Sometimes even the best in the game need a breather—and for Corey Seager, that time is now. The two-time World Series MVP and Texas Rangers shortstop is sitting out Friday's series opener against the Houston Astros, getting some extra rest after the team's recent day off. It's a move that comes as Seager battles through the toughest slump of his big league career.

Taking his place at shortstop and batting second is Ezequiel Duran, stepping into a spot Seager has held as the No. 3 hitter for most of the season. For a player of Seager's caliber—someone who signed a $325 million, 10-year deal just five seasons ago—this extended break is more about resetting than recovering.

The numbers tell a story of struggle. Seager is hitless in his last seven games, part of a career-worst 0-for-27 slide that includes 11 strikeouts. His .179 batting average ranks 163rd out of 171 qualified batters, a far cry from the .285 career hitter fans have come to expect over 1,173 games. While he's started 42 of the Rangers' 43 games this season, Seager insists he feels fine physically. If he doesn't come off the bench against the Astros, it will snap a streak of 24 consecutive games played since his only day off on April 16.

First-year Rangers manager Skip Schumaker had hinted that a day off for Seager would align with the team's off day, giving the star shortstop a chance to reset mentally and mechanically. It's a strategy that's worked before: Last season, Seager was hitting .194 after 10 games—his latest sub-.200 mark at the time—before going 14-for-30 (.467) over his next eight games.

For now, Seager's 28 hits, 22 walks, and seven home runs this season show flashes of his All-Star form, but the 50 strikeouts in 182 plate appearances (27.5%) are a red flag. This is the latest point in any of his 12 seasons that Seager has been below .200, and he's never finished a game under that mark in eight of those years. With the Rangers in a tight divisional race, getting their star shortstop back on track could be the spark they need.