Who's Hot, Who's Not for Each MLB Contender

With a matter of just a few weeks remaining in the 2013 MLB regular season, there is still a lot left to be decided. As things stand today, there are 15 teams who can call themselves a contender to at least some degree.

Whether it is securing home-field advantage or simply earning a spot in October, all 15 of those clubs still have something to play for. This stretch run is where superstars make their money and unheralded players make a name for themselves.

With that in mind, here is a look at who's hot and who's not for each of those 15 contenders during crunch time.

NL Contender: Atlanta Braves

Who's Hot

LF Evan Gattis (Since Sept. 1: 35 AB, .314/.333/.771, 4 2B, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 7 R)

Gattis started out the season on fire but hit just .188/.256/.291 with three home runs in 117 at-bats in June, July and August combined. He's heated up again here in September and is seeing everyday at-bats with Jason Heyward on the shelf.

SP Kris Medlen (Last 5 starts: 4-1, 1.35 ERA, 1.02 WHIP)

It was Mike Minor and Julio Teheran who led the Braves staff in the early going, but it now looks like last year's second-half stud Medlen will top their rotation heading into the postseason, as he's pitching great down the stretch once again.

Who's Not

2B Dan Uggla (Since Aug 1: 72 AB, .083/.280/.083, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 5 R)

Considering he's hitting just .180 on the season, the whole year has been a cold streak for Uggla, but he's been essentially useless since the start of August. Journeyman infielder Elliot Johnson was picked up in August and could see more and more playing time down the stretch.

SP Alex Wood (Last 2 starts: 0-1, 14.14 ERA, 3.14 WHIP)

After debuting in the bullpen, Wood joined the rotation after Tim Hudson went down with a season-ending injury, and over his first seven starts he was 3-0 with a 2.18 ERA. He's been roughed up his last two times out, though, and could be passed by Paul Maholm for the No. 4 spot in the rotation come October.

NL Contender: Cincinnati Reds

Who's Hot

1B Joey Votto (Last 6 games: 18 AB, .500/.625/.778, 2 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 3 R)

It has been another terrific season for Votto, as he's in a good position to lead the NL in on-base percentage for the fourth straight season. He's not putting up prolific power numbers, but he remains the bat that makes the team's lineup go.

SP Homer Bailey (Last 5 starts: 5 QS, 3-0, 1.53 ERA, 0.79 WHIP)

Mat Latos has gotten a good deal of attention for stepping into the role of staff ace with Johnny Cueto on the shelf, but Bailey stepping up has been equally important. The right-hander has been the team's best starter over the past month.

Who's Not

2B Brandon Phillips (Since Sept. 1: 38 AB, .158/.238/.263, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R)

Phillips ranks second in the league to Paul Goldschmidt in RBI on the season with 101, but that is largely a product of his spot in the lineup, as he's hitting just .262/.311/.410 on the year. He's been really struggling of late and will need to pick up his game heading into the playoffs.

SP Tony Cingrani (Last 2 starts: 1-1, 5.14 ERA, 1.57 WHIP)

The emergence of Tony Cingrani to fill the rotation spot of Cueto has been huge this season, and he's been great for the most part with a 7-4 record and 2.92 ERA in 23 games (18 starts). That said, he didn't make it out of the second inning his last time out and has just one quality start in his last six outings.

NL Contender: Los Angeles Dodgers

Who's Hot

SS Hanley Ramirez (Last 8 games: 31 AB, .387/.441/.774, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 7 R)

An early-season injury limited Ramirez to just four games prior to June 4, but he has been the Dodgers' best hitter since settling into their lineup, hitting .342/.390/.634 with 18 home runs in 284 at-bats on the year.

SP Ricky Nolasco (Since joining LAD: 12 GS, 8-1, 2.07 ERA, 1.01 WHIP)

Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke could both earn a spot here, but over the past month Nolasco has actually been the team's best starter at 4-0 with a 1.04 ERA. He was just 5-8 with a 3.85 ERA at the time of his trade from the Marlins, and he's stepped up huge in the team's No. 3 starter spot.

