The Cleveland Guardians clawed back to above .500 this week after putting together a seven-game winning streak, only to lose the last two games and leave their record at 68-68 heading into Sunday. They are still in the thick of things, and September will be a crucial month for them. The range of outcomes is wide: they still have a shot at winning the AL Central, they could take one of the Wild Card spots, or they could be left out of the party altogether.
Through the summer, we have discussed the Guardians’ offense at length, its strengths and shortcomings, and how it’s likely to make or break their fate. We have also written many words about the bullpen and how it is versatile, powerful, and a tad inconsistent.
What about the rotation, though? Is it good enough to take the Guardians into the postseason and beyond?
There’s a reason why we don’t discuss Cleveland’s rotation very much: it’s because it’s the best and most stable unit on the team. It’s as simple as that.
Previous iterations of the Guardians in recent years had a solid rotation even though there really wasn’t a bona fide ace on the roster, particularly in the post-Shane Bieber era at his peak. This season, however, Parker Messick has established himself not only as the clear ace in town, but as one of the best starting pitchers in baseball.
The left-hander boasts a 2.50 ERA and 4.1 fWAR heading into Sunday’s start. He is not just an AL Rookie of the Year candidate, but is also in the running for the Cy Young in the junior circuit. He has been that good, and he elevates the floor and ceiling of this rotation.
Then, you have Gavin Williams with his sub-4.00 ERA and 204 strikeouts. Many teams would love to have him as a number one, yet he is the Guardians’ second-best starter. Tanner Bibee, Joey Cantillo, and Foster Griffin complete a very talented unit.
To sum up, the answer is yes: this is one of the strongest, most underrated rotations in baseball. The unit is definitely a top-ten one in the league (some would even say top five), and it can single-handedly put the team in a position to win most games.
Yes, the offense, the defense, and the bullpen will have to step up to some extent, but the backbone of the Guardians’ playoff hopes is, without a doubt, their rotation.
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