The Cleveland Guardians were not expected to compete at a high level in 2022. With a roster that stacks up among the youngest in baseball, many thought this year would be focussed on player development with eyes cast on the future. Cleveland took the advantage in a division that saw no clear favorite, playing plus-.500 baseball for most of the year. But following a three-game sweep at the hands of the visiting Seattle Mariners in early September, things looked bleak. It was the first time in nearly a month Cleveland had not had sole possession of first place in the AL Central. Since then, the Guardians have reeled off 18 wins in their last 21 games. They clinched the division on Sunday, completing a three-game sweep of the Texas Rangers in Arlington.
Cleveland will more than likely wind up with the third seed in the American League. They would host a three-game series against the third AL wild card team in the first round of the postseason.
Shutdown Staff
The top of the Cleveland Guardians’ starting rotation has been very reliable in 2022. Former AL Cy Young award-winner Shane Bieber has been impressive yet again. The 27-year-old has a 2.81 ERA in 29 starts with nearly 200 innings this year. He has posted a career low in strikeout rate but has tied career bests in walk and home run rates. Bieber has only given up 35 walks and 17 home runs in 2022. He allowed 33 walks and 11 home runs a year ago, but in just 96 innings pitched compared to 189 innings in 2022. The right-hander has a 1.026 WHIP and has limited opposing hitters to a .607 OPS on the season.
In the midst of a breakout season, lengthy right-hander Triston McKenzie has sharpened his game in 2022. He has a 3.04 ERA and 0.965 WHIP with 180 strikeouts in 180 innings pitched. Like Bieber, his strikeout rate is a career low, but his ability to command the strike zone has improved drastically. McKenzie had a 4.4 walk rate per nine innings a year ago. In 2022 he has cut that number down, sitting at 2.1 walks per nine innings.
Anchoring the middle of the rotation for Cleveland is Cal Quantrill. In 30 starts this season the right-hander has a 3.49 ERA in 175 innings of work. He has been less productive in 2022 than in previous seasons. In 22 starts last year Quantrill posted a 2.89 ERA and a 1.176 WHIP. This season he has seen increases in both ERA and WHIP, and opposing hitters are having more success in the batter’s box against him. The opposition is hitting .258/.313/.400 against Quantrill in 2022 compared to .234/.302/.373 in 2021.
The back of the Guardians’ rotation has been a bit of a conundrum in 2022. Aaron Civale and Zach Plesac are both 27-year-old right-handers who have been with Cleveland since making their debuts in 2019. Each has had a difficult time finding success this year after flashing bouts of potential in previous seasons. Civale has a 5.29 ERA in 17 starts this year. His 3.86 FIP would indicate he has been the victim of a high batting average on balls in play against him. Nevertheless, the results have been disappointing for Civale who has been injured for much of the season as well.
Currently on the injured list with a self-inflicted broken hand, Zach Plesac has had a frustrating year as well. He has a 4.39 ERA and 4.49 FIP in 23 starts. He has a career-high WHIP that sits at 1.307 and opponents are hitting .256/.313/.421 against him in 2022.
Attempting to provide some quality depth for the Guardians rotation amid the injuries has been left-hander Konnor Pilkington. In his rookie year, the 25-year-old has a 3.88 ERA in 15 starts. Walks have been a serious issue for Pilkington with 32 free passes allowed in just 58 innings. He has limited hitters to just six home runs which has helped him prevent big innings for the opposition.
Even with the chance that a starting pitcher might not have their best stuff on any given day, Cleveland Guardians manager Terry Francona knows when he signals for the bullpen, the odds are in his favor.
The most dominant of the relievers is none other than Emmanuel Clase. Closing games for the Guardians has been no issue for the hard-throwing right-hander since arriving in Cleveland. This year Clase has delivered on 39 of his 43 save opportunities after saving 24 games in 2021. He has a 1.46 ERA and an elite 0.754 WHIP to go along with 68 strikeouts in 68 innings. He has been called upon more than any other pitcher in baseball, making 72 appearances so far in 2022. The immense workload has presented no problems for Clase who has dominated his opponents. Hitters are slashing just .171/.206/.233 with a minuscule .440 OPS against him.
After struggling a year ago, James Karinchak has bounced back in 2022. The 27-year-old has a 1.57 ERA and 1.107 WHIP with an outrageous 14.2 strikeout rate per nine innings pitched. Like most years in his career, he has struggled mightily with walks but has only given up two home runs in 34 innings to limit the damage.
Right-handers Trevor Stephan and Nick Sandlin have pitched very well in 2022. With ERAs well bellow three, they have combined to surrender just five home runs in over 100 innings pitched while striking out 115. Similar to Karinchak, walks have haunted Sandlin but he has held opposing hitters to a .176 batting average and .254 slugging percentage in 2022.