Who's Not

LF Carl Crawford (Last 7 games: 28 AB, .107/.107/.143, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 R)

All in all, it's been a solid bounce-back campaign for Crawford after he appeared in just 31 games last season and didn't play after being traded to the Dodgers in August. With Matt Kemp's return uncertain at this point, the team will need Crawford to step up down the stretch.

RP Brandon League (Last 7 games: 5.0 IP, 9.00 ERA, 2.80 WHIP, 7.2 K/9)

The three-year, $22.5 million deal that League signed in the offseason is among the worst in all of baseball, and it didn't take him long to lose the closer's job to Kenley Jansen. He had a 2.13 ERA in his first 11 appearances after the All-Star break, but he has been shelled over the past few weeks.

NL Contender: Pittsburgh Pirates

Who's Hot

CF Andrew McCutchen (Since Sept. 1: 35 AB, .457/.558/.771, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 8 R)

After turning in a dominant first half last season and falling off after the break, McCutchen has been on a tear in the second half this year, hitting .371/.457/.608 with nine home runs and 30 RBI. He's riding a nine-game hitting streak right now and will continue to carry the Pirates offense.

RP Tony Watson (Last 16 games: 16.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.66 WHIP, 6.5 K/9)

One of the top left-handed setup men in the league, Watson has made 62 appearances on the season and posted a 2.51 ERA and 0.91 WHIP. He's been untouchable of late, allowing runs in just one of his 23 games since the break and throwing 16.2 straight scoreless innings.

Who's Not

2B Neil Walker (Since Sept. 1: 39 AB, .179/.220/.282, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 3 R)

Hitting primarily out of the No. 2 spot in the Pirates order, Walker has posted a decent .254/.342/.398 line with 10 home runs and 45 RBI on the season. He hit .305/.364/.457 in August but has slumped badly in September and will need to get back on track.

SP Jeff Locke (Last 8 starts: 1-2, 6.28 ERA, 1.94 WHIP)

An All-Star in his first full season in the majors, Locke was 8-2 with a 2.15 ERA at the break, but he's been a different pitcher in the second half and didn't record a quality start in his first seven outings. He was solid against the Cubs his last time out, going seven innings and allowing just one run, but he still has a ways to go to prove he's ready for a postseason rotation spot over Charlie Morton.

NL Contender: St. Louis Cardinals

Who's Hot

2B Matt Carpenter (Since Sept 1: 41 AB, .378/.440/.578, 5 2B, 4 RBI, 14 R)

Yadier Molina has been touted as an MVP candidate all season—and rightfully so—but it may be Carpenter who is the most valuable player on the St. Louis roster. He's been a dynamic table setter atop the lineup all season and is playing his best baseball of the year right now.

SP Joe Kelly (Last 11 starts: 8-1, 1.99 ERA, 1.45 WHIP)

Since moving to the rotation full time on July 6, Kelly has been arguably the Cardinals' best starter. He had rattled off six straight quality starts with a 5-0 record and 1.50 ERA over a 10 start span. He took the loss against the Brewers on Thursday, but he remains in a good position to be the team's No. 3 starter come October.

Who's Not

C Yadier Molina (Last 15 games: 55 AB, .182/.211/.273, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 5 R)

Molina looked like a legitimate NL batting title contender for much of the season, and while his .318/.358/.479 is still solid and he remains fifth in the NL in the batting race, he has fallen off significantly of late.

RP Edward Mujica (Last 4 games: 1-of-2 SV, 10.80 ERA, 1.80 WHIP)

Through much of the season, Mujica has been a rock-solid option at the back end of the Cardinals bullpen in his first year as a closer, but he's hit a rough patch of late. He's allowed an earned run in three of his last four outings and blew his third save of the year last Friday.

