Who is the MVP of this MLB postseason?
There's no Conn Smythe Trophy in Major League Baseball's playoffs, but given the monthlong saga it has become, perhaps one should be awarded. While it's still early, here's a quintet of players building — or augmenting — a significant October résumé so far:
Javier Baez, Cubs
It would be an understatement to say Baez has been nothing but brilliant this postseason against the San Francisco Giants — both offensively and defensively. He has dazzled at second base, even earning a tip of the cap for plays that were eventually overturned by instant replay. And as the No. 7 hitter, Baez has come up with the Cubs' two biggest postseason hits — an eighth-inning game-winning home run in Game 1 and the go-ahead RBI in the ninth inning comeback in Game 4.
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Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays
The reigning American League MVP torched the Texas Rangers pitching staff during Toronto's three-game sweep. He hit .538 (7-for-13) with four doubles and scored the winning run in Game 3, now known as the Donaldson Dash. After a leadoff double in the bottom of the 10th inning, Donaldson scored from second on a potential double-play ball hit by Russell Martin, giving the Blue Jays a 7-6 victory.
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Daniel Murphy, Nationals
After a historic postseason with the New York Mets in 2015, Murphy is back in October form. The club's regular season MVP is 6-for-13 (.462) with six runs batted in against the Los Angeles Dodgers. In Game 2, he had a hand in all five runs scored in the win. And in Game 4, his two-run single off Luis Avilan in the seventh inning tied the game at 5.
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Andrew Miller, Indians
Cleveland manager Terry Francona turned to his bullpen in an unlikely situation in Game 1, and Miller didn't disappoint. The left-hander tossed two scoreless innings against the Boston Red Sox, coming into the game in the fifth inning, a scenario he hasn't faced in almost four seasons. After giving up a double to Brock Holt and walk to Mookie Betts, he struck out David Ortiz to end the inning, preserving a 4-3 lead. In two appearances, he tossed four scoreless innings and struck out seven batters.
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Justin Turner, Dodgers
Turner, Murphy's teammate from 2010 to 2013 with New York Mets, is batting .455 with four walks and has an on-base percentage of .647. He has scored at least one run in each game in the series and has driven in three.