Carlos Baerga has always been one of the most passionate and honest voices when it comes to the Cleveland Guardians, and he is not sugarcoating what he has been watching over the last week.
The Cleveland legend and Daily Guards podcast host sat down and addressed the Guardians’ ongoing offensive struggles, and his diagnosis of the problem is one that anyone who has watched this team recently will immediately recognize.
“We need to start winning. We need to come back and make contact. I think the only thing that’s going on right now is we haven’t hit with men on base. We’ve got guys on base all the time. I think we had like 23 guys on base in the last three games,” Baerga said.
To win games you gotta hit the damn ball! #GuardsBall
"We need to start winning. We haven't hit with men on base. I think we had like 23 guys LOB in the last three games."
– @baerga99 pic.twitter.com/BjqChiAe4i
— The Daily Guards (@DailyGuards) April 29, 2026
Baerga’s frustration is understandable and shared by every fan who has watched this offense load the bases and come away with nothing to show for it repeatedly over the past several weeks. The stranded runner issue has been the defining story of this Cleveland lineup since the season began.
During the four-game losing streak that Cleveland just snapped with Wednesday’s win over Tampa Bay, the Guardians went 2-17 with runners in scoring position and were shut out twice in that span. They scored just 2 runs in 27 innings. Getting on base is not the issue. Converting those opportunities into runs is where this offense keeps falling short.
The Guardians have the talent to fix the issue. Chase DeLauter is slashing .257/.345/.485 with a team-high 18 RBI and has shown he can deliver in big spots, as evidenced by his two-run single through the middle in Wednesday’s win that pushed the lead to 3-0. Brayan Rocchio is hitting .279 and has been one of the most consistent producers in the lineup. Jose Ramirez is on pace for one of the best all-around seasons of his career. Angel Martinez has a 140 OPS+ and has been one of the best stories in the American League through the first month.
Travis Bazzana’s arrival adds another dimension to how opponents will have to pitch around this lineup going forward. The Rays intentionally walked him in his debut rather than give him a chance to drive in a run, which says something about the respect he has already earned.
But Baerga is right that the time to start converting is now. The Guardians have the baserunners. They need the hits to go with them.
NEXT: Chase DeLauter Isn't Worried About The Guardians And Explained Why
