Fansided

25 most important stars for MLB playoffs

By Joshua Sadlock

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 21: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees follows through on a sixth inning home run against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on September 21, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 21: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees follows through on a sixth inning home run against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on September 21, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 20: Carlos Correa #1 of the Houston Astros hits a home run in the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park on September 20, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 20: Carlos Correa #1 of the Houston Astros hits a home run in the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park on September 20, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

7. Carlos Correa

All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa has endured three straight injury-plagued seasons for the Astros. The 25-year-old appeared in 109 games in 2017, 110 last year and has been shut down for the rest of the regular season sitting on 75 games for 2019. When healthy, he has been an elite player. Correa has hit .278/.357/.502 over the past three years with a per-162 average of 34 doubles, 34 home runs and 115 RBI.

Correa has gotten the green light to play in the ALDS from his doctors, so the back issues that ended his regular season are somewhat in the rearview for now. He appeared in only three games in September and missed the final two weeks of the season. Correa played in only 25 games in the second half, hitting .244/.355/.611 with 10 home runs and 24 RBI. He also walked 15 times. Those are awesome power numbers, and the Astros will be vitally unstoppable if they get that type of production from their shortstop in October.

Postseason heroics are already part of Correa’s legacy and he is only making his fourth trip to the playoffs. He has appeared in 32 postseason games, hitting .278/.336/.524 with seven doubles, eight home runs and 24 RBI. Were it not for George Springer’s mind-boggling five home runs in the 2017 World Series, Correa is likely MVP of the Astros win over the Dodgers.

The Astros led the AL in batting average, OBP, slugging and OPS with less than a half season from one of their best players. Any additional offense he gives them in the playoffs is a bonus. Correa will have to get up to speed quickly in the ALDS, but if he is even close to his typical self, the Astros are an even more overwhelming favorite to win the title.

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