Thansk largely to Johan Santana, the Twins have won 11 of 13 games in September. Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Everybody needs a hoss in September. Every team worth its pipe dreams has to have someone to ride to the postseason.

Sometimes these guys are the ones you expect. Sometimes, not so much. Either way, without them their teams would have no chance of playing this postseason. None.

Here are the players keeping hopes alive for contenders.

Yankees

Faced with a late-season challenge from the Red Sox, manager Joe Torre stuck shortstop Derek Jeter into the leadoff spot, and the captain has righted the ship (the Yanks are 10-4 this month). Jeter is hitting .393 in September, with three homers and 14 RBIs and a 1.115 OPS. He's also scored 19 runs, as many as he had in all of August.

Also: Orlando Hernandez has been steady while the rest of the rotation spins, winning all three of his September starts, giving up only 12 hits in 21 innings and checking in with a 1.71 ERA.

Twins

Everybody raved about Johan Santana last year. Now you see why. He's thrown 21 innings over three September starts, he's struck out 27, he's given up only two walks and he hasn't allowed a run. He's 11-0 in his past 12 starts and has gone at least six innings in each of his past 21 starts. Giddy up. Ride 'em, Twins.

Also: Shortstop Cristian Guzman is hitting (a .313 average) and even displaying some power (five of his 15 hits this month are for extra bases). His 10 runs this month lead the team. If he keeps this up, the Twins will be very dangerous come October.

A's

The super-balanced A's do a lot right. They get on base more often, play defense better and pitch better than most. They have superstar types -- Eric Chavez, for one -- but everybody takes their turn with this team. Center fielder Mark Kotsay (.288, an .843 OPS this month) is a perfect example. He plays some of the best defense in the game, doesn't strike out and never goes into any terrible slumps.

Also: He's had his problems this year (five blown saves), but closer Octavio Dotel still has nasty stuff. He has yet to allow a run in six September games.

Red Sox

He looks like somebody who needs a dollar (he doesn't), and he has the arm of a 65-year-old, but center fielder Johnny Damon is hitting .371 this month, he's scored eight runs and has a 1.050 OPS. And this despite missing four games with a finger injury. The leadoff man makes the Red Sox run and sets things up for guys like Manny Ramirez (five homers, a .984 OPS this month).

Also: Remember Pedro Martinez? On a team full of stars, Pedro still sticks out. He's 2-1 in three September starts (he pitched good enough to win Tuesday), with 25 strikeouts in 19 innings. He has a 0.94 ERA, too.

Angels

You expect this (.373, three homers, 17 RBIs in September) out of Garrett Anderson. But when utility man Chone Figgins can give you a .310 month with an OPS of .862, things are going well. The Angels' lineup is made out of a lot of moving parts. They're all starting to move in the right direction.

Also: If nothing else, Bartolo Colon is a steadying influence on a shaky rotation. In September, he's 2-1 in three starts with a 2.89 ERA. He's still giving up too many hits, but he's a horse, and that helps.

Braves

Chipper Jones is making a September push to get 100 RBIs for the ninth year in a row -- he's knocked in 85 -- and with a strong finish, he just might get there with the month he's having (.318, three homers, 12 RBIs, 1.122 OPS). Center fielder Andruw Jones is heating up at the right time, too, (.300, six homers, 13 RBIs, 1.079 OPS).

Also: The Braves' rotation is hurting, especially with Mike Hampton and his bad knee. So Paul Byrd (2-1, 1.59 ERA in three starts) could become a new go-to guy in October.

Cardinals

Well, what do you know? Larry Walker can hit outside of Coors Field. While everyone pays attention to MVP candidate Albert Pujols, the gimpy Scott Rolen and the sizzling Jim Edmonds, Walker almost gets lost with his .379 average, four homers and 1.300 OPS this month.

Also: When do we decide that Chris Carpenter is for real? He's made three starts this month, going 2-0 with a 2.84 ERA. He's also struck out 16 in his 19 innings and walked just two. Sounds pretty convincing to me.

Dodgers

The Dodgers' pitching is spotty, and the offense still needs some work (though Steve Finley's six homers this month helps). Never fear: Adrian Beltre, the would-be MVP who has carried this team all season, is still holding up (.327 this month, with three homers, nine RBIs, an OPS over .900 and awesome defense).

Also: Shawn Green has been up and down all year. Luckily for the Dodgers, he's up (.326, three homers) so far in September.

Giants

Barry Bonds has been carrying the Giants all season long -- and he still is, hitting .423 this month with three homers and 11 runs scored -- but another reason the Giants lead the NL wild-card race is Edgardo Alfonzo. The third baseman is hitting .409 with three homers and nine RBIs this month, usually in the spot behind Bonds in the lineup.

Also: More than anything, the Giants need starting pitching. Brett Tomko hasn't lost in his last eight starts and is 1-0 in two starts this month (13 innings, eight hits, 0.69 ERA). Jason Schmidt could use the help.

Cubs

The Cubs are stumbling (6-4, half-game out of the wild-card lead). They can't run. Can't catch. Can't hit when it counts. Their pitching is ouchy. Their lineup is right-handed heavy. At least they have Moises Alou, who rocks. He's hitting .382, has smacked two homers and has driven in six runs this month.

Also: Leave it to an oldie but goodie -- not to mention a guy who has been through many September runs -- to lead the shaky Cubs' pitching staff down the stretch. Greg Maddux is 1-1 in two starts with a 1.23 ERA.

Astros

Too quiet for most of the season, Lance Berkman is breaking out in September (.370, three homers, 11 RBIs, a 1.120 OPS), leading a team that is hitting a robust .297 this month. Jeff Bagwell and Carlos Beltran also are raking, both with OPS marks on the high side of 1.000.

Also: Roger Clemens is ending this season like he started it; as strong as he's ever been. In September, he's made three starts and won them all. He's struck out 16 in 20 2/3 innings.

Marlins

The defending world champions are back to their winning formula: getting the table-setters on base and knocking them in. Juan Pierre (.444) and Luis Castillo (.406) have been scorching through September, allowing for plenty of RBI opportunities for Miguel Cabrera, who has knocked in 11.

Also: The trio of Carl Pavano, Josh Beckett and A.J. Burnett is 5-0 with 39 strikeouts in 44 1/3 innings this month.

John Donovan is a senior writer for SI.com.