The Cleveland Guardians opened the day eight games behind the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central.
That gap is considerable, but to be fair, it was much wider in early to mid-July.
Back then, Detroit was up 15.5 games in the division.
They went into a bad stretch of play, and the Guardians started to play better.
Still, longtime Guardians broadcaster Al Pawlowski doesn’t believe Cleveland, or any team for that matter, can catch the Tigers.
“Can the Guardians catch the Tigers in the AL Central? “I don’t see anyone catching them in the Central, unfortunately,” he said in the Bruce Drennan Show.
Can the #Guardians catch the Tigers in the AL Central? #GuardsBall
"I don't see anyone catching them in the Central unfortunately."
–@AlPawlowski pic.twitter.com/DWIrrn48ge
— Bruce Drennan Show (@Bruce_Drennan) August 2, 2025
The Tigers didn’t really make too much noise at the deadline, addressing a few needs without bringing in star-level players.
Then again, the Guardians didn’t really add anyone: they subtracted, if anything, by trading Shane Bieber and Paul Sewald (to Detroit).
Still, it’s not impossible to see Cleveland making a leap and watching their young players surging, leading them to a shocking turnaround in the second half.
Even the most diehard Guardians fan, however, will tell you that it’s a highly unlikely scenario, though.
What Cleveland needs to do at this point is overcome the losses of Bieber, Sewald, Emmanuel Clase, and Luis Ortiz and focus on the things it can control.
Coaches and the player development staff need to find creative ways to bring out the best in anyone, particularly the young, promising players.
The young prospects, the stars of tomorrow, and even the veterans need to focus on improving their craft and working hard.
If everyone contributes, there is a clear path towards the postseason via one of the Wild Card spots.
The Guardians didn’t trade Steven Kwan, Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams, Kyle Manzardo, Cade Smith, or Jose Ramirez, so there are still talented players on the roster.
The season isn’t over yet.
NEXT: Guardians Star Prospect Batting Eighth In His MLB Debut
