5 players who can make an impact for the Guardians down the stretch

1. Alex Cobb

Expecting someone different? Alex Cobb was one of two players acquired by Cleveland at the deadline and the only one who is a starting pitcher.

The Guardians are in need of some reinforcements to their rotation, so Cobb being mentioned first here is quite obvious. Cleveland has managed to get as far as they have this season despite having a rotation that has been pieced together and has been very underwhelming at times. Being able to insert someone like Cobb, who has tons of experience to his name, should help provide some much-needed stability to a pitching staff that needs it. Cobb's presence should not only boost the performance of Clevleand's starters but take some pressure off the bullpen to be elite at all times, a task that is simply unfair to ask of them.

2. Triston McKenzie

Sensing a theme here? The Cleveland Guardians are in all-hands-on-deck mode when it comes to their starting rotation, anyone and everyone will be considered as a possible solution to their problem until they find one. That includes someone who was demoted due to poor performance. That person would be Triston McKenzie.

McKenzie has largely struggled this year in the majors, compiling a 5.11 ERA and 1.559 WHIP in 75.2 innings. These are some of, if not the worst, marks of his career up to this point. It was a bit easier to accept McKenzie's sub-par outings early on, considering he missed the majority of the 2023 season. But when it became clear he was not going to get any better, the Guardians were forced to send him to Triple-A.

It has been mostly a mixed bag for McKenzie down in Columbus, although there was an encouraging outing just this past week. McKenzie struck out 11 batters over 6 innings for the Clippers, showcasing the strikeout ability that he has previously made himself known for.

Even though it was only in Triple-A, McKenzie looking like his former self is still something of note. Good starts have been few and far between for McKenzie no matter the level of competition faced, but having an outing like this could spark the turnaround on the mound that is desperately needed.

3. Kyle Manzardo

The time for Kyle Manzardo to make his return to the majors seems imminent. Cleveland has not really gotten that much production out of their designated hitter spot and could use a nice boost to provide an offensive jolt. Manzardo is someone who could slide right into that position to give the Guardians a regular presence at DH rather than continuing to shuffle guys in and out on a game-by-game basis.

Yes, there is some concern about his struggles during his abbreviated time with the Guardians this season, but that was something that should have been somewhat expected. Manzardo is only 23 years old, and it is not uncommon for young players to have that experience when first called up. But there is no time like the present to give him another shot in the big leagues.

The only downside to bringing Manzardo back into the fold would be the DH position being occupied by him or Josh Naylor on most days. While that could reduce the positional flexibility during the regular season, it really will not be an issue come playoff time. Needing to rest guys while keeping their bat in the lineup is not necessary in the playoffs, and having someone capable of being a consistent presence at DH could be a difference-maker in the postseason.

4. Matthew Boyd

Back to the mound with this entry. The Cleveland Guardians brought Matthew Boyd into the fold, hoping to get something out of the former Detroit Tiger. Like the previously mentioned Alex Cobb, Boyd is to throw a pitch in the majors in 2024. Bringing Boyd aboard was always a gamble, and the time to see if it pays off is rapidly approaching.

Boyd has made four appearances at various levels of the minor leagues, compiling a 1.15 ERA and 0.830 WHIP in 15.2 innings. The 33-year-old veteran has 20 strikeouts compared to two walks in that span, with 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings. While it is only against minor leaguers, it is very encouraging to see someone who should be dominating inexperienced players doing exactly that. This is what teams want to see from veterans when they are facing lineups full of youngsters, and Boyd being able to do that is somewhat promising.

Yes, there are concerns about what Boyd will or will not be able to do against major leaguers, considering his last go-around in 2023 was far from ideal. Boyd had a 5.45 ERA and 1.324 WHIP in 15 games with Detroit last season, but his return to the Tigers was cut short due to undergoing Tommy John surgery. These struggles could have been a result of that injury, and the hope is that a fully healthy Boyd will be able to provide something of note to Cleveland's pitching staff moving forward.

5. George Valera

If there was ever a time to see what George Valera could bring to the table, it is now. Valera is out of options at the end of the season, and at some point, they need to know whether or not they should continue investing time in him. Positionally, he would fit right into their outfield mix while potentially providing some pop among some light-hitting members of that group.

The issue with Valera has never been about potential, as he has always had plenty of it. It has been about his ability to stay healthy, or lack thereof. Valera has dealt with plenty of injuries throughout his time in the minors, and that has stunted his growth. It has also made it more difficult for him to adjust to pitching as he progressed through the minor leagues.

Through 63 games at Columbus this season, Valera is slashing .246/.335/.427 with 12 doubles and 10 home runs. While not prolific by any means, it is at least encouraging to see him show something that was projected of him once upon a time. Giving him a shot now while the Guardians need some help offensively is definitely something worth considering as they look to capture a division title and go on a postseason run.