The Cleveland Guardians may not have the flashiest catching setup in the postseason field, but they might have one of the most dependable ones. That matters in October, where every pitch is magnified and every little edge behind the plate can tilt a series.
What makes Cleveland’s situation stand out is how far it has come. The Guardians opened the year leaning heavily on Bo Naylor until the Patrick Bailey trade, and that early arrangement was a far cry from where they are now. Since then, Bailey and longtime backup Austin Hedges have taken over the job and given Cleveland exactly what it needed: steady defense, real production, and a trusted presence for the pitching staff.
Bailey has already shown he can handle the job at the highest level. He won Gold Gloves with the Giants in 2024 and 2025, and he has brought that same value to Cleveland, where he owns a 90 wRC+ and five Defensive Runs Saved.
But his value isn’t just in the numbers. The source of his impact runs deeper than the box score, with pitchers clearly comfortable working with him and with Bailey managing the staff well.
Hedges has added a different kind of value. He spent years trying to move past the label of being a weak hitter, and this season he has done more than that.
In 82 games, he has posted a career-high 100 wRC+, which means he’s now a league-average bat. That alone would be useful.
Combine it with his defense, and it becomes a real asset for Cleveland.
Even with a career-worst -4 DRS, Hedges still carries the kind of reputation that comes from being one of the game’s best at handling a staff. In Cleveland and around baseball, that part of his game is not in question. Put him together with Bailey, and the Guardians have a catching tandem that brings near league-average offense, elite defense, and Hedges’ leadership and gamesmanship.
That combination is exactly why the position is not a problem for Cleveland the way it is for some other postseason teams. The Guardians made the right call when they trusted Bailey, paired him with Hedges, and handed them the job of guiding the pitching staff.
In Other News...
CC Sabathias World Series Pick Gave Brewers Fans A Strange Laugh
CC Sabathias latest turn as a studio analyst for NBC Sports came with a prediction that was bound to get attention, especially in Milwaukee. The former pitcher picked the New York Yankees to win the 2027 World Series over the Brewers, saying he was trying to send his two former teams to the Fall Classic.
For Cleveland fans, the oddly specific forecast carried a different kind of sting. Sabathia has long spoken fondly of his formative years with the franchise, but the Guardians were nowhere in the prediction even though they are still in the postseason, a small omission that made an otherwise routine analyst segment feel a little more pointed. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Don't Need This Nolan Jones Reunion Right Now
Nolan Jones circuitous 2024 season ended with him hitting minor league free agency after being traded from Cleveland to Chicago and then on to Seattle, a reminder of how quickly a once-promising path can bend in baseball. The Guardians had already committed to him for 2026 with a guaranteed $2 million salary, but the organization now has enough outfield options that there is less urgency to revisit the reunion.
Jones also never made it to the majors with the Mariners, which only adds to the sense that Cleveland should be careful about chasing familiarity for familiaritys sake. With the club trying to sort out a crowded outfield picture, this looks more like a spot where the Guardians can afford to stay patient and let the market do the work. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Offense Brings A Different ALDS Threat Than White Sox Fans Expect
The Guardians go into the ALDS with a different kind of lineup pressure than the White Sox, and that is part of what makes this matchup tricky for Chicago. While the White Sox can lean on several power hitters, Cleveland does not have a 20-home run bat in the mix. Instead, the Guardians have spent the season trying to find ways to keep games close, make contact, and force opponents into tense late innings.
Clevelands offense has also picked up some help since the trade deadline, with Nathaniel Lowe and Jo Adell joining a group that has gotten steadier contributions from Stephen Kwan and Travis Bazzana. The result is a lineup that may not scare anyone with raw power, but can still create problems if the game stays tight. For the White Sox, the danger is not just the home run ball. It is the possibility of a grinding series where the Guardians are still around when the pressure starts to build. [Read more 🡒]