NL Contender: Washington Nationals

Who's Hot

CF Denard Span (Last 24 games: 96 AB, .385/.423/.531, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 16 R)

The Nationals' big offseason addition, Span turned in a subpar .263/.320/.358 line in the first half as he was part of a disappointing all-around offensive attack. He's turned things on of late, though, giving the Nationals the impact table setter they were hoping for when they acquired him.

SP Gio Gonzalez (Last 3 starts: 3-0, 0.42 ERA, 0.78 WHIP)

After going 21-8 with a 2.89 ERA to finish third in NL Cy Young voting last year, Gio Gonzalez entered the season with lofty expectations but struggled early and never really rounded into ace form. He's been terrific his last three times out, though, including throwing a one-hit shutout at the Mets last time he took the ball.

Who's Not

LF Bryce Harper (Last 8 games: 24 AB, .172/.314/.214, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2 R)

A right-shoulder injury from crashing into the wall, left-knee bursitis, a left-arm contusion after being hit by a pitch and left-hip soreness have all cost Harper time this season and limited him to just 103 total games. His last eight games have been sandwiched around missing time with a hip injury, but his bat has gone ice cold down the stretch.

SP Ross Ohlendorf (Last 4 games: 4 G, 3 GS, 1-0, 6.46 ERA, 1.57 WHIP)

Signed to a minor league deal in January, Ohlendorf has made a bigger impact than most expected, and in his first 10 appearances this season (one start) he was 2-0 with a 1.85 ERA in 34 innings of work. He joined the rotation for three starts after that and got roughed up for 18 hits and nine runs in 14.1 innings of work before returning to the bullpen and again getting hit hard in his first relief appearance.

AL Contender: Baltimore Orioles

Who's Hot

DH Danny Valencia (Since Sept. 1: 24 AB, .500/.500/.875, 3 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 4 R)

The Orioles purchased Valencia from the Red Sox prior to the season in an effort to bolster their bench, but he has seen minimal action this year with just 112 at-bats over 36 games of action. That said, he's been penciled in as the starting DH six times this month and hit a game-tying three-run home run in the eighth inning on Thursday.

SP Scott Feldman (Last 6 starts: 3-1, 1.77 ERA, 1.01 WHIP)

The acquisition of Bud Norris just before the deadline was viewed as the bigger deal at the time, but fellow July pickup Feldman has been the better pitcher since joining Baltimore. He was just 2-3 with a 5.70 ERA in his first six starts with the team, but he's been on a roll since.

Who's Not

LF Nate McLouth (Since Aug. 1: 120 AB, .211/.282/.382, 5 HR, 16 RBI, 17 R)

The Orioles' decision to bring back McLouth on a one-year, $2 million deal was a great one in the first half, as he hit .275/.347/.399 with 53 runs scored and 24 steals. He's fallen off in the second half, though, and he may well be playing himself out of getting a multi-year deal from someone this offseason.

RP Tommy Hunter (Last 8 games: 7.1 IP, 1-2, 6.14 ERA, 1.50 WHIP)

After struggling as a starter last season, Hunter moved to the bullpen full time this year and has a 2.93 ERA and four saves in 61 appearances over 76.2 innings of work. He's hit a rough patch of late, picking up the loss in an important game against the Yankees on Wednesday.

AL Contender: Boston Red Sox

Who's Hot

1B Mike Napoli (Last 8 games: 28 AB, .393/.500/.964, 4 2B, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 9 R)

Napoli has a history of being one of the streakier hitters in the league, but he can absolute carry an offense when he goes on one of his tears, and he's been crushing the ball of late. How long he keeps it up remains to be seen, but he's been as hot as any hitter in baseball over the past week.

RP Koji Uehara (Last 26 G: 14-of-14 SV, 0.00 ERA, 0.24 WHIP, 12.4 K/9)

As good as Uehara has been over the past 26 games—not allowing a run and converting all 14 of his save chances—he's been even better of late with 34 straight batters retired. That is the equivalent of a perfect game plus another seven batters, as he's been an absolute stud since assuming closer duties.

