The Red Sox won’t be there, but these guys will.
Playoff baseball is fun. Not making the playoffs is less fun, but just because the Red Sox aren’t participating doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enjoy the imminent chaos. Because baseball is somewhat of a regional sport, you might not as plugged in on other teams, especially those foreign National League squads. Ahead of the playoffs, here are a few players to take note of as we watch other teams live our dreams.
Brice Turang, Milwaukee Brewers
Turang, 24, is in his second season with the Brewers. He plays second base, hits left-handed, and kinda looks like Travis Kelce. At the plate, he’s uninspiring but solid. He sets the table for Milwaukee by putting the ball in play frequently and using his speed to create opportunities. According to Statcast, he’s just slightly slower than Jarren Duran.
His work at the plate isn’t why he’s on this list though. The glove is the main attraction of Turang. Milwaukee was one of the best defensive teams in the league and Turang was a huge reason for that. Any ball hit to his side of the infield is in play. He does things like this:
And this:
And this:
When you’re watching the Brewers and see Turang steal a hit and then steal a base, don’t be surprised.
Cade Smith, Cleveland Guardians
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You’ve probably heard of Emmanuel Clase, Cleveland’s lockdown closer. If you haven’t, finish reading this and go look him up. He’s one of the best closers of the decade and has been so dominant this season that some people (read: morons) think he should beat out Tarik Skubal for the Cy Young.
Anywho, we’re looking elsewhere in the Cleveland bullpen to Cade Smith. Smith comes into the playoffs with a 1.91 ERA and an absurd 35.6% strikeout rate. He’s one of those guys you watch and wonder how he’s so successful. About 70% of his pitches are fastballs, and despite only slightly above average velocity, it’s untouchable. Hitters swing and miss at a 30% rate and are hitting just 0.174 when they do put it in play. Smith strides way down the mound getting among the greatest extension in the league which helps 96 look like 98 or 99. He also has a funky release that doesn’t match the movement of the pitch, leaving hitters baffled. Ben Clemens of FanGraphs did a great job breaking it down better than I can here. When Smith takes the mound for Cleveland, be ready for a barrage of four-seamers that hitters can’t touch.
Tyler Holton, Detroit Tigers
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Staying in the bullpen, Tyler Holton of the Tigers is up next. Detroit doesn’t have a closer with the notoriety of Clase, yet their bullpen owns the fifth-best ERA in all of baseball. Tyler Holton is a big reason why. Holton has thrown 77 innings out of the pen with a 2.33 ERA, although his strikeout rate is a very pedestrian 21.5%.
All relievers are weirdos, but Holton is particularly odd in that he throws six pitches. He’s also left-handed. I know nothing about Holton outside of baseball, but a left-handed reliever with six pitches definitely has a few screws loose. Down the stretch, he’s been the Tigers’ second-highest leverage arm behind only closer Jason Foley. Detroit’s bullpen has been a key piece of their miracle run to the postseason, and Holton is a key contributor.
Jackson Merrill, San Diego Padres
You’ve probably heard of Jackson Merrill; he’s a rookie of the year candidate for a reason. There’s not much to say about Merrill that hasn’t already been said, but if you’re not familiar with him, here you go. He debuted on opening day in Korea as a 20-year-old rookie hitting a touch under .300 with 24 home runs. He also plays fantastic defense at a premier position. Seriously, he’s going to be his star and the next few weeks may help brighten his budding stardom.
Christopher Sanchez, Philadelphia Phillies
I’m not sure where Sanchez fits in the Phillies rotation, but he’s likely to start a playoff game should they advance. In his first full season as a starter, he made 31 starts on his way to a 3.32 ERA. While I think his true talent is closer to a 4.00, there’s no denying his effectiveness this season.
When I watch Sanchez pitch, I see a left-handed Garrett Whitlock. He’s a strike-throwing, groundball-generating machine. Above all though, he’s on this list because I’m a sucker for a pretty changeup. Look at this:
It’s his best pitch and a huge part of why he’s been so good this season. While I could envision Sanche struggling in a playoff game due to his lack of other consistent offerings, the pitch is enough to put him on the list.