Each MLB Team's Most Intriguing Storyline Down the Stretch
Ah, September.
For MLB fans, the final month of the regular season is always filled with memorable excitement and drama.
But before we get too deep into the stretch run, let's take a look at all 30 MLB teams and their most intriguing storylines over the season's final weeks.
Obviously, stories that will directly affect the playoff picture are prominent throughout this slideshow. Is Jason Heyward ready to lead the St. Louis Cardinals offense in October? Who should start a potential do-or-die Wild Card Game for the Chicago Cubs? Who should be included in Kansas City's playoff rotation?
While those pressing questions desperately need answering, there are other compelling storylines to follow over the next few weeks. Is Hector Olivera really the impact bat the Atlanta Braves think he is? Will Bryan Price and Brad Ausmus be able to save their jobs? Can Sonny Gray win the AL Cy Young despite pitching on a poor team?
Whether your team is atop the standings or enduring through a brutal season, we've got you covered. By the end of the slideshow, you'll have a much better understanding of what to keep an eye on across the MLB landscape as the door closes on the 2015 regular season.
Arizona Diamondbacks
1 of 30
Storyline: Which starters will stand out in their pursuit of a spot in the 2016 rotation?
After fighting valiantly for most of 2015, the Arizona Diamondbacks won't be headed to the postseason at the end of the month.
However, Diamondbacks fans should be optimistic about the future with the emergence of a quality group of position players. Paul Goldschmidt gets most of the love, but A.J. Pollock, David Peralta, Ender Inciarte, Jake Lamb and Yasmany Tomas have all chipped in to give Arizona the fifth-highest WAR in MLB.
Unfortunately, Arizona starters rank 24th in ERA this season. Of the team's four most-used hurlers, only Robbie Ray has a sub-4.00 ERA.
The left-handed Ray has carved out a spot in the 2016 rotation, but which of his peers will join him? Rubby De La Rosa (4.46 ERA), Patrick Corbin (3.67 ERA), Chase Anderson (4.26 ERA) and Archie Bradley (5.80 ERA) are all 27 or younger and have been given opportunities to prove their worth this season.
According to MLB.com, Bradley is one of five pitchers in Arizona's top six prospects. There figures to be plenty of competition among those young hurlers in spring training next March.
With multiple spots up for grabs, pitching well down the stretch will go a long way toward solidifying a spot in the 2016 rotation.
Atlanta Braves
2 of 30
Storyline: Is Hector Olivera ready to be an impact bat in the major leagues?
The Atlanta Braves managed to hang around the periphery of the NL East race for most of the first half, but countless trades and injuries pushed the club well out of contention.
Atlanta never figured to compete for a postseason berth in 2015. Therefore, president of baseball operations John Hart made it a point to completely revamp Atlanta's farm system. Hart's main focus was acquiring young pitching, which is evident by the additions of Matt Wisler, Mike Foltynewicz, Tyrell Jenkins, Touki Toussaint, Manny Banuelos and Max Fried.
But, eventually, the Braves will need quality bats to pair with what looks to be a formidable future starting rotation. Hart knew that, and targeted Cuban sensation Hector Olivera at the trade deadline.
Olivera was recently promoted to the big leagues as a September call-up. In 35 minor league games, he hit .272 with eight extra-base hits. Olivera is a polished hitter, capable of hitting over .300 with double-digit home run power if everything goes right.
There's plenty of risk attached to Olivera. He's 30 and has a history of injury concerns a mile long.
But, if healthy he has an opportunity to combine with Freddie Freeman in the middle of the Atlanta lineup for years to come. Watching how well Olivera adapts to the majors will be a main focus for the Braves over the final weeks.
Baltimore Orioles
3 of 30
Storyline: Are we watching the end of an era in Baltimore?
With just a few weeks left in the season, the Baltimore Orioles have chosen an inopportune time to play their worst baseball of 2015. Baltimore is currently in the midst of a 2-12 stretch and has fallen 6.5 games back of the second AL wild-card spot.
Sure, the Orioles could get hot and still find a way into the postseason. But with games running thin, it may be time to turn the focus to 2016.
Well, maybe not. Baltimore's recent run of success figures to be coming to a close once the season ends. The Orioles have seven players headed for free agency this winter. That list includes some key names: Chris Davis, Matt Wieters, Wei-Yen Chen, Gerardo Parra, Darren O'Day, Steve Pearce and Brian Matusz.
For those keeping score at home, that's Baltimore's leading home run and RBI specialist (Davis), everyday catcher (Wieters), top starter (Chen) and a reliever with a 1.74 ERA (O'Day). Manny Machado and Adam Jones will be back, but there's no way the O's can re-sign all those players.
