It’s mid-June, and we are starting to see some patterns in MLB. Stats are also starting to stabilize, so we have a better idea of which teams are good or bad.
For example, we know that the Cleveland Guardians are flawed, but they are a solid ballclub with some emerging talent and a few concerning realities. Chase DeLauter, Angel Martinez, and Jose Ramirez are all dealing with injuries, and the latter is set for a spell on the shelf for a few weeks, at least.
Joel Reuter made sure to mention J-Ram’s injury in the latest entry of Bleacher Report’s power rankings, in which the Guardians fell from the fifth spot to the eighth. Overcoming the absence of your best player is, after all, not easy at all.
“The Guardians took two of three at Yankee Stadium at the start of June, but the Yankees answered last week with a three-game sweep at Progressive Field, dropping Cleveland to 14-17 on the year against teams with a winning record. Can they survive without José Ramírez, who suffered a fractured left hamate bone on Saturday and will miss extended time?” Reuter wrote.
The Guardians are, as of Tuesday morning, tied with the Chicago White Sox at the top of the AL Central, with a 39-33 record. Before winning two straight against Detroit this weekend, they had dropped four consecutive games, one against the Rangers and three vs. the Yankees.
They are not exactly the most consistent squad in baseball, but they are highly competitive and boast an amazing pitching staff.
Losing Ramirez for a month or more definitely hurts. Still, in addition to an exciting young core of Travis Bazzana, Chase DeLauter, Angel Martinez, and others, the Guardians have several impactful prospects in the upper minors, including Cooper Ingle and Ralphy Velazquez.
It won’t be easy, but they have the means to survive this latest roadblock, provided that Gavin Williams and Parker Messick continue to lead the rotation and some of the young hitters continue to produce.
Cleveland has found a worthy opponent in the White Sox, who have matched them to this point. Quality depth will be the deciding factor in the race, and the Guardians have an edge there.
NEXT: Guardians Rookie Is Facing A Close Call In All-Star Voting
