Postseason Impact Rankings: Top 40 players in 2024 MLB playoffs - ESPN

The 12 playoff teams have been determined — finally! — and the postseason begins Tuesday, with October legends to be born and historic moments to be forged. The MLB playoffs are always unpredictable, but this year feels more unpredictable than ever — with a lot of World Series droughts on the line. Consider:

• The Cleveland Guardians haven't won since 1948, the longest championship drought of any of the original 16 franchises.

• The San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers, both born in 1969, have never won a World Series (the Padres haven't been since 1998, the Brewers since 1982).

• The Baltimore Orioles last won in 1983 (the last time they went), the Detroit Tigers in 1984.

• The New York Mets haven't won a World Series since 1986.

• The New York Yankees haven't been to a World Series since their last title in 2009 (and the Philadelphia Phillies haven't won since 2008).

Could one or two huge performances help end one of these droughts? Here are the 40 players who will decide October.

Postseason career: None

Key 2024 stat: First 50/50 player, first with 400 total bases since 2001, 99 extra-base hits most since 2001

Ohtani heads to his first postseason — he had played the most games of any active player without appearing in the playoffs — on the heels of his historic 54-homer/59-stolen-base campaign. After his brilliant individual season, the postseason will put a new kind of spotlight on him as he plays the most important games of his major league career. Ohtani finished with an absolutely dominant September, which makes you wonder: How often will pitchers challenge him? Will he keep stealing bases at the same pace (31-for-31 the final two months)? He doesn't have to do it all by himself, but if anyone can deliver an