One X-Factor From Every Team in Playoff Contention (American League Edition)
A Blog By Brett
Decided to put together a piece highlighting one X-factor from every team still in contention. With less than thirty games left in the regular season, we are at a point where teams are solidifying themselves for a playoff push.
The teams I included are 7 ½ games back or better (team records recorded before Wednesday night games!) in the playoff/wild-card race. Although I know that seven and a half games back with only 30 games left is almost mathematically eliminated, there is still hope. That being the case, I will mention these teams out of respect.
Today, I will cover the American League. Tomorrow, the National League!
American League
Detroit Tigers (78-56)
Another year of experience. Last year, the youthful Tigers' playoff dreams were cut short by an experienced Yankees team. Detroit is another year older, which is usually a bad thing, but in the Tigers' case, a positive, as I see it. A.J. Hinch has already managed a club to a World Series title, and with one of, if not the most balanced teams in baseball, Detroit can prevail with a year of growth under its belt.
Toronto Blue Jays (77-56)
The lineup. This is the best “hitting” team in baseball with a team .268 batting average so far this season. Toronto is also top-5 in several hitting categories, including 1st - OBP (.337), 5th - SLG (.429), and 3rd - OPS (.766). They would need multiple players to slump in order not to put up runs come the playoffs.
Boston Red Sox (73-60)
Walker Buehler has not been good this season with a 5.45 ERA on the year. Playoff Walker Buehler can certainly show up come playoff time. Some people are just made for the big moments. Buehler has a career 3.04 ERA in the postseason through 94 ⅔ innings pitched. Match that with 114 strikeouts in those innings, and Boston can have a four-headed monster with Crochet, Bello, Giolito, and Buehler heading into a playoff series.
New York Yankees (73-60)
The Bullpen. If Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, and David Bednar are all locked in, it will be an almost impossible task for teams to score in the 7th, 8th, or 9th innings. The problem is that Williams has been horrendous in 2025. The good news is Williams has owned a 0.00 ERA across 5 ⅓ innings with 12 strikeouts across the past two weeks. If he can finally become comfortable in New York, the Yankees will have a good problem on their hands deciding who to roll out in the 9th.
Tampa Bay Rays (64-69)
No expectations. The Rays are sub .500, and no one is expecting them to make a playoff push. That is fair considering they are 7 games out of the Wild Card, but they can absolutely shock some people. Tampa is still a top-10 hitting team in terms of batting average across Major League Baseball. Pair that with a 1.21 WHIP as a pitching staff, which is good for the 4th best in baseball. Their advantage is being slept on.
Kansas City Royals (68-65)
Pasquatch has to be the Royals' X-Factor. Is he hot right now? Yes. Am I picking him because of his recent tear? No. Vinnie Pasquantino gives Bobby Witt Jr. some breathing room and lineup protection. If Vinnie P stays hot, the Royals seem to click. They are 13-6 over their last 19 games, the least common denominator…Pasquantino hit 11 bombs over the past month to the tune of a .934 OPS during that stretch.
Cleveland Guardians (66-66)
The 9th inning. If Cleveland can will their way to forcing games to be decided in the ninth inning, opposing teams might have some trouble. Between Emmanuel Clase, Cade Smith, Hunter Gaddis, and Paul Sewald, the Guardians have a ton of options to throw at teams to close out games. Currently, as a team, Cleveland has recorded 38 combined saves this year. That is good for the 3rd best in baseball.
Houston Astros (72-60)
Two words. YORDAN ALVAREZ! The 3x All-Star and former Rookie of the Year has missed all but thirty games this season. If they can get him back in the lineup and producing sooner rather than later, Houston is going to be a PROBLEM come October!
Seattle Mariners (71-62)
Base Running. The Mariners are sneakily top-5 in stolen bases in 2025. Seattle currently has five players who have stolen ten or more bases this season, with a couple more near double-digit territory.
Texas Rangers (67-67)
This was by far the hardest team to find an X-factor for. Let’s face it, the Rangers have been trending down since Texas’s 2023 World Series title. To add to that, Marcus Semien and Nathan Eovaldi both just had their seasons cut short due to injury. If there is one bright spot hiding among the negatives, I’d go with the defense and their league-leading team Fielding Percentage of .991. Essentially, they don’t cause errors on defense. Fielding Percentage is a measure of how well a fielder performs their duties. So in summary, they don’t hurt themselves in the field better than everyone else!