After a very successful and eventful regular season, the Cleveland Guardians have clinched a playoff spot, won their division, and earned a first-round bye. After a disappointing 2023 season and the retirement of future Hall of Fame manager Terry Francona, the team had a significant void to fill with the right person. On November 6th, 2023, Cleveland hired Stephen Vogt. The former big-leaguer was the perfect choice and has been a huge factor in the Guardians' success this season. However, a manager can’t lead the team alone; he needs a star player to help him, and the Guardians have just the right guy.

José Ramírez is the heart and soul of the Guardians team. After a disappointing 2023 season by his standards, he came back in 2024 to have arguably the best season of his career. At 32 years old, Ramírez remains one of the top 5 players in all of baseball and continues to put up remarkable numbers. As of September 25th, he sits just two homers away from 40, which would be a career high. With the help of All-Stars Steven Kwan and Josh Naylor, the Guardians' offense was able to carry the team throughout the regular season.

The main issue for the Guardians this season, however, has been their starting pitching. It began in April when it was announced that ace Shane Bieber needed season-ending elbow surgery. To make matters worse, Triston McKenzie and Logan Allen took big steps backward and were sent down to Columbus (AAA). Heading into October, the Guardians have just one starting pitcher left from the original rotation—Tanner Bibee, who will get the Game 1 start this Saturday. Along with Bibee, veterans Matt Boyd and Alex Cobb will help lead the rotation for the remainder of the postseason.

But the MLB playoffs are often won by teams with the best bullpens, and the Guardians have the #1 bullpen in the sport. Led by Emmanuel Clase, who is having one of the best relief pitching seasons of all time, the bullpen is poised to close out games. Rookies Cade Smith, Hunter Gaddis, and Tim Herrin have also had outstanding seasons and are ready to help the team make a deep run in October.

The Guardians have the right pieces in place to win it all; it's just a matter of getting hot at the right time. Rookie Kyle Manzardo and trade deadline acquisition Lane Thomas have been two of the best hitters in MLB in September, and Cleveland will need them if they want a fun postseason. The team has been streaky throughout the second half of the season, so if they can hit a two-week hot stretch, the World Series trophy could return to Cleveland for the first time since 1948.