The Blueprint To October For The Guardians

Breaking down the blueprint the Guardians need to follow if they want to play October baseball.

Photo Courtesy: USA Today

The Cleveland Guardians, currently 4.5 games back in the Wild Card race, start the second half of the season this Friday with a home series against the 41-win Athletics. It’s no surprise that this series plays a huge role in setting the tone for the Guardians’ second half.

After a horrific June that dug Cleveland into a hole no one wanted to be in — especially with playoff aspirations — there’s one silver lining: the Guardians have the easiest remaining schedule in all of baseball, with opponents holding a combined .476 winning percentage.

The blueprint is easier said than done: beat the bottom six teams, and you’re in great shape for a playoff push. The Guardians have 22 games remaining against those bottom-six clubs.

The good news? Cleveland is currently 25–12 (.676) against teams below .500. So the formula is simple: don’t play down to your competition. Beat the teams you’re supposed to beat.

But the real question is: how can we get a consistent Guardians team day in and day out? It starts at the top. Stephen Vogt and the front office need to put an end to the constant lineup shuffling and settle on a group they believe gives the team the best chance to win.

A Message to Stephen Vogt:

Stop being cute with the roster. Giving guys like Johnathan Rodriguez and Will Wilson MLB reps over more productive options isn’t helping. Treat these games like playoff games — not ones you can afford to lose.

Also, stop falling into “Terry Francona mode,” where you trust only one struggling reliever to get you out of trouble. Matt Festa isn’t helping you make the playoffs; he’s hurting your chances.

He’s been better lately, sure, but don’t overuse your starters. If a guy’s clearly losing it, take him out. Don’t be greedy trying to squeeze extra outs from someone who’s out of gas.

To Chris Antonetti & the Front Office:

The time is now. We’re ready, and the team is waiting. Call up Chase DeLauter before it’s too late. He’s your best shot at adding an impact bat without making a trade — so why not give him everyday reps in the big leagues?

As for replacing Festa, you have options. Zak Kent didn’t start the year strong but has recently dominated AAA: 12.8 K/9, .188 opponent batting average, 2.30 ERA, and a 34.5% strikeout rate. Maybe he’s figured it out. He can’t be much worse than Festa.

And reinforcements are coming. Two former All-Star starters are set to return in the second half. Shane Bieber has looked sharp in his rehab starts and could be back soon, giving the rotation another high-level arm. John Means is the other name — there hasn’t been much noise about him lately, but maybe he ends up being a Boyd 2.0-type boost.

Bottom line: you have minor leaguers who deserve MLB opportunities more than the guys currently getting them — and those decisions are impacting your playoff push.

Trading:

As I mentioned in my previous article, trades could be the key to boosting playoff chances.

But the approach doesn’t have to be as aggressive as I once suggested. Sometimes a smaller-tier move — think Lane Thomas, Coco Crisp, or Kenny Lofton — can make a big impact, rather than chasing a "big fish" like Ubaldo Jimenez, Josh Donaldson, or Brad Hand.

That said, I’ve always been a fan of going big. After seeing what Andrew Miller did for this team — and how none of the prospects we gave up came back to bite us — it’s clear that calculated risks can pay off.

Whether it’s a big swing or a small addition, the Guardians need to make moves. A fresh face in the lineup or bullpen could dramatically boost this team’s chances of giving us an October to remember.

Cleveland has a real chance to make a run in the second half — but it all starts with consistency from top to bottom, and getting a spark from someone who hasn’t stepped up yet this season.