The Cleveland Guardians are already in the 2024 postseason and are very close to securing a first-round bye.
They didn’t make it last year, but the 2022 campaign was a successful one that included a playoffs series victory against the Tampa Bay Rays in the Wild Card round.
They fell to the New York Yankees in the Division Series, though, in large part because of their lineup lacked punch.
The main difference between that team and the current edition that will represent the team in the playoffs is that: power.
The Guardians lineup is not particularly explosive, but has many more power threats than they had two years ago.
“Unlike 2022 Guardians, this group heads into the postseason with more power throughout lineup. That, was the difference against the Yankees two years ago,” AP’s Tom Withers posted on X.
Unlike 2022 Guardians, this group heads into the postseason with more power throughout lineup.
That, was the difference against the Yankees two years ago.
— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) September 24, 2024
The 2022 Guardians were an excellent team, with contact, speed, grit, and a brilliant bullpen just like this year’s unit.
They also had a better rotation.
However, they finished 29th out 30 MLB teams with 127 home runs that year.
The 2024 Guardians entered Tuesday’s game ranked 12th in MLB with 180 round-trippers.
It’s a huge difference, and you can see it in the names available every day in the lineup.
Jose Ramirez is having one of the best seasons of his career, and the same can be said about Josh Naylor.
Kyle Manzardo has evolved into a middle-of-the-order threat, Jhonkensy Noel has some serious power, and other pieces in the lineup have enough power to contribute a home run here or there.
Overall, there is more power to threaten opposing pitching staffs, and that could be the X-factor going into the postseason for Cleveland.
NEXT: Stats Show How Great Guardians Infielder Has Been Defensively
