Three Guardians Who Could Lock Down The Top Of The Lineup For Years

The Cleveland Guardians may have stumbled onto one of the most exciting top of the lineup combinations in the American League, and a former Cleveland pitcher thinks it could be set in stone for a long time.

Jensen Lewis, who pitched for the Indians from 2007 to 2010, made his feelings about the current Cleveland lineup clear.

“It’s about time that Travis Bazzana is now the leadoff hitter. I think for years to come, this kinda feels like the one, two, three. Bazzana leading off, setting the table. J-Ram number two, CDL, third,” Lewis said.

1. Bazz 2. Jose 3. CDL until the sun goes down. #GuardsBall@JLEWFIFTY anticipates the top 3 of the lineup being set in stone for years to come.

presented by @FanDuel https://t.co/sNKNQJSEH5 pic.twitter.com/EnIgmCbEDj

— BIGPLAY Cleveland Show (@BIGPLAYCLEshow) May 26, 2026

Bazzana. Ramirez. DeLauter. Look at what each of those three players brings to the table and the argument for keeping them locked in at the top of this order becomes very difficult to argue with.

Travis Bazzana is 23 years old and has been one of the most exciting young players in baseball over the last several weeks. Through 26 games he is hitting .293 with a .404 on base percentage, three home runs, 11 RBI, seven stolen bases, and an .839 OPS. He became the first Cleveland player to post a .400 on base percentage with at least one home run through his first 24 career games since Hall of Famer Earl Averill did it in 1929.

Jose Ramirez is Jose Ramirez. The case for him batting second is not complicated. Through 57 games he is hitting .229 with eight home runs, 26 RBI, 37 walks, and a .744 OPS, providing the kind of professional at bat quality that makes every hitter around him more dangerous. He draws walks, he hits for extra bases, and he makes pitchers pay when they try to work around the middle of the order.

Chase DeLauter at three is the piece that ties the entire combination together. The 24-year-old right fielder has been one of the most consistent offensive performers on this roster all season, posting a .255 batting average with seven home runs, 30 RBI, 25 walks, and a .776 OPS across 52 games. He has reached base safely in the vast majority of his games this season and the plate discipline he has shown at this stage of his career suggests a player who is going to be a productive middle of the order presence in this league for a very long time.

Bazz. Jose. CDL. Until the sun goes down. Cleveland fans could get very comfortable with that order for a long time to come.