As Baltimore sputters toward the finish line, it means much more than failure to reach the playoffs. Orioles fans enjoy these last few weeks, as it's likely the end of an era.
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Boston Red Sox
4 of 30
Storyline: Which of the young pitchers will be part of the 2016 rotation?
There's no doubt that Boston Red Sox fans are yearning to see the 2015 season come to a close. After all, Boston failed to contend and has been one of the American League's worst teams this year despite several high-profile signings this winter.
Boston's offense hasn't been the unstoppable juggernaut many thought it would be, but failure in 2015 falls firmly at the feet of the starting rotation. Boston has used 10 different starters this season and has posted the third-highest ERA in MLB.
The Red Sox rolled the dice with the likes of Joe Kelly (4.94 ERA), Justin Masterson (6.14 ERA), Wade Miley (4.57 ERA) and Rick Porcello (5.21 ERA) in the rotation. Those experiments have yielded mostly disastrous results—Masterson isn't even on the roster anymore—and hindered any momentum Boston ever generated during the year.
The Red Sox have sprinkled in some young pitching talent throughout 2015, hoping to find something that could potentially contribute next year. Rookies Henry Owens (5.87 ERA) and Eduardo Rodriguez (4.25 ERA) have each received extended looks and have flashed signs of ability.
Boston will obviously be a factor in free agency this winter, but both Owens and Rodriguez can use September to make their case for a 2016 roster spot. One thing is for sure: The Red Sox won't enter spring training next season without major upgrades to their starting rotation.
Chicago Cubs
5 of 30
Storyline: Does Jon Lester or Jake Arrieta get the ball in the NL Wild Card Game?
The Chicago Cubs can still catch the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central, but an appearance in the NL Wild Card Game is much more realistic at this point in the season.
The Wild Card Game and its do-or-die nature is a tough way to decide which team will advance to the Division Series. In most cases, the team that gets the better starting pitching performance will ultimately continue their season.
As that game approaches, the Cubs have an interesting decision to make. Who gets the ball: the proven playoff veteran and World Series champion Jon Lester or the hottest pitcher in baseball Jake Arrieta?
Manager Joe Maddon still has work to do to ensure October baseball in Chicago for the first time since 2008. But, the Lester/Arrieta debate is already weighing on his mind.
"Some of it may have to do with who you’re playing and how your pitchers stack up against that particular team," Maddon told Jorge L. Ortiz of USA Today. "That may have something to do with that decision, because that game needs to be won, has to be won, must be won, or else all the other stuff doesn’t even happen."
Lester has posted a respectable 3.59 ERA in his first season in the Windy City, but has had some horrific starts that would doom the Cubbies in a one-game situation. Meanwhile, Arrieta has the second-best ERA in MLB and is fresh off the heels of a no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Flip the coin: Arrieta has never pitched under the bright lights of October. Lester? A 2.57 ERA in 12 starts.
This isn't a cut-and-dry decision, but let's not feel bad for the Cubs. Whether Maddon hands the ball to Lester or Arrieta, the Cubs should feel confident about their probability of advancing.
But as Arrieta develops into a bona fide ace before our eyes, it's a situation that will receive plenty of attention over the next month.
Chicago White Sox
6 of 30
Storyline: Just how many batters will Chris Sale end up striking out?
Things are a bit different on the south side of the Windy City. Despite plenty of hype before the season, the Chicago White Sox have underwhelmed in 2015.
One of the lone bright spots has been Chris Sale's absolute domination of opposing hitters.
The southpaw has somehow become more nastier this season then he was a year ago. Sale has improved his strikeouts per nine innings (10.76 to 12.11), strikeout percentage (30.4 to 33.3) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (24.7 to 28.3) this season.
How do those numbers rank across MLB? Sale ranks second behind only Clayton Kershaw in strikeouts, strikeout-to-walk ratio and strikeout percentage, but tops his peers in K/9. Compared to 2014, the 26-year-old easily bests the top performer in each those categories.
Although it's a long shot, consider this: If Sale wouldn't have missed his first few starts of 2015, we could be talking about the first pitcher since 2002—Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling on the same team, might I add—to crack 300 strikeouts in a single season.
Sale is close enough to Kershaw in K's, strikeout percentage and strikeout-to-walk ratio to completely sweep every swing-and-miss category in MLB this season. It may be a small consolation prize to White Sox fans, but at least they've witnessed one of the most dominant seasons by a pitcher in recent memory.
