MLB Postseason: Which player would each team go to in final at-bat?
By Kyle Cardoza
Chicago Cubs – Kris Bryant
Manager Joe Maddon would have the most difficult decision of all.
Kris Bryant is a former MVP that bettered his numbers this year. Anthony Rizzo is an All-Star that led the team in home runs and boasted more walks than strikeouts this year.
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It wouldn’t be easy, but Bryant would likely be the guy to put up against the opponent’s best pitcher. While he’s had a rough postseason thus far, Bryant led the team in on-base percentage at .409 and also compiled a suitable .295 average.
The right-handed hitter is prone to strikeouts at times. He whiffed 10 times against the Nationals’ pitchers. But he’s still a feared hitter that can change the tide of a game in one at-bat.
Maddon has a slew of players with experience in big-game situations, such as Ben Zobrist. He also has Javier Baez, whose intensity could give him the edge in any at-bat when the game is on the line.
Even Willson Contreras could be in the conversation because he’s a young, talented player who has hit homers off some of the best in the game.
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But only one guy could be sent to the dish to save the team’s season. For Chicago, it would be in the hands of Bryant.