5 MLB Playoff Contenders Who Most Desperately Need Fresh September Call-Ups

Now that we've seen the second major trade deadline this summer pass, as the date for waiver trades has come and gone, it's time for teams to focus on doing what they can with the pieces they have from here on out. 

That doesn't mean there won't be new faces, however, as September call-ups will no doubt be plentiful in the coming days as teams begin to expand their rosters.

The proposition of adding call-ups can be very taxing when it comes to contending teams, as there's almost no room for error with trips to the postseason on the line.

Here are some teams which would no doubt benefit from solid play from those coming from down on the farm this September.

Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves are stuck in an unenviable position, seven games behind the Washington Nationals in the NL East standings and more likely vying for their positioning in the wild-card race.

With a pitching staff that boasts the sixth-best BAA in the league, you would think they'd be in good shape in that department, but as they rank near the bottom of the league in quality starts, September could be a great time to tap into the deep pitching talent of the wings down on the farm.

Baltimore Orioles

There weren't many out there who would believe you if you told them prior to the season that the Baltimore Orioles would be headed for a postseason series, but it looks like they could be doing just that.

They've been somewhat inconsistent as a team recently, but still hold the AL wild-card lead.

With a pitching staff ranking in the bottom half of the league in most categories, there's definitely room for improvement down the stretch, so utilizing pitchers with major league experience like Jake Arrieta or Zach Britton could definitely help as the Orioles look to hold on.

Los Angeles Angels

Everyone expected the Los Angeles Angels to contend for a World Series championship this past offseason when they made blockbuster moves to sign C.J. Wilson and Albert Pujols to megadeals.

They even pulled Zack Greinke into the mix this summer in hopes of really getting over the hump, yet the team finds itself nearly 10 games out in the AL West and 3.5 out in the wild-card race.

With Mike Trout coming up early in the season, the Angels' biggest call-up has already taken place, and though they could use some heroics from new faces to get them where they need to be, it'll take everything they've already got.

San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants brought in some solid outfield help when they made a deal to trade for Hunter Pence, giving themselves a strong duo, with Pence and Melky Cabrera.

That didn't last long, with Cabrera lost for the remainder of the season after testing positive for testosterone.

Help in the form of a replacement for Melky's strong production would certainly be important at this point, especially considering all the maneuvering that the Los Angeles Dodgers (4.5 GB) are doing do make sure they make life very difficult for any team in their way.

Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals have been one of baseball's biggest surprises this season, although with the amount of moves they made this past offseason, it shouldn't be entirely shocking that they're having success—it's more the fact that they're having 30-games-above-.500 success.

For weeks now, we've been bombarded with timelines, countdowns and speculation surrounding just when Stephen Strasburg would be shut down for the season.

With a 15-6 record and an ERA barely above 3.00, Strasburg will no doubt be missed, but a strong performance from John Lannan—who will likely take his place in the rotation—should keep the team where it needs to be leading into October.