Cincinnati Reds
7 of 30
Storyline: Can Bryan Price earn one more chance in 2016?
One of the season's most cringeworthy moments came in April via Cincinnati Reds manager Bryan Price.
Price used the F-word 77 times in a verbal eviscerating of the media. In the end, something as silly as the whereabouts of Devin Mesoraco caused the outburst. You know, just a reporter addressing the status of the team's starting catcher. How dare he!
Although he later apologized, the damage had already been done to Price's reputation with the media. But after another disappointing season in Cincinnati, any goodwill Price had left with the Reds front office has likely disappeared.
Despite a team that fielded a healthy Joey Votto, Johnny Cueto, Todd Frazier and Aroldis Chapman for most of the season, the Reds are a whopping 30.5 games out of first place in the National League Central. Yes, the NL Central is the best division in baseball, but there's no excuse for a team as talented as the Reds to be buried so deep in the standings.
When recently questioned about Price's job security, Reds owner Bob Castellini told John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer that Price "is our manager" and that the club wouldn't be "making a change this year."
Reading between the lines? "This year" can't end fast enough.
Price can salvage what's left of his resume by grooming a handful of young Reds hurlers down the stretch. It may be too little, too late, but a strong September finish is likely Price's last chance.
Cleveland Indians
8 of 30
Storyline: How good is Francisco Lindor?
The Cleveland Indians have yet to make a legitimate postseason push in 2015, but the Tribe are somehow still alive in the American League wild-card race.
The Indians have the starting rotation to put together a fantastic month, but actions speak louder than words. For whatever reason, Cleveland hasn't made the most of a mediocre field of AL wild-card contenders.
But for those Indians fans still holding out hope for October baseball, there's reason for optimism outside of Corey Kluber and the potential of the starting staff. His name is Francisco Lindor and he's one of the brightest talents in baseball.
Since his promotion in June, Lindor has steadily improved as the season has progressed. He's slashing .308/.347/.437 with seven homers in just 78 games. Want defense? The 21-year-old has recorded seven defensive runs saved, which would rank fifth among shortstops if he had enough innings to qualify.
In a season where rookies have dominated national headlines, Lindor has somehow been wildly ignored. But at just 21 there's not many players with as much upside as the Indians shortstop.
Easy, Cleveland. Nobody is saying to give up on 2015. But regardless of how the season finishes, Lindor's emergence as one of the game's top young stars should be the main story surrounding the Indians down the stretch.
Colorado Rockies
9 of 30
Storyline: Can top pitching prospect Jon Gray gain some confidence going into 2016?
This goes without saying, but the Colorado Rockies are always going to be able to hit. Colorado's offense ranks second in slugging, third in average and fifth in runs scored despite being more than 20 games under .500 this season.
On the flip side, that Rocky Mountain air has haunted the Colorado rotation. The Rockies rank dead last in ERA in 2015. Piling on, the last time Colorado finished outside of the bottom 10 in ERA was in 2010.
When did the Rockies last have a winning record? You guessed it: 2010.
What does all of this mean? For one, Colorado obviously isn't going to reverse its bad fortune without improved pitching. Secondly, the Rockies can be successful with just a mediocre staff.
Any quality rotation has an ace. By selecting Jon Gray with the third overall pick in the 2013 draft, the Rockies indicated to the baseball world that they believed he was capable of developing into one.
But Gray experienced growing pains in 2015. After narrowly missing out on the Colorado rotation out of spring training, the right-hander began the season in a disastrous way in Triple-A. Gray gave up 21 runs in his first four outings, before eventually lowering his ERA to 4.33.
In six August starts for the Rockies, Gray has been fantastic. His 6.15 ERA is inflated by a lone start against the New York Mets (1.2 IP, 7 ER). In his four other outings, the 23-year-old has allowed only 11 earned runs in 26.1 innings and has recorded 21 strikeouts.
Gray has the swing-and-miss stuff to conquer Coors Field and become an important weapon for the Rockies for the foreseeable future. If he continues to pitch well down the stretch, maybe we're talking about Gray as one of MLB's breakout stars this time next year.
Detroit Tigers
10 of 30
Storyline: Will Brad Ausmus be fired?
How much blame can be placed at the feet of Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus is up for debate. However, the reality remains that Ausmus could very well be out of a job after the season ends.
The Tigers are in last place in the American League Central. It feels so weird to type those words, considering Detroit recorded only one sub-.500 record from 2006 to 2014.
But all good things come to an end. Detroit's dominant run over the past decade was behind Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and quality starting pitching. Even with 21 starts from David Price, the Tigers rank 27th in ERA in 2015.
