Terry Pluto sees a Guardians team that is built to make a real run at the AL Central, and he doesn’t think they should settle for chasing a wild card spot if they can avoid it.
“I think they can win the Central Division. I almost say I think they should win the Central Division, because they’re better than the White Sox, and I don’t want to be messing with the wild card stuff,” Pluto said. “The front office did its part, and it shows.”
That front office help has come in the form of Jo Adell, Nathaniel Lowe and Foster Griffin, moves Pluto believes have given the club a boost in the lineup and on the mound at just the right time.
José Ramírez is also trending the right way after dealing with hand injury issues. Pluto pointed to one recent moment as proof Ramírez is fully back: a 106 mph line drive last week that hit teammate Travis Bazzana as he was running to second base.
And then there’s Chase DeLauter, who has turned into one of the season’s most impressive surprises. Heading into tonight’s game at Progressive Field against the Blue Jays, the rookie is batting .293 with an .819 OPS, putting him among a small group of American League hitters above .290. Pluto said the best part has been the consistency.
“He just hits, man,” Pluto said. “He has not had a slump.”
The pitching is giving Cleveland a chance, too. Pluto said the rotation has been strong all season and is healthy for the final stretch.
Tanner Bibee’s 3.88 ERA tells a much different story than his 5-14 record, especially when it comes to the lack of support he’s gotten behind him. Pluto even reached for a colorful comparison to explain just how bad that has been.
“I would never get into a car with Tanner Bibee at this point,” Pluto said. “Not that he’s a bad driver.
He’s a great driver. But Tanner Bibee is a guy, he would roll up to a light, it turns red.
He’s got two hands on the wheel, 10 and 2. He is not texting.
He’s not doing anything. He’s looking straight ahead, and some guy gets going and plows straight into his rear.”
Cleveland enters September at 69-68, sitting in the final AL wild-card spot. Toronto is 1 1/2 games back at 68-70, while Baltimore is half a game behind at 69-69. The Guardians are also three games behind Chicago in the division race heading into Tuesday night’s action.
The offense still hasn’t been explosive - Cleveland ranked 26th in MLB in runs scored heading into the week - but Pluto thinks the best version of this team is still in front of it. He believes the pitching depth can carry the club, and the Sept. 14-16 series against the White Sox at Progressive Field looms as a major swing point in the race.
In Other News...
Clase And Ortiz Face A Damaging New Twist In Cleveland Case
Federal prosecutors say the Cleveland Guardians pitchers at the center of the alleged pitch-rigging and betting case did more than simply face accusations tied to baseball integrity. In court filings, they allege Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz tried to mislead Major League Baseball investigators about their involvement, deepening a scandal that has already put the club in the middle of one of the sports uglier legal fights.
Both pitchers have pleaded not guilty to charges that include conspiracy, fraud, money laundering and sports bribery, and the case is now headed toward a November 2 trial. Prosecutors contend the pair ran afoul of MLBs Rule 21, which bars betting on baseball, while also attempting to hide payments and their roles during the leagues inquiry, adding another layer of risk for a franchise still waiting for this case to play out. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Bullpen Move Comes With One Roster Twist To Watch
The Guardians are set to get a little more flexibility as September roster expansion gives the club a chance to shuffle some pieces around. Right-hander Carlos Hernndez will be added to the major league roster to fill an open spot on the 40-man, while utility man Daniel Schneemann is also coming back up from Triple-A Columbus to give Cleveland some extra bench depth.
Hernndez has been in the organization on a minor league deal and recently returned from injury, which makes his promotion a notable step as the team evaluates its bullpen options down the stretch. Schneemanns recall gives the Guardians another versatile bat and glove to work with, and the move creates one roster wrinkle worth keeping an eye on as Cleveland sorts out how it wants to use its expanded September group. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Spark Debate With September Choice On Intriguing Young Bat
The Guardians' September roster move brought a little bit of everything, with the club adding Daniel Schneemann and Carlos Hernandez as the expanded roster opened the door for help down the stretch. But the most interesting omission was Ralphy Velazquez, a first baseman whose minor league performance has made him one of the more intriguing young bats in the organization. His name had been in the conversation for a look, especially with rosters growing and the season entering its final month.
Instead, Cleveland is taking a cautious path with Velazquez, and the reasoning appears tied to bigger-picture concerns about how a potential MLB lockout next season could affect his development. The choice has already drawn some second-guessing, mostly because Velazquez is at a stage where every opportunity matters and the immediate upside is hard to ignore. For now, the Guardians are betting on patience, even if the decision leaves plenty of room for debate about when the next chance will come. [Read more 🡒]