They are all former All-Stars, integral to their teams’ World Series hopes and come winter, a pair of them will be among the most coveted free agents available.
Yet as Major League Baseball’s regular season winds down and the Sept. 30 start of the playoffs comes into view, a quintet of stars might not be ready for prime time.
Getting through three or four playoff rounds isn’t just about getting hot at the right time or a fortuitous bounce or two going your way. Health is also a huge factor, and a handful of October favorites are already cursing their bad timing.
Here’s a look at five stars on the mend whose status remains unclear – and whose absence would be devastating to a team’s World Series hopes:
Bo Bichette, Blue Jays
He hasn’t played since Sept. 6 and will miss the final week after colliding with Yankees catcher Austin Wells on a play at the plate. Bichette was subsequently diagnosed with a sprain in the posterior cruciate ligament of his left knee, and he has yet to begin baseball activities.
The timing was brutal: Bichette and the Blue Jays were in the midst of a renaissance season after player and team suffered through a lost 2024. And Bichette was on a tear over his final 44 games, slashing .379/.430/.582 with 25 extra-base hits and 41 RBIs.
Toronto rallied up to win six in a row shortly after Bichette went down, but since suffered a four-game losing streak that trimmed their AL East lead to two games over the New York Yankees. The Blue Jays hold the tiebreaker and should hold on to both the division title and the AL top seed.
But sans Bichette, the club goes from a team with admirable depth to players playing out of their own. Andrés Giménez, of course, is better suited to playing second base than shortstop, while Ernie Clement and Isiah Kiner-Falefa are more effective as plug-in pieces rather than everyday necessities.
Like most teams, pitching is likelier to decide the Blue Jays’ fate, especially with recent call-up Trey Yesavage taking on a surprisingly big role of late. Yet Bichette’s ability to move the baseball with authority – he’s striking out at an elite and career-best 14.5% rate this year – would be missed.
Kyle Tucker, Chicago Cubs
He’s expected to be the biggest-ticket free agent this winter, but for the second consecutive season, Tucker has been vexed by a leg injury.
Last year, it was an extended absence due to a shin malady. This time, it’s a concerning calf injury that’s kept Tucker, 28, off the field since Sept. 2 and prompted him to seek additional opinions and physical therapy in Tampa this past week.
Tucker had 17 homers and an .884 OPS at the All-Star break, but just five homers and a .777 OPS since, as he suffered a hairline fracture in his right hand in June, a diagnosis that wasn’t publicly revealed until Aug. 20.
The Cubs were 38-22 when Tucker suffered the hand injury in June and just 50-46 since. That span coincides with one-time MVP candidate Pete Crow-Armstrong also cooling off, though a diminished Tucker may have had a downward effect on various Cubs hitters.
Tucker is expected back at Wrigley Field Sept. 23, though he’s not expected to play immediately and his status for the remainder of the regular season is unknown. Either way, getting Tucker back to MVP-style production before the Sept. 30 start of the playoffs seems remote.
Brandon Woodruff, Milwaukee Brewers
This one hurts: Woodruff underwent significant shoulder surgery in October 2023 and only returned to a major league mound July 6. And he’s been terrific, posting a 3.20 ERA as the Brewers went 10-2 in his starts, setting the stage for a nice winter payday.
But Woodruff’s now on the IL with a moderate lat strain, and the longer he’s out, the longer it will take to build back up into pitching shape.
The Brewers’ first-round bye will help, but it’s also hard to imagine Woodruff ready to roll by the Oct. 4 start of the National League Division Series. That will put a greater onus on veteran lefty Jose Quintana and perhaps rookie Jacob Misiorowski, two arms the Brewers would have preferred take on a more complementary playoff role.
Milwaukee has suffered first-round exits in each of its past five playoff appearances. Should top starters Freddy Peralta and Quinn Priester help them survive the NLDS, Woodruff might be ready to roll for the NL Championship Series. But they’d be much likelier to advance if he was available from the jump.
Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers
Like Tucker, Smith had a hand bruise that eventually was diagnosed as a hairline fracture. Either way, manager Dave Roberts said the bruise is something Smith will have to manage for the remainder of the season and playoffs.
Smith has played just one game since Sept. 3 and is no sure thing to return in this final week. The catching chores have fallen to veteran backup Ben Rortvedt and prospect Dalton Rushing, a significant offensive drop-off. Smith’s .404 on-base percentage would lead the NL if he had enough plate appearances to qualify, and has a .901 OPS, 152 adjusted.
Fortunately for the Dodgers, veteran Mookie Betts has picked up his offensive pace significantly in September (six homers, .997 OPS), lessening the loss of Smith’s bat. Yet a healthy Smith can slide his right-handed bat between Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy, giving the top of the Dodgers lineup a menacing look.
When he’ll be back and how much damage he can do upon return are both open questions.
Bryan Woo, Seattle Mariners
The Mariners flew into Houston and threw themselves a three-day bash at the expense of the Astros, a sweep that virtually locked up the AL West title. There was just one thing harshing the vibe: Woo suffering right pectoral inflammation and exiting after five innings of his Sept. 19 start.
As far as late-season injuries go, it could be worse: There’s no structural damage and it does not involve the arm or shoulder. Woo’s regular season is likely over, and wow, what a resume: A 2.94 ERA, 15 wins, 198 strikeouts in 186 2/3 innings and a 5.5 strikeout/walk ratio.
Given he may need time to build back up, the Mariners holding onto the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye remains paramount.