The Cleveland Guardians clawed their way back to .500 on Wednesday after winning the last two games of their series against the Tampa Bay Rays, keeping their faint playoff hopes alive after putting an end to a brutal six-game skid that saw them get shut out 24-0 over the final three games of that stretch.
At 66-66, there is still reason for optimism, though local media legend Bruce Drennan recently said the team is facing a tall task.
During a recent episode of Bonus Time, Drennan said the Guardians have a tall task ahead of them if they still intend on attaining a Wild Card spot in the American League, adding that the five-game deficit feels like more than it truly is.
The #Guardians have a TALL task in front of them if they want to make a Wildcard spot. Can they do it? #GuardsBall
"So that 5 games is really more than that."
Presented by #mentornissan https://t.co/ouNQklEmQD pic.twitter.com/l2MXtLEggg
— Bruce Drennan Show (@Bruce_Drennan) August 28, 2025
The 12 teams currently holding onto playoff berths all look to be in great positions to make it to the finish line and get to October, with the Guardians one of a handful of teams hovering around .500 and potentially waiting to be put out of their misery.
Cleveland is currently five games back of the Seattle Mariners for the final Wild Card spot in the AL and has both the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals ahead of them.
The next week will likely determine Cleveland’s fate as the Guardians open a three-game series with the Mariners on Friday before heading east to take on the Boston Red Sox in another three-game set.
Boston has the top Wild Card spot at the moment, and if the Guardians are unable to make up ground over these next six games, the season is all but over.
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