MLB Playoff Picture: 5 Surprising Teams That Could Steal the Show in October

Since Major League Baseball added the wild card to the playoffs in 1995, 12 teams have advanced from Wild Card Weekend to World Series. Six of those teams went from Wild Card to world champions, proving that all you need is a chip and a chair.

Both World Series teams last season advanced to the Fall Classic via the wild card, and that’s what this list is all about. September is about to play out in front of our eyes, and October lies just on the other side.

The five teams on this list are currently in contention to make the postseason, and if they do, each one has the potential to become the seventh wild card world champ.

Washington Nationals

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Things haven’t gone so well for the self-proclaimed "team to beat" in the National League. The Nationals find themselves at .500, five games behind the New York Mets in the NL East and 9.5 games out of the last wild card spot.

But postseason baseball is all about aces, and few boast the type of rotation the Nats do.

If the Nationals can somehow break into the postseason, Game 1: Max Scherzer, Game 2: Stephen Strasburg, Game 3: Jordan Zimmermann would be tough to overcome.

The key to Washington’s regular season might not actually be stars like Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman, Jayson Werth or the aces. Denard Span may be what’s missing from the Nats lineup.

Span has battled back and abdominal injuries all season and has missed 61 games this season. The Nationals are a woeful 26-37 without him in the lineup this season but are 35-24 with him.

If the Nats can get Span back to being a healthy table-setter and helping them score runs from the leadoff spot, they could be nearly unbeatable if they’re able to sneak into the postseason. Crazy things tend to happen in September, so keep an eye on the Nats.

San Francisco Giants

It’s not an even-numbered year, but the Giants still have a chance. San Francisco finds itself just 1.5 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West and five games behind the Cubs for the last wild card spot.

The Giants don’t have a lot to offer behind Madison Bumgarner in the rotation, but they have continued to keep pace with the nearly $300 million Dodgers. A big reason for that is consistent offense.

San Francisco is third in the NL in runs scored with 530 and third in the NL in run differential at +65. Four of the Giants' everyday players have averages over .300.

When Hunter Pence was placed on the DL with an oblique injury, the Giants were proactive and acquired Marlon Byrd. Trading for Byrd was a smart move, but the Giants will need Pence.

This season, the Giants are 34-17 with Pence in the lineup and just 31-40 without him. Pence isn’t expected to miss much time beyond the 15 days, and his presence could be just what San Fran needs to make a late push.

The Giants have played underdogs in the playoffs before. The result has been three World Series titles in the last five years. They peak at the right time.

Texas Rangers

You may have heard this somewhere before, but aces and rotations are key in the postseason. And while you might not think of Texas as having a great rotation, that might change.

When the Rangers acquired Cole Hamels, they picked up the true ace they’ve lacked since Yu Darvish went down. But that’s just one guy. Who else do they have?

Derek Holland.

The Rangers just got Holland back from the DL. He threw nine pitches before succumbing to a shoulder injury in his first start this season. Prior to his start on August 19, Holland had pitched just 38 innings over the last two seasons.

Last season, Holland returned from a knee injury to put on a show for the 37 innings he pitched. Holland finished 2014 with an ERA of 1.49.

If Holland can produce a similar result, the Rangers would have a more-than-solid 1-2 punch.

If the playoffs started today, Texas would be the only team to have a negative run differential. But that’s only because of how terrible its pitching has been.

The Rangers have scored the fifth-most runs in baseball. They’ve also allowed the fifth-most runs in baseball.

If Hamels and Holland can excel, the Rangers could be deadly come October.

Toronto Blue Jays

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Completely bucking the "pitching wins championships" mentality are the Blue Jays. And if any team could win without pitching, it would be them.

Toronto boasts the best run-scoring offense and run differential in baseball. It’s not even close.

The Blue Jays’ 670 runs are 85 more than the team with the second-most runs, the Yankees. Their run differential of +164 is 48 runs better than the Cardinals, who have the second-best run differential.

Toronto even acquired its own frontline starter in David Price. The Blue Jays No. 2 and 3 starters might not match up well with whomever they’re playing, but there’s enough offense to where it might not matter.

Baltimore Orioles

Having allowed the 10th-fewest runs in baseball this season, the Orioles have good-not-great pitching. But like the Blue Jays, a powerful offense could be key.

Baltimore’s 544 runs are good enough for fifth in the AL and seventh overall. The O’s also have just one of six plus run differentials in the AL, with a +54.

Baltimore’s rotation certainly won’t strike fear into the hearts of anybody, but Wei Yen Chen, Ubaldo Jimenez and Chris Tillman certainly have the potential to be above average pitchers. Baltimore’s real chance lies within its offense.

Admittedly, the Orioles are the weakest team on this list, but they have a ton of potential if they’re able to run on all cylinders. Adam Jones, Manny Machado and Chris Davis alone are worthy of inclusion.

Stats and info courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise noted.

Follow Aaron Brand on Twitter @AaronBrand47.