Updated 'Clutch Meter' Readings for 2014 MLB Postseason's Biggest Stars of LCS
The MLB postseason is where a player's abilities in the clutch really come to the forefront and when a team's high-priced stars are asked to earn their hefty contracts.
Judging a player's performance in the clutch is certainly not an exact science, but the following two situations are when the pressure is really on:
- RISP: Plate appearances with runner(s) in scoring position
- Late/Close: Plate appearances in the seventh inning or later when hitting team is either tied, leading by one or has tying run on-deck
With those stats in mind, we've decided to take a post-League Championship Series look at how some of the star players suiting up in this year's playoffs have performed.
Players were given a clutch rating from 1-5, with 1 being the least clutch and 5 being the most, based on their overall performance and, in particular, their performance in the above situations.
Included are the top five players from each of the four teams taking part in the LCS round, with those top five players determined by the top 500 players for 2015 article from B/R's Zachary Rymer in his MLB 500 series.
To clarify, this is not meant to simply be a list of the top performers of the postseason. However, if that is something that interests you, I wrote an article to that effect Thursday morning.
Instead, this is a look at how the players considered to be the best on their respective teams have fared under the bright lights of October.
RP Zach Britton, Baltimore Orioles (No. 159 Overall)
1 of 20
Basic Postseason Stats
6 G, 2-of-2 SV, 4.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 5 K
Clutch Stats
RISP: 3-for-12, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
Late/Close: 3-for-15, 1 ER, 5 BB, 3 K
Postseason Summary
Zach Britton entered spring training out of options and battling for a roster spot, and by the time the regular season wrapped up, he had enjoyed one of the best seasons of any reliever in baseball.
He took over the closer's role when Tommy Hunter hit the disabled list in May and never looked back, finishing the season 37-of-41 on save chances with a 1.65 ERA and 0.904 WHIP.
While he converted both of his save chances in the postseason, he was far from lights out, posting a 3.86 ERA and 2.143 WHIP. That included walking the bases loaded in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series and allowing the go-ahead run in the ninth inning of Game 2.
Clutch Rating
Britton did not see any save opportunities in the ALCS after converting a pair in the American League Division Series, but he struggled with his command. Darren O'Day was saddled with the loss in Game 2, but it was Britton who gave up the hit that plated the go-ahead run.
SS J.J. Hardy, Baltimore Orioles (No. 157 Overall)
2 of 20
Basic Postseason Stats
7 G, 6-for-25, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3 R, 3 BB, 5 K
Clutch Stats
RISP: 2-for-5, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K
Late/Close: 1-for-6, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 K
Postseason Summary
It was a down year for J.J. Hardy at the plate, as he posted a .682 OPS and hit just nine home runs after averaging a .732 OPS and 26 home runs the past three seasons.
He was still one of the better all-around shortstops in the game, though, and his 3.4 WAR trailed only Erick Aybar (3.9) among AL shortstops. That was reason enough for the Orioles to give him a three-year, $40 million extension just before the ALCS kicked off.
He had a solo home run in Game 1 of the ALDS and an RBI double to plate the O's only run in Game 3 of the ALCS. His numbers weren't great, but there were certainly bigger goats in the Baltimore lineup.
Clutch Rating
Hardy struggled to find his power stroke all season, so the home run in Game 1 of the ALDS was nice to see. He came through with a couple hits with runners in scoring position and played his usual rock-solid defense at shortstop, so a 3/5 seems about right.
DH Nelson Cruz, Baltimore Orioles (No. 126 Overall)
3 of 20
Basic Postseason Stats
7 G, 10-for-28, 1 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB, 5 K
Clutch Stats
RISP: 4-for-7, 1 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI
Late/Close: 1-for-4, 1 K
Postseason Summary
Nelson Cruz entered the 2014 postseason with a 1.018 OPS, nine doubles and 14 home runs in 34 career postseason games. That included an MVP performance in the 2011 ALCS, when he had six home runs and 13 RBI to help the Texas Rangers advance to the World Series.
The MLB home run leader during the regular season with 40 was at it again in the ALDS.
He wrapped up the team's three-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers at 6-for-12 with two home runs and five RBI.
Like much of the Orioles lineup, he was fairly quiet in the ALCS, though, finishing 4-for-16 with a double and an RBI in each of the first two games of the series.
Clutch Rating
Cruz cooled off a bit in the ALCS, but he did enough damage in the ALDS and finished with impressive enough numbers with runners in scoring position to rate a 4/5 on the clutch meter.
