FOX Sports’ ultimate MLB playoff rosters: American League edition

Deesha: Suckerrrrr.

No. 4 (Kavner): Juan Soto, Yankees RF

Rowan: Yankees fans are hoping Judge and Soto won’t be split up after this season. In this draft, though, I have to do it. With Witt and Soto, who are both hitting over .340 with runners in scoring position this year, I feel confident in my squad not just reaching base at a high clip but also bringing runners home when they have the chance.

No. 5 (Thosar): Gunnar Henderson, Orioles SS

Deesha: Henderson will get on base, slug, bring runners home, swipe bags, and play solid defense in the hole. But he’s also the third MVP candidate on my team, and that friendly competition between teammates will only bring out the best in the 23-year-old shortstop.

No. 6 (Kavner): Jose Altuve, Astros 2B

Rowan: We know Soto can thrive on the biggest stage, but it can’t hurt to add a veteran to the squad who happens to be one of the all-time greatest postseason performers. One of just two players in MLB history with 27 career playoff home runs, Altuve is far and away the most accomplished and productive second baseman in the AL playoff field.

Deesha: Ugh.

No. 7 (Thosar): Kyle Tucker, Astros RF

Deesha: He should be more dangerous than usual in October thanks to all that extra rest and preserved energy from his three-month absence due to injury. Fortunately, it looks like he picked up where he left off in the first half, and he’ll be essential in creating runs and getting on base for my squad.

No. 8 (Kavner): Tarik Skubal, Tigers SP

Rowan: Is it too early to grab the guy who won the pitching Triple Crown here? I don’t think so. Good luck, hitters. Oh, and if you do make contact against the guy with the most strikeouts in the AL, try not to hit it to shortstop.

Deesha: Predictable pick by you.

No. 9 (Thosar): Corbin Burnes, Orioles SP

Deesha: An ace pitching in the playoffs weeks before he hits the free-agent market as the best available starting pitcher? Yes, please. After a 1.20 ERA in five September starts, I’m expecting Burnes’ postseason to be extra dominant as he stabilizes my rotation with his devastating cutter and workhorse mentality.

No. 10 (Kavner): Yordan Alvarez, Astros DH

Rowan: I should probably just make him my left fielder here to justify taking a DH this high, but considering his health concerns going into the postseason and that we have to pick the position with each pick, I’ll just take the dude with a .949 career playoff OPS — the most dangerous bat remaining in the field — and worry about finding another guy to roam the outfield later.

Deesha: Wild to pick DH right now.

No. 11 (Thosar): Gerrit Cole, Yankees SP

Deesha: We didn’t get to see last year’s Cy Young winner at his best in the postseason last year, but if you take out his weird intentional-walk start against the Red Sox, this is the closest we’ll get to that version of Cole. The 1-2 punch of Burnes/Cole will allow for zero breathing room for opposing hitters in a short series. Have fun!

Rowan: Oh, good. I was worried you might go with one of the Cy Young contenders still on the board.

Deesha: Honestly, I‘m overthinking over here and that’s dangerous.

No. 12 (Kavner): Framber Valdez, Astros SP

Rowan: You take your Burnes-Cole mix, and I’m plenty comfortable having the starter with the lowest ERA (Skubal) and second-half ERA (Valdez) in the AL playoff field.

Deesha: Don’t forget to mention his 12 earned runs in 12 innings last October.

Rowan: He also had 4 in 25 innings the previous one, so …

Deesha: Yeah, well, he was younger then.

Rowan: I didn’t see Cole’s first half numbers on your blurb? Did I skim over it?

No. 13 (Thosar): Anthony Santander, Orioles LF

Deesha: Sure, he hasn’t played in left all that much. But the havoc he’ll cause with his bat after a 44-home run season that went under the radar makes my outfield a powerhouse full of guys who can slug and stay calm under pressure.

Rowan: Can’t even hate on that, except he basically never plays LF.

No. 14 (Kavner): Riley Greene, Tigers LF

Rowan: Well, turns out I didn’t need to wait that long to get that left fielder. Happy to get an All-Star at this spot with the fourth-highest OPS among all qualified AL outfielders this season. Greene is hitting over .300 in his last 20 games and has played a huge role in the Tigers’ stunning late-season run.

No. 15 (Thosar): Emmanuel Clase, Guardians closer

Deesha: The best closer in baseball — and nobody is even remotely close. It’s virtually impossible to score on him (you can count the number of runs he gave up all year on one hand) and, somehow, Clase surrendered just two home runs in 74 appearances. The game is over the minute those bullpen doors swing open.

Rowan: Lol … thought about it.

Deesha: No ragrets.

No. 16 (Kavner): Alex Bregman, Astros 3B

Rowan: After Ramírez went early, there’s no question Bregman stands out as the next best option at the position, so this is incredible value for him before Deesha snags him and tries to play him somewhere else. Bregman should be extra motivated as he heads into free agency, but if he performs anywhere close to the way he has the past couple of months — he has an OPS over .880 since the start of August — I’m in good shape.

No. 17 (Thosar): Salvador Perez, Royals 1B

Deesha: Amid 49 games played at first, the Royals veteran enjoyed a renaissance season — drawing a career-high 44 walks while earning his ninth All-Star nod. Perez brings World Series experience to my team, where he’ll fit right in in the heart of my lineup.

Rowan: Oh, here we go …

Deesha: Hey, he did play at first a lot!

Rowan: I actually didn’t realize he played THAT much at first.

Deesha: So much first.

No. 18 (Kavner): Yainer Diaz, Astros C

Rowan: I promise I didn’t set out to create an Astros All-Star team, but here we are. Since Deesha got fancy putting Perez at first base, I’ll take the other top offensive catcher on the board so she can’t. Diaz had the highest batting average of any qualified catcher in the majors this year and should keep the line moving in this stacked lineup.

