10 X-factors who could lead teams to October

RJ Hamster

10 X-factors who could lead teams to October

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PLAY A SPORCLE BASEBALL QUIZ! MORE FREE GAMES AT MLB PLAY STAFF PICKS X-factors who can push their teams back to OctoberFor 10 teams that missed the postseason in 2025, we picked one player each who is a question mark based on recent history, but could be the key to a playoff run. Is this the White Sox secret weapon?As part of their sales pitch to land Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami, the White Sox agreed to add bidets to their clubhouse. “I think it might add a few wins,” starter Sean Burke said. Skubal brewing up another big yearNow that Tarik Skubal has conquered pitching with back-to-back Cy Young Awards, he is perfecting his skills as a barista after bringing an espresso machine to Spring Training. Classic encores we can’t wait to seeHere are seven hitters and six pitchers who we are excited to watch in next month’s World Baseball Classic after their standout performances in the 2023 edition. Analyzing the offense-defense tradeoffThe Pirates, Reds and Mets are among teams that added big bats at the expense of defense during the offseason. Is that a smart move? History can give us some answers.MORE STORIES

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Let’s Flashback to Year 1963

RJ Hamster