Rankings/List

Between now and the start of the 2015 World Series, there's going to be a lot of talk about the layoff, and for good reason.

The New York Mets haven't played since last Wednesday, and extended breaks have not been kind to Fall Classic participants. Five of the last six teams that had five or more days off before the World Series ended up losing, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

OK, so I turned off Game 6 as soon as Fox TV declared in the seventh inning that the Kansas City Royals had already won.

Nothing happened after that, right?

Hey, good for Fox. We all needed the extra sleep and an early start on figuring out how the unstoppable Royals are going to deal with the unstoppable Daniel Murphy.

Although the World Series is right around the corner, it's never too early to look ahead to free agency. 

That's especially true this season, as some of the game's biggest names will hit the market in pursuit of hefty paydays. Over the next few slides, we'll take a look at what types of contracts those top MLB free agents might command this winter. 

Multiple factors affect a player's value on the market:

Not everyone who has taken part in the 2015 MLB postseason can be like the New York Mets' Daniel Murphy.

While the unassuming second baseman has been the biggest surprise of the playoffs, there's also been no lack of players and teams who have been downright disappointing.

Expectations were a big part of the equation in ranking the biggest underachievers of all thus far. After all, disappointment is all about unfulfilled potential. There was also room on the list for players and clubs who have failed in epic fashion. 

Both the National League and American League Championship Series have given us plenty of memorable moments to talk about for years and years to come. 

Many of those moments have been provided by some of the unlikeliest candidates. Over the next few slides, we'll rank a few of those surprise impact players. 

Surprises come in different shapes and sizes.

The dramatics from the previous round seem to be missing from the MLB championship series.

The Kansas City Royals and New York Mets have leaped out to dominant leads and find themselves a win away from capturing a pennant and securing a trip to the World Series. It is a long way from the division series round when three of the four series went to a deciding fifth game.

After two games in Queens, the National League Championship Series moves to the Windy City with the New York Mets leading the Chicago Cubs 2-0. 

Game 3 will take place Tuesday night at 8:07 p.m. EDT, with Kyle Hendricks and Jacob deGrom starting for their respective teams. Before first pitch, let's take a look at some keys that could decide the pivotal game.

Can Hendricks Keep the Ball on the Ground? 

There is enough of a sample size to pass judgment.

The American League and National League Championship Series are both two games old, and both are somewhat surprisingly 2-0 in favor of the teams with home-field advantage. The Kansas City Royals and New York Mets are two wins away from heading to the 2015 World Series, but as the division series reminded us, you cannot count out the trailing teams. 

The World Series is still on the not-so-near horizon, as the 2015 MLB postseason is only one game into the championship series round. So, it'll be a while before we have a clear picture of October's biggest stars.

But whatever. With 20 games in the books, I'd say we've gone far enough to dish out some props to the postseason stars who are deserving of some props. Wouldn't you? Of course you would.

It's up to David Price to stop the Toronto Blue Jays from tumbling into yet another 0-2 hole.

While the American League East champs will be calling on the October underachiever in Game 2 of the AL Championship Series, Yordano Ventura gets the nod for the Royals as the home team looks to claim a commanding lead at Kauffman Stadium.

The biggest key to this Game 2 matchup will be Price's performance, but the Jays will also need some help on the health front if the visitors are going to earn a split before heading north of the border.