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Every fan wants his or her team to sign the biggest MLB free agents who are on the market every offseason, but sometimes, the middling contracts are the ones that pay off the most.

Big names like David Price, Jordan Zimmermann, Chris Davis and Yoenis Cespedes will likely take over headlines as soon as the World Series ends. Still, the smarter organizations will find ways to add productive members to their rosters without limiting payroll flexibility in the future.

Here is a look at some of those options who will be available this upcoming winter.

John Lackey, SP

Even at 36 years old, John Lackey can clearly get it done at a high level. The St. Louis Cardinals veteran finished the 2015 season with a 2.77 ERA in 218 innings, including a dominant 1.78 ERA in September.

He then showcased his ability on the national stage with 7.1 shutout innings against the Chicago Cubs in the National League Division Series. After making just $500,000 this season at the veteran minimum, per Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, it’s time for Lackey to once again get paid.

The Cardinals would certainly like to keep him after his success since acquiring him from the Boston Red Sox. Bernie Miklasz of 101Sports.com notes just how well he has pitched, especially at home:

Some competition will come for the free-agent’s services, though, and interestingly enough, it might be from a team he recently defeated, per Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe:

It is not out of the realm of possibility that Lackey could wind up with the Cubs next season as a free agent, according to one major league source. It was Theo Epstein who signed him as a free agent in Boston. Lackey is also a close friend of Jon Lester, who will push Epstein in that direction. Lackey played for the major league minimum of $500,000 this season but also reached incentives that made his contract worth more than $2 million.

Although the Cardinals and Cubs are still battling in the playoffs, Lackey makes a lot of sense for Chicago as another veteran addition who can help the team both in the regular season and beyond. For all the young stars in the lineup, there aren’t many top pitchers on the way, and this could be a reasonably priced addition to the rotation.

With his 2.90 postseason ERA and two World Series rings, he would be a nice addition to a young team likely to contend in 2016.

Predicted destination: Chicago Cubs

Daniel Murphy, 2B

It has never been easy for the New York Mets to quantify Daniel Murphy’s value to the team. He isn’t a good defender and often makes mental mistakes in the field and on the basepaths. On the other hand, he is a consistent hitter (batting average between .281 and .291 over last four seasons) and is known for big hits in important moments.

One of those big moments came in Game 1 of the NLDS against Clayton Kershaw, which energized his team when it was needed, via Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal:

Despite his value, Joel Sherman of the New York Post has a “strong sense the Mets also do not plan to give Murphy the $15.8 million qualifying offer.” Sherman added an outlook of what he expects from Murphy’s free agency:

The consensus seems to be Murphy will get a three-year, contract in the $30 million-to-$40 million range. That he is best suited to the AL where his sketchy defense can be mitigated somewhat by, say, playing third base 20-30 games, second 20-30 games, first 20-30 games and DHing 30-50 times. The A’s, Astros and Rays are examples of teams that have valued multi-positional versatility.

Based on what we know about Murphy, this makes a lot of sense. The 30-year-old player was forced to play second base out of necessity for the team, but this has been his worst position. According to Baseball-Reference.com, 507 games at second have cost his team 42 runs compared to average. He has been neutral in 86 games at third base and saved 20 runs in 190 games at first base.

If another team has a better fit for Murphy in the field, he would be a much more valuable addition. As Sherman notes, the versatility should also help in negotiations. Add this to the fact the Mets can easily replace him with Wilmer Flores next season, and a chance of returning to New York seems unlikely.

As for his next location, any of the American League teams mentioned could be solid possibilities. One alternative in the National League could be the San Diego Padres, who have a lot of uncertainty in the infield and could use a left-handed hitter to balance the lineup. He wouldn’t be able to spend time as a designated hitter, but the opportunity for playing time around the field will make the deal worthwhile.

Predicted destination: San Diego Padres

Mike Leake, SP

It was an up-and-down year for Mike Leake, but he ended the season as strong as possible. The last start of the season featured a complete-game, two-hit shutout against the Los Angeles Dodgers, ending his year with a 3.70 ERA and 11-10 record.

Leake will now hope his performance was enough for his latest team, the San Francisco Giants, to offer a new deal after acquiring him from Cincinnati in a midseason trade. Bob Nightengale of USA Today noted this was a possibility, but another NL West team was also interested:

The Arizona Diamondbacks had a solid season, but a 4.37 starter ERA (23rd in MLB) ruined any chance of making the playoffs. They have stated the plan this offseason is to add more pitching.

“I think that’s the No. 1 goal for Dave [Stewart] and Tony [La Russa] right now—to find a horse that we know when we throw him out there, win or lose, he’s going to give us at least seven innings,” manager Chip Hale said after the season, via Steve Gilbert of MLB.com.

Leake might not win any Cy Young awards, but he has pitched at least 192 innings over each of the last three seasons with an ERA under 4.00 each time. He pitched eight innings or more eight times in 30 starts this season. 

This goes a long way toward helping a team over the course of a season.

San Francisco might want to keep him around, but Leake to the Diamondbacks makes a lot of sense.

