Is the Guardians Offense Starting To Turn A Corner?

It’s no secret that the Cleveland Guardians’ offense has been well below average in 2026. It’s no surprise, since that has been the case in most of the team’s recent campaigns.

Before Monday’s games, the Guardians were ranked 26th out of 30 MLB organizations with a 95 wRC+. The league-average threshold is 100. Cleveland was also 26th in runs scored and next-to-last in homers, with 123.

At the trade deadline, however, the team acquired several useful contributors for their lineup. Outfielders Jo Adell and Nathaniel Lowe are both playing very well and have improved the offense. Those new faces, plus the promotion of Angel Genao, the continued excellence of Chase DeLauter, and Steven Kwan returning to form, have helped transform the unit.

Since the day after the deadline, on August 4, Cleveland’s offense ranks 11th in wRC+ with 102 and 13th in runs scored. They are still 27th in home runs, but the group has been far more productive.

Since August 15, Cleveland has scored the tenth-most runs in the league with 39. It’s too early to tell, but the unit appears to be turning the corner. Of course, they have faced the San Francisco Giants and the Colorado Rockies, two of the worst teams in baseball, in their last two series, but it’s still an encouraging stretch for the Guardians’ hitters.

Adell has been particularly impressive for the Guardians, driving in 13 runs in his last seven games and posting a 212 wRC+ with a couple of home runs. He has been everything Cleveland needed and then some: they were looking for an athletic outfielder who could mash against lefties, and that’s what the former Angel is doing. To be fair, he has been producing against both southpaws and righties.

If only Jose Ramirez and Travis Bazzana could recapture their best form! The veteran and the rookie are perhaps the two most influential position players on the franchise, yet they have yet to fully take off. At least the former 2024 first-round pick had a four-hit day on Friday.

Don’t look now, but the Guardians, who scored 20 runs in three games this past weekend, are starting to turn things around at the plate.