The Cleveland Guardians are no strangers to adversity.
They have suffered injuries, they have endured tough slumps from key performers, and they have seen how their rivals are peaking in the second half.
Last week, they lost sole possession of their division lead (one that was as large as nine games in late June), and yet they bounced back in impressive fashion.
After losing three straight to the Kansas City Royals to open last week – that’s the point in which the two teams entered a tie for first place – the Guardians won three of their last four to not only regain possession of the top spot but to build a 3.5-game cushion over the Royals and the Minnesota Twins.
Cleveland will take on the Royals again in another key series, looking to build a larger lead this time.
Catcher Bo Naylor talked about how the team faces adversity
Never count the @CleGuardians out! 💪#ForTheLand | #MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/fo93cGiIxJ
— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) September 2, 2024
“We are not stopping. We are not letting any type of adversity get in our heads. We are going to continue to go out there and compete and try to end up on the right side”, the younger Naylor said, per Bally Sports Cleveland says.
You can tell this specific attribute of the Guardians players is a consequence of manager Stephen Vogt’s mentality.
He preaches never giving up even in the middle of a seven-game losing streak, just to say a number.
The approach, at the top of the mountain or in the ugliest of slumps, is the same.
This is part of what makes Cleveland such a tough team to beat, even with mediocre rotation depth.
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