The Cleveland Guardians have a 68-67 record in 2026. They are second in the AL Central, but have a two-game lead in the fight for the third and final Wild Card spot.
They have alternated good and bad stretches, but they are a competitive team with upside, and that makes them contenders. How far can they go? Will they make the postseason when everything is said and done? Well, it depends on a few factors and circumstances.
A few things need to go right for the Guardians to make it to the playoffs, with two of them standing out above the rest.
The Bullpen Must Be More Consistent
The Guardians’ rotation is solid, with Parker Messick, Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee, Foster Griffin and Joey Cantillo. On the other hand, there are questions about the bullpen.
Deadline acquisition Craig Yoho hasn’t been effective since coming over from the Milwaukee Brewers, with a 7.15 ERA. The team needs him to be much better than that.
Even though Matt Festa has turned things around and Cade Smith remains an elite closer, the Guardians seem to have two of their best relievers in the minors: Franco Aleman and Daniel Espino.
Cleveland’s bullpen is solid, ranked seventh in ERA with a 3.74 mark. However, it can be inconsistent at times, and for the team to hit its ceiling, the unit needs to be lights-out.
2 Key Hitters Need To Rebound
The Guardians’ offense has been improving in recent games, which is why they have won seven of their past eight. Two key hitters, Jose Ramirez and Travis Bazzana, appear to be turning a corner at the plate, and that would be huge for their chances. With Steven Kwan now playing to the top of his abilities, and plenty of young players contributing, the Guardians’ lineup needs Ramirez and Bazzana to find consistency and leave their struggles behind.
Both the veteran superstar and the All-Star rookie boast a middling 100 wRC+ ahead of Saturday’s game against the Kansas City Royals. Cleveland needs them to be way above the league average to raise their ceiling and compete with the very best in October.
Both infielders have been passable offensively this year, but the Guardians need much more from them.
NEXT: Guardians Earn Notable Report Card With One Month To Go
