The Cleveland Guardians are currently going through some struggles. They have lost 14 of their last 18 games and are four games behind the Chicago White Sox for the top spot in the AL Central. The Pale Hose, the Detroit Tigers, and the Minnesota Twins have all surpassed them in the standings.
At 58-62, they are four games below .500. The rough stretch, which includes six losses in their last seven games, appears to have no end in sight.
Perhaps the worst thing of all is that the Guardians, in a way, have betrayed the philosophy that made them famous. They still have a great rotation, but their bullpen has been a mess in recent games; they often struggle to score runs, and they tend to get sloppy on defense sometimes.
Analyst Anthony Lima discussed this situation, one that can result in the loss of identity as the team fights for a spot in the postseason.
“Let’s say we do get into the playoffs. We finish strong the final month of the season or whatever. Whoever draws us in the first round, what would they say about the identity of the Guardians? They’d mention Jose Ramirez. That’s not our team this year. They’d mention our bullpen. That’s not our team. They always find ways to manufacture runs. That’s not our team. All the things that we’ve been living by, and sometimes dying by over the years, that’s not even us this year, and so they’ve gotta find that. Yeah, there are still games to do it. It kind of feels like we’re running out of time,” Lima said.
"That's not our team this year. All the things that we've been living by, and sometimes dying by over the years, that's not even us this year…and so they've gotta find that. It kind of feels like we're running out of time."
➡️ @SportsBoyTony to @KenCarman on the #Guardians… https://t.co/i1U5LoQwaB pic.twitter.com/BdMuELbnb9
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) August 12, 2026
Lima is right in everything he says, but it’s important to note that these situations can be reversed with hard work, talent, and a clear plan. Yes, the Guardians are currently not a sound defensive team; they are a mess offensively, and their bullpen has failed in tight spots, but that doesn’t mean they can’t change the narrative in upcoming weeks and series. It takes work, time, and patience, but it’s not impossible, even if it’s clearly an uphill battle.
It would help if Ramirez could finally get going at the plate, of course, but the star third baseman appears to be bothered by his surgically repaired wrist. He is slashing a rather disappointing .235/.335/.383 with 10 homers and 29 stolen bases, with a 101 wRC+. The last time he hit a home run was in early June.
It doesn’t look pretty now, but the 2026 Guardians are better than their current version. Can they show that in time to salvage their season?
NEXT: Analyst Reveals What Fans Are Saying About Guardians' Concerning Stretch