Predicted destination: Arizona Diamondbacks

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The Kansas City Royals overcame an early three-run deficit to earn a 5-4 Game 2 win, evening the American League Division Series at 1-1.

It seemed like the Houston Astros were in great shape after winning Game 1 and scoring in each of the first three innings Friday, but the Royals offense totaled 11 hits and knocked opposing starter Scott Kazmir out in the sixth inning. Kansas City was then able to attack the bullpen, with Ben Zobrist hitting the go-ahead single in the seventh.

Zobrist, Alcides Escobar and Salvador Perez each had two hits in the win, which ended a bizarre streak of five games to start the 2015 MLB playoffs, as ESPN Stats & Info noted:

Colby Rasmus, who hit a home run in each of the Astros’ first two postseason games, was the offensive star again with two extra-base hits and a walk in a losing effort.

According to ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick, this put Rasmus in the record books:

The outfielder kicked off the scoring with an RBI double in the first inning to give Houston an early lead. He added a solo home run in the third inning to extend the team’s lead to 4-1. ESPN’s J.A. Adande broke down the mistake pitch by Johnny Cueto:

It was not a good start for the All-Star pitcher, who also allowed a two-run bloop single by George Springer. With four runs allowed through three innings, many were all over Cueto for his poor showing. John Jastremski of CBS Radio explained how this could impact Cueto’s upcoming free agency:

Despite the complaints, the talented pitcher settled down and was able to match Kazmir for the rest of the game. Cueto pitched six innings while allowing just the four early runs, giving the Royals a chance at a comeback.

Manager Ned Yost explained after the game the change in the last few innings:

Kansas City took advantage of the opportunity by doing damage against the Astros bullpen. Oliver Perez struggled in the sixth while allowing two singles and a walk. Josh Fields then walked Salvador Perez with the bases loaded on four pitches to tie the game at 4-4.

The home crowd might have had something to do with it, as it finally approached the energy from last year’s playoff run, per Blair Kerkhoff of the Kansas City Star:

In the seventh inning, the Royals were able to take the lead for the first time in the series on a Zobrist RBI single that brought home Escobar. Josh Vernier of 610 Sports Radio noted the impressive hitting from the lineup:

At that point, eight of the team’s nine hits had gone to the opposite field, a sign of quality hitting throughout the game.

The lead was more than enough for the Kansas City bullpen, which looks as good as it did a year ago at this time. Kelvin Herrera, Ryan Madson and Wade Davis combined for three shutout innings, allowing just one hit, and sealed the 5-4 victory.

Yost once again had full confidence in his team pulling out the win:

After Saturday’s off day for travel, the series will resume Sunday at 4:10 p.m. ET in Houston. Edinson Volquez will start Game 3 for the Royals after a solid first season with the team. Consistency had been a problem early in his career, but he topped 200 innings for the first time this year and could pitch deep into the game if things go well.

Of course, the Astros have to be extremely confident with Dallas Keuchel on the mound after the 27-year-old lefty shut down the New York Yankees for six scoreless innings in the AL Wild Card Game. Considering his 15-0 record and 1.46 ERA at home, Houston should feel good about its chances.

Even with a pitching advantage, though, nothing is guaranteed in the MLB playoffs, and the series isn’t over until a team wins three games. Expect both teams to come in believing they can win and take a 2-1 lead in the series.

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It took 14 innings, but the Texas Rangers found a way to come out on top Friday and will head home with a 2-0 lead in the American League Division Series.

A day after Rougned Odor hit a game-changing home run, the 21-year-old second baseman made a difference with his legs. He scored twice in the team’s 6-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays, including the go-ahead run in the 14th inning off a single by Hanser Alberto.

Kevin Burkhardt of Fox Sports noted the difference Odor made:

A Delino DeShields infield hit that followed helped extend the lead to two runs, and Ross Ohlendorf struck out three in the bottom of the inning for the save.

The ending was not without controversy, however. Toronto was close to getting Odor at second base for the third out in the 14th inning, but he was ruled safe.

“From what we saw on the board, it looked like there might have been a little gap,” manager John Gibbons said, per ESPN.com’s Gordon Edes. “Whether enough to overturn or not, apparently not. So that’s the way it goes.”

Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News shared his thoughts:

“I would like to hear an answer from the replay booth in New York on why they made that decision,” Jose Bautista said, according to Edes. “I know that’s not part of the protocol, and it seems to be convenient that it’s not.”

Odor ultimately came around to score on the following at-bat.

The loss puts the Blue Jays, one of the favorites to win the World Series, one game away from elimination. This is what happens when the best offense in the majors is shut down for the final nine innings of a game.

MVP candidate Josh Donaldson hit a home run in the first inning but finished 1-for-6 in the loss.

Afterward, Gibbons didn’t have any special answers for the current predicament:

In any case things must turnaround quickly after a second game in a row failed to go according to plan.

Neither starting pitcher factored into the decision despite going deep into the game. Cole Hamels battled through seven innings while allowing four runs (two earned) with no walks and six strikeouts. Marcus Stroman gave up four runs (three earned) while striking out five in seven innings.

