5 reasons the Cleveland Guardians could make a deep playoff run

CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 07: Jose Ramirez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians hits a two RBI home run in the sixth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in game one of the Wild Card Series at Progressive Field on October 07, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

5 of 6

CLEVELAND, OHIO – JULY 15: An official Major League baseball sits next to the infield prior to the game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field on July 15, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

No run to the World Series will be easy. However, the Guardians seem to have the ideal matchup in both the wild-card series and (if they make it that far) ALDS rounds. The Guardians went 4-2 against the Rays, who enter the playoffs in a serious skid, having lost eight of their last ten games. The only playoff team that Cleveland played better this season was the Blue Jays, who enter the playoffs on a hot streak of their own. Add in home-field advantage for all three games in the wild-card series and the Guardians have an ideal setup to advance.

If they were to advance, the Guardians would face the Yankees, who have at times looked like the best team in baseball, and at other times looked like a complete disaster. They seem to have stabilized somewhere in the middle, but also have to deal with a long five-day layoff between games. Long layoffs typically mean rust, and in a short series that could allow the Guardians to steal a game (or two) in New York and be in excellent position to advance to the ALCS.