It may be a small sample size, but slumps in October are often magnified. In the 2015 postseason, there are a handful of struggling MLB stars who must play better before their teams face an abrupt exit from the festivities.
Obviously, an unattractive stat line will always catch the eye of fans and pundits alike. But the players on this list have more in common than a bad start to the postseason. Each player is crucial to his team’s success, which makes his struggles an even bigger issue.
Josh Hamilton and Prince Fielder have yet to contribute to a Texas Rangers team in the midst of a back-and-forth series with the Toronto Blue Jays. Without production from the middle of the lineup, the Rangers may not last past Game 5 of the American League Division Series.
Speaking of Toronto, David Price has been surprisingly bad in two postseason appearances. If the Blue Jays are able to advance to the American League Championship Series, they won’t reach the World Series without a return to form from their ace.
In the other AL series, Jose Altuve hasn’t been the same spark plug for the Houston Astros as he’s been for the majority of his career. Without his speed on the bases, Houston’s reliance on the long ball could catch up to it.
Let us know what you think in the comments section below. What other players need to step it up in the postseason? What are some problems the players on this list are facing so far in October?
Baseball is a fickle game, but postseason failures can stick with a player for his entire career. Here are a few names trying to shed any negative connotations.