Who's Not

SS Stephen Drew (Last 6 games: 25 AB, .200/.231/.240, 1 2B, 4 RBI, 0 R)

For much of the season Drew has been a weak link in Boston's potent offense, but he looked to have turned a corner with a .304/.389/.478 month of August. He's back to scuffling now, though, and if Xander Bogaerts can finish strong down the stretch he may see a good deal of playing time come October.

SP Felix Doubront (Last 2 starts: 0-0, 12.27 ERA, 2.32 WHIP)

At one point this season, Doubront was arguably Boston's best starter, as he was 5-4 with a 2.55 ERA over 15 starts from May 16 to August 4. He's hit a rough patch of late, though, posting a 6.60 ERA in his last six starts and pitching particularly bad his last two times out—failing to make it out of the fourth inning both times.

AL Contender: Cleveland Indians

Who's Hot

1B Nick Swisher (Last 6 games: 25 AB, .320/.370/.720, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 6 R)

It's been a disappointing first season in Cleveland for Swisher after he signed a four-year, $56 million deal in the offseason, as he's hitting just .241/.335/.409 with 18 home runs and 55 RBI. He's hit well of late, though, becoming one of the few bright spots in a slumping offense.

SP Ubaldo Jimenez (Last 8 starts: 4-4, 1.80 ERA, 1.20 WHIP)

It was a rough first season-and-a-half in Cleveland for Ubaldo Jimenez, but he has turned things around and given the team a second frontline arm alongside Justin Masterson. He's been spectacular in the second half, and especially dominant of late with 10 strikeouts in three of his last four starts. 

Who's Not

SS Asdrubal Cabrera (Since Sept. 1: 33 AB, .121/.184/.394, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 4 R)

One of the top offensive shortstops in baseball the past two years, Cabrera has once again flashed solid power with 11 home runs and 54 RBI on the season, but he's hitting just .233/.289/.389. He's provided virtually nothing offensively of late, aside from a trio of home runs.

SP Zach McAllister (Last 3 stats: 0-2, 8.78 ERA, 2.03 WHIP)

Though he's battled injuries, the 2013 season had been a breakout year for McAllister by all accounts, and he was 7-7 with a 3.51 ERA through his first 18 starts as a solid middle-of-the-rotation arm. He's struggled lately, though, failing to pitch past the fifth inning in each of his past three starts and allowing 17 hits in 13.1 innings of work.

AL Contender: Detroit Tigers

Who's Hot

C Alex Avila (Since Sept. 1: 26 AB, .463/.533/.577, 3 2B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 5 R)

Just two years removed from a season in which he posted an .895 OPS with 19 home runs and 82 RBI, Avila has been nothing short of an offensive black hole, hitting .221/.310/.360 on the year. He's been hot of late, though, raising that average from .198 at the end of August.

SP Anibal Sanchez (Last 2 starts: 2-0, 0.63 ERA, 1.19 WHIP)

With an AL-best 2.50 ERA, it's been a terrific all-around season for Sanchez, as his five-year, $80 million deal doesn't look so bad anymore. He's been particularly dominant his last two times out, including a 10-strikeout performance over 7.1 shutout innings against the White Sox last start.

Who's Not

3B Miguel Cabrera (Since Sept. 1: 22 AB, .136/.296/.136, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R)

Nursing injuries down the stretch, Cabrera has fallen off significantly, as his average has dropped nine points since the start of September and he has not homered since August 26. He may get some added rest down the stretch, as the Tigers look to have their superstar at full strength for October.

RP Drew Smyly (Since Aug. 1: 15 G, 9.1 IP, 5.79 ERA, 1.61 WHIP)

Smyly was lights-out in a setup role for the Tigers for much of the year, as he entered the month of August with a 1.77 ERA and 9.6 K/9 over 40 appearances. However, he posted a 5.63 ERA in August and gave up a run in his first September outing as well, leaving his important bullpen spot as a question mark moving forward.

