There are some players who are obviously going to be central to any success -- or lack thereof -- that their team has in the postseason. Aaron Judge, Cal Raleigh, Shohei Ohtani, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. … We all know who those guys are, and we won’t be taking our eyes off them.

But the determining factors, the players who may end up being the difference between winning and losing a series, are maybe not the obvious candidates. They’re guys who are integral to their team and, if they can have a great month, could even be the reason their team advances … and maybe wins a title.

Here’s a look at each team’s postseason X-factor.

American League

Blue Jays: RHP Shane Bieber

When Toronto traded for Bieber at the Deadline -- acquiring him from a team that the Blue Jays now could theoretical

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