The Cleveland Guardians are keeping their playoff hopes alive after a rough first half. A 10-game losing streak last month dropped their record to 40-48. As of Tuesday, they鈥檝e climbed back to a record of 57-55, eight games behind Detroit in the American League Central Division. They鈥檙e 2.5 games back in the AL Wild Card race.
Ideastream Public Media鈥檚 Terry Pluto says the team has been winning while navigating adversity. Last week, closer Emmanuel Clase joined starting pitcher Luis Ortiz on paid leave tied to a Major League Baseball investigation into gambling.
鈥淭hat is enough (of an) issue to really just sink a team, absolutely sink a team,鈥� Pluto said.
Then came the July 31 MLB trade deadline. The Guardians were at the center of rumors surrounding their All-Star outfielder and fan-favorite, Steven Kwan.
鈥淗ere's how baseball people think," Pluto said. "It's like, well, Cleveland, they have these pitchers being looked at by Major League Baseball for the gambling thing. Cleveland will probably just give up on a season and cash it in (and) trade Kwan for a bunch of young players.鈥�
Pluto said it鈥檚 something the Guardians have done in the past, but not with a player like Kwan.
鈥淭hey've done it in the past when a guy was near free agency or something of that sort, not when a player is in his prime like Steven Kwan (and) not when a player like Steven Kwan is under what they call team control through the end of the 2027 season,鈥� Pluto said.
The Guardians did trade 2020 Cy Young award-winning pitcher Shane Bieber, who鈥檚 coming off "Tommy John" elbow ligament surgery. Bieber had started only two games at the major league level since the end of 2023. In return, the Guardians are getting right-handed pitcher Khal Stephen, a 2024 second-round draft pick. Cleveland also dealt right-hander Paul Sewald to the Tigers.
Meanwhile, the Guardians are continuing to win. Pluto credits last year's Manager of The Year, Stephen Vogt.
鈥淪tephen Vogt 鈥� was able to keep these guys situated and their heads on straight during the 10-game losing streak and this turn around has got them back in contention," Pluto said. "It鈥檚 exciting, they鈥檙e relevant again.鈥�
Leading the charge is All-Star third baseman Jos茅 Ram铆rez.
鈥淪ince the All-Star break, Jos茅 is batting .344. and Jos茅 is, like, just leading this team in the second half resurgence," Pluto said. "And that also is a tremendous message to the rest of the players, like, 鈥業鈥檓 not giving up. So, um, you better not either.鈥欌��
As for fresh faces, Pluto says he鈥檚 keeping an eye on prospect C.J. Kayfus, called up this week.
鈥淗e was drafted only three years ago 鈥� in terms of, like, the hype around being a prospect, wasn鈥檛 that high, but his stats, he鈥檚 been around a .300 hitter, and he鈥檚 intriguing,鈥� Pluto said.
Still, Pluto believes it will come down to the core group.
鈥淜yle Manzardo, Jos茅 Ramirez, Brayan Rocchio (who鈥檚 come) back from the minors and playing well 鈥� (and) Gabriel Arias, and then the younger pitchers are the ones that are going to determine whether they make the playoffs or not,鈥� Pluto said.
