These 4 Guardians hitters need to get back on track for the stretch run

The Cleveland Guardians may have been able to reclaim the top spot in the American League Central by avoiding a four-game sweep at the hands of the Kansas City Royals. Still, not everything is well on the corner of Carnegie and Ontario. Some performances at the plate have been very concerning and are in immediate need of improvement if they will retain their spot atop the division and go on an extended postseason run. The following four players must get things right before it is too late.

1. David Fry

Of the players appearing on this list, David Fry was the one with the least amount of expectations coming into the season. A hot start and a subsequent All-Star appearance changed that, as the 28-year-old versatile utility man proved he was capable of being a complementary bat in the lineup.

Fry's slash line has plummeted in the second half, going from .279/.388/,466 to .220/.297/.400. Additionally, Fry only has seven extra-base hits (five home runs, one double, and one triple) in 33 games compared to 22 in 73 (14 doubles and eight home runs).

Now, nobody should expect him to be an everyday force in the lineup, as his performance at the plate has mostly indicated that is not in his hitting profile, but being a productive player in a supporting role would be more than fine. If Fry can find some way to reach the middle ground between his first and second-half performance while also being able to increase his extra-base hit frequency, the outlook for the rest of the season and postseason would look a lot better.