The Cleveland Guardians entered this month with no margin for error, facing several teams that are also in the mix for an AL Wild Card.
Notably, that included a four-game series against the Kansas City Royals.
Cleveland was riding a five-game winning streak, including two in a row against Kansas City, but after losing the third game of the series, its playoff chances took a significant dip.
“FanGraphs gave the Guardians a 10% chance of making the postseason after Tuesday’s 2-0 win. Following Wednesday’s loss, their odds had dropped to 5.4%,” Paul Hoynes wrote.
The Guardians trail the Seattle Mariners for the third AL Wild Card. They’re also behind the Texas Rangers, and the Royals are now right behind them.
Cleveland will get very little rest during this final stretch, so injuries and fatigue could be a factor.
Yet, the Guardians have proven to be one of the most resilient teams in baseball this season.
Hopefully, that competitive fire will be enough to get them through the finish line, but it might take much more than just determination to get into the playoffs.
The next stretch will be crucial, and it shouldn’t be long before they know whether they’ll be in the mix until the end or not.
NEXT: Brayan Rocchio Reveals Guardians' Mentality Despite Loss Wednesday
