Biggest All-Star Busts in the MLB So Far This Season

Cover Photo: Getty Images

All-Star status is a rite of passage for some Major League Baseball players. They prove that they've separated themselves from the pack and get to take part in a star-studded weekend, which includes the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game.

But with a higher status comes higher expectations, and it's not always easy to live up to the hype. With that in mind, here are four MLB All-Stars that could be labeled as busts so far this season.

4. Kris Bryant, 3B, Chicago Cubs

Kris Bryant posted back-to-back All-Star seasons to start his career and was even voted NL MVP in 2016. Injuries hampered him last season, but he was supposed to return to his MVP form for 2019. Instead, he has posted a .219 batting average with just one homer and six RBI in 16 games this season.

3. Joey Votto, 1B, Cincinnati Reds

Joey Votto is a six-time All-Star, including each of the last two seasons, but it seems like the 35-year-old's age is finally catching up to him. The first baseman popped out to an infielder for the first time in his career on Wednesday, after seeing 27,918 pitches over 6,829 plate appearances in his career. Votto's numbers are all down with 18 strikeouts to only seven walks and a .323 OBP through 18 games, a number that would be the lowest over a full season in his 13-year career.

2. Chris Sale, RHP, Boston Red Sox

Chris Sale has been one of the most reliable starting pitchers in baseball for years now. The seven-time All-Star has never posted an ERA above 3.41 over a full season, but is going through the worst start to a campaign in his career. The righty is winless through his four starts with an 8.50 ERA, a 1.56 WHIP and a .311 batting average against.

1. Mookie Betts, OF, Boston Red Sox

Mookie Betts has struggled to follow up the AL MVP Award he won in 2018. After leading the Majors in batting average last season, the three-time All-Star is hitting just .200 with a .305 OBP through 19 games this year. If he can't turn it around, the 6-13 Boston Red Sox could be labeled as just as big of a bust as their All-Star centerfielder has been this season.

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Taylor Smith is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Taylor also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username jtsmittyyy. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.