Instead, it all came down to the bullpens closing out a wild, back-and-forth game.

After the Rangers’ 5-3 win in Game 1, the start of Friday’s game was a nightmare scenario for the Blue Jays. The first three batters of the game got hits off Stroman, helping the road team build a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

Baseball Tonight broke down the ugly start for Toronto:

Donaldson got one run back with a home run in the bottom of the inning, but Odor came through on the basepaths to score the third run of the game for the Rangers. ESPN’s Jim Bowden cleverly summed up the second-year player’s impact:

Fortunately for Toronto, Stroman was able to settle down after a rough few innings and started to get easy outs. He retired 14 straight batters during the middle innings and kept the Rangers from pulling away in the game.

Former pitcher Dirk Hayhurst explained the difference as the game went on:

The Blue Jays also had early success against Hamels and tied things up with two runs in the second inning. They finally managed to go ahead in the fifth inning, when Ben Revere singled home Kevin Pillar. Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com described the atmosphere at the moment:

Although the 4-3 lead held until the eighth inning, a Mike Napoli pinch-hit single against Brett Cecil brought home DeShields and tied things up at 4-4.

This led to a battle of the relievers, featuring impressive showings from both sides. Jake Diekman and Shawn Tolleson each threw two shutout innings for the Rangers, while closer Roberto Osuna and Aaron Sanchez both pitched more than one inning of scoreless ball.

Tim Harper of the Toronto Star pointed out the importance of the bullpen as the innings piled up:

No one would get the big hit for a while, and as the game progressed, it started reaching historic levels, according to Sportsnet Stats:

While the hometown fans expected a walk-off home run, the Rangers came through with the clutch hits, using their speed over power.

The series will have a day off Saturday to account for travel before resuming with Game 3 on Sunday at 8:10 p.m. ET in Arlington, Texas.

Unlike the series’ previous four starting pitchers, the two men who will be on the mound Sunday have been with their teams all year long. Marco Estrada will start for the Blue Jays after the best year of his career, tallying a 3.13 ERA and 1.04 WHIP.

The Rangers might have less confidence in Martin Perez and his 4.46 ERA, but the fact that he threw seven innings of one-run ball in his final start of the season has to be encouraging.

In reality, though, the series will come down to the offenses and their ability to come through in big moments. If the Blue Jays don’t start manufacturing more runs, this could wind up being a three-game sweep for the Rangers.

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Four MLB playoff games will take place on Friday in what could be a wild day of baseball, so make sure you are prepared for all of the action.

Between the two Wild Card Games and the start of the division series, road teams are currently 4-0 in the 2015 postseason. This caused early exits for the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates, while the Toronto Blue Jays and Kansas City Royals are on notice after falling behind in their series.

There is still a chance for the latter teams to turn things around, but there isn’t much time in a five-game series.

The National League teams have yet to play a game, but they all know how important an opening win could be in a short round like this one.

With current play much more important than regular-season records, anything can happen in what could be the only four-game day of the playoffs. In order to follow the action, here is a guide for Friday, Oct. 9.

Texas Rangers at Toronto Blue Jays

Time: 12:30 p.m. ET

TV: MLB Network

Live Stream: MLB Network Live

Probable Starters: Cole Hamels (Rangers) vs. Marcus Stroman (Blue Jays)

The first game couldn’t have gone worse for the Blue Jays. Their ace, David Price, had a rough day on the mound, while key hitters Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista came down with injuries. With Cole Hamels starting Game 2 for the Rangers, the favorites in this series could be in trouble.

However, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported good news on the injury front:

These men are needed to help take on a former World Series MVP on the mound. Hamels showed he still can be elite in big moments with his complete-game win on the final day of the season, but in 12 starts with Texas, he allowed four or more runs four different times. He also allowed at least seven hits nine different times in this stretch.

He is certainly beatable if you can time his changeup or pounce on the fastball.

If there is an offense that can get to him, it is that of the Blue Jays, which led the majors in runs this season but was even better against left-handers. As a team, it had a league-leading 0.818 on-base percentage plus slugging, led by Donaldson’s 1.024 mark.

As long as Marcus Stroman can keep up his end-of-season form (1.67 ERA in four starts), Toronto should be able to even up this series at home.

Prediction: Blue Jays 6, Rangers 3

Houston Astros at Kansas City Royals

Time: 3:30 p.m. ET

TV: Fox Sports 1

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go

Probable Starters: Scott Kazmir (Astros) vs. Johnny Cueto (Royals)

The Game 2 battle will be one between pitchers acquired at the deadline who haven’t quite fared as well as expected with their new teams.

Johnny Cueto had a 2.62 ERA with the Cincinnati Reds before joining the Royals, but he has struggled in the American League to the tune of a 4.76 ERA. Scott Kazmir hasn’t been quite as bad in his new location, but his 4.17 ERA with the Astros is certainly worse than the 2.38 he posted with the Oakland Athletics.

Both pitchers have the talent to have a shutdown performance, but based on what we have seen through the second half of the season, fans should expect a high-scoring battle in Game 2.