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1B Steve Pearce, Baltimore Orioles (No. 88 Overall)
4 of 20
Basic Postseason Stats
7 G, 4-for-27, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 4 R, 2 BB, 3 K
Clutch Stats
RISP: 1-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
Late/Close: 0-for-4
Postseason Summary
One of the better stories of 2014 on an individual level, Steve Pearce has been the definition of a journeyman throughout his big league career. He finally found a home in Baltimore this season.
When a strained oblique landed first baseman Chris Davis on the disabled list at the end of April, a chance was opened up for Pearce to see everyday at-bats.
Fair to say he made the most of the opportunity, finishing the year hitting .293/.373/.556 with 26 doubles and 21 home runs in 338 at-bats, on his way to an impressive 6.0 WAR.
As good as he was during the regular season, Pearce completely disappeared in the playoffs, tallying just four hits and one RBI.
Clutch Rating
A slow postseason does little to take away from what was a fantastic out-of-nowhere season for Pearce, but there is little question he is a 1/5 on the clutch meter for his October performance.
CF Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles (No. 53 Overall)
5 of 20
Basic Postseason Stats
7 G, 6-for-27, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 6 R, 3 BB, 8 K
Clutch Stats
RISP: 2-for-9, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 K
Late/Close: 0-for-4, 1 BB, 2 K
Postseason Summary
As good as Nelson Cruz was this season, center fielder Adam Jones remains the face of the franchise in Baltimore, and he is coming off of a terrific regular season of his own. He hit .281/.311/.469 with 29 home runs and 96 RBI, which, coupled with his plus defense, was good for a career-best 4.9 WAR overall.
Jones disappeared during the 2012 postseason, going just 2-for-26 with one RBI when the Orioles were eliminated by the New York Yankees in the ALDS, and he was quiet once again this October.
He turned around a Yordano Ventura fastball for a two-run shot in Game 2 of the ALCS, but that was his only real damage in this year's playoffs.
Clutch Rating
Jones was a .320 hitter during the regular season with runners in scoring position, so he has plenty of clutch in him. It just has not showed up in the postseason to this point in his career.
RP Wade Davis, Kansas City Royals (No. 93 Overall)
6 of 20
Basic Postseason Stats
8 G, 2-0, 2 HLD, 9.1 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 10 K
Clutch Stats
RISP: 1-for-9, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Late/Close: 3-for-25, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
Postseason Summary
It was an ugly first season in Kansas City for Wade Davis last year, as he went 8-11 with a 5.32 ERA in 31 games (24 starts) after coming over from the Tampa Rays as part of the James Shields/Wil Myers trade.
The team opted to move the 29-year-old to the bullpen full time this year, and it proved to be a stroke of brilliance, as he was arguably the best setup reliever in baseball. He finished the year at 9-2 with a 1.00 ERA, 0.847 WHIP and 109 strikeouts in 72 innings of work, allowing a grand total of five extra-base hits (three doubles, two triples).
That dominance has continued in the postseason, as he has allowed just three hits and no runs in late/close situations, bridging the gap between Kelvin Herrera in the seventh and Greg Holland in the ninth.
Clutch Rating
Davis was the No. 2-ranked reliever in the Top 500 series and rightfully so. He has been borderline unhittable all season. The Royals are virtually untouchable when they have a lead after six innings, and Davis is a big part of that.
C Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals (No. 81 Overall)
7 of 20
Basic Postseason Stats
8 G, 4-for-34, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB, 8 K
Clutch Stats
RISP: 2-for-13, 2 RBI, 0 BB, 2 K
Late/Close: 1-for-11, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 5 K
Postseason Summary
Viewed by many as the best all-around catcher in the American League, Salvador Perez may be just scratching the surface of his vast potential.
Still just 24 years old, Perez hit .260/.289/.403 with 28 doubles, 17 home runs and 70 RBI during the regular season. Coupled with his elite defense, he posted a 3.3 WAR.
He came up with the game-winning RBI single in the Wild Card Game after an 0-for-5 performance leading up to that final at-bat. That's his only notable moment of the postseason thus far.
He was 2-for-13 with one RBI in the ALDS and just 1-for-15 with zero RBI in the ALCS. He is still looking for his first extra-base hit of the postseason.
Clutch Rating
The big hit in the Wild Card Game is enough to keep Perez from being a 1/5 on the clutch meter, and his abilities as a receiver make him valuable well beyond his contributions at the plate. Still, it would be nice to see him step it up at the plate.
