Selecting MLB's Mid-2015 Postseason All-Star Team

With the Wild Card Games and division series fading in the rearview and the American and National League Championship Series churning toward completion, we've reached roughly the halfway point of the 2015 MLB playoffs.

Let's take this opportunity to pause, exhale and appreciate the best personal performances we've witnessed thus far—specifically by creating a mid-postseason All-Star team.

We'll draw players from both leagues—one per position, including a designated hitter, plus a starting rotation and a bullpen. To qualify, a player needs to have made at least two starts at the position in question, or one start in the case of pitchers.

To be clear: We're concerned only with playoff stats, and the impact those stats have had. Meaning, for example, all postseason home runs count, but game-tipping home runs count for extra credit.

Finally, while players from all 10 playoff qualifiers are eligible, guys whose clubs have survived longer enjoy an obvious advantage.

With more ALCS and NLCS action still to come and the Fall Classic looming, there's time for new heroes (and goats, with apologies to the Chicago Cubs) to emerge. This is the season of the small sample, when a single moment can change everything.

Entering play Wednesday, though, here are the men who've left the biggest October mark.

Catcher: Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

Postseason Stats

9 G, 6-for-29, 1 2B, 3 HR, 6 R, 5 RBI

Overview

As was the case with the 2015 AL All-Star team, brace yourself for a lot of Kansas City Royals on this list.

We begin with Salvador Perez, who despite his pedestrian .207 postseason batting average leads all playoff backstops in home runs, runs scored and OPS (.875).

Perez is beat up, as you'd expect an everyday catcher to be this time of year. But he simply keeps producing.

"He's fine. He took a couple of tough foul balls, one off the collarbone, one off the chin," Royals manager Ned Yost said after Tuesday's 14-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays, per Israel Fehr of Yahoo Sports. "He'll be excited to go tomorrow, ready to go."

Honorable Mention

Travis d'Arnaud (NYM): 8 G, 6-for-30, 2 HR, 4 R, 5 RBI

First Base: Eric Hosmer, Kansas City Royals

Pat Sullivan/Associated Press

Postseason Stats

9 G, 9-for-37, 1 2B, 1 HR, 7 R, 10 RBI

Overview

Eric Hosmer stands out for his run production, specifically the 10 RBI he's amassed in the postseason.

And he joins Perez in the tough guy pantheon after fouling a ball off his face Monday, drawing blood and staying in the game.

If Kansas City and its surprisingly potent offensive attack wins one more against the Toronto Blue Jays and advances to its second consecutive Fall Classic, Hosmer will be a key, gutsy reason why.

Honorable Mention

Adrian Gonzalez (LAD): 8 G, 6-for-19, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 R, 5 RBI

Second Base: Daniel Murphy, New York Mets

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Postseason Stats

8 G, 12-for-33, 1 2B, 6 HR, 9 R, 9 RBI

Overview

If the 2015 postseason has belonged to any hitter, it's Daniel Murphy.

The New York Mets infielder has gone on an absolute tear, homering in five consecutive games to tie an all-time playoff record set by Carlos Beltran in 2004.

With six postseason dingers overall, Murphy has also set a Mets franchise record. And five of his jacks have come against Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Chicago Cubs' Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester, a quartet of the NL's top arms.

"I mean, he's been unbelievable," manager Terry Collins said after Game 3 of the NLCS, which saw the Mets win 5-2 and grab a 3-0 series edge, per MLB.com's Barry M. Bloom. "I've watched a lot of baseball over the years; I don't think I've seen anybody put on this kind of a show on this kind of stage like he has so far."

Honorable Mention

Ben Zobrist (KC): 9 G, 13-for-36, 2 2B, 1 HR, 9 R, 5 RBI

Shortstop: Alcides Escobar, Kansas City Royals

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

Postseason Stats

9 G, 15-for-36, 3 2B, 2 3B, 9 R, 5 RBI

Overview

Alcides Escobar posted a .293 on-base percentage in the regular season, making him less than an ideal candidate for the leadoff spot.

Yet his manager put him there anyway, and so far in the postseason it's yielding ludicrous dividends.

"Statistically speaking, it doesn't make any sense," Yost confessed, per Joe Lemire of USA Today.

Sensible or not, Escobar is leading the Royals' October attack, posting a .417 average and .439 OBP. Is that sustainable over the long haul? Not likely. Does it make him an ideal table-setter for now? Absolutely.

Honorable Mention

Carlos Correa (HOU): 6 G, 7-for-24, 1 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI

Third Base: Justin Turner, Los Angeles Dodgers

Lenny Ignelzi/Associated Press

Postseason Stats

5 G, 10-for-19, 6 2B, 2 R, 4 RBI

Overview

After winning a third straight NL West title, the big-spending Dodgers watched another postseason go up in a puff of cash-scented smoke.

Yet despite losing a tough, five-game NLDS to the New York Mets, L.A. gleaned a few positive takeaways.

Like, say, Justin Turner, who provided one of the few offensive bright spots for Los Angeles by hitting a ridiculous .526 in the division series and collecting more hits than the entire Dodgers outfield combined.

Honorable Mention

Josh Donaldson (TOR): 9 G, 9-for-33, 2 2B, 3 HR, 7 R, 8 RBI

Left Field: Kyle Schwarber, Chicago Cubs

Paul Beaty/Associated Press

Postseason Stats

8 G, 9-for-24, 5 HR, 6 R, 7 RBI

Overview

The Cubbies are a game from elimination and another championship-free year, which would bring their futility counter to, like, 4,162 years (though we'll need to check that).

