Guardians inside Top 20 of recent MLB Power Ranking

This season has not gone to plan for the Cleveland Guardians. A combination of injuries and underperformance has led to a 57-62 record, trailing the American League Central division-leading Minnesota Twins by 4.5 games. Postseason play is still possible, and that leads us to where they sit in a recently published MLB Power Rankings list.

Checking at Number 19 are the Guardians. Cleveland narrowly avoided a sweep at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays this past weekend and needed a lopsided 9-2 victory on a getaway day to accomplish that. Even with that being considered, this Guardians team somehow cracks the Top 20.

"The Guardians start the week 4.5 games out of the AL Central lead and 8.5 games out of a Wild Card spot. Whichever way you look at it, Cleveland has to put something together in a hurry if it’s going to defend its division crown. Cleveland’s run differential is exactly zero for the season, which seems fitting for a team that seems to be stuck in neutral."

This is a spot-on analysis of how this season has gone. "Stuck in neutral". One step forward with one step back, and vice versa. Cleveland has lacked an extended groove of above-average performance this year, and that has played a factor regarding their position in the standings, as well as this power rankings list.

For reference, Minnesota is ranked 13th. This seems a bit generous as some projected positive outcomes coming their way in the near future seem to play a factor in this. With that being said, of all the division leaders across Major League Baseball, the Twins are the most fraudulent. Cleveland is not any better, but whichever team makes it out of the worst division in all of baseball is likely a first-round out.