The Cleveland Guardians are at their best when the odds are against them.
They delivered all year long when things didn’t look good.
That’s why it’s not a surprise to see that they led MLB teams in wRC+ in high-leverage situations (137), as shown by Codify on X.
wRC+, High Leverage Situations (2025):
137 CLE 😮
122 SF
112 NYM
111 CHC
110 TOR
109 SEA
108 SD
106 ARI
105 DET LAD
104 MIL
102 WSH
101 STL PHI
96 LAA
92 ATL
90 BOS
89 KC
85 HOU
84 TB
83 NYY
82 BAL CIN MIA MIN
74 TEX
72 ATH
68 COL
61 CWS
57 PIT— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) September 30, 2025
Notably, that’s 28 points ahead of the Seattle Mariners and 33 points better than the Milwaukee Brewers, two of the best teams in baseball.
While Cleveland doesn’t have the same firepower as other teams, it possesses the mental strength and “it” factor to take care of business when it matters most.
That’s why, while the Guardians aren’t the most talented team in the game, they look tailor-made for the playoffs.
They’re a team that won its division after trailing by as many as 15.5 games at one point, which is the largest deficit any team has overcome in MLB history.
They trailed by as many as 11 games in September, then closed out the season on a high note by winning the AL Central.
Even after all they’ve been through, some observers still believe this team is a fluke and won’t be able to keep it up in the postseason.
Clearly, they haven’t been paying attention, as the Guardians have been doing this for months.
They don’t have anything to lose, and that is the type of team that is usually the most dangerous.
NEXT: 2 Guardians Players Given Notable Honor For September Performance
