10 bench players who will play integral roles in MLB playoffs

There is only one week left in the 2015 MLB regular season. The playoff picture is all but set, with just a few teams still to clinch a birth.

October baseball is known for dramatic and heroic plays, most of the time coming from key bench players. Which bench players will play an integral role this post season? Let’s find out.

Toronto Blue Jays (90-65): Chris Colabello, Outfield

Colabello has had an interesting professional baseball career after going undrafted in 2005 out of Division II Assumption College. He spent nine seasons in Independent ball, being named Independent Player of the Year in 2011, before finally bing signed by the Minnesota Twins in 2012.

The 31 year-old utility player will provide a solid bat off the bench for the Blue Jays in the playoffs. After the Jays made some key trade deadline acquisitions, Colabello found himself platooning with streaking Justin Smoak. On the season, he is batting .322 posting 14 home runs and 53 RBI, all at the bargain price of the MLB minimum of $421,530 per year.

Look for Colabello to mostly pinch hit come October, but the righty can also play any position in the outfield, first base and designated hitter. Should an injury occur at any of those positions, he will be the first guy off the bench. What is even better for Colabello is that he has nothing to lose, which makes him a very lethal weapon for Toronto.

Kansas City Royals (90-65): Ben Zobrist, Infield

After being acquired by the Royals at the trade deadline, Zobrist has provided steady defense and solid offense. Starting second baseman Omar Infante suffered an oblique strain and has been ruled out for the rest of the regular season with a promising chance at returning by the start of the playoffs. Zobrist has been filling in for Infante since his injury and has consistently produced for Kansas City.

Zobrist was on fire during August posting a .343 batting average, and to date, he has 13 home runs and 54 RBI. His versatility will only help the Royals should Infante struggle upon his return. Furthermore, with Infante’s injury Zobrist has been able to get some much needed at bats so he isn’t cold coming off the bench in the playoffs.

The switch hitter has also been a true leader both on and off the field for the Royals in his short time with the club. His ability to put together professional at bats, from both sides of the plate, make him an attractive pinch hitter for the postseason. After all, Zobrist is a two-time All Star so he is very familiar with coming through in the clutch.

Texas Rangers (84-71): Josh Hamilton, Outfield

Just two weeks ago Hamilton underwent surgery on his left knee to remove some torn cartilage. Many medical experts questioned if he would be able to play again in the 2015 season, but Hamilton proved them wrong by making a triumphent comeback.

Since his surgery, Hamilton has been easing back into the game by pinch hitting. But for the first time since August, he started in left field on September 27, proving his knee can handle the wear and tear.

It’s extremely doubtful that Hamilton will be the starting left fielder in the playoffs, but his power certainly makes him an attractive DH, should Prince Fielder struggle. The 34 year-old is batting .253 with six home runs and 21 RBI over 42 games this season. If his knee holds up, look for Hamilton to be the first bat off the bench for the Rangers in October.

New York Yankees (86-69): Chris Young, Outfield

Young signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Yankees in the offseason, and has proved he is worth every penny. He has posted an impressive .323 batting average against lefties this year in 151 plate appearances. Additionally, Young knows he is playing for a larger contract as he will enter free agency after the playoffs — so he has something to prove to his possible suitors.

Young is absolutely crushing left-handed pitchers this season, so look for the righty to come to the plate in crucial pinch hitting situations during the playoffs. He has smacked 14 home runs this season and his power is exactly what the Yankees will need off the bench come October.

Houston Astros (82-74): Chris Carter, 1B/DH

Unfortunately for many Astros fans, Carter’s 2015 season has been a bit disappointing. The 2005 15th round draft pick had a ton of hype to live up to entering the season, but has failed to consistently deliever. Carter was compared to Astros legends Lance Berkman and Jeff Bagwell, and was set to finally fulfill the slugging 1B position after Berkman’s departure.

Carter is batting below the Mendozza line at .195 and has 142 strike outs. With those numbers one would hope his power numbers are at least respectable, but unfortunately, they are not. To date, he has hit 22 home runs and only 52 RBI. But I promise you there is hope.

