Preview/Prediction

We are still a month from the start of the 2013 MLB postseason, and players often significantly impact their free-agent stock with their play down the stretch and in the playoffs, but it's still never too early to take a look at the upcoming crop of free agents.

The Tampa Bay Rays cannot afford for September to look like August.

August was a month the Tampa Bay Rays would love to forget. The Tampa Bay Rays finished the month with a losing record for the first time since 2006 when they went 9-19. That year was manager Joe Maddon’s first season with the team.

After a long season, September call-ups are almost here, and there are a number of exciting prospects that will be getting called up to the majors in the coming weeks.

From September 1 until the regular season ends, any player on the 40-man roster is allowed to play in an MLB game.  This means that guys on the Triple-A and even some Double-A teams will be allowed to move up to their organization's MLB team, many for the first time in their careers.

If MLB players were able to pick a time during the regular season that they would be able dominate the competition, down the stretch would be one of, if not the most, popular selection.

Not only can a player carry his team into the playoffs—or play spoiler if his team is already out of contention—but it's the last time for soon-to-be free agents and players heading into arbitration to raise their value.

The Washington Nationals are surging and will enter September in contention for a playoff spot. Entering the final day of August, the Nationals are 16-10 in the month, which has given them a reason to play meaningful baseball in September.

The pieces of the puzzle have been coming together for Washington. Perhaps they were not able to handle the early season hype that surrounded the team, but, as for now, they have a chance for redemption.

As the New York Mets embark on the final month of the 2013 season, a few things are quite clear: This year will likely mark the fifth straight losing campaign in Flushing, long-term positions aren't filled across the diamond, and, with Matt Harvey's 2014 in jeopardy, thoughts of competing next year have been shelved.

While it feels like more doom and gloom in Queens, NY, there are reasons to watch this baseball team in September.

Alfonso Soriano had himself a whale of a game on Tuesday night, clubbing a pair of home runs in his first two at-bats to reach 400 career dingers.

The New York Yankees left fielder has been on fire, and J.A. Happ and the Toronto Blue Jays could do nothing but watch as they faced him.

With September only a week away, the playoff picture is starting to come into frame.

There's still a long way to go—about 34 or 35 games for most teams—but that doesn't mean we can't start dreaming about picture-perfect World Series matchups.

New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez is batting .281 in 15 games since Aug. 6, which is important to consider when making your MLB picks on Friday as the club prepares to take on the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.

We could be witnessing history every time we watch New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano step up to the plate.

The 30-year-old slugger blasted his 200th career home run Tuesday against the Toronto Blue Jays, taking Esmil Rogers deep to center.