Recent performance has Guardians inching closer to baseball's best teams

The first month of the regular season is almost complete, and with that, the true talent level of each team has become more clear. Overall sample sizes are still small, but there is enough data that should indicate whether or not a team is good or not. When it comes to the Cleveland Guardians, they are not perfect by any means, but they do appear to be one of the better teams in baseball.

As part of Joel Reuter's MLB Power Rankings appearing on Bleacher Report, the 15-12 Cleveland Guardians have closed the gap between themselves and the top ten teams in the sport. Reuter has Cleveland as the 13th ranked team, moving up one spot from last week's placement. Cleveland is the second-highest team in the American League Central division according to Reuter, with the surprising Detroit Tigers claiming the number two spot behind the San Francisco Giants. The Kansas City Royals (18), Minnesota Twins (24), and Chicago White Sox (29) remain firmly in the lower half of the rankings.

Even though the Guardians dropped two of three to the visiting Boston Red Sox this past weekend, thier performance over a longer stretch is more important in Reuter's eyes. "Despite the weekend series loss to the Red Sox, the Guardians are still 6-3 in their last nine games, and since their 3-6 start to the year they have not lost more than two consecutive games", wrote Reuter, making sure to mention the fact that Cleveland has limited thier loss frequency since the lackluster beginning to this season.

Moving up lists like this one, even if it is just one spot, is progress. The Guardians being able to come out victorious in six of their last nine games is impressive, and shows that this team is capable of going on the extended stretches that are common among playoff teams. Cleveland should continue their rate of winning and may be able to reach that next level, which separates the geniune contenderes from the also-rans.