CF Lorenzo Cain, Kansas City Royals (No. 73 Overall)
8 of 20
Basic Postseason Stats
8 G, 12-for-34, 3 2B, 4 RBI, 9 R, 2 BB, 6 K
Clutch Stats
RISP: 3-for-6, 1 2B, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
Late/Close: 2-for-11, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
Postseason Summary
Already one of the game's best defensive center fielders, Lorenzo Cain took his offensive game to another level this season. He finished the regular season with a .301/.339/.412 line and 28 stolen bases. Manager Ned Yost moved him up to the No. 3 spot in the lineup on Sept. 13, which helped ignite the Royals offense.
His defense was on display in the ALDS when he made a number of highlight-reel catches, but he was just 2-for-13 at the plate in the team's sweep of the Los Angeles Angels.
The 28-year-old caught fire at the plate in the ALCS, though, going 8-for-15 with a pair of doubles to earn MVP honors in the team's sweep of the Orioles.
Clutch Rating
Cain was not named ALCS MVP for nothing. After a dazzling display with the glove in the ALDS, he shined at the plate against the Orioles. He has been the breakout star of the 2014 postseason.
SP James Shields, Kansas City Royals (No. 64 Overall)
9 of 20
Basic Postseason Stats
3 GS, 1-0, 16.0 IP, 21 H, 10 ER, 5 BB, 15 K
Clutch Stats
RISP: 4-for-20, 6 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
Postseason Summary
In need of a bona fide ace to front their staff, the Royals gave up a boatload to acquire James Shields from the Rays prior to the 2013 season. He has been the top-of-the-rotation workhorse they were hoping for the past two years.
The free-agent-to-be wrapped up the 2014 season at 14-8 with a 3.21 ERA and 1.181 WHIP while reaching the 200-inning mark for the eighth consecutive season.
Shields took the ball in the Wild Card Game, but he got a quick hook when he allowed the first two runners to reach base in the sixth inning. A Brandon Moss home run off of Yordano Ventura turned those two runners into earned runs against Shields, and he finished the night with five hits and four runs allowed in five-plus innings.
He was much sharper in his ALDS start, allowing six hits and two runs in six innings of work to pick up the win. He struggled again in the ALCS, though, allowing 10 hits and four runs in five innings for his second no-decision.
Clutch Rating
After pitching seven or more innings in 18 of his 34 starts during the regular season, Shields has failed to pitch beyond the seventh inning in three starts so far in these playoffs. The Royals need him to step up and pitch like an ace in the World Series, as he may very well be going toe-to-toe with a red-hot Madison Bumgarner.
LF Alex Gordon, Kansas City Royals (No. 25 Overall)
10 of 20
Basic Postseason Stats
8 G, 6-for-27, 3 2B, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 3 R, 6 BB, 11 K
Clutch Stats
RISP: 3-for-10, 2 2B, 8 RBI, 4 BB, 4 K
Late/Close: 1-for-7, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 3 BB, 2 K
Postseason Summary
Alex Gordon has been the face of the Royals franchise for the past several seasons, and he turned in another terrific all-around campaign in 2014.
The 30-year-old hit .266/.351/.432 with 34 doubles and 19 home runs during the regular season and again ranked as the game's premier defensive left fielder. That all added up to a 6.6 WAR, good for seventh in the AL.
After going 3-for-10 with with two doubles and four RBI in the ALDS, Gordon flashed both the bat and the glove in helping the Royals to an ALCS sweep of the Orioles.
He was 3-for-4 with four RBI in Game 1, hitting the go-ahead home run in the top of the 10th inning. He then capped off the series with a fantastic catch in Game 4, crashing into the wall to rob J.J. Hardy of extra bases.
Clutch Rating
Gordon has come through with runners in scoring position at a 3-for-10 clip, and he has continued to show why he is the best defensive left fielder in the game today.
SS Jhonny Peralta, St. Louis Cardinals (No. 106 Overall)
11 of 20
Basic Postseason Stats
9 G, 5-for-31, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 R, 4 BB, 6 K
Clutch Stats
RISP: 1-for-9, 1 RBI, 3 K
Late/Close: 0-for-4
Postseason Summary
The St. Louis Cardinals shelled out a four-year, $53 million deal to shortstop Jhonny Peralta last offseason to add some offensive punch at a position that was severely lacking it.
