Fansided

10 MLB stars who need to step up and carry their team to the playoffs

By Joshua Sadlock

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 31: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on against the San Francisco Giants at Citizens Bank Park on July 31, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 31: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on against the San Francisco Giants at Citizens Bank Park on July 31, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – JULY 31: Lorenzo Cain #6 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates after hitting a lead-off home run against the Oakland Athletics in the top of the first inning at Ring Central Coliseum on July 31, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – JULY 31: Lorenzo Cain #6 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates after hitting a lead-off home run against the Oakland Athletics in the top of the first inning at Ring Central Coliseum on July 31, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

9. Lorenzo Cain

The Milwaukee Brewers are going to have to bludgeon their way into the playoffs if they hope to overcome the severe deficiencies in their starting rotation and bullpen. The Brew Crew is just barely hanging onto the back end of the playoff chase. Milwaukee has been a sub-.500 team since early June as their already shaky pitching staff continues to be decimated by injuries.

Despite Christian Yelich’s best efforts, the Brewers lineup has been just middle of the road in the National League this year as they continue to struggle to do anything as a unit but hit home runs. That’s a difficult way to make a living for a contender, and the Brewers are prone to long droughts. It’s an all-or-nothing approach for most of the lineup, outside of Yelich and Ryan Braun.

Center fielder Lorenzo Cain was supposed to remedy some of the Brewers free-swinging woes, and the 33-year-old did just that last season. In his first season with Milwaukee, he made his second All-Star team and hit .308/.395/.417 with 10 home runs and 30 stolen bases in 141 games.

Cain’s production is down dramatically this season. He is hitting .251/.318/.362 with eight home runs and 39 RBI in 110 games. With his power numbers falling off a cliff, Cain is also failing to draw walks at his typical rate because opposing pitchers feel free to challenge him in the zone. Cain remains a difficult strikeout, but the Brewers have to hope his prime isn’t totally over in just the second year of a five-year, $80-million contract.

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