Is this rock bottom for the 2025 Cleveland Guardians?

The Cleveland Guardians are no stranger to losing in. For most of the early 2010s, they spent October on the sideline before building a juggernaut. In 2021, they missed out on the postseason in what ended up being a transitional year.  In 2023, they limped to a rough 76-86 record. 

But none of that seemed to sting as much as what they’re going through right now. On Saturday, the Guardians dropped a sluggish 1-0 affair to the Detroit Tigers — a loss that increased their losing streak to nine games and their deficit in the division to 14 1/2 games. 

And we’re not even at the All-Star Break yet. Yikes.

The Cleveland Guardians are playing like the worst team in baseball

The Guardians' skid gets even worse when you consider how bad they’ve looked over the past month. As The Athletic’s Zack Mesiel pointed out, Cleveland has been shutout in five of their nine losses, have scored just four runs combined over their last three games, have scored in just six of 82 innings in their losing streak and have scored in multiple innings in just 12 of their last 27 games. 

And if that wasn't enough, they had a player placed on leave because of a betting investigation.

Whatever they’re doing, it isn’t working. Unless you ask Stephen Vogt, who said after Saturday’s game that the Guardians need to “stay the course.”

And Vogt's statement isn't entirely wrong. Baseball is a long season that features plenty of ups and downs.

But it’s clear that the Guardians’ struggles go far beyond the ebbs and flows of a baseball season. They entered play on Saturday with the sixth-worst offense in baseball by wRC+, along with having the second-worst outfield and right field production by that metric. 

The only positions where the Guardians have a wRC+ above 100 (meaning they’re getting above league-average production) are first base, third base and left field. Everywhere has ranged between slightly subpar to insanely aggravating. 

And it almost feels worse because of the success the team’s pitchers have had. Logan Allen allowed just one run on two hits in six innings on Saturday, but he took the loss because one run is far too much for Cleveland’s offense these days. The day before him, Slade Cecconi put together another quality start but also took the loss. 

And it’s one thing to be bad and interesting, but right now the Guardians are just bad. There’s no Chase DeLauter or CJ Kayfus in the lineup to get excited about. Instead we’re treated to 0-for-3 showings from Johnathan Rodríguez and Brayan Rocchio batting ninth. 

Last season, the Guardians cruised to an American League Central crown and never had to worry about having to make drastic changes or shake ups to keep things going. That mantra seems to have carried over into this year even though the team is clearly much worse than it was last year. 

By the time the front office figures that out, it may be too late.