He certainly delivered, setting a franchise record for shortstops with 21 home runs and ranking second on the team with 75 RBI. His defense at shortstop was also much better than expected.
Peralta came to the Cardinals with plenty of postseason experience under his belt, and just last season he went 11-for-33 with four doubles and a home run for the Tigers. However, he was nowhere to be found this October.
After a 3-for-14 performance in the National League Division Series, he was just 2-for-17 in the National League Championship Series, with his lone RBI of the playoffs coming on a single in Game 3.
Clutch Rating
Peralta was one of the few significant producers at the plate for the Cardinals during the regular season, yet he failed to come through with big hits in the playoffs. Slotted in the No. 5 spot against righties and cleanup against lefties, a 1-for-9 performance with runners in scoring position just doesn't cut it.
1B Matt Adams, St. Louis Cardinals (No. 103 Overall)
12 of 20
Basic Postseason Stats
9 G, 7-for-30, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 5 R, 5 BB, 5 K
Clutch Stats
RISP: 4-for-8, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 3 BB, 0 K
Late/Close: 1-for-2, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 BB
Postseason Summary
In his first season as an everyday player, Matt Adams turned into more than just a pure power hitter.
He finished the season with a .288/.321/.457 line that included 34 doubles and 15 home runs, and he showed a willingness to hit the ball the other way when the defense played him to pull.
Adams was one of many late-inning heroes in the NLDS, as he delivered the go-ahead three-run homer in the Cardinals' 3-2 Game 4 victory to close out the series.
He also briefly put the Cardinals ahead with a solo home run in the eighth inning of Game 2 of the NLCS, setting up the Kolten Wong walk-off. And he homered again in Game 5 to kick off the scoring for the Cardinals.
However, his defense cost the Cards big in Game 4 of the series, as a pair of poor throws/decisions led to a three-run sixth inning that proved to be the difference.
Clutch Rating
Adams had some terrific clutch numbers during the postseason, and he hit two huge late-inning home runs. But his poor throw home and poor decision to not throw home in the sixth inning of Game 4 keep him from being a 5/5 on the clutch meter.
SP Lance Lynn, St. Louis Cardinals (No. 94 Overall)
13 of 20
Basic Postseason Stats
2 GS, 0-0, 11.2 IP, 13 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 11 K
Clutch Stats
RISP: 3-for-12, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Postseason Summary
Few pitchers had better run support than Lance Lynn over the past few seasons, as he went a combined 33-17 in 2012 and 2013 despite a less-than-stellar 3.88 ERA and 1.316 WHIP.
The big right-hander took a huge step forward in 2014, though, going 15-10 and lowering his ERA by over a full run to 2.74. With Michael Wacha on the shelf for much of the season, he was the clear-cut No. 2 starter behind ace Adam Wainwright all year.
This postseason, he had the unenviable task of following up a pair of rough outings from Wainwright in his two starts. All things considered, he threw the ball fairly well.
He allowed seven hits and two runs while striking out eight in Game 2 of the NLDS and followed that up by allowing six hits and two runs with three strikeouts in 5.2 innings in Game 2 of the NLCS. He wound up with a no-decision in both games, but he pitched well enough to keep the Cardinals in the game.
Clutch Rating
Lynn was asked to step into a far more significant role this postseason, squaring off against Zack Greinke and Jake Peavy in his two October starts, and he held his own. The Cardinals went 1-1 in his starts, and while he pitched his way into trouble more than once, he limited the damage and kept things close.
C Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals (No. 52 Overall)
14 of 20
Basic Postseason Stats
6 G, 5-for-21, 1 2B, 0 RBI, 2 R, 3 K
Clutch Stats
RISP: 1-for-2, 1 K
Late/Close: 1-for-3, 1 2B
Postseason Summary
After an MVP-caliber season in 2013, Yadier Molina missed 40 games between July 9 and August 29 with a thumb injury. He hit just .282/.333/.386 with 21 doubles, seven home runs and 58 RBI as a result during the regular season.
He wrapped up the NLDS at 3-for-15 with a double, but he did a terrific job settling down the team's shaky relief corps in the late innings, coaxing Trevor Rosenthal in particular through more than one appearance.
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, his NLCS ended prematurely, as he suffered an oblique strain on a swing in Game 2 of the series. He would not return.
A.J. Pierzynski and Tony Cruz did a fine enough job filling in for him, but it is abundantly clear that the pitching staff as a whole is more effective when Molina is putting down the signs behind the dish.
