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By Pete Cava
PBR Indiana Correspondent  

Major League Baseball’s postseason begins Tuesday, September 30, and the ten teams still standing include seven players and one manager born in Indiana. 

Hoosiers have played important roles in post-season baseball, going back to 1903 when outfielder Chick Stahl and catcher Lou Criger helped the Boston Pilgrims (today’s Red Sox) defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first modern World Series 

Here’s a look at each of the eight Indiana natives in this year’s posts-season, with birthplaces listed in brackets. 

Baltimore Orioles (AL East):  Right-hander Tommy Hunter (Indianapolis) opened the year as the Orioles’ closer and picked up 11 saves in the first two months.  He was demoted to middle relief in May after blowing back-to-back save opportunities.  Following a stint on the 15-day disabled list, the 28-year-old Cathedral High School and University of Alabama alum returned on June 1 and turned around his season, finishing with a 3-2 record, 11 saves and a 2.97 ERA over 60 games. Hunter saw previous post-season action in 2010 with the Texas Rangers, when he started Game Four of the World Series against the Giants and took the loss.

Detroit Tigers (AL Central):  None. 

Los Angeles Angels (AL West):  Left-handed relief specialist Joe Thatcher (Indianapolis) started the year with the Arizona Diamondbacks and went to the Angels as part of a four-player trade on July 5.  He spent time on the 15-day-DL after suffering a sprained ankle while fielding a bunt on August 3.  Thatcher’s 2014 stats include two wins, a loss and a 3.86 ERA in 53 appearances.  This will be the first trip to the post-season for Thatcher, who turns 33 on October 4.  The Kokomo High School and Indiana State University product pitched for the San Diego Padres from 2007 to 2013.

Kansas City Royals (AL wild card):  None.

Oakland Athletics (AL wild card):  It’s been quite a year for Jeff Samardzija (Merrillville), the former baseball and football standout from Valparaiso High School and the University of Notre Dame.  The right-hander was this year’s Opening Day starter for the Chicago Cubs, the team he signed with in 2006 after spurning an NFL career as a wide receiver.  Samardzija’s first victory of 2014 didn’t come until May 26, despite a microscopic ERA.  The win ended a drought that dated back to August 24, 2013.  Frequently mentioned in trade talks, the 29-year-old Samardijza was 3-7 with a 2.74 ERA on July 4 when he went to Oakland in a blockbuster trade.  Named to the NL All-Star team as a Cub, he received honors but was inactive for the game.  Samardzija’s 2014 slate included a 7-13, 2.99 slate in 33 starts for Chicago and Oakland.  His post-season experience consists of one appearance in the 2008 NL Division Series for the Cubs.         

Washington Nationals (NL East):  The Nats’ bullpen includes a pair of Indiana-born right-handers. 

Drew Storen (Indianapolis) pitched for Brownsburg High School and Stanford University before joining Washington in 2010.  The following year he took over as the Nats closer, posting 43 saves.  He blew the clinching game of the 2012 NL Division Series against St. Louis, and in 2013 Rafael Soriano replaced him.  When Soriano faltered this season, Storen bounced back and regained the closer’s job.   The 27-year-old former first-round pick ended the regular season with 11 saves, a 2-1 record and a 1.12 ERA.  In the 2012 NLDS, his only previous post-season appearance, Storen was 1-1 with a 9.00 ERA. 

Twenty-six-year-old Aaron Barrett (Evansville) went from Evansville Central High School to Wabash Valley Community College to Ole Miss.  This year he made the jump to the big leagues from Double-A Harrisburg, Pa., where he was the Eastern League’s top reliever in 2013.  He got the win for Washington on Opening Day against the Mets in New York, striking out two in a perfect tenth inning.  Barrett, who spent August pitching for Triple-A Syracuse (International), was 3-0 with a 2.66 ERA in a setup role for Washington.    

