Slumping MLB Postseason Stars Who Need to Step Up Before It's Too Late
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.
Josh Hamilton
1 of 4
Postseason Stats: 2-for-15, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 4 K
Josh Hamilton may be among the worst offensive players in the 2015 postseason, but he was also flirting with becoming one of the least effective hitters in playoff history before a hit Sunday.
Hamilton was hitless in 31 at-bats until a fourth inning base hit in Game 3 against the Toronto Blue Jays. As it stands, Hamilton's 0-for-31 stretch is tied for the second-longest hitless streak in postseason history.
It was unknown what to expect from Hamilton in October after a tumultuous season. He started the year on the Los Angeles Angels but made his way back to the Texas Rangers after suffering a relapse in his battle with substance abuse. He also battled various injuries, including a knee injury in late September.
All in all, Hamilton played in just 50 games this season, hitting a modest .253. He whiffed nearly 30 percent of the time and failed to make much of an impact in a lost season.
Despite a tough 2015, Hamilton finds himself in the middle of a tight ALDS. He hasn't contributed for the Rangers yet, but B/R's own Jacob Shafer believes that Hamilton could be just one big hit away from regaining his confidence.
That could be true, but Hamilton and the Rangers are running out of time. Texas has already blown a 2-0 lead to Toronto and could use a boost from the middle of the lineup.
Jose Altuve
2 of 4
Postseason Stats: 4-for-22, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1 SB, 3 K
Jose Altuve has been one of the best players in MLB over the last few seasons. He was rewarded for his allegiance to the Houston Astros with a playoff berth in 2015.
But after being a catalyst for the Astros offense this season, Altuve has struggled at the dish in October. The second baseman has just four hits in 22 at-bats and has offered little in the base-stealing department.
During the regular season, Altuve hit .313 despite the lack of a quality walk rate. His game is predicated on putting the ball in play and using his legs. That's great when Altuve is hitting the ball hard and finding holes, but he's not generating the same amount of positive contact so far in the postseason.
Something to keep an eye on moving forward is Altuve's willingness to bunt. The 25-year-old bunted just six times this season, three of which went for hits. It's not necessarily something in his toolbox, but beating out a bunt could give Altuve and the Astros the spark that they need.
David Price
3 of 4
Postseason Stats: 2 G, 10 IP, 11 H, 8 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
After entering Game 4 of the ALDS from the bullpen, David Price likely won't be used in Game 5 in any capacity. He may not have a say in Toronto's last stand, but the Blue Jays won't reach the World Series without a better Price in a potential ALCS.
Price took the ball in Game 1 and was responsible for five earned runs and a key loss. The southpaw allowed two homers and failed to maintain any momentum the Toronto offense was able to come up with.
Down 2-1 in the series, manager John Gibbons decided to use Price out of the bullpen in Game 4. The Blue Jays won and forced a decisive Game 5, but Price allowed six hits and three earned runs in just three innings of work.
There's plenty of debate regarding Gibbons' decision to use Price in a 7-1 game instead of as a starter in a potential Game 5, and rightfully so. However, the bigger issue is Price's sudden dip in form when the Blue Jays need him most.
It's hard to put a finger on the reason why Price has struggled in his first two postseason outings, but an 11-day hiatus from his final regular-season start is likely the main culprit. Starting pitchers are creatures of habit, which could explain why Price hasn't looked like his typical dominant self so far in October.
He's kept his team in games, but Price has to be better if Toronto is to reach the World Series. Toronto shouldn't have to rely on Marcus Stroman, Marco Estrada and R.A. Dickey when a pitcher like Price is on the roster.
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Prince Fielder
4 of 4
Postseason Stats: 2-for-16, 1 R, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3 K, 1 BB
Josh Hamilton's struggles were discussed in an earlier slide, but Prince Fielder hasn't pulled his weight for the Texas Rangers, either.
The slugger has just two hits in 16 at-bats this postseason. Fielder has failed to drive in any runs and hasn't used his powerful reputation to bait opposing pitchers into walks. In four postseason games, Fielder may as well not have been in the lineup at all.
Fielder's postseason struggles are particularly strange considering he rebounded from an injury-shortened season last year with a fantastic 2015 campaign. The 31-year-old slashed .305/.378/.463 with 23 homers and 98 RBI in 158 games.
Fielder hit multiple balls well against R.A. Dickey in Game 3. He may not have finished with the right result, but he believes that continued hard contact will eventually force the dam to break.
"There's no frustration," Fielder told Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News. "I just have to keep hitting balls hard. It'll happen."
Fielder is right, but he's still in the midst of an 84 at-bat RBI drought in the postseason. As the Rangers play for their playoff lives in Game 5, Fielder's play could ultimately be the deciding factor in the team's postseason aspirations.
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