AL Contender: Kansas City Royals

Who's Hot

1B Eric Hosmer (Last 15 games: 57 AB, .386/.462/.509, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 9 R)

After a terrific rookie season in 2011, Hosmer saw his slash line plummet to .232/.304/.359 last year, but he's bounced back nicely in 2013. On the strength of a strong second half, he's hitting .304/.357/.450 on the year and has been the Royals' most consistent hitter.

SP Bruce Chen (Last 3 starts: 2-0, 2.41 ERA, 0.91 WHIP)

The Opening Day starter in 2012, Chen had to battle to earn a rotation spot this spring after the Royals' offseason additions, and he's split time between the bullpen and starting with 19 relief appearances and 11 starts. He's 4-2 with a 2.98 ERA as a starter, and he's been terrific over his last three starts in helping solidify the Royals staff.

Who's Not

3B Mike Moustakas (Last 12 games: 42 AB, .119/.159/.238, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 3 R)

A strong spring had Moustakas looking like a prime candidate for a breakout season, but he struggled early and never really got things going. In 432 at-bats this season, he's hitting just .232/.286/.362 and those numbers are dropping by the day during his recent cold streak.

RP Kelvin Herrera (Last 6 games: 3.2 IP, 0-1, 7.36 ERA, 2.18 WHIP, 14.7 K/9)

With one of the best fastballs in the game, Herrera burst onto the scene last year to post a 2.35 ERA in 84.1 innings of work out of the bullpen. He struggled to a 5.20 ERA through the end of June this season, and following a demotion posted a 1.46 ERA in 21 games leading up to the end of August. He's been hit hard of late, though, giving up runs in three of his last six outings.

AL Contender: New York Yankees

Who's Hot

3B Alex Rodriguez (Last 10 games: 34 AB, .353/.476/.676, 5 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 8 R)

Controversial as it may be, the return of Alex Rodriguez to the Yankees lineup has undoubtedly given them a boost and helped shore up what was a black hole of production at third base. He's hitting his stride of late, and if the Yankees can pull it off and make the postseason, he'll be counted on to keep it up.

SP Andy Pettitte (Last 6 starts: 6 QS, 3-0, 2.13 ERA, 1.21 WHIP)

The 41-year-old Pettitte keeps plugging along, serving as one of the few reliable arms in what has been a wildly inconsistent Yankees rotation this season. He's pitched his best baseball of the season over his last six starts, recording a quality start in each of them and lowering his ERA nearly 60 points.

Who's Not

CF Curtis Granderson (Since Sept. 1: 38 AB, .184/.225/.474, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 7 R)

A welcome addition to a thin lineup after missing significant time to injury, Granderson hit .278/.394/.444 in August and looked like he was just hitting his stride entering the final month of the season. Instead, he's taken a big step back, and while six of his seven hits this month are of the extra-base variety, his .184 average more than offsets that.

RP Boone Logan (Last 4 games: 1.2 IP, 16.20 ERA, 2.99 WHIP, 10.8 K/9)

One of the most reliable and often-used left-handed relievers in the game, Logan entered the month of September with a 2.68 ERA. He's been hit hard this month, though, allowing runs in two of his four outings and coughing up a lead in the seventh inning his last time out against the rival Red Sox.

AL Contender: Oakland Athletics

Who's Hot

LF Yoenis Cespedes (Since Sept. 1: 43 AB, .419/.444/.651, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 7 R)

It's been a subpar sophomore campaign for Cespedes, who was the A's best hitter last season and likely would have taken home Rookie of the Year honors in almost any other year. He's hitting just .243/.300/.438, but he's red hot right now and is the kind of hitter who can carry an offense when things are going right.

SP Dan Straily (Last 3 starts: 3-0, 1.50 ERA, 1.06 WHIP)

A dark-horse candidate for AL Rookie of the Year this season in a wide-open field, Straily has been in the A's rotation all season and gone a respectable 9-7 with a 4.15 ERA in 27 starts. He's been at his best over his last three starts, which included seven innings of shutout ball his last time out—albeit against the Astros.

