It took some time for the Cleveland Guardians to get on a roll this season, and now that they are, they show no signs of slowing down. Even with two losses in the past three games, including Monday to the Washington Nationals, the Guardians have won 11 of their past 14, including a seven-game winning streak earlier this month.
It has given the Guardians a 32-24 record that is the third-best in the American League. Cleveland holds a 3.5-game lead over the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central, which is tied for the second-biggest division lead in the majors.
That is why the Guardians have entered the top tier of teams in Bleacher Report’s latest power rankings, moving all the way up to No. 4 from No. 9.
“The Guardians are 16-7 overall in May, including 11-2 in their last 13 games, and they are getting just enough offense to support one of baseball’s best pitching staffs. They rank sixth in the majors with a 3.46 ERA from the starting staff, and the five pitchers that opened the year in the rotation have made all 55 starts so far. That durability has helped put them in the driver’s seat in the AL Central race,” Joel Reuter wrote.
Cleveland is the second-highest ranked AL team, behind the Tampa Bay Rays at No. 2, and notably ahead of the New York Yankees at No. 6. The Atlanta Braves are No. 1, with the two-time world champion Los Angeles Dodgers at No. 3.
Among the Guardians’ division rivals, the third-place Minnesota Twins are at No. 13, which is the next-closest AL team, ahead of the White Sox at No. 17, and the Kansas City Royals at No. 24. The Tigers, who held a 15.5-game lead over the Guardians at one point last season before Cleveland won the division, are last in the rankings at No. 30.
After hovering around .500 for the first 40 games, the Guardians’ hot streak coincides with some changes made to their lineup that better complement that strong pitching staff, which is led by Parker Messick and Gavin Williams. Top prospect Travis Bazzana made his MLB debut on April 28, and he is now in the leadoff spot after Steven Kwan lost his longtime role due to a season-long slump.
Jose Ramirez has been moved to No. 2 in the order, while rookie Chase DeLauter and young veterans Angel Martinez and Brayan Rocchio are having breakout seasons. The Guardians are providing more run support to their pitchers, averaging 4.6 per game in May after averaging 4.0 in April.
Cleveland may not make it all the way to the top of these power rankings, but the Guardians are well-positioned to hopefully remain at these lofty heights for the rest of the season.
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