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

3. Andres Gimenez

It has been a rollercoaster of a year for Andres Gimenez at the plate. Cleveland's Platinum Glove-winning second baseman started off the year hot, completely bottomed out in June, and has since recovered for the most part. Gimenez's batting average and on-base percentage are relatively the same, being .252 and .304 in the first half and .244/.296 in the second, but there is one area in particular in need of improvement. Extra-base hits.

In the first half of the season, Gimenez collected 18 extra-base hits, with 13 doubles, five home runs, and one triple. Since then, only five have been registered, all doubles. Gimenez is not expected to be a middle-of-the-order slugger by any means, but having better production from this area would make a world of difference here.

No one is hoping for or even expecting Gimenez to go on some home run binge, but if he were able to knock a few over the wall while also collecting two baggers it would go a long way to lengthen the Guardians lineup. Being able to have someone else who is regularly capable of hitting a ball for more than a single base down in the order can be the difference between simply making the postseason and advancing.