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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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) /

3. Bryce Harper

It’s safe to say that Bryce Harper’s first season with the Philadelphia Phillies has been a massive disappointment to this point, but he does have nearly two months to try and turn things around and lead his new team back to the playoffs for the first time since 2011. The Phillies have managed to just keep their heads above water in the Wild Card hunt this year despite several long stretches of losing ball. If Harper is able to get on one of his extended tears, it may be enough to lift them clear of the rest of the crowded National League field.

Through his first 117 games with the Phillies, Harper is hitting .250/.372/.472 with 22 home runs and 80 RBI. He leads the National League with 137 strikeouts and has worse numbers than last season, where he hit .249/.393/.496 with 34 home runs and 100 RBI. Harper continues to walk frequently, but has not made solid contact on a consistent basis.

Harper has had mini-stretches this year where he looked like a player worthy of signing a $300-million contract, but they have been few and far between and nowhere near his best hot streaks with the Nationals. His numbers have ticked up in the second half, but a .240/.379/.480 line is still well below expectations. Harper did have a nine-game stretch towards the end of July where he hit .306/.381/.556 with six doubles and nine RBI and is currently in the midst of a stretch where he has hit .286/.375/.607 with three home runs and seven RBI over his last 28 at-bats.

For the Phillies to have a fighting chance in the NL playoff race, they need Harper to stretch one of his hot streaks beyond a week. There might not be another player in baseball more capable of carrying a team single-handedly. This year has been a let-down for Phillies fans and Harper, but that will all be forgotten if he heats up down the stretch.

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