Getting back to actual numbers, rookie Kyle Schwarber has been compiling them in bunches, posting a 1.444 OPS and setting a franchise record for postseason home runs.

Needless to say, there are more good things coming for the 22-year-old masher and the young, hungry Cubbies, even if they're ultimately forced to—all together now—wait until next year.

Honorable Mention

Colby Rasmus (HOU): 6 G, 7-for-17, 1 2B, 4 HR, 6 R, 6 RBI

Center Field: Lorenzo Cain, Kansas City Royals

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

Postseason Stats

9 G, 10-for-34, 1 2B, 1 HR, 7 R, 2 SB, 7 RBI

Overview

With a pair of knocks in Tuesday's 14-2 drubbing of the Blue Jays, Lorenzo Cain extended his postseason hitting streak to an impressive 13 games, dating back to Game 4 of the 2014 World Series.

Kansas City is knocking on the door of another Fall Classic, and the speedy, slick-fielding, hit-happy Cain is a big reason why.

Honorable Mention

Kevin Pillar (TOR): 9 G, 10-for-36, 4 2B, 1 HR, 6 R, 5 RBI

Right Field: Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays

Postseason Stats

9 G, 8-for-34, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 R, 7 RBI

Overview

If the Blue Jays' season ends in the ALCS, Jose Bautista's epic bat flip in the deciding game of the division series will likely go down as the most indelible moment of Toronto's postseason.

That's not to say the Jays wouldn't rather make a trip to the World Series in their first playoff foray since 1993, but no matter what, Joey Bats stamped his name in the annals of franchise lore.

And while the flip was polarizing, Bautista's teammates have his back.

"He's an awesome teammate, he's one of the leaders on this team," second baseman Ryan Goins said, per ESPN.com's Brit McHenry. "If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't be where we're at at this point." 

Honorable Mention

Jorge Soler (CHC): 6 G, 6-for-15, 1 2B, 3 HR, 4 R, 5 RBI

Designated Hitter: Kendrys Morales, Kansas City Royals

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

Postseason Stats

9 G, 10-for-34, 4 HR, 5 R, 10 RBI

Overview

Kendrys Morales has capped a Comeback Player of the Year-worthy campaign with a potent postseason, cracking four home runs and posting a .989 OPS.

Not bad for a guy whose signing during the offseason was met with a deluge of negative reviews, per Pete Grathoff of the Kansas City Star, who highlighted a series of negative Morales-related tweets fired off by fans last December.

After what he's accomplished in a Royals uniform, it's safe to say there will be no such criticism this winter.

Honorable Mention

Edwin Encarnacion (TOR): 9 G, 10-for-34, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI

Starting Pitcher: Jacob DeGrom, New York Mets

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Postseason Stats

3 GS, 3-0, 20 IP, 15 H, 5 BB, 4 ER, 27 SO

Overview

Recently, ESPN's Jayson Stark made the case that Jacob deGrom is the Madison Bumgarner of the 2015 playoffs, a hurler who has taken his team on his back in jaw-dropping fashion. Here's Stark's pitch:

"

Before this October—and even to non-Mets fans—deGrom had already ascended to a level where legit followers of all things baseball understood that this was a guy with a chance to be great. But here's what we have learned from his two postseason starts so far: He's already great.

Without him, his team wouldn't still be playing. It's pretty much that basic, in a MadBum kind of way.

"

The Bumgarner comparison won't be completely accurate until and unless the Mets win it all. For now, we can marvel at the kid with the flowing locks who is fronting the best young rotation in baseball—and carrying his club toward a Commissioner's Trophy.

Honorable Mention

Dallas Keuchel (HOU): 2 GS, 2-0, 13 IP, 4 H, 4 BB, 1 ER, 14 SO

Clayton Kershaw (LAD): 2 GS, 1-1, 13.2 IP, 7 H, 5 BB, 4 ER, 19 SO

Noah Syndergaard (NYM): 2 GS, 1-1, 12 IP, 8 H, 5 BB, 4 ER, 18 SO

Matt Harvey (NYM): 2 GS, 2-0, 12.2 IP, 11 H, 4 BB, 4 ER, 16 SO

Relief Pitcher: Jeurys Familia, New York Mets

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

Postseason Stats

7 G, 8.2 IP, 5 SV, 2 H, 1 BB, 0 ER, 5 SO

Overview

The Mets starting pitching has grabbed most of the headlines, and deservedly so. But their closer warrants mention, too.

All Jeurys Familia has done is convert 5-of-5 saves, log 8.2 scoreless, high-pressure innings and generally pitch like a seasoned postseason pro, rather than a 26-year-old getting his first taste of October baseball.

"Familia, in my mind, is the best closer in the game," Harvey said, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Right now, that's tough to argue.

Honorable Mention

Wade Davis (KC): 4 G, 5 IP, 3 SV, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO

Justin Grimm (CHC): 3 G, 2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO

Roberto Osuna (TOR): 5 G, 6.1 IP, 1 SV, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO

Luke Gregerson (HOU): 4 G, 4 IP, 3 SV, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO

All statistics current as of Oct. 20 and courtesy of MLB.com unless otherwise noted.