Each contender's biggest difference-maker

Every game counts the same over the course of 162, but ... who are we kidding? These last seven weeks matter more. And if you come up clutch this time of year, you’ll be remembered fondly by fans forever.

Seventeen teams entered the week within 5 1/2 games of a playoff spot. So let’s pick one guy from each of those teams who could be a difference-maker down the stretch.

The races just might hinge on how these players perform.

1. Chris Sale, LHP, Red Sox

At one time, it appeared Sale’s return from Tommy John would be a finishing touch to a triumphant Red Sox team. But the rotation has shown its warts and wasn’t addressed at the Trade Deadline, and now it sure seems the Sox need Sale in his vintage form to go the distance. His stuff and command were sharp in his return Saturday -- his first appearance in two years.

2. Fernando Tatis Jr., RF(?), Padres

It’s going to take time to adjust to writing a position other than shortstop next to Tatis’ name, but right field is where he played in his return from the injured list Sunday. At least the swing sure looked familiar. Having made three trips to the IL and dislocated his left shoulder at least four times, it’s uncertain whether Tatis can post up the remainder of the year, let alone how this outfield experiment will play out. The fate of the Padres, who are plagued by problems on their pitching staff, may hang in the balance.

3. Corey Kluber, RHP, Yankees

Domingo Germán is hurt. Luis Severino suffered a setback. And Andrew Heaney has not been the answer. The Yankees need a rotation boost, and Kluber is capable of providing one -- if/when he returns from a right subscapular strain in September, as expected. Kluber, who threw a no-hitter earlier this season and had a 3.04 ERA in 10 starts, has begun his Minor League rehab stint.

4. Starling Marte, CF, A’s

With a .988 OPS, 10 stolen bases, 11 RBIs and 12 runs scored, Marte has been possibly the biggest pickup any team made at the Trade Deadline. So we might as well see if he (and the A's) can keep rolling. Marte has made what seemed like a gutting suspension of Ramón Laureano no big deal so far.

5. Clayton Kershaw, LHP, Dodgers

Having been shut down twice with left forearm inflammation, it’s an open question whether Kershaw will come back and pitch meaningful innings. The Dodgers hope he can return in September, and, while they have a lot of X-factors right now (including Mookie Betts), Kershaw might be the biggest, given how depleted the rotation has become.

6. Ian Kennedy, RHP, Phillies

Yeah, you can’t talk about the Phillies’ playoff chances without talking about the Phillies’ bullpen. Kennedy was the bullpen’s big Deadline acquisition, and his Philadelphia tenure started out just miserably with three homers allowed in four games. But he’s shown signs of settling in since then, and the strong season he was putting together in Texas is a testament to his ability to help the Phils vie for the NL East crown.

7. Travis d’Arnaud, C, Braves

The Braves added around 94 outfield bats before the Trade Deadline (don’t check that math, it’s correct) in a frantic bid to offset the absences of Ronald Acuña Jr. and Marcell Ozuna, and they have lots of strength in their lineup. But getting d’Arnaud back healthy last week was key. He didn't contribute much in his first 23 games this season before fracturing his thumb, but if he can return to his form from 2020, when he surprisingly captured the National League Silver Slugger Award, that’s big for the Braves.

8. Carlos Carrasco, RHP, Mets

Yes, Jacob deGrom’s status is of monumental importance to the Mets. But now that we know he’s out until mid-September at the earliest, it is all the more important that other members of the rotation ensure the Mets are still in it by that point. Carrasco has shown serious signs of rust since his return from a torn right hamstring (10.32 ERA in four starts). But he has a long track record of success, and the Mets desperately need him to come through.

9. Michael Lorenzen, RHP, Reds

If Joey Votto wants to just keep launching dingers, that would be great, and don’t overlook rookie Jonathan India, either. But let’s focus on the bullpen here. Lorenzen has impacted it in a big way since recovering first from a shoulder strain and then from a hamstring strain. His first 9 2/3 innings were scoreless. The Reds should get Tejay Antone back soon, too, and these guys fuel confidence that the Reds can protect late leads and keep pushing the Padres in the NL Wild Card race.

10. Brad Hand, LHP, Blue Jays

A subpar record in one-run games has hurt a Blue Jays team whose awesome run differential does not align with its less-awesome record. The offense needs to perform better in the late innings, but it is also incumbent upon the new-look bullpen to secure late leads. Trade acquisition Hand has not yet earned a save or hold for Toronto.

11. Alex Bregman, 3B, Astros

The Astros’ great lineup has not been running at full steam in July and August, in part because it has not been at full strength. They’re expected to get Bregman back from a left quad strain soon, and that should be a big boost to a club that has displayed some limitations with infield depth.

12. Wander Franco, SS, Rays

Franco’s Major League maturation and the Rays’ bid to nail down the AL East could coincide perfectly down the stretch. With a .238/.301/.400 slash through his first 40 games, the 20-year-old Franco has not yet hit his stride at the plate. But he’s had moments of brilliance, such as a go-ahead blast off the Green Monster last week in a big win in Boston.

13. Anthony DeSclafani, RHP, Giants

If anything is going to upend the Giants’ incredible (and incredibly fun) season, it’s a pitching staff in danger of running out of gas. DeSclafani, who has been a very good free-agent pickup, returned from a brief IL stint with shoulder fatigue last week, just as Johnny Cueto hit the shelf with a right flexor strain. The Giants really need quality innings and length from DeSclafani behind Kevin Gausman and Logan Webb.

14. Jarred Kelenic, CF, Mariners

Don’t look now, but the rookie might be figuring it out. After bottoming out with an ugly .141/.230/.250 slash on Aug. 6, Kelenic has begun to look much more polished in recent days, and his walk-off walk over the weekend was a disciplined trip to the plate. It’s probably too late to get the M’s into October. But they’ve already exceeded expectations, and the future looks even brighter if Kelenic finishes with a flourish.

15. Jack Flaherty, RHP, Cardinals

The odds are pretty stacked against the Cards at this point. But getting an ace like Flaherty, who was fantastic in his return from an oblique injury over the weekend, back in the mix helps keep the blood pumping.

16. Christian Yelich, LF, Brewers

The Brewers are in a commanding position in the NL Central and have a pitching staff no team wants to match up against in October. But boy, you’d feel a lot better about their chances of advancing if they could get Yelich going. The past two seasons have been a struggle for the superstar, who has homered just once since June 26.

17. Carlos Rodón, LHP, White Sox

The Sox are set in the AL Central. But they’re still vying for that No. 1 seed and putting themselves in position for the playoffs. Returning Rodón after what the Sox hope is only a mild bout with left shoulder fatigue and getting him up to speed by season’s end is important.