Detroit's fall from grace was cemented at the trade deadline with the trades of Price and Yoenis Cespedes. After the white flag was raised, longtime general manager Dave Dombrowski and the club parted ways.
Coming off a subpar season and under a new regime, Ausmus' job is anything but safe. New general manager Al Avila may want to begin his career with a manager of his choosing and there's something to be said for that.
If we're being honest, the signs don't favor Ausmus. An argument can be made that he was dealt a bad hand, but plenty of MLB managers have been fired for less. If the Tigers continue to limp to the finish line, don't be surprised to see a new face leaving the club in 2016.
Houston Astros
11 of 30
Storyline: Can Carlos Correa get healthy and snap out of his recent funk?
Carlos Correa couldn't have asked for a better debut season. The Houston Astros shortstop is headed for American League Rookie of the Year honors and a trip to the postseason, all in his first taste of the big leagues.
Correa burst onto the scene this summer, showcasing the power, speed and defensive ability that convinced the Astros to select him with the first overall pick in the 2012 draft. In 69 games, the 20-year-old is slashing .276/.345/.513 with 16 homers and 11 stolen bases.
Come on, those numbers are just ridiculous.
Understandably, Correa hasn't been able to sustain that all-world pace. After blitzing opposing pitching in his first two months on the job, Correa posted a .250 bating average in August. He still hit six homers, but the rest of the league seems to be slowly figuring out the best way to pitch to the talented youngster.
Correa's struggles could be injury-related. Last week, he missed multiple games with a hamstring injury. He's since returned, but hamstrings aren't exactly the easiest injuries to shake off.
Houston's dream season can be chalked up to a number of different factors, but Correa has infused the club with excitement and flair since his promotion. He's also a heck of a player and will be crucial to any success the Astros have in the postseason.
Let's see how Correa handles his first bit of adversity. How he does will dictate how dangerous Houston can be in October.
Kansas City Royals
12 of 30
Storyline: How will the playoff rotation look come October?
The Kansas City Royals and general manager Dayton Moore cleaned up at the trade deadline, primarily due to the acquisition of Johnny Cueto. The addition of a legitimate ace took the Royals from one of the pack to the the favorites in the American League.
Kansas City can coast to the finish line, but manager Ned Yost will have some decisions to make regarding his playoff rotation. Outside of Cueto and Edinson Volquez, the rest of the rotation remains uncertain.
It's not for a lack of options, however. Between Yordano Ventura, Danny Duffy, Kris Medlen and Chris Young, Kansas City has more than enough to fill out a capable rotation.
Of the four, Ventura can be the biggest difference-maker. After struggling for most of 2015, the young flamethrower has been lights out in his last five starts. Ventura can also rely on the valuable experience he gained pitching in last year's postseason.
If Ventura is productive, he's a lock for that third spot in the rotation. The final choice will come down to who's pitching the best between Duffy, Medlen and Young.
Of those three, Duffy likely has the inside track. He's started 21 games in 2015 and was part of Kansas City's playoff run last year. Meanwhile, Medlen (3.51 ERA) has looked solid in his comeback from a second Tommy John surgery and Young (3.19 ERA), although recently moved to the bullpen, was instrumental to K.C.'s rotation before the major upgrade.
The Royals don't have many holes and have addressed all of their weaknesses via various trades. The playoff rotation may still need to shake out, but Kansas City should be in good shape no matter who gets the ball in October.
Los Angeles Angels
13 of 30
Storyline: Can the offense overcome its struggles and lead a late-season charge to the playoffs?
The Los Angeles Angels have fallen on hard times. After leading the AL West earlier this summer, the Halos have all but fallen out of the division race and are losing valuable ground in the their pursuit of a wild-card spot.
A big reason why L.A. has fallen back in the standings is due to an anemic offense.
Mike Trout is in the midst of a rare slump, hitting just .218 in August due to a banged-up wrist. Even the best players scuffle at times, but Trout's teammates haven't been able to pick up the slack. Albert Pujols has also picked a bad time to go cold, hitting only .231 last month.
But Trout and Pujols have carried the Angels offense all season. Los Angeles has needed other players to step up and it just hasn't happened.
Still, L.A. remains in the hunt for the final AL wild-card spot. Any team with Trout can be dangerous in the postseason, but the likes of Kole Calhoun, David Freese and C.J. Cron must contribute down the stretch in order for the Angels to make a serious run.
Los Angeles Dodgers
14 of 30
Storyline: Will the bullpen exorcise past demons and pitch well in the postseason?