Even with the combined low average and slugging numbers, Carter still is a threat to go deep at any minute. In his last two games, he has hit two home runs and compiled zero strikeouts. Obviously that is a small sample size, but could this be the start of Carter’s resurgence? Baseball fans know that hot teams/players typically make great playoff runs. If Carter can continue to improve, he could very well play himself into the key Houston bat off the bench in a crucial RBI situation.

St. Louis Cardinals (98-58): Mark Reynolds, 1B

After suffering a wrist contusion while being hit by a pitch at the beginning of the month, Reynolds has returned to the Cardinals as a solid power bat off the bench. A big knock on him during his career is his massive strike-out total, and that is still the case in 2015. In only 347 at bats, he posted 117 strikeouts, which is astronomically high.

With the return of lefty hitting Matt Adams, Reynolds has seen less playing time and fewer at bats. His .234 batting average and 12 home runs have not been enough to keep him in the dynamic St. Louis lineup. However, his ability to go yard and change the game in just one swing, and with Adams’ historic struggles against lefty pitchers, Reynolds could pinch hit against lefties come October.

Pittsburgh Pirates (95-61): Josh Harrison, Infield

Starting third baseman Aramis Ramirez has been day-to-day with a left groin strain, which allowed Harrison to start some games at 3B. While Ramirez should be healthy and ready to go for the Pirates in the playoffs, Harrison could be seeing increased playing time if Ramirez tweaks his groin again.

Harrison will be battling with teammate Neil Walker for pinch hits and defensive replacements in the postseason, but the righty may have the edge on Walker as he has been hot lately. In Harrison’s last seven games, he has posted a .364 batting average and an .891 OPS.

His productivity sky rocketed since hitting a dramatic walk-off single against the Brewers on Sept. 13 in the 11th inning. Timely, clutch hitting will be exactly what gets Harrison into the lineup during the 2015 playoffs.

Chicago Cubs (90-65): Starlin Castro, Infield

With the stellar rookie season of Addison Russell, Castro has been platooning in the middle infield for the Cubs the second half of the season. To date, Castro is batting .264 and smacked 20 doubles. While Chicago clinched a playoff birth for the first time since 2008, the club realizes it will take its entire roster to advance past the wild card play-in game.

Manager Joe Maddon is notrious for his non-traditional coaching techniques, like batting the pitcher in the eight hole and making defensive changes early in games. With that being said, if Russell and second baseman Tommy La Stella don’t produce, look for Castro to be inserted into the starting lineup or pinch hit late in games.

Los Angeles Dodgers (87-68): Chase Utley, Infield

The 2009 World Series champion rejoined his fellow Philadelphia middle infielder Jimmy Rollins at the 2015 trade deadline. The 36-year-old injury prone middle infielder will provide leadership and experience to the Dodgers as they look to win their seventh World Series.

The six-time All Star second baseman has been playing some third base this season as the Dodgers look to get his stalwart defense and solid bat in the lineup. While one could argue that Rollins and Utley are unstoppable up the middle, starting second baseman Howie Kendrick has had the upper hand on Utley in all facets of the game. Since joining LA, Utley is batting .220 with only eight RBI. However, Utley is known for delivering in the clutch, so look for him to pinch hit early in games, and even possibly sub as a defensive replacement late in games as well.

New York Mets (89-67): Michael Cuddyer, Outfielder/ Utility

This true utility player has exactly what the young Mets team needs: playoff experience. Cuddyer has appeared in the playoffs six times — all with the Minnesota Twins — posting a .338 playoff batting average. While mostly playing the outfield for the 2015 NL East champions, he could also serve as a defensive replacement in the corner infield positions as well.

The Mets have not made the playoffs since 2006, and many Mets fans are hoping this will be the year for the team from Queens. By adding Cuddyer in the offseason, the Mets proved they were serious about making a postseason run. However, the righty’s bench production has come at a hefty cost when he signed a two-year, $21 million deal and the Mets forfeited their first-round pick.

With Cuddyer being placed on the DL in July and the addition of NL MVP candidate Yoenis Cespedes, the two-time All Star’s playing time was cut in half. Look for  Cuddyer to pinch hit late in close games and provide the much needed veteran leadership for the Mets in the 2015 playoffs.