RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesCLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 28: President of baseball operations Chris Antonetti and general manager Mike Chernoff of the Cleveland Guardians watch batting practice prior to a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Progressive Field on April 28, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
Diamond Images/Getty Images
The Cleveland Guardians must address their anemic offense with some urgency.
Guardians president of baseball operations, Chris Antonetti and general manager Mike Chernoff have a serious problem to resolve.
The Guardians offense can’t score runs.
That’s significant, because the Guardians are locked in a four-way battle for the American League Central Division with the Chicago White Sox, the Minnesota Twins, and the Detroit Tigers.
As of July 28 the young, surging White Sox led the division with a 55-50 record.
The Guardians were in second place, with a 54-53 record. The Twins and Tigers are right on their heels.
Ironically, the Guardians posted the same record of 54-53 after the same 107 games in 2025.
Cleveland Guardians Lack Of Offense:
The have to score more runs before it is too late.
In games against the Tampa Bay Rays July 25 and July 26, the Guardians were shut out. They had five hits the first game, and one the second.
baseballreference.com lists the Guardians at No. 29 in Major League Baseball in runs scored, team batting average, and runs batted in.
The Guardians are heavily skewed to left-handed hitters.
mlb.com notes Only four of the team’s top 30 prospects hit right-handed. They include Dean Curley (No. 7) Aaron Walton (No. 8) Alfonsin Rosario (No. 10) and Luke Hill (No. 17).
At the MLB level, of 13 position players, only four are pure right-handed hitters. They include Austin Hedges, David Fry, Rhys Hoskins, and Gabriel Arias.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - JULY 26: Kyle Manzardo #9 of the Cleveland Guardians reacts after striking out against the Tampa Bay Rays during the second inning of a baseball game at Tropicana Field on July 26, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
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Cleveland Guardians Ineffective Hitters:
Many of the Guardians offensive woes can be traced to a lack of impactful hitters.
While the Guardians do get occasional homers, some of the players the team counted upon for power have been non-consequential.
As of July 28, those players include:
Kyle Manzardo-hitting .209/.298/.358/.656, with 11 home runs, 32 RBI, and 108 strikeouts in 336 plate appearances.
Rhys Hoskins-hitting .174/.304/.369/.673, with 11 homers, 33 RBIs, and 92 strikeouts in 286 plate appearances. He has walked 43 times.
CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 30: Cleveland Guardians left fielder David Fry (6) reacts after striking out during the ninth inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Texas Rangers and Cleveland Guardians on June 30, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
David Fry-hitting .184/.299/.340/.639.. with six homers, 13 RBIs, and 50 strikeouts in 164 plate appearances.
Gabriel Arias-hitting ..252/.291/.405/.696, with five homers, 10 RBIs, and 51 strikeouts in 117 plate appearances.
That’s 33 homers, and 88 RBIs from four players who are either very consequential ( Manzardo and Hoskins) or somewhat consequential (Fry and Arias) to the Guardians.
Hoskins was a free agent signing. They were counting on his right-handed bat to add power. He is playing on a one-year, $1.5 Million contract.
Cleveland Guardians Platoon Philosophy:
There is no mistaking that Cleveland relies heavily upon statistical data as a focal point of their strategy model.
Metrics play a critical part in daily lineup construction, as well as in-game pinch-hitting changes.
DETROIT, MI - MAY 20: Stephen Vogt #12 of the Cleveland Guardians looks on during the game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
MLB Photos via Getty Images
Manager Stephen Vogt is quick to change the hitting side of the hitter, based upon the hand of the pitcher. Many substitutions are made in-game, based upon opposition pitching changes.
Challenge For Cleveland Guardians Front Office:
On July 22, Antonetti told mlb.com, “”We’ll look at all opportunities to try to improve the team.”
He also noted, “Now, whether that means we’ll ultimately be able to get to the finish line on a deal or multiple deals, I have no idea. It’s impossible to predict, but we’ll certainly try.”
The Guardians did trade for switch-hitting catcher, Patrick Bailey from the San Francisco Giants. They gave up left-handed pitching prospect, Matt Wilkinson, and a Competitive Balance Round A draft pick (No. 29 overall) for Bailey.
The Cleveland Guardians need a consequential hitter at the August 3 trade deadline.
Cleveland Guardians Focus On Pitching:
The Guardians are among the best pitching organizations in MLB.
The team consistently finds and develops quality pitchers that keep the team in games. Both starters and relievers. That’s admirable.
The Cleveland Guardians do face a lack of organization major league ready depth of starting pitchers.
In this past MLB draft, the team selected 13 pitchers among their 20 picks.
Unfortunately, as noted by s portingnews.com , their No. 2 selection, high school lefty, Logan Schmidt has decided to enter college, and not sign with Cleveland.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JULY 22: Jose Ramirez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians warms up before the game against the Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field on July 22, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
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All Star Jose Ramirez is still finding his way back after being on the Injured List with a hamate bone injury.
Hopefully, he starts hitting. Soon.
Great pitching is crucial, but the Cleveland Guardians have to address their anemic...
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