MLB: 30 pivotal post-break players
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE
Across the major leagues, teams will be relying on big second-half performances from pitchers who missed nearly all of the first half due to injuries.
The Detroit Tigers need right-hander Justin Verlander to bounce back and give the team a complement to left-hander David Price at the top of the rotation if they are to have a chance of overtaking the Kansas City Royals and/or the Minnesota Twins in the American League Central.
The San Francisco Giants are counting on right-hander Matt Cain regaining his championship form to team with World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner and no-hitter-throwing rookie Chris Heston to form a Big Three in the rotation.
Even teams that might not be contenders are hoping for strong late-season showings from now-healthy pitchers such as Miami Marlins right-hander Jose Fernandez and Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Patrick Corbin.
The Sports Xchange asked its correspondents for all 30 teams to identify a pivotal post-break player.
NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
It is unfair to place expectations on LHP Patrick Corbin, who missed the 2014 season because of Tommy John surgery and just returned July 4. However, his first major league pitch in 645 days was a 92 mph fastball on the black, and he beat Colorado that night. Corbin was 14-8 with a 3.41 ERA in 2013, and if he even approaches that form, the rotation would benefit. Through two major league outings this month, Corbin is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA.
COLORADO ROCKIES
RHP Chad Bettis, who was promoted from Triple-A on May 14, could give the Rockies a much needed second dependable starter to go along with LHP Jorge De La Rosa. The Rockies are 8-4 in games started by Bettis, 26, who is 5-4 with a 4.91 ERA. Bettis has the stuff and the speed variance to succeed. He is back starting this year after struggling in relief last season. The Rockies' pitching and bullpen coaches helped Bettis overhaul his mechanics in spring training, working among other things on his alignment to the plate, his balance on the rubber and his tempo. He is by no means a finished product, but he is making significant strides.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Before spring training, Dodgers hitting coach Mark McGwire said he believes OF Yasiel Puig has the talent to win multiple MVP awards and could start collecting them as soon as 2015. However, the mercurial Puig had minimal impact on the Dodgers in the first half (.261, four homers, 14 RBIs in 43 games). He missed 38 games with a hamstring injury and was out of the lineup for a handful more with a troublesome blister on his left hand. As dynamic as Puig can be, he could be a driving force for the Dodgers in the second half -- if he stays healthy and focused.
SAN DIEGO PADRES
RF Matt Kemp, the Padres' first major offseason acquisition, struggled through most of the first half and is hitting .250 at the break. However, he has 47 RBIs and 44 runs, and seven of his disappointing total of eight home runs came in the past 32 games. As the break approached, Kemp showed signs of getting hot the way he did in the second half of 2014 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Given his contract, he isn't going anywhere. Kemp could have a strong offensive second half, although his range and defense seem to be fading.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
With seven starting pitchers, including those projected to return soon from the disabled list, the Giants have unusual rotation depth. The question is: Is there any quality beyond ace LHP Madison Bumgarner and rookie RHP Chris Heston? The Giants would benefit big-time if RHP Matt Cain were to revert to the form that had him, not Bumgarner, the big cheese on the staff in 2012. Cain has made just two starts since returning from a strained flexor tendon in his right arm. The Giants figure to need elite-level, 1-2 firepower to go head-to-head with Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw and RHP Zack Greinke in September, so Cain could be the key.
NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL
CHICAGO CUBS
LHP Jon Lester was the big offseason acquisition, but a short spring training and a slow start once the season got underway that resulted in a 4-8 record to date. However, in two recent performances, he allowed no runs in a pair of seven-inning outings, and the Cubs are counting on that kind of form in the second half. The team also needs to do a better job of backing Lester. In the veteran's past six starts, he has a 2.35 ERA -- but Lester is 0-3 in that span thanks to the Cubs scoring a total of 10 runs in those games.
CINCINNATI REDS
Just sit back and enjoy watching 3B Todd Frazier take aim at the Reds' record books. It might be all Cincinnati fans will have to enjoy over the next three months. Frazier is on pace for 47 doubles, 47 homers, 106 RBIs and 97 extra-base hits. No Reds players has had at least 40 doubles and 40 homers in a season. Frazier is the first Reds player to have consecutive 25-homer seasons since Chris Sabo in 1990-91, and his Home Run Derby title at Great American Ball Park should only increase his confidence.
