Jose Ramirez is starting to look like Jose Ramirez again, and for the Guardians, the timing couldn’t be better.
After a season that’s been out of character by his standards, Cleveland’s star has put together a strong stretch over the last week. Ramirez has six hits in his last seven games, a run that included two doubles in the rubber match against the Chicago White Sox and a solo home run against the Athletics. That blast also brought him to 1,000 career RBI.
For much of 2026, though, the numbers have been well below the level Ramirez usually delivers. He has long been one of the most dependable stars in the American League, the kind of player who lands in the MVP conversation almost every year. This season has been different, and the hamstring injury he suffered in the middle of June has been a major part of that story.
Ramirez missed a little more than a month, and even after returning, he still hasn’t fully looked like himself at the plate. That’s not unusual for a player working back from that kind of injury, especially when power takes time to return. Still, it has been a surprise to see him struggle as much as he has.
Ramirez said the recovery remains ongoing, but he’s had better days lately.
"Working on it everyday," said Ramirez through his interpreter Auggie Rivero.
"I have to keep working on the training room every day because this is the type of injury, one day you feel good, the next one doesn't feels so well... The last couple days I feel better, but we know this type of injury can just vary every day."
Manager Stephen Vogt said after Friday’s win that Ramirez still hasn’t felt like the same player since coming back, but his value has shown up in other ways. Vogt pointed to the way Ramirez handles himself in the clubhouse and the example he sets for younger players.
“As he was coming back, and we had to give him off days. He was not happy about it,” Vogt said.
“He wants to play every day. He wants to give us everything that he has on any given day, and we know there are days when he is not feeling well, and he still goes out and gives 100 percent of what he has that day. It’s just such a great example for young guys to see that just because you’re not feeling 100 percent doesn’t mean you can’t go out and contribute to help the team win."
Cleveland’s offense has had its peaks and valleys this season, but if Ramirez keeps trending in this direction, the Guardians could be getting their most dangerous version of him at exactly the right moment for a playoff push.
In Other News...
Guardians Suddenly Have A George Valera Decision To Make
George Valeras season has turned into a study in patience for the Guardians. The outfielder opened 2026 on the injured list with a calf injury, then was optioned to Triple-A after a slow start in the majors, leaving him to rebuild his case the old-fashioned way. Since late July, he has done exactly that, putting together a strong stretch at the plate in the minors and keeping his name in the conversation even as the big-league roster moved on without him.
The recent surge has pushed a real decision onto Clevelands front office and player development group. Some observers are already talking about a possible return to the major league roster, and the question is not just when Valera might get another look, but how the Guardians handle the 40-man roster if they want to make room. For a player who has answered with production after a rocky start, the next move now feels like it could say as much about the organizations timeline as it does about Valeras future. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Got The Response They Needed In A Tight Division Race
In a tight division race, the Guardians needed a clean response at Progressive Field, and they got one in a 5-3 win over the Athletics. Jose Ramirez and Travis Bazzana delivered the big swings, with Ramirez also reaching his 1,000th career RBI, while Joey Cantillo gave Cleveland exactly the kind of stabilizing effort it needed by working six scoreless innings in relief.
The result nudged Cleveland to 79-75 and kept the pressure on in a stretch where every game feels bigger than the last. It was the kind of night that showed how the Guardians can still win different ways, with veteran punch, a timely contribution from a younger bat and a bullpen bridge that held firm when the game could have slipped. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Bullpen Depth Tested Again As Colin Holderman Hits Another Snag
Colin Holdermans return from the injured list has run into another detour, with the right-hander pulled from his latest rehab appearance because of wrist discomfort. The Guardians are still trying to sort out what comes next for the pitcher, who has been sidelined since Sept. 4 with wrist inflammation, and his status only adds to a bullpen picture that has already been asked to absorb plenty of uncertainty.
Holderman had been pitching well before the injury, but his season has not been as steady since midseason, when the wrist issue may have started to show up in his performance. For Cleveland, the concern is not just about one rehab outing going sideways, but about how much longer they may have to wait before getting a clearer read on whether he can help down the stretch. [Read more 🡒]