3 rival players struggles who have helped Guardians in their quest to make the postseason

Although there are still plenty of things that need to be figured out around the Guardians' postseason seeding, we know it's going to be another October to remember in Northeast Ohio.

While a huge part of the Guardians' postseason berth is because of the performance from players up and down Cleveland's roster, they've also benefited from some struggles from some of the bigger names in the American League.

Here are three hitters whose struggles ended up helping push the Guardians toward the postseason.

Note: All stats are entering Friday's game

The Guardians have benefitted from struggles from some American League superstars

1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays
.263/.335/.360, 9 HR, 56 RBI, 97 wRC+

After signing a 14-year, $500 million extension last April, Guerrero went out and put together an MVP-caliber season for a Blue Jays team that came within an inning of winning the World Series. 

But he’s taken a huge step back this season in a season that’s been defined by injuries. In fact, he didn’t hit his first homer at Rogers Centre until last week.

Although he missed 15 games this season due to injuries, all of Guerrero’s advanced stats have taken a tumble, none more than his barrel rate (7.7%). Those struggles have been a huge hindrance for the Blue Jays, who were eliminated from the postseason on Wednesday. 

Last year Guerrero’s performance made his expensive (and lengthy) contract look like a bit of a bargain given his production. This year it has felt more like an anchor. 

The Blue Jays may not be in the same division as the Guardians, but their struggles meant they had one less team to worry about in the postseason chase. 

OF Kerry Carpenter, Detroit Tigers
.208/.276/.416, 13 HR, 36 RBI, 90 wRC+ 

Carpenter has done nothing but terrorize the Guardians since making his debut in 2022, but he didn’t get many chances to do so this season in what’s been a lost year for the 29-year-old. 

Carpenter only managed to play in 81 games this year due to a variety of injuries, with the latest one putting him on the shelf at the end of July. 

That injury came about after he suffered a left foot injury caused by an extra spike on his cleat that bruised his heel and eventually led to plantar fasciitis. 

Carpenter has slugged 83 home runs in 447 regular season big league games (along with three more in the postseason), but injuries have become a huge part of his story. 

The Tigers weren’t much of a factor in the American League Central this season, and Carpenter’s injury was a big reason why. 

2B Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
.250/.306/.398, 16 HR, 46 RBI, 98 wRC+ 

Although Altuve was one of the sport’s best hitters in the 2010s, it seems as if Father Time has finally caught up to him. After a disastrous 2025 that saw him play some outfield for the first time in his big league career, Altuve’s been entrenched at second base for all of this season. 

But that positional stability hasn’t led to much success in the batter’s box, as he’s on pace for his lowest RBI total since 2012. 

Even though the Astros still have a chance to make the postseason thanks to their uninspiring battle against the Texas Rangers, that potential berth would come in spite of what Altuve’s done — not because of what he’s done. 

Much like Guerrero’s impact on the Blue Jays, Altuve’s struggles helped clear a path for the Guardians in the Wild Card race while also helping water down the American League’s postseason picture. 

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