One Key MLB Player Who Will Make or Break Each Postseason Contender's Season

As we begin the stretch run of the 2012 MLB season, there are still a number of teams in the postseason hunt, as there are two wild cards in each league for the first time.

The playoff picture is still hazy here in the middle of August, with 16 teams in a legitimate position to make the playoffs. For each team, there are certain factors that will go a long way toward determining whether or not the team will be playing in October.

With that in mind, here is a look at the one player who will make or break each contender's season down the stretch.

Atlanta Braves: RHP Craig Kimbrel

Craig Kimbrel put together a fantastic season last year, saving a NL-best 46 games with a 2.10 ERA to take home NL Rookie of the Year honors.

However, he tired down the stretch, converting just five of eight save chances and posting a 4.76 ERA in the month of September. In the end, he blew the save in the season's final game that would have sent Atlanta to the playoffs.

He's bounced back well from that game and is having an even better season this year. He's converted 31 of 33 saves on the season and has a 1.26 ERA. He'll need to keep it up down the stretch if the Braves hope to earn a postseason spot.

Washington Nationals: SP Stephen Strasburg

There is no question Stephen Strasburg has emerged as one of the best pitchers in all of baseball, as he has gone 12-5 with a 2.97 ERA and an NL-best 160 strikeouts in 127.1 innings of work.

The Nationals have held strong to their stance that Strasburg will be shut down at some point this season, as he is in his first full year back from Tommy John surgery. However, it will not necessarily be at the often mentioned 160-inning mark, according to an ESPN report.

How this all plays out will go a long way towards determining how the Nationals factor into the postseason picture.

Cincinnati Reds: 1B Joey Votto

The Reds have gone 19-7 since the All-Star break, including 16-7 since Joey Votto went down with a knee injury, but their lead in the NL Central stands at just 2.5 games.

Votto could return Tuesday of next week at the earliest, according to John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer, and his return could be what allows the Reds to separate themselves from the rest of the pack in the NL Central.

As Todd Frazier continues to hit, it will be interesting to see if the team benches Scott Rolen and makes him the everyday third baseman upon Votto's return. However, there is no question Votto is the biggest difference-maker for the team down the stretch.

Pittsburgh Pirates: SP Wandy Rodriguez

The Pirates have stayed in the thick of things all season, and they appear to be in a much better position to avoid a late-season collapse this year.

Andrew McCutchen is a bona fide MVP candidate, and the rest of the offense has improved around him in the second half, so it appears that the starting rotation will make or break their season.

A.J. Burnett (14-3, 3.19 ERA) and James McDonald (10-5, 3.42 ERA) have led the staff, but beyond those two, the staff has question marks.

Hence the acquisition of Wandy Rodriguez at the deadline, and if he can emerge as a third frontline starter, the Pirates' postseason chances will significantly improve.

St. Louis Cardinals: SP Adam Wainwright

The Cardinals have overcome significant injuries all season long, and they have put themselves in a great position to make another late-season run, as they are currently just 3.5 games out of a wild-card spot.

The team's offense has been fantastic all season, and a rotation without Chris Carpenter and Jaime Garcia has done surprisingly well all season.

Last year, the team rode Carpenter down the stretch and on into the postseason. While Kyle Lohse has been terrific as the team's ace this season, the Cards will likely count on Adam Wainwright more than anyone down the stretch.

He is a subpar 9-10 with a 4.03 ERA on the season, but he has a 2.38 ERA in six starts since the beginning of July and appears to be hitting his stride at the right time.

Arizona Diamondbacks: SS Stephen Drew

The Diamondbacks have lacked a legitimate table-setter all season long, and while the return of Stephen Drew was expected to solve that, he has hit just .226/.320/.358, 2 HR, 10 RBI in 31 games.

However, he has looked like a different player in August with a .381/.500/.810, 2 HR, 3 RBI line in 21 at-bats hitting out of the leadoff spot.

The offense has gotten unexpected production from Jason Kubel, Paul Goldschmidt and Aaron Hill, but they need someone to get on base ahead of them.

If Drew can provide a consistent presence in the leadoff spot, it will certainly boost Arizona's postseason chances.

Los Angeles Dodgers: SS Hanley Ramirez

The Dodgers have been led offensively by Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier all season, and while A.J. Ellis has enjoyed a breakout year, there is not much else in the way of offensive production.

The team acquired Hanley Ramirez at the deadline with the hope being that he could provide the same spark that Manny Ramirez did back in 2008.

After hitting .375 BA, 1 HR, 6 RBI in his first four games with the team, Ramirez has hit just .162 BA, 0 HR, 6 RBI in 10 games since.

The team needs him to step up his production down the stretch, and if he can provide a spark, the Dodgers will be in a great position to make the playoffs.

San Francisco Giants: RHP Sergio Romo and RHP Jeremy Affeldt

When Brian Wilson was lost for the season, Santiago Casilla stepped into the closer's role and converted 21 of 23 saves prior to the month of July. Since July 1, however, he has a 5.40 ERA and has converted just three of seven saves.

