The 2024 MLB Postseason is about to start for the Cleveland Guardians.
They earned the right to rest up and prepare for almost a week, but they are now ready to take the field and look for a ticket to the American League Championship Series against the Detroit Tigers.
Unlike other seasons, Cleveland’s offense looks better, deeper and more versatile.
They are capable of winning with singles, grit and ‘small’ baseball, but they have also put together an impressive group of hitters capable of slugging their way into wins.
Jose Ramirez, of course, is the big star.
A homer short of a 40-40 campaign, J-Ram tied a career-high with 39 round-trippers.
Then there is Josh Naylor, the owner of 31 home runs and 108 RBI on the year.
The numbers say that both of them fared very well against the Detroit Tigers this season.
Hosey and Nayls against the Tigers? They're grrrrreat!#ForTheLand | #GuardsBall | #Postseason pic.twitter.com/mjar32h27M
— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) October 4, 2024
Ramirez accumulated a .347 batting average against Detroit, with a whopping 17 hits and 12 RBI.
His slugging percentage was an incredible .755.
Naylor was almost as good, hitting .300 with nine RBI, a .550 slugging percentage and 12 hits.
The Tigers have managed to put together an impressive pitching staff, one that dominated the Houston Astros for two games.
However, they will have to face J-Ram and Naylor one after the other in the Guardians batting order, and it definitely won’t be easy for them as the stats suggest.
There are other hitters on Cleveland’s lineup that might hurt Detroit: Kyle Manzardo, Steven Kwan, Jhonkensy Noel, and Lane Thomas come to mind.
The biggest threats, however, are Ramirez and Naylor and it might not be close.
NEXT: Tigers Announce Pitching Plans For Games 1 And 2 Against Guardians