Who's Not

IF Alberto Callaspo (Last 7 games: 22 AB, .136/.240/.273, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3 R)

Acquired to add some offensive punch at second base and to give the A's more flexibility in the infield, Callaspo hit .301/.388/.425 in August but has gone cold of late and the A's are back to having an offensive hole at second.

RP Grant Balfour (Last 6 games: 4-of-5 SV, 9.53 ERA, 2.47 WHIP, 4.8 K/9)

Practically untouchable to start the season, Balfour rattled off a streak of 45 straight saves dating back to last year and was a perfect 25-of-25 with a 1.63 ERA at the All-Star break. Since the break, he's blown two saves and has a 4.50 ERA, and he's looking less and less like a sure thing down the stretch.

AL Contender: Tampa Bay Rays

Who's Hot

RF Wil Myers (Since Sept. 1: 39 AB. .333/.381/.590, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 4 R)

After a torrid start to his big league career, Myers cooled off considerably in August, hitting just .209/.317/.314 with just five extra-base hits in 86 at-bats. Things are clicking again, though, and he could be the X-factor for the Rays offense as they look to secure a postseason spot.

SP Matt Moore (Last 2 starts: 1-0, 0.77 ERA, 1.37 WHIP)

Moore was having a fantastic season at the end of July, sitting at 14-3 with a 3.41 ERA, but left-elbow inflammation cost him the entire month of August, and he was a question mark heading into the final month. In two starts since returning, he's put those questions to rest, and with Chris Archer struggling and Jeremy Hellickson still up in the air, getting him back at full strength is huge.

Who's Not

2B Ben Zobrist (Last 5 games: 21 AB, .095/.136/.095, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 R)

It's not a prolonged cold streak by any means, but with every game a must-win for the Rays at this point, Zobrist will need to turn things around quickly as one of the most important hitters in the team's offense. He's having a nice season, with a .272/.354/.407 line, but he needs to get back on track quickly.

SP Chris Archer (Last 2 starts: 0-2, 8.22 ERA, 1.96 WHIP)

Arguably the AL Rookie of the Year front-runner, Archer has put together a fantastic debut season, going 8-7 with a 3.19 ERA over 19 starts on the year. His ERA has climbed 0.38 over his last two starts, though, as he has failed to pitch beyond the fourth inning in both outings and has taxed the bullpen as a result.

AL Contender: Texas Rangers

Who's Hot

RF Alex Rios (Since Sept. 1: 37 AB, .378/.439/.703, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 4 R)

The Rangers pulled the trigger on one of the biggest deals of the August waiver trade deadline, landing a middle-of-the-order replacement for Nelson Cruz in Rios. He didn't do much in August, hitting just .263/.300/.382 with one home run, but he's producing like the Rangers envisioned now.

RP Neal Cotts (Last 10 games: 8.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 10.8 K/9)

Perhaps the biggest out-of-nowhere contributor of 2013, Cotts had not pitched in the majors since 2009, when the Rangers took a flier on him with a minor league deal, and he has been one of the best left-handed relievers in the game. He has a 1.13 ERA and 10.2 K/9 in 48 games this season and has not allowed a run since August 16.

Who's Not

3B Adrian Beltre (Since Sept 1: 39 AB, .205/.279/.231, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R)

Beltre carried the Rangers offense in August, hitting .381/.479/.577 with 21 RBI, but he has gone cold just as Rios has gotten hot alongside him in the middle of the order. The veteran posted a 1.090 OPS with 11 home runs in September last season, but he'll need to turn things around quickly to come anywhere near that production this year.

SP Matt Garza (Last 8 starts: 2-4, 5.16 ERA, 1.34 WHIP)

The prize of the July deadline, the Rangers gave up a ton to get Garza in hopes that he'd join Yu Darvish and Derek Holland as another frontline arm atop the staff. He had a 1.88 ERA in his first two starts after joining Texas, but he's been unimpressive at best since, and he made it just four innings his last time out.