Going back to the offseason, there has been a major concern about the Cleveland Guardians’ lineup. After doing almost nothing to address it, they were going to rely on improvement from within to increase their offensive production.
Approaching the midway point of the 2026 season, that concern remains, and it may be getting worse. Over the past month, the Guardians have struggled to score runs more than ever, and it has created a much closer race in the AL Central than it probably should be.
Cleveland has managed to survive the lack of offense, thanks to a formidable pitching staff and their uncanny success in close games. The Guardians are in first place in the division with a 41-37 record heading into their first meeting of the season with the second-place Chicago White Sox.
Heading into that crucial three-game series, insider Zack Meisel of The Athletic revealed a concerning trend with the Guardians’ offense, as it struggles to score runs.
“Now, aside from a dazzling rookie at the top of the order in Travis Bazzana, it’s lifeless. In their last 29 games, the Guardians have scored one run or fewer seven times, two runs or fewer 10 times, three runs or fewer 18 times, four runs or fewer 24 times, and five runs or fewer 26 times,” Meisel wrote.
In those 29 games, the Guardians are 14-15, keeping their playoff chances afloat. However, that is a dangerous way to play for long, and they are just 7-10 in June with eight losses in their past 12 contests.
The situation becomes more dire with Cleveland missing three of its top hitters. Jose Ramirez, Chase DeLauter and Angel Martinez are each on the injured list, making the upcoming period leading to the Aug. 3 trade deadline especially significant for the franchise.
Bazzana has done what he can to boost the offense, with a current five-game hitting streak that included a career-best game against the Houston Astros. The Guardians have scored 61 runs in their 17 games this month, with Bazzana accounting for more than one-third of them on his own, posting nine runs scored and 13 RBIs. It has put him in the mix for an AL All-Star selection and made him a strong candidate for Rookie of the Year.
Cleveland is batting .214 as a team this month, with a slugging percentage of just .365, which, if it continues, would make holding on to a playoff spot very difficult.
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