The Guardians didn’t give Angel Martinez an everyday job, and that’s the kind of question that keeps coming up as the season moves along.
One reader wondered why Martinez wasn’t in the lineup every day, arguing Cleveland likely would have won Wednesday’s game in Boston if he hadn’t been on the bench. The answer, at least from the way Stephen Vogt has managed this roster, is pretty simple: Vogt likes to use everybody.
In this case, he may not have liked the matchup between Boston starter Sonny Gray and Martinez. Or he may have preferred to get Steven Kwan back in left field after Martinez struggled Tuesday with the Green Monster in play.
There’s also a sense that Martinez is still building toward something bigger. One reader suggested he’s working his way toward full-time status in 2027, and the point wasn’t dismissed. He hasn’t done anything to slow that progress.
The conversation around the Guardians has also turned toward the postseason picture and the celebration that came with it. One question asked whether the champagne celebration in Boston on Thursday night came too early, before the club had actually won the AL Central.
The response was clear: a team should celebrate every step that gets it closer to the World Series. You never know when another chance will come.
And if the Guardians don’t end up winning the division, then when exactly would they celebrate simply reaching the postseason? The idea is to enjoy each step because those moments are hard to come by.
A few other roster and injury notes surfaced as well. Jose Ramirez’s surgically repaired left hand could use rest, but the bigger point is that he’s going to need a full offseason to recover.
And looking ahead to next year, Kyle Manzardo still appears to have a place in the picture. The lefty-righty pairing of Manzardo and Jo Adell was described as intriguing, while Nathaniel Lowe, brought in to replace Manzardo at the trade deadline, is set to become a free agent after the year.
Even with offseason surprises always lurking, Manzardo’s move to Triple-A Columbus after Lowe arrived and his strong production there were cited as a positive sign for a return to Cleveland in 2027.
As for the final stretch of the regular season, the Guardians’ rotation could still shift depending on where things stand. If Cleveland has already clinched the AL Central before Sunday, Parker Messick will not start the final game.
If the Guardians still need to win Sunday to clinch the division and secure a postseason bye, Messick will take the ball. That’s the only adjustment being considered.
There was also some bullpen and late-game lineup talk. One reader asked why Daniel Schneemann didn’t pinch-run for Nathaniel Lowe in the ninth inning Friday night, especially since Schneemann could have handled first base.
The answer: in a tie game Cleveland absolutely needed to win, taking Lowe’s bat or glove out of the lineup wasn’t the move. Schneemann’s versatility is valued, but he has only played one game at first base in his career, and that came in the minors.
Even the oddities of MLB standings came up, with one reader asking about the postseason designations x, y and z. The reply?
Don’t ask me. I have enough problem keeping track of a, b and c.
And if there’s one thing that seems to bother fans every year, it’s how the projections treat Cleveland. One reader pointed out that the preseason predictions once again had the Guardians finishing behind the Tigers, Royals and Twins, and asked when the prognosticators would finally give them some respect.
In Other News...
Guardians Survived A Wild Royals Fight And Kept Control Of The Central
The Guardians walked into Kauffman Stadium and found plenty of resistance from the Royals, but they still left with a 12-9 win and their grip on first place in the AL Central intact. It was the kind of game that had swings throughout, with Cleveland answering Kansas Citys punches and getting important production from Angel Martinez, David Fry and Jose Ramirez to stay in front of the division race.
Gavin Williams did not have a smooth night on the mound, which only added to the tension in a game that kept changing hands. Cleveland will have to keep sorting through the pitching side as the series moves on, with Michael Wacha and Tanner Bibee scheduled to face off in the next game and another chance for the Guardians to protect that narrow lead. [Read more 🡒]
Chase DeLauter Gives Guardians Fans One More Reason To Believe
Chase DeLauter has given Cleveland plenty to like in his first full season in the majors, turning his 2026 campaign into one of the brighter developments in the Guardians lineup. After debuting in the 2025 postseason, he has settled in as a central piece of the offense, leading the club in batting average and OPS while staying on the field for 131 games. For a team that has leaned on steady production all year, his rise has become one of the clearest reasons for optimism.
Now the Guardians are heading toward a familiar late-season question: can they hold onto first place in the AL Central and line up an ALDS berth? If they do, DeLauter will be back in the October spotlight for his second playoff run, but this time with a full season behind him and a much larger role in what comes next. For Cleveland, that combination is exactly the kind of young-core momentum that can make a postseason path feel a little more real. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Bullpen Depth Just Put One Reliever In A Tough Spot
Connor Brogdon cleared waivers and accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Columbus after being designated for assignment by the Guardians, a move that quietly underscores how much bullpen depth has changed around Cleveland in recent weeks. Brogdon had spent the first six weeks of the season in the major league relief mix, but injuries pushed most of his year back into the minors, leaving him in a difficult spot as the roster has gotten healthier and more crowded.
Brogdon will stay around the organization for Cleveland's stay ready camp now that the minor league season is over, which gives him a chance to keep working while his immediate role remains unsettled. He is also expected to become a free agent this offseason, so the next stretch may be less about finding a lane with the Guardians and more about proving he still belongs in the picture somewhere. [Read more 🡒]