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

4. Josh Naylor

It has been a tale of two halves for Josh Naylor, and the first was significantly better than the second.

Through the Guardians' first 90 games, Naylor had 22 home runs, 16 doubles, and 70 RBI to go along with a .246/.325/.491 slash line. Naylor was a force in the lineup on a regular basis and was forcing opposing managers to make decisions about whether to pitch to him or around him. This performance has not carried over into the season's second half.

In the next 36 games, Naylor has seen pretty much all of the production that made opposing teams fear him vanish. Naylor's slash line dropped to .214/.304/.382, while he has only recorded six home runs, four doubles, and 24 runs driven in. It is hard to believe that this is the same player who was an elite performer at the plate in the first half of the season.

If Cleveland is going to return to playing at the high level that has seen them lay claim to not only the best record in the American League but the best record in the sport, Naylor getting right will have to be a crucial part of that process. Naylor is one of the bats in Cleveland's lineup who can change the game with one swing of the bat, and they are going to need that come October.