Deesha: Nnnnnoooooonooooo. You are literally Joe Espada at this point.

Rowan: This is what happens when the Guardians and Royals and Tigers all make the playoffs. I’m realizing I’m gonna have to take Hader now, too, eventually. Maybe I’ll get cute and use a different Guardians reliever. I can still get Jason Heyward to play center.

No. 19 (Thosar): Seth Lugo, Royals SP

Deesha: Lugo’s not getting the same attention as some of MLB’s other lights-out rotation arms, but he’s been just as dominant in only his second season switching to a full-time starter, earning his first career All-Star selection in his age-34 season. We won’t disrespect him on my team, at least.

No. 20 (Kavner): Cole Ragans, Royals SP

Rowan: Not a surprise to see the top Royals arms go back-to-back. While Lugo has the edge in ERA and wins, Ragans’ whiff rate is far superior. Missing bats is crucial in October, and I’m thrilled to end up with the AL’s top two strikeout leaders in Skubal and Ragans.

No. 21 (Thosar): Hunter Brown, Astros SP

Deesha: The Astros’ top-of-the-rotation arm is a solid addition to round out my pitching staff. He owns a 1.69 ERA in 10.2 innings across seven playoff appearances that have all come out of the bullpen, and now I’m expecting Brown to produce those results for the rotation with ease.

No. 22 (Kavner): Josh Naylor, Guardians 1B

Rowan: The fact that Perez, who spends most of his time behind the plate, was the first first baseman to go in this draft demonstrates the dearth of elite options at the position. Naylor, though, brings the most pop at the spot, leading all AL first baseman this year in both homers and RBIs.

No. 23 (Thosar): Adley Rutschman, Orioles C

Deesha: Even though Rowan thought he messed up my game plan by taking Diaz, I’m happy this late in the draft to go with the Orioles catcher who’s one year removed from a Silver Slugger award. It’s been a disappointing second half, no doubt. But I’m not counting out the two-time All-Star just yet.

Rowan: I was tempted to take him, too, but it’s been … rough.

No. 24 (Kavner): Colton Cowser, Orioles CF

Rowan: He’s been in the conversation for AL Rookie of the Year all season and is a helpful piece on both sides of the ball. Offensively, his strikeout rate can make him prone to ebbs and flows, but he has 24 home runs and can get hot in a hurry (he had four homers over his last eight games). Defensively, his 11 outs above average are more than the rest of Baltimore’s outfielders combined.

No. 25 (Thosar): Kerry Carpenter, Tigers DH

Deesha: Among designated hitters with a minimum of 100 plate appearances not named Aaron Judge, Carpenter has the best OPS (.968) in the AL. His numbers likely would’ve been even better had injuries not slowed him down, but he’s getting red-hot at exactly the right time.

No. 26 (Kavner): Tanner Bibee, Guardians SP

Rowan: I wanted to add a right-hander to my southpaw-heavy group, and I feel great about getting the ace of Cleveland’s staff here. Bibee has been the one reliable force in the rotation of the AL Central champs and will head into October with some momentum after posting a 2.64 ERA in five September starts.

Deesha: That’s a good one for this late.

No. 27 (Thosar): Jazz Chisholm, Yankees 2B

Deesha: After Rowan took Altuve early, I knew I could afford to make second base my final pick if only because the position is so terribly depleted among AL playoff teams. Still, snagging Chisholm here gets me extra speed and that’s music to my ears.

Rowan: I almost took him for CF, lol. I don’t know how I’d feel about throwing him back in the outfield for the playoffs. You ready for the finale?

No. 28 (Kavner): Cade Smith, Guardians closer

Rowan: “Who?” some who haven’t watched much AL Central baseball might be asking. OK, this might be getting a little cute, but the Cleveland bullpen’s dominance goes beyond Clase, and Smith is the strikeout king of the group. In October, I want my closer to miss bats, to not give up free passes and to keep the ball in the yard. Smith ranks in the top 10 among all qualified MLB relievers in strikeout rate and strikeout-to-walk ratio and has surrendered one homer — ONE! — all year in more than 75 innings of work. I’ll take the guy who by fWAR is MLB’s most valuable reliever this year. Plus, Hader had too many September blowups

Deesha: Smith has one save! This feels like grounds for disqualification. Luke Weaver was RIGHT there.

Rowan: Have you seen Smith’s numbers? He strikes people out, unlike your closer. And he has more saves than Santander has starts in left field this year.

Deesha: You’re the first and only person ever to attempt Clase hate.

Rowan: I love Clase. I’m sad I couldn’t pick him.

Team Deesha’s starting lineup:

1. Gunnar Henderson, SS

2. Kyle Tucker, RF

3. Aaron Judge, CF

4. Jose Ramirez, 3B

5. Kerry Carpenter, DH

6. Salvador Perez, 1B

7. Anthony Santander, LF

8. Adley Rutschman, C

9. Jazz Chisholm, 2B

SP1. Corbin Burnes

SP2. Gerrit Cole

SP3. Seth Lugo

SP4. Hunter Brown

Closer: Emmanuel Clase

Team Rowan’s starting lineup:

1. Jose Altuve, 2B

2. Juan Soto, RF

3. Bobby Witt Jr., SS

4. Yordan Alvarez, DH

5. Josh Naylor, 1B

6. Alex Bregman, 3B

7. Riley Greene, LF

8. Yainer Diaz, C

9. Colton Cowser, CF

SP1. Tarik Skubal

SP2. Framber Valdez

SP3. Cole Ragans

SP4. Tanner Bibee

Closer: Cade Smith

Deesha Thosar is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.

Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on Twitter at @RowanKavner.

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