While the Royals have the more consistent lineup with high batting averages, don’t overlook the Houston Astros with their young stars and ability to hit a home run at just about any time. Closer Luke Gregerson also discussed the energy helping out the young team, via ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick:

You’ve got to give credit to these guys. This is a young team. But they come out with a lot of intensity and a lot of enthusiasm, and they expect to win. That’s a great feeling to have. If you expect to just keep it close and maybe pull it out at the end, it’s not going to work. This team wants a little more than that.

In fact, the team the Astros most resemble is the 2014 Royals, a squad with nothing to lose that just came out firing. They carried their momentum all the way to the World Series, and while this is a lofty goal for the Astros, they have the ability to take one step closer with a win on Friday.

Prediction: Astros 8, Royals 5

Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals

Time: 6:30 p.m. ET

TV: TBS

Live Stream: TBS.com

Probable Starters: Jon Lester (Cubs) vs. John Lackey (Cardinals)

Both Jon Lester and John Lackey have been good in big moments in their careers, but Lester has especially turned it on in the postseason. In 14 appearances, the veteran has a 2.57 ERA, including a 2.46 mark in his 12 starts. He has been even better in the divisional round, posting a 1.63 ERA in four starts.

He is obviously at his best in the World Series (one run allowed in 21 innings, two titles), but that’s something to worry about at a later date.

In any case, after posting a 2.36 ERA in September, the 31-year-old starter has a chance for another dominant outing against a left-handed-heavy Cardinals lineup. In fact, the team with the best record in the majors ended the year dead last in batting average versus southpaws at .230.

While Lackey has pitched extremely well all year long, he could have more problems with a balanced Cubs lineup. Young stars like Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Kyle Schwarber have shown the ability to take anyone deep, especially against a starter that has allowed a home run in nine of his last 11 starts.

The Cubs come into this game with a nine-game winning streak and have no intention of breaking it against their most hated rivals.

Prediction: Cubs 4, Cardinals 2

New York Mets at Los Angeles Dodgers

Time: 9:30 p.m. ET

TV: TBS

Live Stream: TBS.com

Probably Starters: Jacob deGrom (Mets) vs. Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers)

This whole series is going to be pitching at its finest. New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom posted a 2.54 ERA and 0.98 WHIP this season with high strikeout rates and low walk rates. In many years, his numbers would be among the best in the majors. This season, they won’t be enough to sniff the Cy Young Award.

The trio of Jake Arrieta, Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw has put up insane numbers across the board this season, as all three of them completely shut down opponents.

Kershaw, who has three Cy Young Awards in the past four years, could end up third in the voting despite topping 300 strikeouts.

Daniel Brim of Dodgers Digest noted how well the left-hander pitched compared to others and even himself:

Although he has struggled in the playoffs in years past, Kershaw is still the best overall pitcher in the game and should be expected to perform at that level with the spotlight on him in Game 1.

With the Mets offense going cold down the stretch, including just two runs scored in the final four games, it will be tough to get a hold of Kershaw.

Prediction: Dodgers 2, Mets 0

Statistics courtesy of MLB.com and Baseball-Reference.com.

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Making the MLB playoffs is an impressive accomplishment, but with a wild-card berth, the whole year can come crashing down with just one game.

The Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs have two of the best records in baseball, though neither was better than the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central. This means only one team will be able to advance to the divisional series. In the American League, both the New York Yankees and Houston Astros defied preseason expectations to get to this point, but neither wants to settle for an early exit.

On the plus side, all four teams can be encouraged by the fact that both World Series representatives last season—the Kansas City Royals and San Francisco Giants—came from the wild-card round. It remains to be seen how far these teams can go, but they have to worry about surviving the winner-takes-all battles first. Here is a look at what to expect in each game.

American League Wild Card Game

Matchup: Houston Astros at New York Yankees

When: Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 8 p.m. ET

Where: Yankee Stadium, the Bronx, New York

TV: ESPN

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Pitching Battle: Dallas Keuchel (Astros) vs. Masahiro Tanaka (Yankees)

Two years ago, the Astros had the worst record in baseball by a wide margin, finishing at 51-111. The next season was better, but the team’s 70-92 record still tied for the fourth worst in the majors. That’s what made 2015 such a surprise, as the young roster helped lead a rapid transformation with an 86-76 record.

ESPN.com’s Keith Law joked about a twist on a common chant within locker rooms:

The Astros lineup is so young that 25-year-old Jose Altuve has become one of the veteran leaders on the roster, while 21-year-old Carlos Correa has been arguably the team’s best hitter since reaching the majors. Houston’s players are talented and confident, and they believe they can do anything.

While one might think the youth would be a disadvantage in an intimidating environment like Yankee Stadium against a storied franchise, general manager Jeff Luhnow believes it could be a positive, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today:

Every kid grows up dreaming of having that magical moment at Yankee Stadium. To play a wild card game there, it’s a script you can’t write. We have a chance to beat them. These guys are young, they’re energetic, they can’t be stopped. 