The Los Angeles Dodgers are arguably the most talented team in MLB.
But the Dodgers have had similar talent in each of the last two seasons. Yet, L.A. hasn't been able to break through the glass ceiling and reach the World Series.
There are plenty of reasons why the Dodgers have struggled in October, but a shaky bullpen has to be at the top of the list. In 2015, who can manager Don Mattingly rely on to finish off games in the final innings?
Fortunately, the ninth inning is taken care of. Closer Kenley Jansen (28-for-30 in save opportunities) is in the midst of another dominating season and has established himself as one of the game's best relievers.
After Jansen is where it gets interesting. Mattingly's best bets lie in Pedro Baez (2.95 ERA) and Juan Nicasio (2.98 ERA), who have been reliable options for most of the season but are still relatively unproven. Left-hander J.P. Howell (1.43 ERA) has been fantastic but still has trouble getting right-handers out.
L.A.'s bullpen has been lights out over a recent hot stretch, which has allowed the club to extend its lead over the San Francisco Giants in the NL West. If that continues into October, the Dodgers will be as tough an out as anybody in the NL playoff picture.
Miami Marlins
15 of 30
Storyline: Can the Marlins get to the end of the season with Jose Fernandez intact?
The Miami Marlins had to wait until July to see ace Jose Fernandez return from Tommy John surgery.
Fernandez didn't disappoint in seven starts with the Fish, posting a 2.30 ERA in 43 innings. The right-hander displayed the elite strikeout stuff and pinpoint command that made him virtually unhittable before going under the knife.
Unfortunately, those good vibes were short-lived. Fernandez was placed on the DL last week with tendinitis in his right bicep. However, the 23-year-old told Harvey Fialkov of the Sun Sentinel that he planned on returning to the mound this season as long as he was healthy.
Another injury to his pitching arm obviously isn't ideal, but Fernandez seems to think the injury is nothing but a minor setback.
"It's a little sore today, but the best news out of all of it is, thank God, it's been a couple of days and I don't feel any pain," Fernandez told Fialkov. "I don't feel anything, so it's really good news.''
The Marlins failed to live up to the hype in 2015 but have an extremely talented core of young players. Getting Fernandez to the end of the season without another arm injury is crucial to a Miami turnaround in 2016.
Milwaukee Brewers
16 of 30
Storyline: How does the young pitching fare in September?
2015 has been a disaster for the Milwaukee Brewers, but a successful trade deadline gave the club some momentum heading into the offseason.
Adding to the positive vibes has been the production from young hurlers Taylor Jungmann and Jimmy Nelson. Jungmann is 8-5 with a 2.48 ERA in 15 starts while Nelson has a sub-4.00 ERA and is slated to make more than 30 starts.
Jungmann and Nelson won't be the only young hurlers on display in September. Milwaukee announced earlier this week that Zach Davies will be part of the rotation for the next few weeks. Davies, who was acquired in the Gerardo Parra trade, posted a 2.84 ERA in Triple-A this season.
If Milwaukee can groom its young pitching talent over the following month and into next season, the club will be ahead of the curve in terms of its rebuilding efforts.
Minnesota Twins
17 of 30
Storyline: Can the rotation pitch the Twins into the postseason?
It's September and the Minnesota Twins are right in the middle of the AL playoff picture after surprising everyone in 2015. As of this writing, the Twins sit just one game back of the second AL wild-card spot.
Minnesota has done so without standing out in any particular area. Of the two, the offense has been more dependable. Super rookie Miguel Sano (15 homers in 51 games) has combined with Brian Dozier (26 HR, 90 R) and Trevor Plouffe (18 HR, 73 RBI) to score enough runs to keep Minnesota in most games.
But if the Twins are to finish off a dream season with a postseason berth, the rotation must pitch well down the stretch.
Trevor May (3.92 ERA), Mike Pelfrey (3.85 ERA) and Kyle Gibson (3.82 ERA) have all exceeded expectations, but Ervin Santana's struggles (5.40 ERA in 11 starts) and an injury to Phil Hughes have cast doubt on the rest of the rotation.
The key man for Minnesota becomes Tommy Milone. The left-hander has been consistent all season, posting a 3.60 ERA in 18 starts. However, he'll need to continue that production if Hughes can't return this season.
New York Mets
18 of 30
Storyline: Can David Wright remain healthy over the next two months?
Behind an electric rotation and a revamped offense, the New York Mets continue to roll toward a NL East title.
As the Mets and Washington Nationals continue to trend in opposite directions, all eyes will be focused on David Wright and his health over the season's final weeks.
