MLB Players Most Vital to Contending Teams' Playoff Pushes

As summer winds down, the MLB playoff picture is coming into focus much more so than could have been said after the All-Star break.

A number of teams have fallen back towards the bottom of the division, while others have made their way into contention.

They won't be able to get over the hump without some very important figures that will either make or break their teams' chances at October baseball.

Here are some important pieces to each contending team's playoff puzzle.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Ian Kennedy

The Arizona Diamondbacks sit on top of the NL West division, ahead of the reigning World Series champion San Francisco Giants by 2.5 games.

Their success can be thanked in no small part to the efforts of Ian Kennedy.

In 25 starts for the Diamondbacks this season, Kennedy is 15-3 with an impressive 3.12 ERA. With 142 punchouts on the season, Kennedy is doing his part to lead the Diamondbacks to the postseason for the first time since 2007.

Atlanta Braves: Brian McCann

Brian McCann's return to the Atlanta Braves lineup will undoubtedly provide a spark that could propel the team to a NL Wild Card berth.

McCann is batting .303 on the season with 55 RBI in 92 games. The Braves will look to their star catcher as they try to hold their Wild Card positioning and potentially challenge the Philadelphia Phillies for the NL East crown.

Boston Red Sox: John Lackey

With a dominant offense and relatively stable starting rotation, the Boston Red Sox look like the team to beat in the American League.

They could possibly take that to the next step if starting pitcher John Lackey can rebound from his less-than-stellar start to the season and regain his form as the fall approaches.

Lackey's 6.13 ERA in 2011 is more than two runs higher than his career ERA, and while he's been able to manage 11 wins, his team would stand a much better chance of winning his appearances in the postseason if he can work out the kinks.

Chicago White Sox: Starting Pitching

The Chicago White Sox have propelled themselves from the depths of the AL Central and now find themselves just 3.5 games out of first place.

As has been the case in prior seasons, Mark Buehrle has been the most stable member of the starting rotation.

Beyond that, there is much room for improvement. Phillip Humber and John Danks have been positive contributors to the rotation, yet no pitcher aside from Buehrle currently holds a winning record.

Cleveland Indians: Ubaldo Jimenez

The Cleveland Indians made perhaps the biggest splash at the trade deadline with their acquisition of Ubaldo Jimenez from the Colorado Rockies.

It's clear that the Indians want to win, and want to win now. Their starting pitching just may take them to the level they need to be at in order to overtake the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central.

Despite a 6-9 record and 4.46 ERA with Colorado in 2011, Jimenez has provided an immediate impact to the Indians rotation and will no doubt give the Indians the confidence to reach the next level.

Detroit Tigers: Justin Verlander

As Justin Verlander goes, so will the Detroit Tigers.

Verlander is clearly the best pitcher in the Tigers rotation, and perhaps the best in the American League, if not all of baseball.

The Tigers have a great deal of offensive talent and with a top of the line ace like Verlander on the staff, the team should be able to hold their place on top of the division and earn their first postseason appearance since 2006.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Ervin Santana

Offense is clearly an important part to any successful team's run at postseason play. But strong starting pitching is what makes a championship team.

The Angels have two of the best starting pitchers in the American League in Dan Haren and Jared Weaver.

Ervin Santana is somewhat more of a question mark. The starter is 9-8 with a 3.10 ERA, yet he is significantly more inconsistent than the top end of the rotation.

If Santana can hone in on his skills and elevate his game as the season winds down, the Angels could make an impact in October.

Milwaukee Brewers: Prince Fielder

The Milwaukee Brewers are going all-in this summer as they look to not only win the NL Central, but potentially take their game even further.

After adding a solid piece to the bullpen with K-Rod immediately following the All-Star game, the team made their intentions known across the league.

Prince Fielder will need to continue to anchor the offense, as the pending free agent embarks on what may be his last fall with the Brewers.

Having already gone deep 27 times this season en route to 89 RBI, Fielder will need to continue to his efforts as multiple teams look to overtake the Brewers in the Central.

New York Yankees: Mark Teixeira

Mark Teixeira is one of the most talented young players in baseball. With an immense amount of talent and great glove in the field, Teixeira is an important part of the New York Yankees success.

2011 has been a trying year for Teixeira, as his numbers are lower than his career averages across the board.

Although his power numbers may be in the area they need to be, improving on his .248 batting average will go a long way in helping the Yankees overtake the Red Sox in the standings.

Philadelphia Phillies: The Big Three

It's no secret that the Philadelphia Phillies rotation is the key to their success.

With Halladay, Hamels and Lee combining for a 40-14 record and all with sub-3.00 ERAs in 2011, these pitchers are the cornerstones to the franchise.

With an 8.5-game lead, the Phillies are in a great position to win the NL East once again this season and with continued efforts from the front end of the rotation, the team could very well represent the National League in this year's World Series.

San Francisco Giants: Matt Cain

The San Francisco Giants have dropped from the top of the NL West and currently find the Arizona Diamondbacks standing in their way of a playoff appearance.

If the Giants hope to repeat their World Championship season of 2010, they'll need both offensive and defensive help, not the least of which would be that of Matt Cain.

As I said earlier, a strong front end of the rotation can turn a great team into a dominating team. With Tim Lincecum and Ryan Vogelsong combining for a 21-11 record and sub-3.00 ERA, the rotation is in a good spot.

With continued efforts from Matt Cain (9-9; 3.00 ERA) and Madison Bumgardner (7-11; 3.53 ERA) the Giants should be able to hold opponents back while their offense takes over games.

St. Louis Cardinals: Albert Pujols

The St. Louis Cardinals are currently staring upward at the upstart Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central and may quickly find themselves out of contention without a streak or two down the stretch.

The Cardinals' undisputed leader, Albert Pujols, has been the center of contract talks in the media for the better part of a year now, and if the distraction doesn't hide itself for the time being, things could end sooner rather than later in St. Louis.

Pujols is nearing 30 home runs once again this season, but his batting average is 40 points lower than his career average, and his on-base and OPS have taken a hit along with it.

A six-game deficit in mid-August isn't unreachable and if there's one player who could take things over the top, it would be Pujols, but the Cards are running out of time.

Texas Rangers: Adrian Beltre

Once again sitting on top of the AL West, the Texas Rangers are in a good spot to make a postseason appearance.

They could help their cause and create some separation in the division with the help of Adrian Beltre.

An offseason acquisition for the Rangers, hopes were high for Beltre, who came to Texas after batting .321 and knocking in over 100 runs with Boston in 2010.

Beltre's numbers aren't quite what they were in 2010, but the third baseman's overall numbers are actually ahead of his career pace. A strong finish could potentially lead the Rangers to another World Series appearance this fall.