The Cleveland Guardians had a wild 2025 season.
They looked to be out of the race in late June, and not many teams that win just nine games in one month end up making the playoffs.
That’s why it was so disappointing to see them flame out in the AL Wild Card round against the Detroit Tigers.
That’s the postseason format, and just the way it is, but it also goes to show that even the Guardians have a chance to go the distance.
All it takes is to get hot at the right time, as insider Terry Pluto explained.
“It is discouraging to see that because you try to hope that getting in these postseason games where it’s best of five or best-of-3, best-of-7, it isn’t like you have to beat them in best-of-19. You know, you could just have a really good week and knock somebody off. But the stats are the stats. But you know, you have the [New York] Yankees, you have the [Los Angeles] Dodgers, you have the [Houston] Astros, and the Astros spend a fair amount too. But the other two winningest teams in the last five years are Milwaukee and Cleveland,” Pluto said.
The Guardians proved the importance of playing their best baseball down the stretch.
They got hot and made the most of the Tigers’ unprecedented fall to win the AL Central and secure a playoff berth.
Of course, the Tigers got back at them when it counted, but that makes Pluto’s point.
Baseball is a streaky sport, and even the worst team can get on a roll at any given time.
That’s not to say that the Guardians shouldn’t spend or try to improve their roster this offseason.
But sometimes, it’s not just about having the most expensive team.
You also need to be a little lucky and peak when it really counts.
NEXT: Guardians Shortstop Keeps Impressing With The Bat In Winter Ball
