The Cleveland Guardians are still pretty much alive in the playoff race.
They’re 2.5 games behind in the American League, and just a game above .500.
However, after an up-and-down week, Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report doesn’t seem to love their chances:
“Flailing,” Miller wrote. “The Guards did finally put a few runs on the board this past Tuesday, exploding for seven against the Red Sox after a 16-game stretch in which they scored 40 total runs (2.5 per game) and were shut out four times. But they still lost that game to drop back below .500 and just about out of the conversation altogether.”
The Guardians can still close out the season on a high note, but their margin for error is slim.
That’s why finding some consistency on offense will be crucial to their success.
This team has failed to stay hot at the plate, and that has been the root of all evil for Stephen Vogt’s troops.
They still have to face some of their direct rivals for a postseason berth, which means the door is still technically open for them.
Catching the Detroit Tigers at the top of the division seems almost impossible at the moment, even if they beat them in the six games they still have to play against them, but that doesn’t mean the playoffs are out of the question.
Steven Kwan has looked closer to his usual self at the plate lately, with Kyle Manzardo and Jose Ramirez also faring quite well there.
Everybody else will have to step up and prove that they’re also up to the task of weathering the storm and winning when it matters most.
That will be way easier said than done, given that this team isn’t necessarily known for its offensive prowess, but as long as there’s an opportunity, they will continue to push and compete.
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