25 most important stars for MLB playoffs

4. Charlie Morton

The Rays have worked their small-market magic and will be back in the playoffs for the first time since 2013. Tampa Bay has leaned all the way into the opener strategy this year, out of necessity more than anything else. Veteran Charlie Morton is their only full-time starter who has stayed healthy all year and operated under the role of a traditional starter, approaching 200 innings.

Since missing almost all of the 2016 season at the age of 32, Morton has had one of the most unlikely ascensions to stardom in MLB history. He made only four starts that year, at which point, his career record stood at 46-71 with a 4.54 ERA. Those are solid numbers, but what has followed could not have been predicted.

The Astros breathed life into Morton’s career with their analytics. He is 45-16 over the past three years with a 3.24 ERA and has struck out 10.7 per-nine. Morton has yet to carry his newfound success completely to the playoffs, where he has been up and down the past two years. The Rays figure to turn to him in the Wild Card Game, and he will have to be sharp.

Morton has pitched in the postseason the last two years, getting mixed results. His best performance came in the 2017 World Series where he gave the Astros 10.1 innings over two appearances and struck out 11 with a 1.74 ERA. He struggled in his lone start in the ALDS last year, giving up three runs and throwing two wild pitches in 2.1 innings.