Can Guardians Make a Run?

Around this time every year, fans of the 30 MLB teams have a general idea about which squads are practically assured of a playoff spot already, which squads are legitimate contenders for a division title or wild card, and which squads are already counting down the days to spring training next February. Realistically, the American League Central race is a two-team affair.

Northeast Ohio’s MLB team, the Cleveland Guardians, enter Saturday’s games facing the Kansas City Royals in the third game of the last series before the Midsummer Classic this Tuesday. Last year, the team formerly known as the Cleveland Indians won the division despite being 27th in all of baseball when it comes to payroll.

Guardians Look Like They Could Repeat

Fast-forward about nine and a half months after the improbable pennant victory and the Guards are right in the thick of the conversation. Cleveland comes into Saturday’s action in second place in the AL Central right at the .500 mark (44-44).

They’re currently one-half game back of the frontrunning Minnesota Twins (45-44). Earlier this season, as is sometimes the case with baseball clubs trying to repeat as division champion, the Guardians sputtered out of the gate.

On May 19, Cleveland headed into a three-game weekend set against the New York Mets. At that point, the team sported a 20-23 record and naysayers were already writing the season off as a lost cause, particularly after New York beat Cleveland in extra innings that night.

Guards Turn it Around

Since then, the Guardians’ fortunes have changed for the better. Following a rainout on May 20, Cleveland has posted a 24-21 record and have assured themselves of at least a split of its current series with the Royals.

Let's sing about the unsung heroes.

Our bullpen has been, arguably, the best in all of baseball this year.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/3Dh237MsCS

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) July 6, 2023

How has the team righted the ship and gotten themselves back in the thick of the division race?  They’ve got some great players that have helped them out.

Can Josh Naylor Keep Up His Current Pace?

Offensively speaking, the Guardians have been led by first baseman Josh Naylor.  As of Friday night, he’s batting .301 with 11 home runs and 62 RBI.

At present, Naylor is projected to finish the season with a .277 average with 28 home runs and 88 RBI, according to CBS Sports. He can be the spark the Guardians need to come away with the win on a given night.

For a textbook example, you don’t even need to go back that far. Last Thursday, Naylor and third baseman Jose Ramirez hit back-to-back home runs against Kansas City. Speaking of Ramirez, he provides his own thunder and lightning

Watch for Jose Ramirez to Turn it Up

Ramirez, known to the fans as “J-Ram”, enters Saturday’s action having posted a .290 batting average with 14 home runs and 53 RBI. Currently, he’s overperforming when compared to his projections.

The ROS-composite projection only saw Ramirez finish the year with 13 round-trips. Luckily, he’s getting noticed by the fans all over the big leagues.

Last week, the first baseman, along with closer Emmanuel Clase,  was selected to the American League All-Stars as a reserve. Clase has since dropped out of Tuesday’s game due to paternity leave.

Will Ramirez step up to the plate in Seattle? Tune in and find out.

Guardians Are One (Smart) Trade Away from Division Title

With the All-Star break looming, it’s at this time of year that trade talks heat up. The MLB trade deadline is set for Aug. 1 at 6 pm ET.

No contending team is immune to conjecture as the trade winds begin to blow. The Guardians have been the subject of such rumors of late.

If the Guardians are to repeat as division champions with a young roster, they’ve got to play the trade deadline like a Les Paul guitar.

Will Shane Bieber Leave Cleveland Soon?

One name that’s generated a fair amount of conversation is Shane Bieber’s. The right-handed starting pitcher struggled on the 4th of July, failing to get out of the fifth inning, having given up four runs on six hits.

Simply put, there are too many trade possibilities to mention individually surrounding Bieber, but there’s one possibility that’s particularly intriguing. The Los Angeles Dodgers could be in play here.

In a recent column, Bleacher Report’s Zachary Rymer outlined the potential for Bieber to be traded to Chavez Ravine along with shortstop Amed Rosario. This is not a trade that makes too much sense.

Bieber is a Cy Young Award winner. Whenever the Guardians organization trades away a pitcher of that ilk, there’s a chance that it ends badly for them.

Flashback: Back in 2019, the then-Indians traded away starter Corey Kluber to the Texas Rangers. Cleveland’s move came two years after he won the Cy Young while pitching at The Corner of Carnegie and Ontario for the second time. In 2021, he pitched a no-hitter for the New York Yankees. 

Final Thoughts

A contender can’t afford to make a mistake at the trade deadline. If a team botches the trade deadline, its window closes for at least several years.

Cleveland’s got the right pieces in place to win the AL Central again, but can they bring it home? There’s plenty of ball left to be played, so stay tuned.