Only two MLB teams are in the single-digits when it comes to games lost this season: the Atlanta Braves, at 19-7, and the Cleveland Guardians, with a 19-9 record as of Monday afternoon.
The two squads met over the weekend in Atlanta, with the Braves taking two out of three, but the Guardians showed some of the traits that have them as one of the best teams in the league.
In fact, despite dropping the series against the Braves, the Guards are very high in MLB Network’s most recent power rankings.
One month of regular season baseball! ✅📊 pic.twitter.com/OYxbdM9r0W
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) April 29, 2024
Now that a month of baseball has been played, we have a pretty good idea of which organizations are built to compete in 2024, and which ones are already thinking about next year.
Despite a 76-86 season last year, the Guardians are now looking like legit competitors.
They are top of the AL Central with a 2.5-game cushion over the Kansas City Royals, so they have managed to build a sizable lead in the first month.
Only the Braves, the Baltimore Orioles, and the Los Angeles Dodgers are ahead of Cleveland in the power rankings.
Consider that the Guards are ranked ahead of elite forces such as the New York Yankees, the Philadelphia Phillies, the Chicago Cubs, and many more.
It’s remarkable how good Cleveland has looked with just two starts of Shane Bieber, with Triston McKenzie’s arm barking, without Gavin Williams, Trevor Stephan, and with Jose Ramirez still far from his best version.
When the struggling stars finally get going, and with the help of some talented minor leagues such as Kyle Manzardo or Johnathan Rodriguez down the road, the Guardians have the tools and resources to keep this up.
NEXT: Stephen Vogt Has A Strong Message For His Team After Tough Loss
