I think we are all reaching the acceptance portion of the grieving process for the Guardians 2026 season. This is a bad baseball team. What’s next?
It is still possible, of course, that the Guardians pull it all together in their remaining 35 games, primarily because these are their remaining opponents: Giants for 3, Rockies for 3, Royals for 3, Blue Jays for 3, Tigers for 4, Orioles for 3, Twins for 3, White Sox for 3, Athletics for 3, Red Sox for 3 and Royals for 3. That’s a very favorable schedule. Does this team look like a team that can go 25-9 over these remaining games and get to 85 wins? ABSOLUTELY NOT. But, I can’t say I saw them playing .570 ball over the end of the last season, either.
If I had to guess, I can see the Guardians finding their way to something like 17-17, finishing at 77 wins, their lowest total since 2023’s total of 76 where they absolutely went through the motions to end Tito Francona’s time here. That resulted in, needless to say, the biggest changes the organization had endured for a decade. I am desperate for them to make some changes on the coaching staff, specifically poaching some hitting coaches from a successful organization, but also considering some dugout changes, whether it’s bench coach, field coordinator, or third base coach. I am still a Stephen Vogt believer but something is awry with the current coaching group… and something has been off with the hitting group since 2019 during which time the Guardians have put up the 22nd worst wRC+ in MLB at 95. That has to change, period.
So, aside from rooting for the Guardians to pull off some last minute miracle, again, to rescue the season, what else is there to root for?
A Nice Draft Pick:
-A 77—85 record will give the Guardians a strong chance at a top-10 pick in the 2027 MLB draft. They are set for a pretty big bonus pool in what is supposed to be a deeper draft after failing to sign Logan Schmidt. Yipee. This will not cause me to root for losses (dumb), or be happy when they lose (evil), but it will give me a chance to sleep a little easier at night.
Rooting for Further Hitter Development:
-Obviously, we are watching looking for Travis Bazzana, Angel Genao, Angel Martinez, Brayan Rocchio, and a hopefully healthy Chase DeLauter to figure things out/continue strong performances at the plate over the last 35 games. Of course, if 3-4 of them DO perform well, they’ll also win baseball games. Bazzana, also, needs to show some development as a defender, as well.
DeLauter has been such a joy this season and the one reason for hope for our crop of young hitters. If his mild hamstring tenderness turns into something worse… someone hold me. He’s the primary reason to watch every night, right now.
This front office has been pleasingly aggressive with promotion of prospects and I hope that will continue. If the Guardians should have an absolutel collapse to end August, the team should waive Nathaniel Lowe prior to September 1st to let him find his way to a contender to qualify for a playoff roster and bring either Kyle Manzardo or Cooper Ingle back for a further look to end the year. TOMORROW, the team should DFA Rhys Hoskins and let Kody Huff come up and have his at-bats. Some of these bats have to progress before you will have a chance to be a different team offensively. I would keep Ralphy Velazquez in Columbus because of the potential of the lockout causing some 2027 games to be missed so he can continue to hit and develop until the major league team is through labor strife (he’s not Rule-5 eligible until 2027).
Enjoy Jose:
Jose Ramirez will start to show signs of being his old self. Every day he is in a Cleveland uniform is a good day and I plan to set myself to enjoy every moment of him.
Enjoy Steven Kwan:
I don’t know if the team will trade Kwan in November prior to his last season here or keep him and try for a comp pick if he leaves or try to extend him. I can’t even tell you which of those choices is right. But, Kwan’s comeback since the All-Star break has been great and the fact he has been an excellent centerfielder is such a joy. He’s a fun player and I am very glad he has been a Guardian and trying to appreciate him while he is.
Enjoy Jo Adell:
After a rough first week after being traded, Adell has put up a 126 wRC+ in Cleveland. He is clearly excited to be on a team that even has a CHANCE to sniff the playoffs. I’d love to see the team make that feeling last if only to give the former Angel a little more joy. Who knows if we will have a 2027 season to enjoy Adell or if the team will approach him about an extension? It’s time to appreciate that we have a legit right-handed slugger for a minute before it’s gone.
Promote the Parker Messick Rookie-of-the-Year Campaign:
Probably the Tigers’ Kevin McGonigle is going to need to have a very bad last six weeks for Messick to have a legitimate shot at the award, but the chance is there. Messick is the staff ace, no doubt, and has repeatedly come up big for the team when they have needed him the most. I can’t even imagine how bleak things would be without Messick’s amazing year, given all the pitching injuries the organization has sustained in the minors.
Believe that This is Likely the Last of Tim Herrin:
The Cleveland bullpen has finally showed the effects of Emmanuel Clase’s and Luis Ortiz’s absences (assuming Ortiz would have either pushed Cecconi to the pen or gone there himself). Nowhere has it been more clear than in Herrin’s 5.00 FIP. He’s just such an unreliable and often terrible pitcher. I don’t think Herrin will return in 2027. Why? Because I need that to be true for my mental health.
Root for Gavin Williams to get 200 strikeouts:
Williams has potentially 7 starts remaining and needs 51 strikeouts to hit 200. This isn’t likely, but it is plausible. I am, personally, miffed at Williams for his bad start against the Tigers, but he has been absolutely dominant for most of his starts and he and Messick will have to be great again in 2027 for the Guardians to have some playoff hopes. I enjoy his personality and demeanor and want to see him end the year extremely strongly.
Root for Cade Smith:
Could Cade Smith get 17 more saves? Unlikely, sure. But, if he does, he will have more saves this season than Emmanuel Clase ever did in one season and that would mean something to me. I believe so much in Smith and his durability and would love to see the Guardians extend him. If he hits 48 saves, it will also mean that Colin Holderman, Hunter Gaddis and Erik Sabrowski finished strong which would be great to see in a bullpen that has struggled way more than what we have been used to. But, it’s Smith and his ability to step up for this team when they lost the best closer in baseball that makes me feel most proud of this team, so I am rooting for him to have a strong ending to the season above everyone else.
There are still a variety of things to look for even if the Guardians don’t manage to make a playoff run. It’s not quite time to tune out and focus in on football with some young players trying to put together strong finishes to give fans optimism about the future. I can’t say I’m optimistic about the team’s ability to pull off a salvage miracle as they did last season, but I’m rooting for them to prove me wrong.