That earned him a demotion, and in his place Sergio Romo and Jeremy Affeldt will share the closer's role for the time being.

Romo (44 G, 5-of-6 Sv, 2.06 ERA, 10.8 K/9) has a career 2.28 ERA over his five-year career, but he has never been more than a fill-in closer during his career.

Affeldt (43 G, 3-of-4 Sv, 2.56 ERA, 7.9 K/9) served as closer for the Royals back in 2004 and converted 13 of 17 save chances, so he has some experience in the role.

Regardless of who fills the role, the ninth inning will be a big factor in the Giants' postseason push.

Baltimore Orioles: RF Nick Markakis

The Orioles have seemingly sorted out their starting rotation, as Chris Tillman, Miguel Gonzalez and Steve Johnson have been terrific in the second half.

However, the offense has more than a few holes, and the O's need their stars to continue to perform at a high level if they are to have a legitimate chance at the postseason.

Right fielder Nick Markakis in particular needs to continue producing at the top of the lineup. He's hit .362/.400/.534, 4 HR, 12 RBI since returning from injury in the middle of July, and they need his on-base skills atop the lineup moving forward.

New York Yankees: SP Andy Pettitte

The Yankees' starting pitching has performed well this season, given the fact that it was a major question mark entering the season and became an even bigger question after Michael Pineda went down with injury.

However, Ivan Nova has struggled mightily over his last two starts (0-2, 13.94 ERA), and Freddy Garcia has been a fringe starter all season and has gone 1-3 in his last four starts.

The team should get a boost from the return of Andy Pettitte, who went 3-3 with a 3.22 ERA in nine starts before fracturing his ankle. If he can provide a stable arm alongside CC Sabathia and Hiroki Kuroda, it will only distance them from the rest of the pack in the AL East even more.

Tampa Bay Rays: 3B Evan Longoria

The Rays offense ranks last in all of baseball with a combined .230 average and near the bottom of the AL at 4.01 runs per game.

However, they have remained in the hunt for a postseason spot in the American League, just 1.5 games out of the wild card and six games behind the Yankees in the AL East.

Sidelined since April 30 with a partially torn hamstring, Evan Longoria finally returned from injury on Tuesday. While it will no doubt take him some time to shake off the rust, he could give the Rays the offensive boost they need to push them over the top.

Chicago White Sox: SP Chris Sale

After spending the past two seasons in the bullpen, Chris Sale has thrived in his first year as a starter, going 13-3 with a 2.59 ERA and making the All-Star team.

While he has been dominant, he is also in uncharted territory as far as his workload is concerned: He has already tallied 132 innings on the season.

He was recently shut down for a 10-day stretch with what was deemed "dead arm," and while he dominated upon his return (8 IP, 2 ER, 7K), questions remain as to how well he will hold up down the stretch.

Detroit Tigers: SP Doug Fister

Ace Justin Verlander has been his dominant self once again this season, going 12-7 with a 2.51 ERA over a whopping 168.2 innings of work.

However, the big question has been who would step up alongside Verlander in the rotation among Doug Fister, Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello.

The answer has been Fister, who has gone 4-1 with a 1.62 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 39 innings of work over his last five starts. If he can continue to pitch like an ace, the Tigers will be tough to hold off in the AL Central.

Los Angeles Angels: SP Zack Greinke

The Angels acquired the prize of the 2012 deadline in Brewers ace Zack Greinke, giving up three of their top 10 prospects.

Jeff Weaver (15-1, 2.13 ERA), C.J. Wilson (9-8, 3.34 ERA) and Dan Haren (8-8, 4.44 ERA) have formed a strong trio in the rotation, but the team acquired Greinke to be an ace alongside Weaver, not a bottom-of-the-rotation guy.

He's 0-1 with a 5.68 ERA in three starts since coming to L.A., and the team will need him to get back to his pre-trade form (9-3, 3.44 ERA) down the stretch.

Oakland Athletics: SP Brandon McCarthy

Injuries have saddled Brandon McCarthy throughout his career, but he seemingly turned a corner last season when he went 9-9 with a 3.32 ERA over 25 starts.

He started off this season even better this season, going 6-3 with a 2.54 ERA through his first 12 starts. Injury struck again, though, and he has not pitched since June 19 due to a strained shoulder.

McCarthy will make his return on Friday, and getting him back will be a major boost. The A's offense is what it is at this point, and if they are going to make the postseason, it will be on the back of their starting pitching.

Texas Rangers: LF Josh Hamilton

The Rangers offense continues to rank as the best in all of baseball, even with Josh Hamilton struggling since the All-Star break (.223 BA, 3 HR, 20 RBI).

The pitching has been hit hard by injury to their starting rotation, and even with Ryan Dempster added at the deadline, there are still questions about the starting pitching.

However, just the opposite of the A's, the Rangers are a team that will ride their high-powered offense as far as it will take them. Hamilton has appeared to turn things around of late, hitting .333 BA, 1 HR, 11 RBI over his last seven games.

If he can return to his first-half form, the Rangers will be unstoppable down the stretch and will have to be viewed as favorites in the AL once again this season.