St. Louis Cardinals (NL Central):  Former Brownsburg High School and Ole Miss standout Lance Lynn (Indianapolis) turned in another yeoman performance this summer for the Cardinals, going 15-10 with a 2.74 ERA in 33 starts.  The 27-year-old righty will be pitching in the post-season for a fourth time.  Lynn is 3-1 in three NL Championship Series (2011-2012-2013).  He’s pitched in a pair of World Series, winning Game 6 in 2013 in relief (when St.Louis beat Texas in seven), and  taking the loss as the Game Four starter against Boston (when the Red Sox took the Series in six contests). 

Los Angeles Dodgers (NL West):  Backup catcher Drew Butera (Evansville) starred for Bishop Moore High School in Orlando, Fla., and the University of Central Florida.  He was born in Indiana when his father, former big leaguer Sal Butera, caught for the Evansville Triplets of the American Association.  When A.J. Ellis underwent arthroscopic knee surgery this year, Drew shared catching duties with Tim Federowicz.  He finished the year with three homers and a .188 average in 61 games.  This is the first shot at post-season play for the 30-year-old Butera, who broke in with the Minnesota Twins in 2010.  

Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly is a baseball rarity – a New York Yankee great who never got to play in the World Series. During 14 years in pinstripes (1982-1995), the former Evansville Reitz High School star appeared in one American League Division Series (1995, when he batted .417 versus Seattle).  Mattingly, 53, has managed the Dodgers since 2011 and has guided L.A. to consecutive NL West Division titles.     

Pittsburgh Pirates (NL wild card):  Backup infielder Clint Barmes (Vincennes), 35, went to Lincoln High School and Olney Central Junior College before the Rockies drafted him out of Indiana State University.  Since 2004, he’s played for Colorado, Houston and Pittsburgh and has seen post-season action twice (2009 NLDS with the Rockies;  Wild Card and NLDS with the Bucs in 2013).  He was 0-7-.245 this year and spent time on the DL from June 30 to August 25 with a strained left groin muscle.

San Francisco Giants (NL wild card):  None.

Wild Card Schedule

Tuesday, September 30           Athletics at Royals

Wednesday, October 1           Giants at Pirates

American League Division Series (best-of-five)

Thursday, October 2               AL Wild Card at Angels

Friday, October 3                    AL Wild Card at Angels

Sunday, October 5                  Angels at AL Wild Card

Monday, October 6*               Angels at AL Wild Card

Wednesday, October 8*         AL Wild Card at Angels

National League Division Series (best-of-five)

Friday, October 3                    NL Wild Card at Nationals

Saturday, October 4                NL Wild Card at Nationals

Monday, October 6                 Nationals at NL Wild Card

Tuesday, October 7*               Nationals at NL Wild Card

Thursday, October 9*             NL Wild Card at Nationals

American League Division Series (best-of-seven)

Friday, October 10                  AL lower seed at AL higher seed

Saturday, October 11              AL lower seed at AL higher seed

Monday, October 13               AL higher seed at AL lower seed

Tuesday, October 14               AL higher seed at AL lower seed

Wednesday, October 15*       AL higher seed at AL lower seed

Friday, October 17*                AL lower seed at AL higher seed

Saturday, October 18*            AL lower seed at AL higher seed

National League Division Series (best-of-seven)

Saturday, October 11              NL lower seed at NL higher seed

Sunday, October 12                NL lower seed at NL higher seed

Tuesday, October 14               NL higher seed at NL lower seed

Wednesday, October 15         NL higher seed at NL lower seed

Thursday, October 16*           NL higher seed at NL lower seed      

Saturday, October 18*            NL lower seed at NL higher seed

Sunday, October 19*              NL lower seed at NL higher seed

World Series (best-of-seven)

Tuesday, October 21               NL champion at AL champion

Wednesday, October 22         NL champion at AL champion

Friday, October 24                  AL champion at NL champion

Saturday, October 25              AL champion at NL champion

Sunday, October 26*              AL champion at NL champion

Tuesday, October 28*             NL champion at AL champion

Wednesday, October 29*       NL champion at AL champion

*if necessary