Hopefully, they’ll be making a movie about this one day.

One player who has proved himself against the Yankees this year is starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel. He made two starts against New York this season—one at home and one on the road—and came through with 16 shutout innings, allowing only nine hits with a 21-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Meanwhile, the Yankees were fading in the second half of the season. After August 1, they were under .500 with a 29-31 record. They do have one of the best offenses in baseball, but it is also heavy on left-handers who could struggle against Keuchel, who allowed only a .461 OPS against lefties, per Baseball-Reference.com, in the regular season.

With the Astros having plenty of power hitters who can take advantage of Masahiro Tanaka‘s tendency to give up the long ball (25 home runs allowed in 24 starts), Houston should go into New York and pull off the road win.

Prediction: Astros win 7-2.

National League Wild Card Game

Matchup: Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh Pirates

When: Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 8 p.m. ET

Where: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

TV: TBS

Live Stream: TBS.com

Pitching Battle: Jake Arrieta (Cubs) vs. Gerrit Cole (Pirates)

The Pirates had home-field advantage for the NL Wild Card Game last season and fell short with Edinson Volquez on the mound. Gerrit Cole is a better ace and should provide more confidence for the hometown fans.

Of course, the bigger issue last year was running into the juggernaut that was Madison Bumgarner. On the plus side, the Giants didn’t make the playoffs this season (it is an odd-numbered year, after all). Unfortunately, the matchup against Jake Arrieta might be a tougher one.

The National League Cy Young Award might come down to a three-way race between Arrieta, Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw, but no one was better in the second half of the year than Arrieta.

Ace of MLB Stats put Arrieta‘s numbers into historical perspective:

He got even better as the year went on, per Jon Heyman of CBS Sports:

Chicago set a few historic marks of its own this year, especially at the end of the season:

The red-hot squad has a deep lineup of young hitters who can do damage, beginning with corner infielders Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant. Considering that they also have the best road record in baseball (48-33), the Cubs have what it takes to get to Cole and hold on for a road victory.

Pittsburgh does have an outstanding team from top to bottom, starting with one of the best outfield groups in the majors with Andrew McCutchen, Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco.

The team’s pitching has also been consistently excellent all year, and the Pittsburgh bullpen had the best ERA (2.67) in the majors, per ESPN.com. If they get past this game, the Pirates have a legitimate chance to make a deep run and win the World Series.

However, this single-game matchup does not bode well for the hometown team, and it could lead to a devastating loss for the 98-win Pirates.

Prediction: Cubs win 2-0.

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The MLB playoffs are set, which means everything done to this point means nothing. Any of the 10 remaining teams in the field has a chance to take home a World Series title; the only question is who will it be?

Although baseball doesn’t quite have the reputation of March Madness with its drama, last year showed how crazy things can get compared to the regular season. The Washington Nationals and the Los Angeles Angels had the best record in their leagues but were both knocked out in the first round. The World Series was then made up of wild-card teams in the Kansas City Royals and San Francisco Giants, with the Giants coming away as champions.

We don’t know if this year will be a repeat of that, but you can be certain the best teams won’t be expecting to just cruise to victory. Here is a look at the bracket for the entire playoffs as well as predictions throughout.

National League

It’s truly a shame that the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs have to battle in a one-game elimination considering they have the second- and third-best records in baseball, respectively. When you win 97 games, it should take more than one loss to end your hopes of a title. In reality, both teams have that level of talent.

However, the game will come down to pitching and the unstoppable force that is Jake Arrieta:

Pirates starter Gerrit Cole has had a great year as well, but Arrieta and the Cubs have the skill to win on the road and advance to the National League Division Series. If they did accomplish that feat, they would be carrying a nine-game winning streak into their series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Even at 100 wins and with a lot of postseason experience, advancing beyond the first round won’t be easy. St. Louis is dealing with a number of key injuries that will either cost players the postseason or at least limit them. According to Jay Jaffee of Sports Illustrated, this includes losing stud pitcher Carlos Martinez for the year and holding back experienced players like Yadier Molina, Adam Wainwright and Matt Holiday.

With a deep lineup full of young, talented hitters like Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, the Cubs should be able to keep their momentum going with an upset over the Cardinals.

In the other division series, the challenge will be for the New York Mets to win three games when it’s possible four of them will be against two of the best pitchers in the game. The Los Angeles Dodgers will use a lot of Zack Greinke (19-3 with 1.66 ERA this season) and Clayton Kershaw (2.13 ERA and 301 strikeouts), two players who will at the very least finish in the top three of the Cy Young voting, along with Arrieta. 

A lot will be made about Kershaw‘s past postseason struggles (1-5 with 5.12 ERA), but the pure talent will eventually come through. Catcher A.J. Ellis believes the second-half success this season will help him perform well this October, via ESPN’s Mark Saxon:

He didn’t get off to the start everyone expected, but he was able to right the ship and, in my opinion, become the most dominant pitcher in baseball the last three or four months of the season. Now we’re getting closer to the playoffs and, hopefully, he’ll have some chances to go out and confidently throw some really good games.