Eli Morgan and Enyel De Los Santos have also been effective for Cleveland in 2022. Morgan has posted a 3.71 ERA in 46 appearances with over 10 strikeouts per nine innings. De Los Santos has a 3.10 ERA and a 2.81 FIP with nearly 10 strikeouts per nine innings as well in 46 appearances.
Left-hander Sam Hentges might be the only reliable southpaw in the bullpen for Cleveland right now, but he has shined thus far. The 26-year-old has a 2.41 ERA and a 2.49 FIP in 54 appearances in 2022. He has a sub-one WHIP and a strikeout rate of more than 10 per nine innings. In nearly 60 innings of work he has only allowed three home runs.
Promise in the Land
The combination of trade returns paying off and some in-house talent starting to breakout has been the perfect storm for the Cleveland Guardians’ lineup in 2022. Not to mention superstar third baseman Jose Ramirez manning the hot corner as well.
The club has shied away from the power approach that is implemented by a lot of teams, with Ramirez being the only player with more than 20 home runs. The lineup instead has induced a speed-first approach, containing five different players with at least 17 stolen bases. They rank in the top 10 among MLB teams in hits, doubles, triples and batting average while ranking third in stolen bases.
With the departure of Francisco Lindor following the 2020 season, Ramirez has taken his rightful place as the face of the Guardians franchise. The four-time all-star has slugged his way to yet another monster season in 2022. He is slashing .276/.354/.514 with 28 home runs, a career-high 117 RBI and a league-high 42 doubles to go along with 18 stolen bases. This well-rounded offensive onslaught is nothing new for the 30-year-old. A 162-game average season for Ramirez’s career sees him hitting 27 home runs, 41 doubles and swiping 25 bases. His 147 OPS+ in 2022 is the highest in the Guardians’ lineup.
Acquired from the New York Mets for Lindor and Carlos Carrasco before the 2021 season, Andres Gimenez and Amed Rosario have each had standout seasons. Gimenez, in just his third season has turned into a fine middle infielder that has outproduced Lindor offensively in 2022, according to FanGraphs. His .371 wOBA edges Lindor’s .353 mark, however, Lindor has a higher WAR than Gimenez at 6.7 compared to 5.9 on the year. Gimenez has slashed .303/.375/.482 with 17 home runs and 68 RBI. He has also stolen 19 bases to lead the club.
Putting together the best season of his career according to Baseball Reference is fellow middle infielder Amed Rosario. With a 3.9 WAR in 2022, the 26-year-old shortstop has hit .283/.314/.410 with 11 home runs, a league-high nine triples, 68 RBI and 17 stolen bases. His defense has improved as well, accounting for the increase in his WAR.
Also acquired via trade, Josh Naylor has swung a hot bat in 2022. The first baseman has taken a major step forward offensively after struggling for the first three seasons of his career. In 472 plate appearances he has slashed .258/.320/.453 with 19 home runs and 73 RBI. Naylor has hit the ball harder than ever, with an average exit velocity and hard hit percentage in 2022 that surpasses any of his previous years.
Rookie sensation Steven Kwan has been arguably the best surprise for the Guardians in 2022. The 25-year-old has hit .295/.371/.392 with 22 doubles and 17 stolen bases while maintaining an OPS+ above 120. With an ability to get on base paired with solid defensive value, Kwan has been tabbed as a five-WAR player in 2022, according to Baseball Reference’s calculation. The unexpected emergence of the left fielder is providing a major boost that has helped propel the lineup.
Also a rookie in 2022, outfielder Oscar Gonzalez has had a nice season in his debut season in the major leagues. The 24-year-old has hit .291/.322/.472 with 11 home runs, 25 doubles and 41 RBI in 338 plate appearances. He has a 125 OPS+ that ranks third on the team, behind just Gimenez and Ramirez.
World Series Draught
The Cleveland Guardians have not won a World Series title since 1948. They last made a trip to the Fall Classic in 2016 when they fell to the Chicago Cubs in a thrilling seven-game series. Cleveland had built a 3-1 series lead before losing the last three games in the series. The two franchises held the longest championship draughts among teams with at least a single title in their history.
For Cleveland to get over the hump in 2022, they might need a favorable draw and some October heroics. The pitching staff has the capability to win some games for Cleveland if the offense is unable to manufacture runs. Relying on that to win every game in the postseason might be too tall of an order, however. Most teams going to the playoffs this year have at least a couple of hitters capable of carrying an offense. Outside of Ramirez, the Guardians lack a definitive star that always possesses a serious threat to the opponent. A case can be made for Gimenez, but he has not built the track record that others who carry that title have.
In many previous postseasons, the unlikeliest of heroes have come through at the right time. If the Guardians can ride this end-of-season stretch into October, their postseason hero could emerge. Even if a quick playoff exit is in store for Cleveland in 2022, there is no doubt there should be plenty more chances to come with a young roster that should only improve with time.