Friday, July 18

Welcome back to the Guardians Beat newsletter. My name is Tim Stebbins, and this is my first season covering Cleveland for MLB.com.

The Guardians will open the second act of their 2025 season on Friday, when they come out of the All-Star break to host the A’s in the opener of a seven-game homestand at Progressive Field.

Cleveland had an up-and-down first half, perhaps best evidenced by the past few weeks. The Guardians scored 15 runs over a 10-game losing streak from June 26-July 6, a skid that led to them falling in the American League postseason picture. They followed that up with one of their best stretches of the season. 

The Guardians went 6-1 last week on their road trip against the Astros and White Sox, averaging 5.86 runs per game. 

“It's huge,” Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan said of the strong road trip. “Momentum is huge with baseball. Obviously, you see it the other way, with the 10 losses. I think a lot of guys needed this break -- mentally and physically. To be able to go into the break on a positive note instead of a negative note, I think it's gonna be huge. 

“We’ll be eager to come back in the second half, and you never know what happens after that.”

The Guardians were 58-37 at the break last season, and they had a 4 1/2-game lead in the AL Central. It’s a different story this year: They’re 46-49 and 12 games behind the first-place Tigers (59-38), and 4 1/2 games behind the Mariners (51-45) for the AL’s final Wild Card spot. In a crowded AL postseason picture, Cleveland is one of a half-dozen teams within five games of Seattle.

Here is a look at where the Guardians stand at the break.

One second-half goal: Stay in the race and stay adaptable
Cleveland is looking to put its 10-game skid fully in the rearview mirror and build off its strong finish to the first half coming out of the break. As the Guardians aim to make a postseason push, they should also not shy away from getting looks at players who can perhaps help down the stretch and also in 2026. That includes prospects such as Chase DeLauter (Cleveland’s No. 2 prospect and the No. 34 prospect in baseball), C.J. Kayfus (No. 5, No. 74) and Juan Brito (Cleveland No. 10), who are all with Triple-A Columbus.

Likely Trade Deadline strategy: Staying nimble
The Guardians entered the break in a gray area, riding a strong stretch but still on the outside of the postseason picture. If they keep their momentum rolling, do they look to bolster their playoff chances this season? Is there a move that could help now, and also in 2026 and beyond? If they sell, do they do so to open opportunities for young players or prospects? The next few weeks will only provide clarity.

Key player: Shane Bieber
Cleveland’s rotation has a 3.80 ERA since June (eighth in MLB), and it could soon receive a big boost. Bieber appears to be tracking toward an early-to-mid-August return from Tommy John surgery. He has resumed his progression after overcoming a brief setback in June due to soreness. The 30-year-old’s return could further reinforce a staff that has been continually steady this season, just in time for the stretch run.

Prospect to watch: Chase DeLauter
DeLauter looks poised to make his MLB debut this summer, but his physical status is a key factor. Injuries have limited the 2022 first-round Draft pick to 138 career Minor League games, and Cleveland was mindful of his buildup this season after he returned from March core muscle surgery. DeLauter has recently dealt with right wrist soreness, but he is having a strong season with Triple-A Columbus, slashing .278/.383/.476 in 34 games.

Looking ahead at the second-half slate
Any manager or player will tell you there is no such thing as an easy game in the big leagues. But the Guardians have an opportunity to hit the ground running out of the break. 

Games remaining: 67 (Home, 38; Away, 29)

Remaining strength of schedule: .476, 30th in MLB, 15th in AL, fifth in AL Central 

Key series

Aug. 25-31: Six-game homestand vs. the Rays and Mariners 

Seattle holds the final AL Wild Card spot, and Tampa Bay (50-47) is the first team on the outside looking in. If Cleveland is going to go on a run, it must fare well against the teams ahead of it, making this a big homestand.

Sept. 1-7: Seven-game road trip vs. the Red Sox and Rays
Another week against two teams in the postseason mix. Boston (53-45) holds the AL’s second Wild Card spot. Head-to-head record is used in a tiebreaker scenario to determine playoff standings, and Boston leads the season series over the Guardians, 2-1, after a three-game set in Cleveland on April 26-27.

Sept. 23-28: Six-game homestand vs. Tigers and Rangers

These are the Guardians’ final two series of the regular season. With how tight the postseason picture is, the Wild Card race might go down to the final weekend. If Cleveland is in the picture, it will be imperative to win both series. If the Guardians fight their way back into the Central race, their series vs. the Tigers will be their last chance to directly impact the divisional standings. 

The Guardians are 3-4 against the Tigers this season. They will face the Rangers for the first time this season from Aug. 22-24 in Texas. 

The Guardians made 22 selections in the 2025 MLB Draft on Sunday and Monday. Here are a few helpful stories to catch up:

• The Guardians selected slugger Jace LaViolette with their first pick (No. 27 overall). Read more >>

• Here is a full rundown on the 17 players the Guardians selected Monday. Read more >>

• Here are the most intriguing picks from Day 2. Read more >>

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