Clutch Rating
Losing Molina was a dagger for the Cardinals, and it showed in a rough start from Shelby Miller and a poor showing from the bullpen in Games 4 and 5 of the NLCS. He did not do much at the plate prior to the injury, though, and it's hard to call his performance clutch at any point.
SP Adam Wainwright, St. Louis Cardinals (No. 27 Overall)
15 of 20
Basic Postseason Stats
3 GS, 0-1, 16.0 IP, 21 H, 11 R, 10 ER, 6 BB, 14 K
Clutch Stats
RISP: 6-for-26, 6 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Postseason Summary
Adam Wainwright was once again one of the game's true aces during the regular season, going 20-9 with a 2.38 ERA. And those numbers would've looked even better if not for a rough month of August in which he went 2-4 with a 5.17 ERA in six starts.
Despite dealing with some arm soreness, he closed out the season on fire, going 4-0 with a 0.55 ERA and 0.818 WHIP in his last four starts.
Unfortunately, that did not carry over to the postseason, as he was hit hard in Game 1 of the NLDS (4.1 IP, 11 H, 6 ER) and Game 1 of the NLCS (4.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER).
However, he identified an issue with his mechanics following his Game 1 start in the NLCS, and with the Cardinals facing elimination in Game 5, he looked like the Wainwright of old. He exited with a 3-2 lead after seven innings, having allowed just four hits and two earned runs. The bullpen was unable to slam the door, though, and the Cardinals were sent packing.
Clutch Rating
It takes a special pitcher to identify mechanical issues and make adjustments on the fly in the middle of a postseason series, and Wainwright deserves all the credit in the world for righting the ship and turning in a brilliant Game 5 start. That being said, you expect more out of your ace than he delivered in his first two starts, so it's hard to go any higher than 3/5 on the clutch meter.
3B Pablo Sandoval, San Francisco Giants (No. 160 Overall)
16 of 20
Basic Postseason Stats
10 G, 14-for-43, 4 2B, 1 RBI, 6 R, 4 BB, 7 K
Clutch Stats
RISP: 1-for-9, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K
Late/Close: 2-for-10, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K
Postseason Summary
It was a fairly standard season of ups and downs for Pablo Sandoval at the plate. He finished the season hitting .279/.324/.415 with 26 doubles, 16 home runs and 73 RBI despite a horrible first month of the season.
Set to hit free agency this offseason, Sandoval figures to be one of the most sought-after position players on the market, as he is not only an impact bat but also a plus defender at the hot corner.
Last time the San Francisco Giants were in the postseason, he walked away with World Series MVP honors and finished the playoffs at 24-for-66 with five doubles, six home runs and 13 RBI.
He has not quite match those numbers this time around, but he was still productive at the plate. He came through with a potentially game-saving defensive play in the 10th inning of Game 3 and got the rally started in Game 5 with a lead-off single in the ninth.
Clutch Rating
Sandoval is now a .325/.372/.548 hitter in 32 career playoff games, and while he has not been nearly as dominant this postseason as he was in 2012, he is still someone opposing pitchers don't want to see stepping up to the plate with the game on the line in October.
RF Hunter Pence, San Francisco Giants (No. 78 Overall)
17 of 20
Basic Postseason Stats
10 G, 10-for-39, 3 2B, 3 RBI, 5 R, 5 BB, 7 K
Clutch Stats
RISP: 3-for-9, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 1 K
Late/Close: 1-for-8, 1 2B, 1 BB, 4 K
Postseason Summary
Hunter Pence turned in another dynamic offensive season for the Giants this year, hitting .277/.332/.445 with 29 doubles, 10 triples, 20 home runs and 13 stolen bases on his way to a 3.6 WAR.
Last time the Giants were in the postseason, Pence had been a July trade acquisition, and his most memorable moment was hitting the ball three times on one swing. He finished 13-for-62 with four RBI during the team's run to the 2012 World Series title.
He has not exactly been a run-producing machine this time around either, but that has been more for a lack of opportunity than anything else. Pence has solid numbers with runners in scoring position at 3-for-9 with three RBI.
He had a big RBI single in Game 4 of the NLCS to tie things up at 3-3, and let's not forget his fantastic catch to rob Jayson Werth in the NLDS.
Clutch Rating
Despite a lack of overall run production, Pence has solid numbers with runners in scoring position this postseason, and his RBI single in Game 4 of the NLCS was huge in killing the Cardinals' momentum after they scored two in the top of the inning. We're still waiting for his signature postseason moment as a Giant, though.
