4. Lucas Duda
Heading into Game 4 against the Chicago Cubs, Duda was 3-for-24, scratching together a pathetic .125 average, striking out 13 times in those 24 at-bats.
Then came his heroics in the World Series clincher: he went 3-for-4 with 5 RBI, including a three-run homer in the top of the first inning that quieted a raucous crowd at Wrigley Field, a fan base that was otherwise lulled to sleep in an 8-3 Met victory, during which the Cubbies were never close.
[su_youtube_advanced url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnOF11ph8S0″]While this game effectively ended his slump and catapulted the Mets to the World Series, Duda will have sat for six days until the start of the World Series on Tuesday.
Given Michael Cuddyer’s career average against righties (.272) and great numbers at Kauffman Stadium, Cuddyer could play first in Kansas City while Duda serves as the designated hitter, which will allow the slumping slugger to focus solely on hitting, which could get him going and sustain the push he conveyed in Game 4 of the NLCS.
Whatever it takes for Duda to resuscitate his power—he blasted 27 homers in the regular season—a move to DH could be a move bold enough to maximize the Mets already formidable offense.
