When MLB placed Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz on paid non-disciplinary leave, everybody thought the Cleveland Guardians’ season ended right there.
They lost an above-average starter and an All-Star closer on a path towards the Hall of Fame, and that’s not easy to replace.
When they traded rehabbing ace Shane Bieber, everybody saw it as them waving the white flag.
The 2025 Guardians might not be as talented as the 2024 team, but they sure are pesky.
They refuse to go down in the division race, and have won six of their last seven and 18 of their last 25.
Most of them were against lowly, under-.500 foes.
However, they have now beaten the mighty New York Mets twice in Citi Field to open the week.
Meanwhile, the Detroit Tigers keep letting the Guardians get closer, and things could get really interesting in the Central.
“In their last 22 games, the Tigers are 7-15. In their last 25 games, the Guardians are 18-7. The lead is down to 7 games for Detroit in the AL Central. Tigers have 47 games remaining. Guardians have 49 left. Still hard to catch Detroit, but certainly feasible,” Al Pawlowski posted on X.
In their last 22 games, the Tigers are 7-15.
In their last 25 games, the Guardians are 18-7.
The lead is down to 7 games for Detroit in the AL Central.
Tigers have 47 games remaining.
Guardians have 49 left.
Still hard to catch Detroit, but certainly feasible.
— Al Pawlowski (@AlPawlowski) August 6, 2025
With Jose Ramirez leading the charge, the rotation taking a second wind, the offense doing enough to be competitive, and the bullpen excelling without Clase, Cleveland is there, still fighting for a postseason spot despite the adversity.
They are, as of Wednesday morning, 1.5 games behind the third and last Wild Card spot in the American League, held by the New York Yankees.
Cleveland might or might not make the playoffs, but they sure are making it very entertaining for their fans.
NEXT: Guardians Given Impressive Ranking Among MLB Farm Systems
