The Cleveland Guardians are not playing their best right now.
They couldn’t even score three runs per game in June, easily the worst offensive performance among all 30 MLB teams.
The situation is complex, with the Guardians 11.5 games out of first place and three games behind the last AL Wild Card.
MLB analyst and former pitcher Ron Darling, however, gave Guardians fans some hope.
He reminded them that the expanded playoffs offer a chance to everyone who is near .500 this time of the year.
“The great thing about this wild card era is that this is not without precedent. If you hover around .500 or better, you’re going to be in some kind of race,” Darling said, via 92.3 The Fan.
"The great thing about this wild card era is that this is not without precedent. If you hover around .500 or better, you're going to be in some kind of race."
📞 @TBSNetwork MLB analyst Ron Darling with @CLETalkingHeads on #Guardians ⚾
🔊 Listen: https://t.co/gPZQlNoJF3 pic.twitter.com/OAFbz2fw0C
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) July 1, 2025
Once upon a time, there was no Wild Card.
The current arrangement, however, offers three teams in each league a playoff berth without winning their division.
Darling named a few examples of teams that seemed mediocre in the first half that went on an impressive run after the break, made the postseason and went all the way to win the title or make a deep playoff run.
He mentioned the 2019 Washington Nationals (47-42 in the first half), the 2021 Atlanta Braves (44-45) and the 2024 New York Mets (49-46).
The first two won the World Series, and the Mets reached the NLCS.
The Guardians would have to show marked improvement and bring in reinforcements at several positions, but theoretically, they still have a chance to make the postseason.
NEXT: Analyst Urges Guardians To Address Major Roster Concern