Wright has played in just 16 games this season due to a case of spinal stenosis. He recently returned at the end of August and has tallied 11 hits in eight games.
Obviously, Wright's offensive abilities are well-documented. He's a lifetime .299 hitter with more than 230 career homers. Wright has struck out over 20 percent just three times since 2004.
But, more importantly, Wright's storied career with the Mets has made him a revered figure in Queens. He's suffered through his fair share of disappointment, but Wright deserves to be a part of this magical Mets season.
Judging by the response Wright received from Mets fans upon his return, they agree. After missing so much time, Wright told Mike Lupica of the New York Daily News that the applause meant a lot to him:
"Unbelievable. You kind of dream and you think and play it out in your mind, stepping into the batter’s box the first time. This surpassed everything. I can’t thank the fans enough for that support, that ovation. It kind of got me off my game a little bit. I had to step out and focus on the task at hand because I was overwhelmed by the support.
"
The Mets have proven they can win without Wright, but his presence in the lineup is bigger than production. A healthy Wright gives the Mets a battle-tested and loyal player to lead them into October, which could be the difference for a team ready to make a splash.
New York Yankees
19 of 30
Storyline: Can Nate Eovaldi and Luis Severino continue to thrive as important rotation pieces?
The New York Yankees sat atop the AL East for most of 2015, but a red-hot Toronto Blue Jays club has surpassed the Bronx Bombers after a reinvigorating trade deadline.
Despite falling out of first place, there's still plenty of reason for Yankees fans to be optimistic. New York ranks second in MLB in runs scored and has a stranglehold on the first wild-card spot in the American League.
Can the Yankees still catch the Blue Jays and avoid a do-or-die Wild Card Game? Definitely. But if they are to do so, Nate Eovaldi and Luis Severino must continue to be stalwarts in the rotation.
Eovaldi has put together an odd season. He's 14-2, but has a 4.17 ERA and hasn't posted the jaw-dropping strikeout numbers that usually come with elite velocity like his. Top prospect Severino has a 2.17 ERA in five starts, but is the 21-year-old phenom ready for the bright lights of October?
New York's rotation has been bolstered by Masahiro Tanaka's recent stretch of solid outings and the return of Michael Pineda. But in a division that figures to come down to the wire, the Yankees can't afford to get poor production from two-fifths of the rotation.
Oakland A's
20 of 30
Storyline: How close can Sonny Gray get to winning the AL Cy Young?
Oakland A's fans haven't had much to root for this season, but Sonny Gray has put together a season deserving of Cy Young mention.
Gray is 12-6 with a 2.36 ERA in 27 starts in 2015. The right-hander ranks first in the AL in batting average against, second in ERA and fourth in innings pitched.
The 25-year-old is no slouch in the strikeout department, but his excellence is rooted in an ability to generate ground-ball contact. Gray ranks sixth in baseball in ground-ball rate due to late life on both his four-seam and two-seam fastballs.
Gray has cemented a place in the Cy Young conversation, but he's not the only deserving candidate. Dallas Keuchel and David Price are both worthy of the award and could vault ahead of Gray simply because they're on better teams.
But what if Gray dominates in September? Despite Oakland's struggles, his numbers will merit top pitching honors in the AL.
As the season comes to a close, Gray's final few outings will have a huge impact on who ends up with the Cy Young trophy.
Philadelphia Phillies
21 of 30
Storyline: Will Ruben Amaro be back in 2016?
After years of head-scratching decisions, Ruben Amaro Jr. picked a great time to make several shrewd trades.
Amaro's biggest move came at the trade deadline when he finally flipped Cole Hamels to the Texas Rangers for a handful of talented prospects. Jake Thompson, Jorge Alfaro and Nick Williams are all top 100 prospects that came over in that deal.
Then last month, Amaro parted with longtime second baseman Chase Utley for Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Darnell Sweeney. For just a few months of Utley, Amaro was able to acquire MLB.com's eighth-best second baseman prospect.
Despite those positive deals, Amaro is in the last month of the final year of his contract. Outgoing Phillies president Pat Gillick told Todd Zolecki of MLB.com that a decision on Amaro "will be made in the next 30 days or so."
Did Amaro do enough in 2015 to earn a new contract at the end of the season? That's a dilemma the Phillies will have to tackle over the next month.
Pittsburgh Pirates
22 of 30
Storyline: Can A.J. Burnett pitch like he did in the first half upon his return from injury?
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a well-balanced machine, capable of running through the National League en route to the World Series next month.
