MLB playoff preview: Five players to watch

Marlins second baseman Luis Arraez:  After holding a .400 batting average through 78 games, Arraez quickly put a grip on winning his second consecutive batting title. He was the top batter in the AL last season with Minnesota, and he became the first player in MLB history to win batting titles in both leagues in consecutive seasons after he finished 2023 with a .354 average, the highest of his career. Arraez appeared in the playoffs twice with the Twins, in 2019 and 2020. He had five hits (four doubles) in 11 at-bats in 2019 against the Yankees while he was held hitless in eight plate appearances the following season against the Astros. On Tuesday, Miami begins its playoff run in the NL Wild Card round at Philadelphia.

Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts:  In most seasons, Betts would be the runaway NL MVP winner. He had a .307 average, 39 home runs and 107 runs batted in this season as the Dodgers won their 10th division title in the past 11 seasons. He tied with Acuña for the highest wins above replace (WAR) this season (8.3) and is one of the most disciplined batters in the league, tying with Padres outfielder Juan Soto for the fewest percentage of swings on pitches outside the strike zone at 20 percent (h/t FanGraphs). Betts is also the most lethal fastball hitter in the league, with the most wins above average on fastballs this season. In last year's postseason, the Dodgers were stunned in the NLDS, losing to the Padres in four games. Betts looks to improve after posting a .143 batting average in the 3-1 series loss.

Rangers shortstop Corey Seager:  Despite missing 43 games this season due to multiple injuries, including a hamstring and sprained thumb, Seager is second in AL MVP odds trailing generational phenom Shohei Ohtani. Seager is healthy entering the postseason, which could be bad news for the rest of the American League. Seager improved over an underwhelming first season with the Rangers last year, getting 11 more hits in 127 fewer at-bats this season. He also had the same number of home runs (33) while leading the AL with 42 doubles. The Rangers kick off the postseason at Tampa Bay in the AL Wild Card round.

Astros right fielder Kyle Tucker:  If Houston is going to win its fifth AL pennant in seven seasons, Tucker's bat will get it there. He was the Astros best hitter this season, ranking 19th in batting WAR (4.9) and first in runs batted in (112). Tucker nearly had the first 30 home run-30 stolen base season for Houston since Jeff Bagwell in 1999 before official scorers ruled a potential inside-the-park home run in the season finale a triple instead. It was one of the few things that didn't go Tucker's way this season. The Astros begin their playoff run on Saturday in the ALDS and need Tucker to keep up his fantastic form. He had a .204 batting average en route to the team's World Series win last season, but after becoming Houston's most reliable batter in 2023, he'll be required to do much more.