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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WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 12:Washington Nationals relief pitcher Sean Doolittle (63) gave up a home run in the ninth inning to Cincinnati Reds right fielder Phillip Ervin (6) but held on as the Nats beat the Reds 7-6 at Nationals Park August 12, 2019 in Washington, DC.(Photo by Katherine Frey/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 12:Washington Nationals relief pitcher Sean Doolittle (63) gave up a home run in the ninth inning to Cincinnati Reds right fielder Phillip Ervin (6) but held on as the Nats beat the Reds 7-6 at Nationals Park August 12, 2019 in Washington, DC.(Photo by Katherine Frey/The Washington Post via Getty Images) /

7. Sean Doolittle

The struggles of the Washington Nationals bullpen have been well documented, but the one constant the team was supposed to be able to count on was All-Star closer Sean Doolittle handling the ninth inning with little worry when given a lead to protect.

The setup crew attempting to pass the baton to Doolittle was always expected to be a question mark, but the two-time All-Star was never supposed to contribute to the late-game headaches for manager Dave Martinez. That’s exactly how the season began for Doolittle, but he has been struggling for nearly three months.

Doolittle started the year by recording a 0.95 ERA for his first 19 innings. He struck out 22, allowing only a single home run and held opponents to a .211/.263/.296 line through May 15. In the 32 games and 31.2 innings that followed that impressive start, the 32-year-old has a 5.40 ERA and has given up six home runs with a .301/.345/.522 line against. He has blown four saves, taken three losses and has allowed multiple runs in five appearances.

While Doolittle has struggled, the Nats bullpen has also continued to pitch poorly. The front office was not able to acquire any serious reinforcements at the trade deadline and the bullpen has a 5.95 ERA in the second half — just slightly better than their 6.08 mark in the first half. The Nats are 16-13 so far since the break, but their bullpen has taken 10 of those losses.

There isn’t much the Nationals can do at this point to improve their bullpen, but they have to hope their All-Star closer can get back on track. It’s likely he is pitching through a minor injury. If Doolittle does land on the injured list in August or September, that could spell the end of the Nationals playoff hopes.

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