CLEVELAND — It can be difficult to predict how small stretches during a regular season can unfold. The Guardians are fighting against that tide as they enter the stretch run to the playoffs.
The Guardians pulled off an aggressive trade deadline, highlighted by deals for outfielder Jo Adell, first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, All-Star starting pitcher Foster Griffin and reliever Craig Yoho. It was well received by the fan base and set the stage for an energetic, positive August.
That hasn’t come to fruition just yet. As the Guardians welcomed several key additions that fit well onto the roster on paper, they came out of the deadline winning only three of their next 11 games. Despite the aggressive improvements, Cleveland has lost ground in the American League Central race, entering their Aug. 16 game against the San Diego Padres five games behind the Chicago White Sox.
Thanks to a poor American League in 2026, the Guardians entered Aug. 16 at 60-64, but still only one game out of the sixth and final wild card spot. They’re in the thick of the AL playoff race, but a 3-8 record wasn’t what they had in mind after adding Adell, Lowe, Griffin and Yoho (along with, technically, catcher Patrick Bailey earlier this season).
“I think the way we look, we still have an opportunity in front of us, and we have to play better baseball,” Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said. “We have not played well over the last few weeks, and I think everybody believes we’re capable of more.”
Guardians standings in AL playoff race
Adell and Lowe were slotted into the lineup, the former as a much-needed right-handed outfielder and the latter as a expected improvement over struggling Kyle Manzardo at first base. Both have made early contributions.
Adell is just 7-for-38 with Cleveland, but six of those hits — two home runs, four doubles — have gone for extra bases. Lowe is hitting .290 with an .851 OPS since the trade from Cincinnati.
Griffin was thrown into the rotation to join Gavin Williams, Parker Messick, Joey Cantillo and Tanner Bibee. He was roughed up a bit in his first Cleveland start against the New York Mets but rebounded for a key win in Detroit against the Tigers. Similarly, Yoho was hit hard in back-to-back relief appearances but has tossed consecutive scoreless outings since that time.
“Yeah, I think we’ve seen the capabilities of each of those guys have to help us,” Antonetti said. “Offensively, Jo and Nathaniel have fit in seamlessly in the lineup and have done what we’d hope and really added some depth and length to the lineup.
“And then I think with Foster, he’s still settling in. … He’s now developed a comfort level with our catchers and our pitching teams. We continue to be confident that he’ll help us for the balance of the season and give us a cache to win the games he starts.”
Guardians stats after trade-deadline deals add Jo Adell, Nathaniel Lowe, Foster Griffin, Craig Yoho
Along with the new additions from their trade-deadline moves, the Guardians are also hoping to regain star third baseman Jose Ramirez’s usual production from his spot in the lineup. After undergoing hamate bone surgery in June, Ramirez returned July 22 but has largely struggled to drive the ball, which is often a symptom of hitters attempting to return from a difficult wrist/hand injury.
Ramirez didn’t record any extra-base hit in his first 18 games back before logging a double in Cleveland’s Aug. 15 win. The Guardians know it’s something he’ll likely continue to deal with for the rest of the season.
“The first thing I think about is just appreciation for just how tough he is, and his desire to be out there and try to help us win games,” Antonetti said. “Everyone knows he’s still in pain and his hand bothers him. It’s not going to be full strength until we get to next year, but we all know what he means to our team, and when he’s out there playing how much of an impact he can have on the game.”
The Guardians might have to draw on their experience last season, when they pulled off a historic 15.5-game comeback to win the division and steal it from the Detroit Tigers.
On Aug. 17 of last year, they were 8.5 games out of the divisional lead. And a few days later, that ballooned to 12.5 games before they went on a historic tear in September. It might be foolish to expect a repeat of such a rare occurrence, but the Guardians do have something to draw from when trying to grab a playoff spot over the final six weeks of the season.
“I think all of those experiences in the past, whether it’s the regular-season comeback or some of the postseason experiences, a lot of guys in that clubhouse have had a chance to participate in all of those and build upon themselves and give them things to reflect back on, and it can be a source of confidence,” Antonetti said. “Now, again, it’s incumbent upon us to translate that confidence and belief into wins and reality, but we believe that that continues to be possible.”
Ryan Lewis covers the Guardians for the Akron Beacon Journal. He can be reached at rlewis1@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Chris Antonetti discusses state of the Guardians after trade deadline