Of course, the Pirates would have to win a one-game wild-card matchup to earn that opportunity. But if Pittsburgh exercises the demons of last year's disappointment in the very same contest, a healthy A.J. Burnett will only strengthen its chances.
Burnett, who is retiring at the end of the season, has enjoyed quite the swan song in 2015. The right-hander has posted a 3.06 ERA in 21 starts for the Pirates.
Unfortunately, Burnett was derailed at the end of July by an elbow injury that required a platelet-rich plasma injection. At 38, it was unsure how Burnett would respond to the treatment.
But the latest reports out of Pittsburgh have been nothing but positive.
“I don’t want to say I could have pitched today, but maybe I could have pitched today," Burnett told Stephen J. Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He later added that "the pain is gone" and that his elbow is "better than it’s been in a long time."
Pairing Burnett with Gerrit Cole and Francisco Liriano would give the Pirates three premier starters for a potential playoff series. For a team with very few holes, how quickly Burnett adjusts upon his return is a key development worth monitoring.
San Diego Padres
23 of 30
Storyline: Which players will still be around in 2016?
General manager A.J. Preller's grand vision for the San Diego Padres didn't pan out in 2015. Despite multiple notable additions, San Diego has a losing record and won't take part in October baseball.
Instead of replenishing the farm system, Preller decided to hold onto his assets at the deadline. There were rumors of potential James Shields/Craig Kimbrel/Matt Kemp trades during August, but all of those players survived the waiver period.
As San Diego limps to the finish line, Preller's roster reconstruction could begin to take shape. Shields, Kimbrel and Kemp figure to find themselves back on the trade block this offseason, but Tyson Ross, Andrew Cashner and Jedd Gyorko are other names that could be involved in winter deals.
San Francisco Giants
24 of 30
Storyline: Can a broken-down rotation lead the Giants back to the postseason?
The San Francisco Giants have plenty of work to do in order to return to the postseason. As of this writing, the Giants are 6.5 games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.
San Francisco has been widely inconsistent this season, due in large part to an unreliable rotation. As the club attempts to chase down L.A. over the next few weeks, its starting pitching must put together its best month of the year.
Madison Bumgarner (2.96 ERA) has been his usual stellar self, but he's had little help. Chris Heston (3.56 ERA) has seemingly hit a rookie wall, while Jake Peavy (4.38 ERA), Tim Lincecum (4.13 ERA), Ryan Vogelsong (4.06 ERA), Tim Hudson (4.80 ERA) and Matt Cain (6.15 ERA) haven't been able to sustain any consistency.
Deadline acquisition Mike Leake figured to give the rotation a boost, but he's made only four starts in San Francisco due to an untimely hamstring injury. The right-hander has returned for September and must pitch well for San Fran to have any chance of a late-season surge.
If the Giants rotation can turn things around, a lineup led by Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford, Joe Panik, Brandon Belt and Matt Duffy is capable of special things. San Francisco isn't dead yet, but won't last too much longer without better starts from the rotation.
Seattle Mariners
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Storyline: Can Taijuan Walker rebuild his confidence over the final month?
Before the season, the Seattle Mariners were a trendy pick to make some noise in the American League.
Top pitching prospect Taijuan Walker was a key reason for that thinking. Walker figured to make an impact alongside Felix Hernandez in the Seattle rotation.
But Walker never really got his feet under him this season, posting a 4.84 ERA in the first half. The right-hander was especially susceptible to the long ball, allowing 16 homers in just over 100 innings. Walker has been better since the All-Star break, but the Mariners have to be concerned with the lost year in his development.
At just 23, Walker's ability profiles as a front-line starter. The Mariners don't have anything to play for over the next few weeks, but ending the season on a positive note would give Walker a huge lift heading into the offseason.
St. Louis Cardinals
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Storyline: Is Jason Heyward ready to carry the St. Louis offense in October?
For years, Atlanta Braves fans waited for Jason Heyward to reach his full potential. Unfortunately for the Atlanta faithful, Heyward is doing just that in the second half with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Heyward is slashing .292/.349/.441 with 11 homers and 20 steals this season. Combine that with his usual stellar defense and Heyward is one of the game's most well-rounded outfielders.
The 26-year-old has been on fire since the All-Star break. Heyward is hitting .331 with 19 RBI in 43 games. He's lowered his strikeout rate to 12 percent, which has improved his on-base percentage to a near-.400 mark.
Although St. Louis is on pace for 100-plus wins, the Cards rank 18th in runs scored. The losses of Matt Holliday and Matt Adams have left the club with a hole in the middle of the lineup. Manager Mike Matheny has countered those injuries by recently inserting Heyward into the cleanup spot.
