Takeaways from MLB Week 16

With more than two months of games left to be played, the playoff picture is far from decided.

But when the field is set for October's MLB playoffs, we may look back at the end of July as an ultimate determinant in which teams earned the right to vie for a World Series.

Among them quite possibly could be the news this week that Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw may need back surgery. There isn't a pitcher in MLB who has had a better season and no arm more important to a team's success.

Which teams got more positive news that could help alter various playoff races?

Dodgers Playoff Hopes Dinged by Setback to Clayton Kershaw

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

If there were a draft of every MLB player, needing to win just one game, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw probably would be the first pick.

Kershaw consistently has proven he is baseball's best pitcher with the ability to shut down any lineup. If you have to win one game, it's most important to have pitching. It's all been capped off by a 2016 season in which Kershaw has dominated opponents to the tune of a 1.79 ERA, 0.727 WHIP, only walking nine batters in 16 starts this season. If that isn't impressive, consider that his 1.66 FIP (a statistic that tries to measure a pitcher's success independent of the quality of the defense behind him) suggests his season has been even better than traditional statistical measurements tell us.

This is all to say that Kershaw is unbelievably important to the Dodgers' success even though he only pitches every fifth game.

So when Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts told reporters that Kershaw may need to have surgery on his ailing back, the news was a decisive blow to the team's hopes of making the playoffs.

Kershaw was placed on the 15-day disabled on June 27 with a "mild disc herniation," according to the team notes. The latest news of possible surgery indicates a setback in his recovery.

While this all could prompt the Dodgers to more actively seek starting pitching as we approach the trade deadline, no player they can acquire could make up for what they’ve lost in Kershaw.

Cubs Address Gaping Hole in Bullpen, Trade for Mike Montgomery

Mary Schwalm/Associated Press

If there was a weakness on the Chicago Cubs roster heading into the season, it was the bullpen. And while, unfortunately for Cubs fans, that has proven to be the team's Achilles' heel this season, Chicago's front office made a move to try to remedy the situation.

Chicago announced in a press release on Wednesday that it acquired left-handed pitcher Mike Montgomery from the Seattle Mariners.

Chicago was in desperate need of left-handed relief with Travis Wood the only southpaw the team could rely on out of the bullpen.

Assuming the Cubs make the playoffs, they are sure to see elite left-handed hitting. In fact, it can be argued that the best NL hitters bat on the left side.

The Washington Nationals have second baseman Daniel Murphy and outfielder Bryce Harper. Murphy currently leads the NL in batting average and Harper is the league's reigning MVP. The San Francisco Giants' Brandon Belt (.281/.381/.483 through Friday's game) hits from the left side too.

Both teams currently lead their respective divisions and should play in October.

Having multiple left-handers in the bullpen—in the Cubs' case, Wood and Montgomery—allows for more favorable matchups against left-handed hitters.

Ex-Cardinals Executive Chris Correa Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Hacking

Bob Levey/Associated Press

Ex-St. Louis Cardinals executive Chris Correa pleaded guilty to five counts of unauthorized access of a protected computer.

Ex-St. Louis Cardinals executive Chris Correa, who in January pleaded guilty to five counts of unauthorized access of a protected computer, was sentenced to 46 months in prison by a federal judge on Monday.

Correa hacked the player personnel database of the Houston Astros, accessing scouting reports and draft strategies. At the time, Correa was St. Louis' director of baseball development.

Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow first reported the data breach in 2014 when he told reporters that hackers had published the organization's internal trade talks. That prompted an investigation that ultimately led the FBI to Correa.

Luhnow spent eight years in previous roles with the Cardinals prior to being hired by Houston.

It's unclear what if any punishment will be levied onto St. Louis for the incident. MLB has been clear throughout the two-year process that it wanted the situation to first play out legally.

The Cardinals have maintained that Correa acted as a rogue employee and was not under any organizational direction to engage in such illegal activity. Nonetheless MLB could look to make an example of the Cardinals, sending the message to the rest of baseball that it has to be accountable for its employees' actions.

Commissioner Rob Manfred Considering Limits on Use of Relief Pitchers

Associated Press

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has made pace of play a top priority.

On ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said that he was considering some sort of limitation on the use of relief pitchers.

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You know the problem with relief pitchers is that they're so good. I've got nothing against relief pitchers, but they do two things to the game: The pitching changes themselves slow the game down, and our relief pitchers have become so dominant at the back end that they actually rob action out of the end of the game, the last few innings of the game. So relief pitchers is a topic that is under active consideration. We're talking about that a lot internally.

"

Since becoming commissioner, Manfred has made it a priority to reduce the average time of the game in order to keep people more engaged.

It's true that pitching changes are among the events within a game that make it longer. The idea behind limiting the number of pitching changes would be to reduce game times.

But limiting the usage of relief pitchers could also have the opposite effect, one that Manfred would need to heavily consider before employing such a monumental change to the game.

The idea behind making a pitching change is to get a favorable matchup against a batter or series of upcoming batters. If limitations are placed on the number of pitching changes, then that could actually lend itself to unfavorable matchups for the team on defense.

That could cause high-scoring innings. Sure, offense may be appealing to fans but it also lengthens the game—running contrary to the desired effect of such a change to the game.

Michael Brantley to Resume Baseball Activities

Aaron Josefczyk/Associated Press

What may be most surprising about the Cleveland Indians' stellar 2016 season is that they've done it without outfielder Michael Brantley.

Brantley went on the 15-day disabled list on May 14 with a shoulder issue, which he has not been able to rid himself of since. A medical procedure seems to have alleviated problems in the shoulder and Friday the team learned that Brantley was cleared to begin a hitting program next week, according to the Associated Press (via ESPN.com).

In 2014 and 2015 the left-handed Brantley hit .327 and .310 respectively. Brantley has only played 11 games this season, hitting .231.

Essentially his return could have the same effect as a big deadline deal. His play could ultimately decide the AL Central race.

The expectations for Brantley's impact should be tempered. Even after any rehab assignment, he will need some time to get acclimated to the game at the major league level.

But if Brantley is able to return some time in August, that should give him plenty of time to round into form.

Stats courtesy of FanGraphs.