Biggest Yankees wild cards: Three players who could change team's postseason trajectory

The New York Yankees are perhaps the strongest team in baseball, leading the majors in home runs (266), slugging percentage (.454) and OPS (.786) entering Thursday's play. However, they are also a team that is plagued by shabby defense, underwhelming bat-to-ball skills (.251 team batting average) and bullpen woes.

Having clinched a playoff spot Tuesday, the Yankees will head into the playoffs, which will begin Sept. 30, with major strengths and potentially crippling weaknesses. But New York has several "X" factors who could save the team from considerable grief and perhaps help propel the team to its first World Series title since 2009.

Here are three underrated Yankees to watch in the postseason: 

RHP Cam Schlittler 

Aside from a few hiccups, New York's top starters — Carlos Rodon (17-9, 3.04 ERA), Max Fried (19-5. 2.86 ERA) and Luis Gil (4-1, 3/29 ERA) — have performed exceptionally well. For the fourth spot in the rotation, the Yankees may have an ace up their sleeve.

Though Schlittler has little experience, the rookie has displayed ace-type stuff during his time in the majors. He has a 3.27 ERA with 75 strikeouts and a .230 opponent batting average in 66 innings. This includes a stretch in which he gave up just two runs in four starts.

If the 24-year-old comes through as a fourth starter, he would spare the team from delving into a shaky bullpen (4.45 ERA, eighth worst in the big leagues) and boost New York's chances of stealing a win.

3B Ryan McMahon 

McMahon’s bat hasn’t been the transformational force the Yankees had hoped. Since his acquisition in late July, McMahon is hitting .199/.297/.311 with three home runs, a decline from the stats he posted with the Colorado Rockies before the trade to New York.

But McMahon also has staggering potential. He produces some of the highest exit velocities and hard-hit rates in the game. And his 20+ home run power is also a strong point. But the real reason he could be a game-changer for the Yankees this postseason is his defense.

At the hot corner, McMahon has made tough plays look easy. He has posted six outs above average this season. For a team that struggles to make routine plays, he is a bright spot. Though stellar defense isn’t as flashy as stellar offense, McMahon could give the Yankees an edge in run prevention. 

SS Anthony Volpe 

When we think of potential game-changers, a player slashing .213/.275/.398 with 19 home runs and 19 errors doesn't typically come to mind. In Volpe’s case, looks might be misleading.

It was less than a month ago when Volpe hit bottom. But as it turns out, he had been playing with a torn labrum. Since receiving treatment and rest, Volpe is quietly resurging. 

In his past seven games since his Sept. 16 return (he made an appearance on Sept. 15), Volpe is hitting .375/.423/.500. He also hasn’t committed an error in that time. But it isn’t just his late resurgence that makes him a potential postseason game-changer. 

Last season, in Volpe’s lone postseason trip, he hit .286/.407/.408 with a World Series grand slam against the Dodgers. If he thrives when the lights are the brightest, he could be an unexpected game-changer for the Yankees.