From top to bottom, the Cardinals have the best pitching among contending teams. A limited offense could be the only thing that holds St. Louis back, but Heyward's second-half surge is reason for optimism.
Tampa Bay Rays
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Storyline: Can Tampa Bay score enough to sneak into the postseason?
Accompanied by a usual lack of media attention, the Tampa Bay Rays enter September in a familiar position—playoff contention. As of this writing, the Rays are just 4.5 games out of the second AL wild-card spot.
Tampa Bay has hung around despite fielding one of the worst offenses in baseball. The Rays rank 27th in MLB in runs scored.
Of the Tampa Bay players who have suited up in over 100 games, only Logan Forsythe (.291/.367/.456) and Brandon Guyer (.277/.373/.413) have impressed in 2015. Evan Longoria's career slide has continued, while the defensive-minded Kevin Kiermaier (.293 OBP) and Asdrubal Cabrera (.311 OBP) have added very little in terms of offensive punch.
On the flip side, Tampa Bay starters rank sixth in ERA. The starting rotation doesn't need much support, which bodes well if the Rays can finally get hot at the dish.
The second AL wild-card spot is up for the taking. Tampa Bay is still alive, but the offense needs to put together a quality September in order to make a serious run.
Texas Rangers
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Storyline: Is Derek Holland's resurgence legit?
2015 has been a strange year for the Texas Rangers, but through injuries, trades and up-and-down play, Texas currently holds one of the two AL wild-card spots.
The Rangers have played better in the second half behind an improved starting rotation. Acquiring Cole Hamels hasn't hurt, but an unexcited lift has come from left-hander Derek Holland.
In four starts since returning from injuries that cost him the better part of the last two seasons, Holland has a 2.82 ERA. The southpaw is also striking out over eight per nine innings and has allowed just one walk in 22.1 innings.
The 28-year-old was a key cog for the Rangers during the organization's successful run earlier this decade. That culminated in 2013 with a 200-plus inning, 3.42-ERA season.
It's still too soon to pass any judgement, but Holland's return to the big leagues is a huge development. With Hamels, Holland and Yovani Gallardo, the Rangers have an effective trio of hurlers capable of pitching the club into the postseason.
Toronto Blue Jays
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Storyline: How much of an impact can Marcus Stroman have down the stretch?
When the 2014 season concluded, the Toronto Blue Jays had to feel good about what 2015 held for breakout rookie Marcus Stroman.
Last year, the right-hander posted a 3.65 ERA in 20 starts. Stroman struck out over seven batters per nine innings, posted a ground-ball percentage over 50 percent and walked just 5.2 percent of the batters he faced.
Stroman's momentum was halted in spring training when he suffered what seemed to be a season-ending ACL injury. But after months of rehab, Stroman is remarkably in the midst of a string of rehab starts with the intent of returning to Toronto sometime in September.
Being skeptical of Stroman's recovery is understandable. After all, it's been just five months since the 24-year-old suffered a serious knee injury. But Stroman is adamant about pitching at some point over the next month.
“I’m in the best shape of my life,” Stroman told Ben Lindbergh of Grantland. “I know people say that, but I can prove it with numbers."
Stroman will get his chance. Manager John Gibbons has said that Stroman could be used in spot start situations over the next month.
After overcoming a serious injury, any production Toronto receives from Stroman is just a bonus. But if he can contribute down the stretch, the dangerous Jays will become even more scary.
Washington Nationals
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Storyline: Are the Washington Nationals done?
As of today, there's no question that the Washington Nationals are MLB's most disappointing team in 2015. Despite assembling a star-studded pitching staff, the Nats are 6.5 games back of the New York Mets in the NL East.
Injuries have played a big role in Washington's subpar season. Denard Span, Ryan Zimmerman, Jayson Werth, Anthony Rendon and Stephen Strasburg have all missed significant time in 2015.
Adding insult to (literal) injury, Washington is wasting standout seasons from Bryce Harper and Max Scherzer. Harper has posted a ridiculous slash line of .331/.460/.627 and gone deep 31 times. Scherzer has scuffled in the second half, but still has a sub-3.00 ERA.
The question is this: Can the talented-on-paper Nationals put together a quality final month and get back in the NL East race? Washington has six games left against the Mets, including a three-game set to end the season.
Injuries or not, this Nats team is too talented to miss the playoffs. Manager Matt Williams could be coaching for his job over the next few weeks.
Stats courtesy of FanGraphs and accurate as of Sept. 3.
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