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
There is no one single player on the Brewers' roster who could erase a miserable first half and lead the team into the postseason, but OF Carlos Gomez presents the best possible option for a major offseason trade. He is signed through next season at a very affordable rate, but when he hits free agency, it is hard to see him fitting into the Brewers' long-term rebuilding plans. The Brewers love Gomez and he said he wants to stay, but with Scott Boras as an agent, the price tag becomes even bigger. So assuming he stays put at the deadline, a big second half could bring back a major haul of the type of top-level prospects Milwaukee needs to get back on track.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES
INF Jung Ho Kang, a 28-year-old rookie from South Korea, will fill in at third base -- likely through the end of August -- while Josh Harrison recovers from surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb. Kang has shown flashes of brilliance in his first major league season but has also struggled at times. He is hitting .268 with four home runs in 72 games. Kang was the MVP of the Korean Baseball Organization last season when he batted .356 with 40 homers in 117 games for the Nexen Heroes.
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
The return of LF Matt Holliday from a quad injury should offer much-needed help for an offense that foundered at times in the month prior to the All-Star break. Holliday set an NL record by reaching base in his first 45 games of the season, and while his power numbers prior to being injured June 8 in Colorado weren't much (.303, three homers, 26 RBIs), he traditionally hits more homers in July, August and September. Holliday is likely to be activated this weekend.
NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST
ATLANTA BRAVES
1B Freddie Freeman is the team's only serious power threat, and he is needed back as quickly as possible just to keep the Braves from going into a major skid. He had once hoped to return from his wrist injury before the All-Star break, but now it looks like it will be at least the final week of July before he returns to the lineup. Freeman, who hasn't played since June 17, still leads the Braves by a wide margin with 12 homers and 41 RBIs. The team has gone 10-13 without him.
MIAMI MARLINS
RHP Jose Fernandez is the face of the franchise with RF Giancarlo Stanton injured. Fernandez missed most of the first half of the season while recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery 14 months ago, but he made an immediate impact in his 2015 debut, getting a win and hitting a home run to spark a Marlins rally. Fernandez also won his second start, pitching seven scoreless innings. What makes Fernandez so valuable is not just his right arm, which fires 98-mph laser-beams, but also his upbeat personality, his charisma and his passion for the game. That type of stuff can be contagious, and the Marlins need Fernandez to get on a big second-half run, leading the way for his teammates.
NEW YORK METS
The biggest spark for the Mets would be a return by C Travis d'Arnaud, who looked like an All-Star in the 19 games in which he's played. However, the team is not optimistic he will be back anytime soon, so it will be up to 1B Lucas Duda, who went 67 at-bats without a homer before going deep July 10. He homered again July 11 to generate some hope that he might be embarking upon the type of second half he had last season, when he had 18 homers and 51 RBI after July 1. Any chance the Mets have at generating enough offense to mount a playoff run rests on Duda warming up -- especially with OF Michael Cuddyer struggling and battling a chronic knee injury.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Given the bundle of futures in limbo, 2B Cesar Hernandez certainly will be here for the duration of 2015. The 25-year-old capitalized on opportunity late in the first half and must continue to do so in the second half. Hernandez saw more run when longtime 2B Chase Utley hit the disabled list on June 24 with right ankle inflammation. On June 21, Hernandez said he felt he could be the Phillies' future second baseman. Since that day up until July 8, he led the major leagues in hits. More needs to be seen, but a strong second-half audition could win him a job. Also watch RF Domonic Brown, a former top prospect who is running out of time to prove he is here to stay.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS
SS Ian Desmond is a key component to Washington's run of recent success, but he has been a disappointment this season. Desmond hit just .211 with 99 strikeouts in the first half, and as one of the Nationals' regulars who hasn't been injured, he missed a major opportunity to help pick up the slack. Desmond's struggled in the field as well, committing 20 errors. If the Nats can get just average production from Desmond in the second half, it would go a long way to boosting their offensive output. But will the team stick with a truly struggling player?
AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST
HOUSTON ASTROS
SS Jed Lowrie was off to a scorching start before being lost to right thumb surgery in late April. Over 18 games and 74 plate appearances Lowrie hit .300 with a .432 on-base percentage, four home runs and 10 RBIs. Now that he is on the cusp of returning to the lineup -- Lowrie was expected to spend the All-Star break in Florida rehabbing -- the Astros can use him to plug holes in their offense. With Carlos Correa setting the league on fire, Lowrie won't reclaim his job at shortstop. However, the Astros need help at third base and first base, and Lowrie possesses the athleticism to play both while supplying the offense the club needs.
LOS ANGELES ANGELS
The Angels need 1B/DH C.J. Cron to fulfill the promise he demonstrated during spring training, when he batted .413 with three home runs, 11 RBIs and team highs of 11 doubles and 31 hits. Only CF Mike Trout compiled a better average among players with at least 20 at-bats, and only 1B Albert Pujols amassed more RBIs. But Cron began the season in an 0-for-14 slump, spent most of the season fighting to hit .200 and went to Triple-A Salt Lake twice. Since being recalled June 29, however, Cron is batting .459 (17-for-37) with three doubles, four homers and 12 RBIs. A rejuvenated Cron would provide the jolt that the Angels offense has needed all season.
OAKLAND ATHLETICS
General manager Billy Beane was so fed up with his shortstop situation, he went out and drafted two shortstops with first-round picks last month. They are still years away, so it behooves the A's to get as much as they can out of Marcus Semien in the meantime. Without question, the first-year Oakland player can hit. His .258 batting average and eight home runs in the first half are in the same ballpark as Giants All-Star Brandon Crawford (.262 and 12). But here is the problem: Semien has committed a whopping 28 errors. That is eight more than anyone else in all of baseball and 19 more than Crawford. He became such a concern, the organization even brought in old pal Ron Washington to work with him. Semien remains a work in progress.
SEATTLE MARINERS
With 2B Robinson Cano back on track and RF Nelson Cruz overcoming his recent power outage with some key hits, the player to watch might be OF/DH Mark Trumbo. Acquired from Arizona in a June 3 trade, Trumbo was a huge disappointment over his first month with the team (.139 with homer and five RBIs in his first 22 games) before finally showing signs of life during the recent homestand. Over his past seven games, he hit .478 (11-for-23) with one homer and four RBIs. If Trumbo keeps hitting, the meat of the order could be as dangerous as any in the American League.
TEXAS RANGERS
RF Shin-Soo Choo was signed before last season to be a top-of-the-order hitter, and that hasn't happened. Choo batted .096 in April, and while he has picked up his average, he still is batting just .221 and has been dreadful against left-handed pitchers (.153 average). He is putting up decent power numbers (11 home runs, 38 RBIs) but the Rangers need him to get on base regularly so run producers such as DH Prince Fielder and 3B Adrian Beltre have a chance to produce. He hasn't done that yet, and he heads to the break in another batting slump.
AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL
CHICAGO WHITE SOX
A second-half rebound by 1B/DH Adam LaRoche would be welcome. He was brought in during the offseason with the promise of a big bat. However, after averaging 26 homers and 85 RBIs over the previous three seasons, the career .262 hitter is batting .225 and is projected for 18 homers and 66 RBIs. In his last 13 games before the All-Star break, LaRoche hit .121 (4-for-33) with no homers and three RBIs. He is hitting far better in games when he plays first base (.264-6-14) than in games when he is the designated hitter (.199-3-18).
CLEVELAND INDIANS
1B/C Carlos Santana is the most underachieving hitter in an underachieving offense. A switch-hitting middle-of-the-order hitter, his batting average has languished in the low .200s throughout the first half. Most of his numbers have declined in each of the last three seasons. The Indians are going to need much more production and consistency in the second half, and Santana, who draws a lot of walks, but not much else, is the player most crucial to that potential resurgence.