Fans should expect to see the regular-season version of Kershaw and Greinke in the postseason, which could be very scary for opponents. 

Add this staff to a mix of veterans and young stars in the lineup, and the Dodgers have the tools to not only advance to the National League Championship Series but to the World Series.

American League

Dallas Keuchel hasn’t been as good on the road this year (3.77 ERA compared to 1.46 at home), but his stuff has been unhittable at times and he’s as good of an ace as the Houston Astros can hope for in this game. He should lead a team of players who are almost too young to be intimidated by the aura of Yankee Stadium in the Wild Card Game. 

The confidence for this group is sky-high, and it should lead to a road victory in the winner-take-all game.

Unfortunately, a positive mindset won’t be enough to beat the Kansas City Royals. The AL’s best team by record was a dominant force from beginning to end and now surprisingly has an experience advantage over the rest of the AL, as noted by Joel Sherman of the New York Post:

Even without one real standout player, the lineup is deep, and anyone has the ability to come through with a clutch hit at the right time. With a .269 team batting average, there won’t be any easy outs for opposing pitchers. 

If the bullpen fares even half as well as last season, it could lead to a lot of late wins.

Still, all roads in the American League seem likely to go through the Toronto Blue Jays. While the Texas Rangers have been almost as hot in the second half of the year, the Blue Jays have just been crushing opponents with one of the best lineups in years.

The Jays finished the year with 891 runs, 127 more than the next most in baseball. The gap between them and the New York Yankees at No. 2 is greater than the gap from the Yankees to the No. 26 Cincinnati Reds.

MLB.com compiled scouting reports from opposing pitchers, and they don’t seem too encouraging in ways to stop them:

[Jose Bautista] and Encarnacion are pretty similar. If you go in, you have to go in deep. It’s more of an effect pitch but they want to swing the bat so they tend to swing at pitches out of the zone trying to do damage. You just try to stay away from the barrel. If they hit it, hopefully they hit it at somebody.

Hoping they hit it to a fielder is not the best strategy to win, but it’s hard to imagine too many pitchers having better a plan. The offense is too good for anyone on the Rangers to stop, and the Royals will struggle as well with their mediocre starting pitching.

Like Kansas City last season, Toronto will go from an extended run without a playoff appearance right into the World Series.

World Series

The Dodgers and Blue Jays have different styles of play, but the star power in this World Series would certainly create an exciting matchup for fans. Interestingly, though, it might be a pitcher who’s not quite as known among casual fans who makes a difference. 

Marcus Stroman, who missed most of the year due to a torn ACL, has returned with four lights-out performances to end the year. It’s a small sample size, but he finished the season 4-0 with a 1.67 ERA and 0.96 WHIP—the final three appearances 22 innings and just two runs allowed.

Bleacher Report’s Stephen Meyer explained the impact this could have on the playoffs:

David Price and Stroman wouldn’t exactly be Greinke and Kershaw, but they also don’t have to face the elite Blue Jays lineup. This could swing those tough matchups in Toronto’s favor. With the Dodgers also having more question marks in the bullpen, there could be a lot of late-game heroics from Josh Donaldson, Troy Tulowitzki and others.

The Blue Jays were the most aggressive team at the trade deadline and completely transformed the roster. That will pay off with a World Series title.

Prediction: Blue Jays def. Dodgers 4-1

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You have just a few more weeks to play daily fantasy baseball before the season comes to an end, so take advantage of the opportunity and put together a great lineup.

Friday’s contests feature a good chance to spend money on Jose Fernandez, who remains almost untouchable at home. Hot hitters like Matt Carpenter and Chris Davis represent solid options to add to your team as well. Beyond that, here is a look at some cheaper options to help fill out your lineup.

Carlos Rodon, SP, Chicago White Sox ($7,700)

The first year in the majors has featured ups and downs for Carlos Rodon, but he is on a roll as the season comes to a close. The lefty hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any of his last seven starts while totaling at least six innings in each game.

This has helped him become a big factor in fantasy, as he has averaged 24.3 points per game on DraftKings in this stretch.

Although he gave up eight runs the last time he faced the New York Yankees, he is now pitching with confidence and should be able to come through with a much better performance.

Ryan Weber, SP, Atlanta Braves ($4,500)

It won’t be easy beating Jose Fernandez, but Ryan Weber can still have himself a good day in Miami. The Braves rookie has made three starts in his career and has managed a respectable 3.26 ERA. His best game was his most recent, which featured seven innings pitched and just one run and two hits allowed versus the Philadelphia Phillies.

Weber can continue his success against a struggling Miami Marlins offense in a park that doesn’t allow many home runs, via ESPN.com.

Even if he doesn’t get the win, Weber can put up good numbers for an extremely low price.

Jay Bruce, OF, Cincinnati Reds ($4,100)

Consistency isn’t always there for Jay Bruce, but the outfielder can certainly hit the ball a long way. This has especially been true lately with five home runs during the Cincinnati Reds’ recent road trip.

