MLB Roundtable: Should Ohtani pitch in playoffs, most impressive teams, and more

Our MLB editors, Michael Bradburn, Josh Goldberg, Bryan Mcwilliam, Brandon Wile, and Ben Wrixon answer some of the biggest questions with one week to go in the regular season.

Should the Dodgers let Ohtani pitch in the postseason?

Of course: This isn't even a question if the Dodgers plan to win this year. Since the beginning of August, L.A. has employed the 23rd-ranked pitching staff by FanGraphs WAR, authoring a 4.33 ERA and 4.49 FIP while relying on 11 different pitchers to make at least one start. Right now, they're hobbling toward October with Jack Flaherty as the only healthy, reliable starter and Michael Kopech, Evan Phillips, and Blake Treinen in high-leverage relief. That's not enough to win even one series in the postseason. Of course, you have to protect Ohtani in the first year of his mind-boggling $700-million contract, but there's no guarantee this team is challenging for the World Series in every year of that deal. If the phenom is healthy enough to do it, the Dodgers must send him to the mound. - Bradburn

Absolutely not: It's not time for the Dodgers to get cute. Sure, they probably could get away with Ohtani throwing at some point in the postseason, but the risk just isn't worth it. Even for a team fully in its World Series window and facing an unrelenting amount of injuries to its pitching staff, Los Angeles should not risk the health of its most important player by putting him on the mound coming off elbow surgery. Ohtani hasn't faced live hitters all season, nor has he pitched out of relief in his MLB career. And why mess with the routine of your offensive star who's closing in on a historic 50-50 season? There are enough other arms the Dodgers can use to cover the innings that they don't need to gamble with Ohtani's long-term health, especially when one more major arm injury could prevent him from ever pitching again. - Wile

Which team has impressed the most this season?

Kansas City Royals: Just one season removed from losing 106 games, Kansas City is closing in on its first playoff appearance since winning the 2015 World Series. The turnaround is remarkable and a massive testament to both the players and the front office. Bobby Witt Jr. has been incredible, Salvador Perez continues to defy age, and general manager J.J. Picollo quietly won the offseason by signing veteran starters Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha. The Royals are back. - Wrixon

Milwaukee Brewers: Very few people had high expectations for the Brewers this season. Milwaukee wasn't predicted to be in the postseason conversation but have blown away the competition in the NL Central, holding down first place since the end of April. The offense has stayed afloat even in the wake of Christian Yelich's season-ending back injury, and the pitching has ranked among the game's best despite losing Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff. It's been a season to remember in Milwaukee. - Goldberg

Cleveland Guardians: The magic in Cleveland apparently didn't leave with Terry Francona. Somehow, the Guardians are closing in on a return to the postseason and a second division title in three seasons. Cleveland owns the best home record in the AL, and its pitching staff has allowed the third-fewest runs in MLB despite losing Shane Bieber to injury after only two starts. Few teams squeeze more out of their roster than the Guardians, and they're doing it again in what's been a very competitive AL Central. - Wile

Which player has had the best overall season?

Aaron Judge: It's hard to believe, but Judge has somehow been even better this season than when he set the AL record with 62 home runs and won MVP in 2022. Judge has a higher wRC+, OPS, and batting average than he sported two years ago. A recent power drought will likely stop him from surpassing 62 home runs, but he's a shoo-in for his second MVP in three years. He also did this all while patrolling center field. - Goldberg

Bobby Witt Jr.: The Royals superstar leads MLB in batting average, hits, runs scored, and games played while ranking top five in doubles, triples, RBIs, on-base percentage, slugging, and OPS. He's also hit 32 homers and swiped 30 bags while playing the best defense of his career at a premium position. Witt's stellar campaign is the main reason the Royals are in the playoff picture. - Mcwilliam

Shohei Ohtani: Being a full-time DH certainly takes a bit of the shine off Ohtani's season, but his ability to put up historic numbers despite a number of other factors is what separates him for me. Ohtani is coming off elbow surgery and is playing under the enormous pressure of signing the richest contract in North American sports history. He's also had to navigate a major scandal involving his interpreter, which uprooted both his personal and professional life. Despite all of that, he's set career highs in home runs, RBIs, stolen bases, runs, hits, doubles, and plate appearances while also leading the Dodgers in games played. - Wile

Paul Skenes: Watching sports is about hope, and if there's one player who has embodied that this year, it's the Pirates righty and rightful NL Rookie of the Year. With due respect to Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill, who has had a stupendous first season, Skenes has been appointment television since getting called up, carrying two no-hit bids through six innings. Here's a blind comparison:

Pitcher A is presumptive NL Cy Young winner Chris Sale. Pitcher B is Skenes' stats on the third time through the order.