DETROIT TIGERS
Detroit's hopes for second-half and possible postseason success rest squarely on the right arm of RHP Justin Verlander. A sore right triceps kept Verlander from pitching until mid-June, and he was only able to make five (winless) starts prior to the break. He is trending upward, though, and he will have to stay there because the club's fourth and fifth starters have been pounded for the better part of a month. GM Dave Dombrowski is expected to be able to bring in one rotation addition but getting two seems out of reach for an organization that has stripped its farm system to stay in contention in recent seasons.
KANSAS CITY ROYALS
RHP Yordano Ventura signed a five-year, $23 million contract just before the season began. He was the Royals' Opening Day starter, but after winning his first two starts, Ventura has been erratic. He left games with a finger cramp, a leg cramp and was ejected. He had a 4-6 record with a 4.73 ERA in 13 starts before the All-Star break. The Royals need much better from "Ace" Ventura the second half. He has the talent, including a fastball that works in the high 90s mile per hour and touches three figures. He has been on the big stage before -- winning Game 6 of the World Series with seven scoreless innings against the Giants. That is what the Royals would like to see more the second half.
MINNESOTA TWINS
DH Miguel Sano's stay in the majors has been a short one so far. However, whether he can continue to build off his hot start could help determine if the Twins can stay in the playoff hunt until October. His prodigious power has been a staple of his game since the day he signed as a 16-year-old from the Dominican Republic, but his approach and plate discipline have been surprising. If Sano is mashing, he lengthens the Twins lineup into one that can put fear into an opposing pitching staff. Without him, Minnesota doesn't have a prototypical, middle-of-the-order threat.
AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST
BALTIMORE ORIOLES
C Matt Wieters missed the first two months of the season while recovering from Tommy John surgery and still is playing just every other day. His offense to date (.265/.292/.482 hitting line, three homers, 11 RBIs in 26 games) is good but not great. However, when Wieters starts playing more as time goes on, it will only help the Orioles because he is so good on offense and defense. An All-Star at catcher who has also won Gold Gloves and can hit with power, a big second half from Wieters would be a big help.
BOSTON RED SOX
RHP Rick Porcello has never been a No. 1 starter, but after signing a four-year, $82.5 million contract extension on Opening Day, he will soon be paid like one. It is disappointing, then, that Porcello trudged into the All-Star break with a 5.90 ERA that ranks 96th among 98 qualified pitchers. Suffice it to say, the 26-year-old right-handers must be better, especially now that RHP Clay Buchholz is on the disabled list. If Porcello continues to struggle, the Red Sox don't have a chance.
NEW YORK YANKEES
The Yankees have a group of boring personalities, but they are winning, so it is hard to knock the results. The most compelling story is DH Alex Rodriguez, and that will remain true over the rest of the season. Rodriguez's at-bats are must-see now because of how positive his comeback has gone. Rodriguez won't be the only key player after the break. The Yankees will need Mark Teixeira to stay healthy and productive, and they need improvement from CC Sabathia. The left-hander is no longer an ace, but if he can learn to become crafty as Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte did later in their careers, that would help in the middle and back end of the rotation.
TAMPA BAY RAYS
1B James Loney missed more than half of the season so far with a broken finger, and his reliable defense and steady bat in the middle of the Rays' lineup will be crucial to the team's second-half success. Whether it's insulating 3B Evan Longoria in the order or making Rays pitching better with his glove, he is a pivotal part of Tampa Bay's season if he can remain healthy. Through 40 games, Loney is hitting .276/.331/.379 with three homers and 16 RBIs.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS
RHP Drew Hutchison, the Opening Day starter, enters the All-Star break with an 8-2 record, which had more to do with his staff-leading run support of 6.9 runs per game over his first 18 starts than his work, as his 5.33 ERA indicates. The Blue Jays need better pitching in the second half to contend, and even if help is obtained through a trade, Hutchison is pivotal because he is expected to be a pillar of the rotation. Hutchison could help the cause by pitching deeper into games. He has one start of nine innings, one of eight innings, and in his 16 other starts, he failed to finish the seventh inning, putting immense strain on the bullpen.
