5. Edwin Encarnacion, TOR
Toronto is by far the best offensive team in the MLB, and Edwin Encarnacion is one of the big reasons why. The slugger would be the best hitter on most teams in the league, but he is perhaps just the third-best hitter on his team. He has clubbed 37 home runs, 31 doubles and posted a .920 OPS this season, which is the second-best mark of his career. He has been taking the parrot on a marathon lately, smashing 11 home runs in August and seven more in September. The Jays will hope he stays hot in October.
4. Yoenis Cespedes, NYM
This Cuban slugger looks like he has finally found a home after being traded three times in the last two seasons. Cespedes is one of the hottest hitters in baseball and a big reason why the New York Mets ascended to the top of the NL East. He has hit 17 home runs, 13 doubles and produced a .946 OPS in 54 games since joining the Mets, giving him 35 homers on the season. With a solid, young starting rotation, the Mets have a good chance to make a splash in the playoffs. They will hope Cespedes’ bat continues to deliver big hits.
3. Carlos Beltran, NYY
No list about MLB postseason sluggers would have any value without at least a mention of one of the greatest playoff hitters of our generation. Though Beltran was merely an average hitter during the first half of the season, he has really come on strong since the All-Star break. Beltran has hit .290/.359/.507 with 11 home runs in the second half of the season.
The Yankees signed him for one big reason: what he does in October. A career .333 hitter in the postseason with a Babe Ruth-esque 1.128 OPS, Beltran takes his game to whole other levels in the playoffs. The Pinstripes are hoping he will be their new Mr. October.
2. Jose Bautista, TOR
The second slugger of the terrorizing trio in Toronto is Jose Bautista. The 34-year-old veteran has spent the last seven seasons with the Blue Jays but has never made the playoffs until now. He has always had a dangerous bat, hitting 54 homers in 2010 and following it up with 43 in 2011; however, Bautista is even more dangerous with the bats of Encarnacion and our No. 1 slugger protecting him. He is fifth in the AL with 40 home runs and second in RBIs with 113. Like his teammates, he has sizzled in the second half, posting an OPS over 1.000 in both August and September. That should translate to huge results in October.
1. Josh Donaldson, TOR
Donaldson is the overwhelming favorite to bring home the American League MVP this season. The young star has taken his game to another level in Toronto, leading the AL in RBIs with 123 to add to his 41 homers and 41 doubles. His 8.8 wins above replacement ranks third in the league behind Bryce Harper and Mike Trout. Donaldson could cement his superstardom this postseason, as the Blue Jays are looking like the American League favorites. They better hope they don’t have to wait long in between series as they are hot, hot, hot right now. Donaldson hasn’t had much postseason success in his career, but with his scorching second half, he has tremendous momentum heading into the playoffs.
