Notre Dame Baseball: Looking ahead to the second half

Now that the All-Star Break is in the rearview mirror and the second half is picking up, it’s time to look at Notre Dame baseball alums in the majors and judge their chances of making it to the playoffs.

Going from least to most likely, we’ll rank each player’s chances of making it to the postseason and potentially the World Series, plus give a breakdown of how they’ve been playing as of late. Spoiler alert: Some players could be switching teams before the Aug. 1 trade deadline, and some could benefit from September call-ups.

Just to be clear, this is not a ranking of the players themselves. We’re only guessing, based on each individual’s situation, how likely they are to make the postseason.

A.J. Pollock — CF — Arizona Diamondbacks

It’s unfortunate that Pollock, one of the top young center fielders in the National League, has been out since April with a fractured elbow, but it seems more likely than not that we’ll see him back on the diamond before the end of the year. There’s no reason for him to rush back though, as the Diamondbacks don’t have much to play for. They’re 18 games back in the NL West and 14 games under .500, which just won’t cut it in arguably the strongest division in baseball.

Trey Mancini — 1B — Norfolk Tides (Baltimore Orioles)

Mancini has been swinging the bat well for the Tides, the Orioles’ AAA affiliate, and could potentially be trade bait in the next few weeks as Baltimore tries to bolster its anemic rotation. But whether he’s traded or not, Mancini could very well make it to the majors before the season’s end, either as a result of injury or the expanded roster in September.

If the O’s do keep him, they probably won’t need him for the playoffs, but he could be used to give some other players some rest. Anyway, Mancini has gone 6-for-12 at the plate in three games since the All-Star Break.

John Axford — RHP — Oakland Athletics

If this was a ranking of facial hair, Axford would top the list by a comfortable margin. As is, he’s on the lower end of things. Early on in the year, Axford looked like a prime trade candidate for the struggling Athletics, as an older reliever enjoying a strong season. But the month of June was not kind to the former Irish star, as his ERA skyrockted past 5.00.

Still, teams in contention always need bullpen help, and the A’s and Billy Beane have never been shy when it comes to fire sales. Axford is unlikely to end the season in Oakland, as he’s shown something of a return to form in July, collecting a 2.84 ERA and a .182 opponents’ batting average, making it more likely a team desperate to contend will pay for him. Since the break, he has had two scoreless appearances, taking his ERA below 5 again.

David Phelps — RHP — Miami Marlins

Phelps has been a bullpen mainstay for the Marlins this season, racking up a 2.87 ERA and 57 strikeouts over 47 innings pitched. Right now, Miami is in a dogfight with the Dodgers, Mets, Cardinals and Pirates for a wild card spot, while it trails Washington by six games in the NL East. Provided they don’t fade horribly in the next few weeks, Phelps is staying put, with a decent enough chance of making the postseason, at least for a wild card game.

That being said, Phelps has struggled thus far in July, surrendering four earned runs in five innings pitched, including two in his latest outing on July 15. Given how fickle relievers can be, the Marlins will likely have him on a short leash for the time being.

Jeff Manship — RHP — Cleveland Indians

In terms of individual seasons, Manship probably tops the list for Notre Dame alums. He’s been absolutely outstanding for the Tribe, giving up six earned runs in 32 appearances, striking out 19 while racking up six holds. He’s been especially effective against right-handed batters, holding them to a .190 batting average. Since the break, he’s appeared in two games, faced three batters and given up one hit.

He also has the good fortune of playing for a resurgent Cleveland squad that holds a 6.5 game lead in the AL Central and recently won a franchise-record 14 games in a row. The Indians have come back to earth since then, going 5-5 in their last 10 games, but it still seems like a pretty safe bet to say Cleveland, and Manship, will be playing into October.

Jeff Samardzija — RHP — San Francisco Giants

If it’s safe to say Cleveland will make the postseason, the Giants are almost certainly a lock. They lead the NL West by 5.5 games, and haven’t you heard of #EvenYear? San Francisco has won the past three Wold Series held in even years. Why change things up now?

Next: Top 5 Notre Dame Baseball players of all time

So Samardzija will probably be part of a pennant run this season, despite the fact that he’s pitched middlingly in 2016, with a 4.05 ERA and his worst strikeout-to-walk ratio in five years. He’s still San Francisco’s third best starter, behind Madison Bumgarner and Johnny Cueto, and he’s received enough run support (4.89) to gather a 9-5 win-loss record. Since the break, he’s had one start, an ugly five-inning, four-run outing, but the Giants can’t start Bumgarner and Cueto every day.

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Notre Dame Baseball: Second half prospects for former Irish players

By Greg Hadley | Jul 17, 2016