Simply put, he's been the most captivating rookie pitcher in an entire generation, and that's tons of hope for Pittsburgh and MLB fans everywhere. - Bradburn

Which team has disappointed the most this season?

Toronto Blue Jays: Coming off consecutive postseason appearances, many expected the Blue Jays to be a factor in the playoff picture once again. However, a dreadful bullpen and an underperforming offense led Toronto to its worst season since 2019. The World Series window with this core looks to be nearly closed, and the Blue Jays have a grand total of zero postseason wins to show for it. - Goldberg

Texas Rangers: Missing the playoffs a year after winning the World Series is a tough pill to swallow. Injuries played their part, but many of Texas' players haven't performed. Adolis García (91 OPS+) and Jonah Heim (68 OPS+) are two of the worst offenders, while Marcus Semien hasn't quite been himself, either. The jury's out on whether this group was a flash in the pan or still has the makings of a perennial contender. - Wrixon

San Francisco Giants: The Giants' splashy offseason hasn't yielded the results anyone expected. San Francisco is set to miss the postseason for a seventh time in eight seasons despite dishing out nearly $250 million in free agency and bringing in a new manager. Bob Melvin recently said 2024 has been his "hardest year" as a skipper, while president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi could be on the hot seat. - Mcwilliam

With Chris Sale likely set for a 1st Cy Young nod, who's the best active player to not win a major award?

Zack Wheeler: The Philadelphia Phillies right-hander is a rare breed in today's game: consistently great and durable. Excluding the COVID-shortened season, Wheeler has pitched at least 150 innings every year since 2018 while never posting an ERA higher than 3.96. He finished a close second to Burnes for the Cy Young Award in 2021 and will likely lose out to Sale this year despite leading the NL in WHIP (0.95) and opponents average (.191). An NLCS or World Series MVP trophy would certainly be a nice consolation prize for the 34-year-old. - Wrixon

José Ramírez: The Guardians infielder will likely go down as the most underrated, and arguably underpaid, player of his generation. Ramírez has accumulated six All-Star appearances, four Silver Sluggers, and four top-four AL MVP finishes across his 12-year career but has never been able to completely break through. Ramírez's best run came between 2017-2020 when he was a three-time MVP finalist, finishing second behind José Abreu in the COVID-shortened season. This year he's posted 35 homers, 107 RBIs, and an .844 OPS and seems on track for another top-five MVP finish. - Wile

Juan Soto: Soto is considered one of baseball's best hitters and brightest stars. He's also likely going to earn the largest payday in free-agent history for a position player this offseason. But the 25-year-old has never won an MVP despite a mantle full of other achievements. Soto's finished top 10 in the MVP race four times and was runner-up to Bryce Harper in 2021. It looks like he's going to come up short again this year due to incredible seasons by Judge and Witt, but an MVP looks destined for him in the future. - Mcwilliam

Which injury will have the biggest impact on the postseason?

Tyler Glasnow: The Dodgers' rotation has been ravaged by injuries, but none more difficult than Glasnow's sprained elbow. The right-hander set a new career high with 134 innings, but as has been the case throughout his tantalizing career, he couldn't hold up. With Clayton Kershaw and Gavin Stone also dealing with injuries, the Dodgers are faced with a lot of question marks in the rotation heading into October. - Goldberg

Cristian Javier: Regardless of how he performs during the regular season, Javier always shines when it matters most for the Houston Astros. The tricky righty has been especially tough on the New York Yankees, who currently hold the AL's best record. Houston will need its other pitchers - many of whom have inconsistent postseason resumes or no experience whatsoever - to step up with its playoff ace sidelined. - Wrixon

Grayson Rodriguez: The Orioles are limping into the postseason, and there are serious questions whether the pitching staff is capable of taking the team on a deep playoff run. Burnes and Zach Eflin give Baltimore a solid front duo, but the Orioles will likely need to navigate through the wild-card round, and the lack of a solid third starter could be exposed should they advance. Rodriguez was supposed to be that arm before landing on the IL with a lat injury, and while he could pitch out of the bullpen in October, his absence from the rotation puts much more pressure on the likes of Dean Kremer and Albert Suárez. - Wile