The Cubs have won four of the six postseason games they've played despite very little production from their three and five hitters.
After an 0-for-3 performance in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series against the Dodgers Saturday night, Anthony Rizzo is now just 1-for-23 in the playoffs (.043 AVG) with a .197 OPS.
He drew a four-pitch walk against Clayton Kershaw, but other than that, all of Rizzo's production has come in one game - two walks and a single in the Game 4 comeback victory against the San Francico Giants in the NLDS. He was a key to that ninth inning rally, drawing a walk after Kris Bryant led off the inning with a single.
Addison Russell hasn't fared any better - only 1-for-22 with a hit-by-pitch - while hitting in the five-hole.
But while Russell had a fine regular season (21 homers, 95 RBI), he's still only 22 and in just his second big-league campaign.
Rizzo, meanwhile, posted a .928 OPS during the regular season and is probably Bryant's main competition the NL MVP voting.
Joe Maddon sees good things coming for Rizzo.
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"It's always going to be described as pressing, whatever, but I think he's fouling his pitch off. Classic," Maddon said before Sunday's Game 2. "The pitch that he likes is going straight back. It's not contacted going forward.
"And then beyond that, he might be chasing a little bit outside of the zone. Those are like the classic indicators. I can't tell you there's anything wrong with his mechanics. I just think everybody goes through these particular moments."
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Rizzo nearly homered off Kershaw Sunday night, yanking a pitch just a few feet to the side of the right-field foul pole.
"Yeah, today I felt a lot better," he said. "Just missed pitches that felt like I was there. One pitch, one at-bat kinda locks you in and that's how I felt tonight. Just didn't come up with results."
Rizzo insists he's not pressing or putting more pressure on himself to perform, taking solace in how he's endured through slumps in the past.
"I can't. I don't think it's fair to everyone if I try to get six, seven hits at one time," he said. "I've done that before in my career and it doesn't work. You just go about the process and keep grinding and keep battling."
Regardless of what he's done at the plate, Rizzo has been a steadying presence in the field, making a diving stop early in Game 1 against the Dodgers and then ending the contest by snaring a line drive and doubling up a runner off second base.
At the end of the day, the Cubs got through the NLDS with the Giants completely shutting down Rizzo and head into L.A. with a 1-1 tie in the NLCS.
At some point, Rizzo will get going and the Cubs are operating under that mindset.
"The fact that we're able to fight through him not being normal at the plate right now is good belief for us, but I really anticipate you're going to see that in the near future," Maddon said. "Nothing different. Again, it's just one of those moments."