On Friday, Bruce will have a good matchup against hard-throwing New York Mets starter Noah Syndergaard. The right-handed pitcher has allowed 11 home runs in his last eight appearances, which makes Bruce a good bet to keep this going.

David Peralta, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks ($3,900)

Not many baseball fans outside of Arizona would guess that the Diamondbacks have three players in the top 10 in the league in batting average. Paul Goldschmidt, A.J. Pollock and David Peralta are all hitting above .300, with Peralta up to .310 on the year thanks to a .338 mark in September.

The outfielder has started 16 games this month and has at least one hit in 15 of them.

His price is well below the other hitters of his ability, which makes Peralta a great player to have in your daily fantasy lineup.

Brandon Crawford, SS, San Francisco Giants ($3,300)

Oakland Athletics pitcher Sonny Gray was one of the best pitchers in the American League for most of the season, but he has gone through a rough stretch as of late. In four September starts, the pitcher has accumulated a 7.97 ERA with at least five runs allowed in three of them.

This provides a chance to use a number of players on the San Francisco Giants roster, but Brandon Crawford represents good value at this price. Factoring in his position and knack for getting extra-base hits, this is a high-upside pick.

Note: All prices and fantasy score info courtesy of DraftKings. Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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There are just a few more weeks left in the 2015 MLB season, which means you have to take advantage of your remaining opportunities to win in daily fantasy baseball.

Aces like Zack Greinke and Chris Sale are still top options, while Bryce Harper and Prince Fielder have been red-hot at the plate. However, here is a deeper look at some names that might have been overlooked to this point in the season.

Marcus Stroman, SP, Toronto Blue Jays ($7,000)

Nobody really expected Marcus Stroman to pitch this season after tearing an ACL, but he was exciting in his first game back last week, via Ariel Helwani of Fox Sports:

Although he did allow three runs in his first start, all of them came on one swing: a three-run homer by Brett Gardner. Despite the mistake, Stroman still looked like the great young pitcher he was last season. With the Blue Jays offense likely to give him plenty of run support, the starter can get a win and post some good numbers for a reasonable price.

Tyler Wilson, SP, Baltimore Orioles ($4,500)

If you are looking for a real bargain for Friday’s contests, you can find one in Tyler Wilson. The Orioles rookie has fared well in his short time in the league, posting a 2.19 ERA in six appearances (two starts).

The 25-year-old pitcher is coming off a strong performance against the Oakland Athletics, allowing just two runs in 7.2 innings. He doesn’t strike out a lot of people—even in the minors—but he is economical with his pitches and can once again go deep into the game against a poor Tampa Bay Rays lineup.

Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Boston Red Sox ($4,200)

This is a name you know well but might not have realized he was playing. Dustin Pedroia has missed almost two months of the season due to injury but has been as good as the Red Sox could have imagined upon returning.

After hitting two home runs Wednesday, Pedroia is now hitting .379 in six games with three home runs, eight RBI and an OPS of 1.212. Boston probably wished he was able to do this all year, but all you need to care about is putting him in your lineup now.

Corey Seager, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers ($3,400)

There was a lot of hype surrounding Corey Seager as a prospect, and it turns out he has no problem hitting at the major league level. While pitchers will probably catch up to him eventually, the shortstop is off to a great start with a .426 batting average in 13 games.

After going 6-for-13 against the Colorado Rockies last week (at home, not at hitter-friendly Coors Field), Seager is one of the best fantasy options in the league at the position.

Angel Pagan, OF, San Francisco Giants ($3,000)

Another hot hitter who can provide value to fantasy lineups is Angel Pagan, who returned to the Giants when rosters expanded on September 1. Since then, the outfielder is hitting .311 in 15 games with nine runs. 

Hitting at the top of a deep lineup gives him plenty of good pitches and opportunities to score. With the extra threat of stolen bases (he had three in a game earlier in the week), Pagan is a high-upside bet for cheap.

Note: All prices and fantasy score info courtesy of DraftKings. Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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Although the NFL will now start taking away a lot of our attention, there is still money to be made in daily fantasy baseball. 

Friday’s contests feature some players to avoid, such as Dallas Keuchel ($13,400 is too much for a pitcher who often struggles on the road), as well as red-hot superstars to pounce on, such as Yoenis Cespedes ($5,100). Beyond that, here is a look at a few options you might have overlooked heading into the weekend.

Steven Matz, SP, New York Mets ($8,400)

While the New York Mets and their fans aren’t exactly excited to see Matt Harvey limited going forward, the return of Steven Matz certainly eases concerns. The rookie returned from the disabled list last week and produced 5.1 innings of two-run ball before coming out with a blister.

Fortunately, ESPN.com’s Adam Rubin reported this won’t affect the pitcher going forward:

In three career starts, Matz has a 1.90 ERA, .172 opponent batting average and an average of 23.8 fantasy points per game on DraftKings. Against an Atlanta Braves team that has struggled mightily down the stretch, the 24-year-old lefty should be able to keep up the good production.

Cody Anderson, SP, Cleveland Indians ($5,900)

With the exception of a few hiccups, Cody Anderson has had a strong rookie season with the Cleveland Indians. He doesn’t post high strikeout totals, but he has allowed only two runs or fewer in seven of his 11 starts.

