Cease me should you’ve heard this earlier than: the Cleveland Guardians had been in fourth place within the AL Central with simply over a month left within the season, and now, with per week to play, they’ll management their very own future. No, that’s no déjà vu; Cleveland as soon as once more rounded into kind in September and is enjoying for a postseason bye this week.
Cleveland was a flawed baseball crew once they got here from 15.5 video games again to catch the Tigers, however the 2026 model of the crew has much more holes than the predecessor.
Let’s begin with the largest change, Jose Ramirez.
Since Ramirez returned from his damaged hamate bone in June, his OPS has fallen by almost 60 factors, and he has been one of many worst hitters in baseball. Luckily, Jose has discovered some constructive moments, as he had his two hardest-hit baseballs this previous weekend since breaking his hand. He’s not the one participant struggling within the Guardians lineup.
First base has been a large black gap for the Guards all yr, and since buying and selling for Nathaniel Lowe on the deadline, it’s in some way solely gotten worse. Lowe posted an .820 OPS in Cincinnati however now has a .671 OPS in Cleveland. Nevertheless, there have been some positives for a Cleveland crew that’s gone 12-7 in September.
Steven Kwan went from the worst hitter in baseball via June to a man with the 4th-highest OBP within the American League. It’s a miraculous flip of luck, however his scorching streak paired with the youth motion from Chase DeLauter and Travis Bazzana has allowed this lineup to struggle for an additional playoff push.
Shockingly, once you actually discuss in regards to the Cleveland Guardians, they’re all the time going to have some pitching to lean on. The bullpen isn’t almost as elite because it was in the previous few seasons, however Cade Smith has firmly established himself as a top-two reliever in baseball.
Shut your eyes, Guardians followers. During the last 110 years, Cade Smith has the third-lowest ERA amongst gamers who’ve pitched at the very least 200 video games, solely behind Emmanuel Clase and Mariano Rivera.
The Guardians’ modus operandi in the previous few years was to show the sport over to the bullpen as shortly as potential, however they’ve relied on the rotation way over earlier than. Parker Messick and Gavin Williams are essentially the most underrated one-two punch in baseball. Messick is prone to end third within the AL Cy Younger race, whereas Williams leads the AL in strikeouts.
I don’t suppose Cleveland is proficient sufficient to go on a run, however persist with me for a second. If Cleveland earns the bye, they’ll seemingly play one of many Astros, White Sox, or Rangers within the ALDS. In the event that they superior, they’d get one of many Yankees, Pink Sox, or Rays. The Guards are +800 to win the AL; perhaps not a nasty time to take a future on them?
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