Picking MVPs from each division series

Unlike in the LCS and World Series, Major League Baseball doesn't hand out MVP awards following the best-of-five division series. But that doesn't mean we can't highlight the top performers from the last round. Let's take a look back and pick the MVPs from each of the four LDS.

Blue Jays vs. Yankees: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Ernie Clement

This could have easily gone to Trey Yesavage or Daulton Varsho, or even Aaron Judge, whose otherworldly performance came in a losing cause. But we're splitting it between the Blue Jays' unlikely duo of Vladdy and Ernie, who each recorded a team-high nine hits during Toronto's ALDS win. Guerrero continued his lifelong tormenting of the Yankees by slashing .529/.550/1.059 with three homers, including the Jays' first-ever playoff grand slam. He also struck out only once in 19 plate appearances. Meanwhile, Clement hit .643 - the second-highest average ever in a single division series - and drove in five runs while coming up with several clutch hits and playing excellent defense.

Mariners vs. Tigers: Logan Gilbert

There's no way the Mariners advance to the ALCS without Gilbert's pitching. First, he earned the win in Game 3 by shutting down the Tigers with a brilliant six-inning start at Comerica Park to give Seattle the series lead. Then in the epic Game 5, Gilbert made his first professional relief appearance in the 10th inning on two days' rest and held Detroit scoreless over two-plus frames, helping set up the Mariners' memorable walk-off win in the 15th. Overall, Gilbert finished the ALDS with a team-best 1.13 ERA along with a 1.64 FIP, 1.00 WHIP, and nine strikeouts to just one walk across eight innings of work.

Brewers vs. Cubs: Andrew Vaughn

The Brewers hardly expected this when they acquired Vaughn from the White Sox for Aaron Civale in mid-June. Vaughn's remarkable renaissance continued in the division series, hitting .286/.412/.714 with four RBIs, three walks, and 10 total bases. Two of his four hits in the series were home runs, none bigger than his series-winning solo shot in the fourth inning of Game 5. Vaughn, who had a 14.6 strikeout rate during the regular season, didn't strike out once in 17 NLDS plate appearances.

Dodgers vs. Phillies: Roki Sasaki

This was Sasaki's coming-out party. After missing nearly four months with a shoulder injury, the Japanese phenom returned to the Dodgers as a lights-out reliever who not only stabilized a shaky bullpen but might have singlehandedly turned this LDS in the Dodgers' favor. Sasaki saved two of L.A.'s three wins, allowed only one hit, and struck out three in 4 1/3 innings during the series. He kept the deciding Game 4 tied late with three perfect innings of relief, tying a fearsome Phillies lineup in knots with his devastating splitter. The Dodgers don't advance to the NLCS without Sasaki.