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MLB Playoffs 2017: 5 reasons Los Angels Angels make it

By Joshua Sadlock

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 05: Albert Pujols #5 of the Los Angeles Angels reacts after hitting an RBI single in the fifth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on September 5, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 05: Albert Pujols #5 of the Los Angeles Angels reacts after hitting an RBI single in the fifth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on September 5, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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ANAHEIM, CA – SEPTEMBER 16: Justin Upton #9 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim drops his bat as he watches a solo home run in the eighth inning, his second of the game against the Texas Rangers on September 16, 2017 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – SEPTEMBER 16: Justin Upton #9 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim drops his bat as he watches a solo home run in the eighth inning, his second of the game against the Texas Rangers on September 16, 2017 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /

3. Justin Upton gets on a heater

Streakiness in a major league hitter is not necessarily a desirable trait. Most managers would prefer their .280 hitter gets to .280 by hitting close to that average for the entire season. Obviously, the nature of baseball leads to hot and cold streaks, but it is maddening when a hitter gets to his final average by alternating stretches where he is impossible to get out with stretches where it feels like making contact is a gargantuan task.

For better or worse, new Angels outfielder Justin Upton is easily one of the streakiest hitters in the game. His slumps are as cold as ice — see this May where he hit .217/.303/.396 — but his hot streaks can carry a team for an entire month. He hit .275/.330/.667 in August with 11 home runs and 27 RBI in 27 games.

When the Angels traded for Upton from the Detroit Tigers, they were hoping to catch at least one of his famed scorching months, and they may be getting just that in September. Through the first 15 games of the month, Upton has hit .288/.431/.558 with three home runs. His two home runs last Saturday provided both of the Halos runs in a 2-0 win.

If Upton is able to sustain this level of production for the final two weeks of the season, it benefits the Angels in more ways than one. Besides the obvious fact that it’s always great to have a hitter with a .990 OPS in the middle of your lineup, a hot Upton will make it much harder for teams to pitch around Mike Trout.

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