JUST IN: Guess who the Cleveland Guardians are bringing back after 4 years of departure….
Cleveland Guardians Are About To Start What Could Be A Season-Definitive Stretch
The Guardians have the opportunity to take on a challenge that might define their path for the 2024 season.
With a 44-25 record and five games ahead of the Kansas City Royals in the AL Central (seven games behind in the loss column), the Cleveland Guardians have been among the best teams in baseball so far.
But things are going to get harder for the new Guardians.
Tuesday night’s three-game series between Cleveland and the Seattle Mariners will start an intense run of games that could ultimately determine the team’s season.
The Guardians will be on the field for the next 13 days in a row and 26 of the following 27. Considering that Cleveland has only played 69 games as of this writing, it makes sense. With no other team having played fewer than 71 games, that is the fewest number of games ever in baseball.
However, it goes beyond the sheer number of games the Guardians are going to play. It’s the caliber of the rivals.
Teams with winning records will face off in ten of their upcoming thirteen games. This includes a four-game road series beginning on June 27 against the Royals, who are the division rivals. In addition, they have an away game against the tough Baltimore Orioles before playing Kansas City.
Over the course of the next month or so, Cleveland’s strategy for the 2024 season could be decided, and it will most likely affect the Guardians’ decisions at the MLB trade deadline on July 30.
Cleveland’s starting rotation hasn’t exactly been a strength, with only two of its starters having ERAs under-4, which makes matters more difficult. In actuality, the ERAs of the team’s two starting pitchers are higher than 5.
The Guardians have been largely spared because of an excellent bullpen, which leads the majors with a 2.33 ERA. But if the starters can’t produce, the pen might be overworked with so many games left to play.
We’re going to find out if Cleveland can truly contend for the World Series and compete with American League clubs like the New York Yankees and the Orioles.
