10 MLB stars who need to step up and carry their team to the playoffs

1. Corey Kluber

The Cleveland Indians have pulled ahead of the Twins in the race for the AL Central crown. Having seen their 11.5-game lead completely evaporate, the Twins look like they are holding on for dear life. After starting the year 38-18, Minnesota is just 33-29. Meanwhile, the Indians have come on like a freight train and are 44-18 over the last three months.

The Tribe may hold the ultimate trump card in the battle for AL Central supremacy in two-time Cy Young Corey Kluber, who is starting to make rehab starts and will be back before the end of the month. Kluber has been out since May after breaking a bone in his arm fielding a comebacker to the mound. The Indians managed to navigate all of the injuries in their rotation and are on the verge of having their staff fully healthy.

Kluber will be fresh when he returns to the active roster and should give the Indians rotation — which has already been on a roll — a huge bump. The 33-year-old has historically been at his best in the second half, and now he will hit the stretch run without 150 innings of work already on his arm.

Knowing that they would soon have Kluber back in the rotation allowed the Indians to trade away Trevor Bauer for the outfield help they desperately needed. It is worth noting that Kluber was 2-3 with a 5.80 ERA in seven starts before his injury, but he has typically started the year slowly while feeling out his arsenal. If he is at full strength from the jump, the division should be the Indians to lose.