. In 60 games this year, Smith owns an ERA of just 2.47, to go along with 46 SO and a team leading 20 holds. Obviously shutting teams down in the late innings will be important, and Smith will have to do just that.

Baltimore: 3 WCGB

Chris Davis: You probably saw this one coming. Anyone that has hit 47 HR will be important in September. Do I need to continue?

New York Yankees: 2.5 WCGB

CC Sabathia: Out of all the things that have happened to the Bombers this year, should he not have been one of the few sure things? Despite not being affected by injuries, the Yankees rotation has changed just as much as the rest of the team. Nova spent time in the minors before winning the Pitcher of the Month award by August. Pettite has been inconsistent, Kirosa has struggled recently, Hughes has been demoted to the bullpen, and CC hasn't been CC. To make it CC will have to be CC.