The Cleveland Guardians haven’t exactly lit up the standings with an 82-76 record, but they’ve still checked off most of what they needed to in the 2026 regular season. With a handful of games left, they’re sitting one game ahead of the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central race and could clinch a playoff spot as soon as Thursday with a win or a loss by either the Houston Astros or the Texas Rangers.
That’s the backdrop for the grade ESPN’s David Schoenfield handed them: a B.
Schoenfield’s evaluation leaned heavily on the same thing that has carried Cleveland all year - the pitching. “They always reach their level.
That’s mostly because the pitching is usually good and sometimes great. They’re the only team with four starters with at least 30 starts (no other team has more than two), and then they added Foster Griffin at the trade deadline.
Rookies Chase DeLauter and Travis Bazzana rank Nos. 1-2 on the team in OPS+. Throw in team MVP Parker Messick - he’s 12-9 with a 2.55 ERA - and this might be the best rookie class in franchise history,” Schoenfield wrote.
Even with Jose Ramirez not putting up his usual standout numbers, the Guardians have found ways to keep winning. Gavin Williams is among the league leaders in strikeouts, and Messick has emerged as a young ace with that 2.55 ERA.
The offense has also done more than enough after the trade deadline. DeLauter has posted a 132 wRC+, while Bazzana sits at 111 wRC+. Brayan Rocchio has taken a step forward at the plate to go with his steady defense, and Steven Kwan shook off a slow start to get back to form while leading off with a 113 wRC+.
There’s more production behind them, too. Angel Martinez has supplied 17 home runs, 11 stolen bases, and a 110 wRC+. Behind the plate, Patrick Bailey and Austin Hedges have been defensive standouts and have also given the Guardians more than expected offensively.
And then there’s the bullpen, which has once again been a weapon. Cade Smith has already piled up 40 saves, while Erik Sabrowski, Hunter Gaddis, Daniel Espino, Matt Festa, and Tim Herrin have all been effective.
Put it all together, and Cleveland looks like a team built to do damage if it gets into October. The record may look ordinary, but the way the Guardians are playing right now suggests they’re hitting their stride at exactly the right moment.
In Other News...
Josh Naylor Just Gave Cleveland A Playoff Boost They Desperately Needed
Josh Naylor delivered the kind of late spark Cleveland has been waiting for, lining a walk-off single against the Astros to lift the Guardians and trim their Magic Number to clinch a postseason spot to one. It was a timely answer in a tense September setting, the sort of hit that can shift the mood around a club and give a fan base a real reason to start looking ahead.
The knock also carried ripple effects beyond Cleveland, leaving the Astros and Rangers tied atop the American League West while keeping Seattles postseason hopes alive for at least another day. For Naylor, it was a welcome moment in a season that has not gone the way he hoped, but on this night the result mattered far more than the backdrop. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Just Made A Farm System Cut During The Playoff Push
As the Guardians keep pressing through the playoff push, the organization is also trimming a little fat from the farm system. Cleveland has released three minor leaguers in right-handed pitchers Carter Spivey and Wes Burton, along with infielder Kyle Dernedde, a reminder that roster churn does not stop just because the big-league club is in the thick of a race.
Spivey missed the 2026 season because of a shoulder injury, even though he had shown some promise before that with a 3.52 ERA across 161 innings. Burton and Dernedde each ran into a mix of injuries and poor performance, and all three are getting close to the age where the clock starts ticking on a prospect path. For a player development system built to keep supplying help to the majors, these are the kinds of moves that clear space for what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Take Unusual Mound Gamble With AL Central Stakes Rising
With four games left in the regular season, the Guardians are turning to an unusual pitching plan for the series finale against the Red Sox. Daniel Espino is set to start, with Joey Cantillo lined up for a bulk relief role, a setup that underscores how carefully Cleveland is trying to manage every inning as the division race tightens.
The approach speaks to the stakes as much as the matchup. Cleveland holds a one-game lead over the White Sox in the AL Central, and the margin for error is razor thin with the division title and a potential first-round bye still hanging in the balance. Every decision now carries extra weight, and this one shows the Guardians are willing to get creative if it helps them protect their position. [Read more 🡒]