SP Tim Hudson, San Francisco Giants (No. 74 Overall)
18 of 20
Basic Postseason Stats
2 GS, 0-0, 13.2 IP, 14 H, 5 ER, 0 BB, 13 K
Clutch Stats
RISP: 3-for-14, 4 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
Postseason Summary
The Giants took a chance when they signed then-38-year-old Tim Hudson, fresh off of ankle surgery, to a two-year, $23 million deal this past offseason.
While his overall numbers look good at 9-13 with a 3.57 ERA and 1.231 WHIP, he dropped off significantly after making the All-Star team, going just 2-7 with a 4.73 ERA in 13 second-half starts. That was enough to make him a legitimate question mark heading into the postseason.
Those questions were quickly answered in Game 2 of the NLDS, though, when he went 7.1 innings and allowed just one run on seven hits while striking out eight.
Pitching in the championship series for the first time in his 16-year career, Hudson was not nearly as sharp in Game 3 of the NLCS, allowing seven hits and four runs in 6.1 innings. However, that was still enough to keep his team in the game, and he walked away with a no-decision.
Clutch Rating
Considering the Giants were not quite sure what to expect out of Hudson when the playoffs began, the veteran has exceeded expectations to this point. With the way their bullpen has pitched so far, if he can just give the Giants six quality innings next time he takes the ball, that would be huge.
SP Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco Giants (No. 28 Overall)
19 of 20
Basic Postseason Stats
4 GS, 2-1, 31.2 IP, 19 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 5 BB, 28 K
Clutch Stats
RISP: 2-for-17, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Postseason Summary
It's not often that Madison Bumgarner is mentioned in the conversation for best pitcher in the game today, but he has been the best starter of the 2014 postseason by a significant margin, and it's hard to believe he's still just 25 years old.
After wrapping up the regular season at 18-10 with a 2.98 ERA and a career-high 219 strikeouts in 217.1 innings, Bumgarner threw a gem in the Wild Card Game, holding the Pittsburgh Pirates to just four hits while striking out 10 in a complete-game shutout.
He was rolling along in Game 3 of the NLDS as well before making a throwing error trying to cut the lead runner down at third on a sacrifice bun. He wound up taking the loss in that one.
Unfazed by that blunder, Bumgarner came back with 7.2 shutout innings in Game 1 of the NLCS to pick up the win and extend his scoreless streak to a record 26.2 innings on the road in the postseason.
He was not quite as sharp as Adam Wainwright in Game 5, departing after eight innings with his team trailing 3-2, but Michael Morse picked him up in the bottom of the eighth with a pinch-hit home run, and Travis Ishikawa made a winner of Jeremy Affeldt in the bottom of the ninth.
Clutch Rating
Despite his standing as the ace of the Giants staff and one of the best young pitchers in the game, Bumgarner was still by and large one of the more underrated players in the game. He has enjoyed postseason success before, but this has truly been a coming-out party of sorts, proving he belongs in the conversation of the game's elite arms.
C Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants (No. 11 Overall)
20 of 20
Basic Postseason Stats
10 G, 13-for-43, 5 RBI, 4 R, 3 BB, 4 K
Clutch Stats
RISP: 4-for-9, 5 RBI, 2 BB
Late/Close: 3-for-9, 2 BB
Postseason Summary
Few hitters were hotter than Buster Posey in the second half of the season, as he hit .354/.403/.575 with 13 doubles, 12 home runs and 43 RBI after the All-Star break.
The 27-year-old is a seasoned postseason veteran at this point in his career, as he was a key piece of the team's 2010 and 2012 World Series titles.
He has yet to tally an extra-base hit this postseason, but he has made the most of his clutch opportunities, going 4-for-9 with runners in scoring position after hitting .346 in such at-bats during the regular season.
As impressive as his clutch numbers have been, Posey was just 4-for-20 in the NLCS, so he will need to pick it back up heading into the World Series.
Clutch Rating
I went back and forth between a 4/5 and a 5/5 here, as the lack of an extra-base hit from the No. 3 hitter is a bit disappointing, but it's impossible to ignore those RISP and late/close numbers. Posey has two home runs and five RBI in nine career World Series games, and he will look to add to that total next week.
Unless otherwise noted, all starts courtesy of Baseball-Reference and accurate through Thursday, Oct. 16.
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