MLB Stars Who Can Save Their Seasons With a Strong September
- As the Major League Baseball regular season enters its final stretch with the calendar turning to September, several high-priced players who have significantly underperformed expectations face a crucial...
- Kyle Tucker has endured a difficult campaign during his first year with the Los Angeles Dodgers following a four-year, $240 million contract.
- Cal Raleigh is another prominent player looking to salvage a challenging year after setting historic marks during the 2025 season, when he hit 60 home runs, set records...
As the Major League Baseball regular season enters its final stretch with the calendar turning to September, several high-priced players who have significantly underperformed expectations face a crucial window for redemption. Front offices, fans, and teams fighting for postseason seeding are closely watching whether struggling stars can reverse months of negative momentum before October.
Kyle Tucker Seeks Rebound in Los Angeles Dodgers Chase for the Top Seed
Kyle Tucker has endured a difficult campaign during his first year with the Los Angeles Dodgers following a four-year, $240 million contract. Before signing that deal, Tucker accrued 25.4 bWAR with a .277 batting average, nearly 27 home runs per year, and a 144 OPS+ over five seasons. In Los Angeles, however, Tucker has struggled to a .229 batting average, a -0.2 bWAR, and just 11 home runs, while posting his lowest on-base percentage since 2019. At home, his numbers dip further to a .189/.287/.267 slash line with only two round-trippers. Despite those individual struggles, the Dodgers hold a 100% chance to reach the postseason according to FanGraphs data. With the team locked in a tight race for the best record in the National League, a productive September from Tucker could help push Los Angeles past the Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves for the top seed.
Cal Raleigh Eyes Seattle Mariners Stretch Run After Difficult Season
Cal Raleigh is another prominent player looking to salvage a challenging year after setting historic marks during the 2025 season, when he hit 60 home runs, set records for catchers and switch-hitters, and finished as the American League MVP runner-up with 7.2 bWAR. Playing under a six-year, $105 million contract signed prior to the 2025 campaign, Raleigh’s production has dropped sharply in 2026. The catcher has recorded a .165/.283/.339 slash line, 0.5 bWAR, and a 79 OPS+, totaling fewer hits this season (59) than home runs hit last year. Although Raleigh hit four home runs in four at-bats recently, he followed that outburst with an 0-for-11 slump. The Seattle Mariners sit four games out of first place in the American League West and four games out of the final wild card spot, making a September surge essential for any late-season push.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Aims to Quiet Critics in Toronto Blue Jays Wild Card Push
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. signed a 14-year, $500 million extension with the Toronto Blue Jays at the start of the 2025 season, rewarding the franchise with 4.6 bWAR and a strong postseason performance. The 2026 season has brought different results, with the first baseman slashing .262/.334/.353 with seven home runs, 46 RBIs, 0.7 bWAR, and an OPS+ sitting 10% below league average. Notably, Guerrero Jr. has yet to hit a home run at home in Toronto this season. The Blue Jays occupy last place in the American League East, trailing the Baltimore Orioles by half a game, but remain 2.5 games out of the final wild card spot. While September has historically been Guerrero Jr.’s toughest statistical month, a reversal of form could alter Toronto’s playoff trajectory.
