The Cleveland Guardians entered the final stretch of their 2025 season facing a familiar problem that has plagued them all year.
Their offense remains stuck in neutral despite isolated bright spots from key contributors.
The struggles at the plate have left Cleveland unable to capitalize on strong pitching performances in what has become a frustrating pattern.
Analyst Paul Hoynes recently highlighted just how severe these struggles have become, particularly in terms of consistent contact.
“The Guardians also lead Major League Baseball with 18 games where they’ve collected three hits or fewer. Thursday’s game against Tampa Bay added to that total, with the team managing just three hits total — two of which happened to leave the ballpark in the ninth inning,” Hoynes said.
With a team batting average sitting at .223, the worst in Major League Baseball, the Guardians have managed just 538 runs through 138 games.
That production ranks 27th across all teams and has created lengthy scoring droughts that recall some of the franchise’s darkest offensive periods.
José Ramírez continues to perform at an MVP level while Kyle Manzardo has provided some hope as an emerging talent.
Beyond those contributors, the lineup lacks the depth needed to sustain rallies or put together productive innings on a regular basis.
The timing has been particularly troublesome for Cleveland. Months like June and August saw batting averages barely climb above .200, creating extended stretches where the team struggled to score runs despite quality starts from their rotation.
These offensive issues have put Cleveland’s playoff hopes in jeopardy within a competitive American League Central race.
The club’s elite pitching staff has kept them in most games, but the inability to provide consistent run support has limited their ceiling and threatened to waste another strong season from their rotation.
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