The Cleveland Guardians entered the offseason as the defending AL Central champions, but that distinction doesn’t appear to be carrying much weight nationally. When MLB released its inaugural power rankings for the 2026 season, Cleveland found itself firmly in the bottom half of the league.
According to MLB.com’s early rankings, the Guardians came in at No. 21 overall, a placement that suggests there is plenty of skepticism about Cleveland’s ability to repeat its success from a year ago. Despite winning the division in 2025, the Guardians were ranked behind several teams that failed to reach the postseason.
MLB.com writer Will Leitch acknowledged Cleveland’s division title but made it clear why the team may be flying under the radar heading into 2026.
“It has been a little forgotten that it’s the Guardians, in fact, who are the defending AL Central champions. (A Wild Card Series loss will do that.),” Leitch wrote. “The Guardians are running it back this year, and hopefully they won’t need a historic comeback to win the division this time.”
That comment highlights the core issue surrounding the Guardians nationally. While Cleveland did finish on top of the AL Central, the path to get there was anything but smooth. A dramatic late-season surge was needed to secure the division, and the early playoff exit did little to leave a lasting impression outside of the fan base.
From a roster standpoint, the Guardians largely returning the same group is being viewed as both a positive and a concern. Internally, Cleveland believes continuity matters, especially with a young roster that continues to develop. Externally, however, there’s a belief that other teams improved more aggressively while the Guardians relied on internal growth.
That perception has followed Cleveland for years. The organization has often been underestimated in preseason rankings, only to outperform expectations once the games actually matter. Still, ranking 21st for a defending division champion is notable, even by Guardians standards.
The reality is that much of this ranking likely comes down to offense. Until Cleveland proves it can consistently generate power and run production, national outlets will remain hesitant to buy in. That’s where the Guardians believe internal reinforcements and natural progression can change the narrative.
Whether the lack of respect serves as motivation or simply background noise remains to be seen. What’s clear is that the Guardians are once again being asked to prove it on the field. And if history is any indication, being overlooked is a role they’re more than comfortable playing.
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