In his last appearance, the right-handed pitcher amassed seven scoreless innings with only two hits allowed. His opponent in that win was the Detroit Tigers, and he faces them again Friday.

It’s possible the veteran hitters will learn from their mistakes, but the cost makes it a worthwhile bet that we see more of the same. 

Mark Canha, 1B/OF, Oakland Athletics ($4,200)

The middle of the year wasn’t great for Mark Canha, but the 26-year-old player is ending his rookie year on a high note. His .309 batting average in August led to a .313 mark so far in September, including a 10-for-24 stretch with three home runs during his current six-game hitting streak.

Playing in a hitter’s park against the Texas Rangers with a struggling Colby Lewis on the mound (11 earned runs and 17 hits allowed in his past two starts), Canha could be in for more success.

Brandon Moss, 1B/OF, St. Louis Cardinals ($3,600)

Although the consistency isn’t always there, Brandon Moss is always a threat to go deep.

Everyone on the St. Louis roster will have a strong chance of posting good numbers against Cincinnati Reds starter Michael Lorenzen, who has fallen apart as of late. After posting a 3.53 ERA in 14 appearances heading into the All-Star break, the youngster has accumulated a 10.43 ERA in seven starts since.

Stacking the lineup with Cardinals is a good plan, but in any case, you should start with a value play like what you can get from Moss.

Jedd Gyorko, 2B/3B, San Diego Padres ($2,800)

The San Diego Padres have been praying for Jedd Gyorko‘s power to return to what it was in his rookie season, and it seems the calls have finally been answered. The third-year player has been on an extra-base tear as of late to go with a consistent approach at the plate. He enters Friday with at least one hit in 12 of his last 13 games.

Even going on the road for a series against the San Francisco Giants shouldn’t stop you from taking advantage of this great value in your lineup.

Note: All prices and fantasy score info courtesy of DraftKings. Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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Even if you have been playing daily fantasy baseball all season long, there are still new players who can surprise you with big-time efforts. This is especially true in September with young studs getting their first glimpses of the majors.

Here is a look at the top options for September 4 with players who might have been a bit off the radar to this point.

Luis Severino, SP, New York Yankees ($9,400)

Although he has only made five career starts for the New York Yankees, Luis Severino has been a model of consistency. He has yet to allow more than three earned runs in a single game, and he has reached at least 20 fantasy points on DraftKings in four of his five appearances.

Even with a recent surge, the Tampa Bay Rays are still near the bottom of the league in runs scored this season. This represents a great matchup for Severino to try to improve his already outstanding 2.17 ERA.

J.A. Happ, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates ($6,600)

He’s not a new name, but he is probably someone you have rarely considered to be a quality fantasy option this season. J.A. Happ is 7-7 with a 4.10 ERA this season, but most of the struggles came in 21 games with the Seattle Mariners. In five starts with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the lefty has excelled to the tune of a 1.98 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 27.1 innings.

Over his last three starts, the pitcher has allowed only a single run and 11 total hits.

While the St. Louis Cardinals are ordinarily an intimidating matchup, they only have a .237 batting average as a team against left-handed pitchers (compared to .264 against righties). With players like Jason Heyward, Matt Carpenter and Kolten Wong effectively neutralized, Happ can put together another quality outing.

Franklin Gutierrez, OF, Seattle Mariners ($4,500)

At the age of 32, Franklin Gutierrez is in the midst of one of the best stretches of his career. Injuries have limited the outfielder to just 44 games this season, but since the All-Star break, he has 10 home runs with a .323 batting average. His OPS of 1.092 in this stretch ranks fourth in the majors among players with at least 100 plate appearances.

Although he is starting to get pricey on DraftKings, his recent production more than justifies the cost.

Ryan Goins, 2B, Toronto Blue Jays ($2,900)

It seems that any player the Toronto Blue Jays put in their lineup ends up hitting. Ryan Goins is the latest example, as the 27-year-old utility player has been on a tear in recent weeks.

He is currently in the midst of a 12-game hitting streak, which includes a walk-off home run earlier in the week. Considering how many opportunities for runs and RBI this lineup provides, Goins is a great cheap option for Friday’s contests.

Jason Bourgeois, OF, Cincinnati Reds ($2,500)

The Cincinnati Reds have been awful this season, but there is fantasy value in hitting leadoff in front of Jay Bruce, Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips and Todd Frazier. That’s where Jason Bourgeois finds himself as of late as the team’s newest full-time center fielder.

Since getting regular work in mid-August, Bourgeois has raised his average from .175 to .260 entering Friday. This includes three multihit games in his last five starts.

Against Milwaukee Brewers starter Matt Garza, who has allowed 19 combined earned runs in his last three outings, the journeyman outfielder has a chance to be productive.

Note: All prices and fantasy score info courtesy of DraftKings. Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

DraftKings is hosting one-day MLB contests! Claim your free entry by clicking on the link and making a first-time deposit!

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for daily fantasy advice and nonstop sports.

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