MLB: Who are the game's best hitters with runners on base?

For most baseball teams, clutch hitting can mean the difference between playoff contention and waiting until next year. Timely hitting with runners on base is especially critical because it represents a team's ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities. Here's a look at some of the game's best players at helping their clubs score with runners on base.

If teams just need a hit with runners in scoring position, the top performers from the American and National Leagues are Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki and Colorado's Larry Walker, who bring impressive .455 and .407 batting averages to the plate, respectively. In addition, they have 40 and 35 hits apiece with runners on base.

But while they may be the wisest choices when teams just need hits, they lack the power numbers when compared to other players in the baseball. For example, Luis Gonzales has an .880 slugging percentage and has hammered 14 home runs with runners in scoring position. Meanwhile, Jim Thome has a .702 slugging percentage and has knocked 11 home runs under the same circumstances. For RBIs, Cliff Floyd leads the National League with 69, and Bret Boone leads the American League with 74.

In the more pressure-packed situation of having the bases loaded and needing a hit, different players emerge as top performers. Rafael Palmeiro, for instance, has a .667 batting average to head the American League, and the surprising Devon White has a whopping .714 batting average to head the National League. In fact, White ranks first in all of baseball with three grand slams on the year and a 2.286 slugging percentage, making him an excellent choice in power situations with the bags juiced.

However, the premiere players at getting runners across the plate with the bases loaded are Toronto's Brad Fullmer and Chicago's Sammy Sosa, who both have 23 RBIs under such circumstances. Ben Davis is a close second with 20, and four other players are tied for third with 19.

In general, hitting with runners on base remains an elusive skill for even the most talented hitters. Teams with players succeeding in this area hold a key advantage over the competition.