Even after 162 games, there was still one wildcard spot up for grabs in the American League.  The Tampa Bay Rays and the Texas Rangers were tied for the second wildcard spot and needed a 163^rd game to determine who would go on through to the postseason.  Rays pitcher David Price needed a complete game to do so, but he and the Rays eventually put away the Rangers to complete the ten team postseason roster.  Baseball Factory is proud to announce that all ten teams in the postseason have at least three former players on their active rosters.

American League

The Boston Red Sox look like the team to beat this postseason after clinching the division title in the AL East.  Four Baseball Factory alumni rank in the top fifteen on the team in runs, hits, homeruns, and RBI’s.  First base-man Mike Napoli ranks second on the team and fourth in the majors in RBI’s this season, while catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia is tied for fourth on the team and outfielder Daniel Nava comes in at sixth. Back-up catcher David Ross rounds out the Factory alumni on the Red Sox roster.

Tampa Bay returns to the postseason for the second time in three years after beating the Texas Rangers in the 163^rd game of the season.  Baseball Factory alumni now Rays include Delmon Young, Sean Rodriguez, and Sam Fuld.  Fellow alumni and pitchers Jeff Beliveau and Jake McGee will also look to contribute to the Ray’s run this postseason.

The 2012 American League Champion Detroit Tigers will look to repeat and expand upon their performance from last year.  Former Baseball Factory standout Justin Verlander has been up-and down this year, but will look to start fresh in the postseason.  The pitching staff also includes Baseball Factory alumni Darin Downs and Rick Porcello.  In addition, rookie outfielder Nick Castellanos and power-hitter Prince Fielder came through the program as high school players.  Fielder currently ranks sixth in the league in RBI’s, having batted in 106 this season.

Cleveland will take on the Rays in an AL Wildcard showdown this Wednesday evening with the winner advancing to play Boston in the divisional round.  The Indians seem to favor Factory alumni pitchers including Chris Perez, who led the team in saves this season with 25.  Fellow alumnus Cody Allen earned a 6-1 record and a 2.43 ERA while Bryan Shaw posted a 7-3 record and a 3.24 ERA.  In addition to these arms, alumni OF Ray Raburn and reserve catcher Kelly Shoppach will look for a chance to contribute this postseason.

The Oakland A’s claim the most Baseball Factory alumni of any team in the postseason.  Pitchers Sean Doolittle and Dan Otero helped the A’s to the seventh lowest ERA in the league.  Infielder Josh Donaldson had the sixteenth best batting average in the majors this year, posting a .305.  Additional Baseball Factory alumni in Oakland are Stephen Vogt, Jed Lowrie, Brandon Moss, Eric Sogard, and Chris Young.

National League

The Atlanta Braves return to the postseason after losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Wild Card game last year.  Baseball Factory alumnus B.J. Upton signed with Braves during the offseason, joining his younger brother and fellow alum Justin Upton in the outfield.  Justin is having another good year; he ranks first in the team and twelfth in the league in runs.  Both brothers rank in the top ten on the team in runs, hits, homeruns, and RBI’s.  Factory alumnus Chris Johnson is also having a good year, ranking second on the team in hits and RBI’s this season while also ranking fifth in the league with a .323 batting average.  Other alumni helping the Braves to the postseason include Brian McCann and Joey Terdoslavich.

The National League Central title was up for grabs for most of the regular season, but the St. Louis Cardinals held on to win the division for the first time since 2009.  Baseball Factory alumnus Allen Craig earned the third best batting average on the team with .315, which was also good enough to tie for eleventh overall in the majors.  Also contributing to the division title for the Cardinals were catcher Rob Johnson, shortstop Ryan Jackson, and rookie second baseman Kolten Wong.

The Cincinnati Reds enter the postseason as the second wild card team in the National League.  Pitchers Zach Duke and Mike Leake helped Cincinnati post the fourth lowest ERA in the league this season.  Leake tied for the team-best record at 14-7 with a 3.37 ERA.   Baseball Factory alum Jay Bruce lead the team in homeruns and RBI’s this season while also ranking fourth in the league in RBI’s.

The Los Angeles Dodgers look to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2009.  The pitching team includes Zack Greinke, J.P. Howell, and Ricky Nolasco; all Factory alumni.  Greinke boasts the seventh-lowest ERA in the majors at 2.67 and holds a 15-3 record.  Starting catcher A.J. Ellis, who ranks fourth on the team in RBI’s this season with 49, is also a former Baseball Factory player.

With possibly the most interesting story of the postseason, the Pittsburgh Pirates return to the playoffs for the first time since 1992, at 20 years it’s the longest drought of any team in any of the four major sports. Factory alumni looking to continue to the historic run for the Pirates include OF Andrew Lambo, 1B Gaby Sanchez, and 3B Josh Harrison.

The first round of playoffs kicks off tonight and we wish all our alumni playing for postseason glory the best of luck!