The Cleveland Guardians have gone from sliding out of control to suddenly looking alive again, and that swing has put them right back in the playoff conversation.
A week ago, Cleveland sat at 61-66 after a rough stretch that knocked it out of the AL Central lead and handed control of the division to the Chicago White Sox. Since then, the Guardians have ripped off seven straight wins and climbed to 68-66, padding the streak against the San Francisco Giants, the Colorado Rockies, and the Los Angeles Angels.
That run has raised the obvious question: is this the start of another serious October push, or just a hot streak built on soft competition?
Analyst Justin Cooper isn’t buying into a deep run just yet.
“I think they can get in the playoffs just because of how weak this schedule is, but other than that, am I confident they’re gonna do anything after that point? No.
I just don’t like this lineup to stay consistent. They’re hot right now against bad teams.
You’re gonna have to prove it to me,” Cooper said.
And that’s really the issue Cleveland still has to answer. The Guardians have handled the Rockies, Giants, and Angels, but the real test comes when the schedule turns tougher.
Beating up on weaker clubs is one thing. Holding up against teams like the Rays and the Yankees is another.
Before Thursday’s games, Cleveland was 2.5 games behind the White Sox in the AL Central and two games ahead in the third and final Wild Card spot. The Rangers are the closest team behind them, but the race doesn’t stop there. The Orioles, Blue Jays, Mariners, and others are still in the mix for that last postseason berth.
There’s also still a path to the division title if the White Sox stumble and Cleveland keeps stacking wins. That would give the Guardians a chance at their third straight crown.
For now, the encouraging sign is that the whole operation is working together. The rotation, bullpen, and offense all seem to be clicking at the same time.
If that holds when better opponents start showing up, Cleveland could make some noise. But that’s the part nobody can assume yet.
In Other News...
Guardians No Longer Need The Kind Of Waiver Gamble Fans Remember
The waiver-wire dance that used to send fan bases into a panic is still around, but it does not carry quite the same sting it once did. With the Cincinnati Reds putting Eugenio Surez and TJ Friedl on waivers, the move serves as a reminder of how MLB clubs can still try to create flexibility late in the season, even if the most likely outcome is that both players stay put after the process runs its course.
For a team like the Guardians, who have seen enough roster churn over the years to know how these August moves can work, the important part is the motive behind it. This is less about a sudden on-field shakeup than a financial play by Cincinnati, which is trying to trim salary while navigating the back half of the schedule. In the old days, a waiver claim could bring real drama for a division rival. Now, the bigger question is whether the Reds are simply opening another roster door without intending to walk through it. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Face A Tough Choice With Their Hottest Power Prospect
Ralphy Velazquez has spent August forcing the issue at Triple-A Columbus, putting together a power surge that has turned him into one of the most interesting names in the Guardians system. The 20-year-old, ranked as Clevelands No. 2 prospect, has shown the kind of thump that naturally gets attention when September arrives and rosters open up for clubs looking to add a jolt.
Still, the Guardians are weighing more than just the bat. Age, roster limitations and the trickier question of where Velazquez fits defensively all complicate the decision, even with a major-league opportunity within reach. For a team that has to balance present help against long-term development, the temptation to reward his hot streak is obvious, but so is the risk of moving too fast. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Deadline Gamble Is Changing This Lineup Fast
Jo Adell has wasted little time making his presence felt in Cleveland, giving the Guardians a much-needed jolt after arriving in the trade-deadline shuffle from the Angels. With 20 home runs and 80 RBIs on the season, Adell has carried his power bat into his new dugout and quickly become the kind of right-handed threat the Guardians were looking to add as they try to keep the lineup from feeling too one-dimensional.
The early returns have been strong enough to draw notice beyond the clubhouse, with national insider Jon Heyman pointing to Adell as one of the deadlines most successful pickups. Stephen Vogt and Steven Kwan have both praised the impact he has made, and the bigger question now is how Cleveland uses that production as the lineup keeps adjusting around him. [Read more 🡒]