Ranking the aces of October

If the 2015 MLB season ended Monday, there would be two New York teams, three NL Central teams and a Canadian team appearing in the playoffs. Three aces were traded to their respective playoff contenders midway through the season, and the defending World Series champions would be continuing their trend of winning it all then missing the playoffs every other year since 2010. The Chicago Cubs, under Joe Maddon, would be appearing in the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Regardless of which teams make the playoffs, there is one important piece that every World Series hopeful must have: an ace. These potential playoff teams have some good ones, but which team has the best?

Let’s take a look.

10. Johnny Cueto, Kansas City Royals

The 29-year-old flame thrower spent his entire career with the Cincinnati Reds before being traded to the Royals halfway through this season. Kansas City was already running away with the American League Central division but knew that if they wanted to avoid the disappointment that they felt after their Game 7 loss to San Francisco last season, they would need a viable ace to take them there. The Royals already have a tremendous bullpen but lacked that sure-handed big-game starter. Cueto has yet to live up to that hype, going 2-6 (9-12 overall) with a career worst 5.43 ERA in 9 games with KC. Those numbers have landed him on the bottom of the October list.

9. Masahiro Tanaka, New York Yankees

New York’s ace hails all the way from Japan and has struggled to solidify his place atop the rotation due to injury since traveling to the states. Tanaka has certainly broken out for the Yankees in 2015 with an 12-6 record. The 26-year-old has a 3.40 ERA, but he seems ready to return the pin stripes to playoff glory. Now they just have to hope they can keep some of their position players healthy, which wasn’t helped with Mark Teixeira’s injury.

8. Cole Hamels, Texas Rangers

The second of three traded aces left his old team in style with a no-hitter against the Cubs in his final start for the Phillies. Following that tremendous performance, Hamels was shipped to the struggling Texas Rangers. In six games with the Rangers, Hamels is 3-1 (9-8 overall) with a 4.04 ERA as the Rangers have climbed their way up the playoff ladder. Hamels’ playoff and World Series experience should be a huge advantage for the Rangers, who will more than likely face off with one of the AL East teams in a one-game playoff.

7. Gerrit Cole, Pittsburgh Pirates

Cole has been pitching like a Cy Young candidate for much of the 2015 season, but his inexperience has him coming in at No. 7 on our list. His 16-8 record and 2.54 ERA is quite impressive, and his 7-4 record at home will be an important stat to keep in mind because it continues to look like the Pirates will be hosting the Chicago Cubs in the one-game Wild Card playoff game. If the Pirates elect to put the ball in the 24-year-old’s hand, he will definitely have his work cut out for him.

6. Matt Harvey, New York Mets

The “Dark Knight” has been dealing with a bunch of drama with his innings limit controversy circulating through the New York media, but the 26-year-old still appears to be the ace in Queens. The Mets benefit from the likelihood that they will be entering the playoffs as a division winner, so they will not need to rely on just one arm to advance in the playoffs. That is especially beneficial because behind Harvey is part of a plethora of young talent including Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard. Harvey has elite stuff when healthy and has a 12-7 record this season with a sub-3 ERA.

5. Michael Wacha, St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals looked like they might have been doomed early in the year when they lost their ace Adam Wainwright for the 2015 season, but instead St. Louis surged to the best record in the majors behind the young arm of Michael Wacha. Wacha is 16-5 with a 2.96 ERA this season and possesses solid postseason experience for the MLB’s best team. Mike Matheny and company just continue to find ways to win like only the Cardinals can, such as seeing a player they drafted No. 19 overall in 2013 become one of the best pitchers in baseball at the bargain price of about half a million bucks.

4. Jake Arrieta, Chicago Cubs

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the 2015 season, Arrieta has dominated his way to the top of the Cubs’ starting rotation. After paying big bucks for Jon Lester in the offseason, many believed that Lester would be the one taking the ball in a one-game playoff situation. Arrieta, with a 19-6 record and a 1.99 ERA, has solidified himself as a legitimate Cy Young contender and would probably win it if it weren’t for the two guys in L.A. Arrieta is on his way to a 20-win season, has pitched a no-hitter, and is on pace to record the lowest ERA after the All-Star break in MLB history.

3. David Price, Toronto Blue Jays

The final traded ace on our list is David Price, whose contract expires at the end of this season. When the Detroit Tigers looked to be out of playoff contention, they decided to ship Price to Toronto for prospects. Price has not disappointed with the Blue Jays, going 6-1 with a 2.46 ERA in 8 games. He is exactly what the Blue Jays needed to make a deep playoff run in the American League. They already have the bats, and now they have the experienced ace to possibly lead them to the World Series.

2. Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros

It is amazing to see where the Astros have come from their league-worst record a few seasons ago. A lot of their success can be contributed to their 27-year-old ace Dallas Keuchel. His 17-7 record and 2.22 ERA looks to be good enough to secure the AL Cy Young for the Houston pitcher, but will he be able to carry that success into the playoffs? He already has the playoff beard going, and the Astros hope his success can lead them to a deep playoff run. Houston better be careful though because the Rangers are just a half game back for the AL West lead with just under 20 games remaining.

1. Clayton Kershaw/Zack Greinke, Los Angeles Dodgers

The best pitcher in the major leagues is certainly on the L.A. Dodgers … but which one is it? Clayton Kershaw won the NL MVP and Cy Young in 2014 before disappointing in the playoffs, and he has had yet another astounding season with a 14-6 record and a 2.12 ERA. The Dodgers will certainly keep him atop the rotation, but the NL Cy Young may be going to his partner-in-crime this season. Zack Greinke has a crazy 17-3 record and a ridiculous 1.61 ERA for the Dodgers. He would definitely be the ace on any other team in the majors, but one thing is certain: the Dodgers have a dominant one-two punch at the top of their rotation.

Photo: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports