What we've learned from Guardians' productive start to 2026 season

On Sunday, the Cleveland Guardians secured a series win over the Reds with a 10-3 win that pushed their record to 26-22, which leads the American League Central.

As the Guardians approach the 50-game mark and the season quietly shifts from its early stages, we're at a point where we're starting to gain a better understanding of where every team is.

The Guardians, as they typically are, have been competitive, which has helped them jump out to an early lead in the lackluster AL Central (and American League). The Guardians also have the third-best record in the Junior Circuit.

The start of the 2026 season has given us some great moments along with some bumps in the road, so let's take a look at how things have gone for them so far this season.

The Guardians have impressed so far in 2026

The Good
Prized rookies are shining

Given Chase DeLauter and Travis Bazzana have both been key contributors for the Guardians so far this season, this theme could qualify for “Great” if that's how the expression went.

Both players have looked unfazed by Major League competition, putting together solid at-bats and providing meaningful contributions in the lineup. 

Perhaps the most impressive demonstration of their abilities is that both DeLauter and Bazzana have remarkable plate discipline despite having relatively little experience in the big leagues.

Bazzana boasts a .411 on-base percentage with 13 walks compared to 12 strikeouts, while DeLauter sits well above league average with a .367 OBP and has five more walks than strikeouts.

Both rookies have provided the Guardians offense with exactly the output they needed to begin the season.

Contributions from utility players

Utility players are always a luxury, and the Guardians have two of the best in the form of Angel Martínez and Daniel Schneemann. While defensive versatility has continued into this season, their offensive contributions have been a pleasant surprise.

Martínez has shown a bit of a power surge and has already hit nine home runs in just 157 plate appearances. He has also shown a willingness to be a bit more aggressive on the basepaths and has already matched his stolen base total from last season (eight).

Schneeman has an above-average OBP (.336) and OPS (.754), and is showing an improvement in the power department. He is tied third on the club in doubles (eight) and is tied fourth in home runs (four).

Their impacts have been felt so far in 2026.

The Bad
The bullpen is kind of… meh

Plenty of MLB teams would be content with a bullpen that has a league-average ERA, but not the Guardians, who have had one of the best bullpens in the sport over the past half-decade.

The Guardians have ranked in the top-five in MLB in bullpen ERA four times since the start of 202 while never finishing worse than ninth. ninth. While “struggling” may be an exaggeration, the group has not been up to standard to this point in the season.

Hunter Gaddis has yet to find his footing since returning from the IL on April 13, posting a 6.10 ERA in 13 appearances. Matt Festa and Peyton Pallete both have ERAs well above 4.50, and Shawn Armstrong struggled before being placed on the injured list on April 26.

A good sign is closer Cade Smith has rebounded from his rough start and has posted a 1.15 ERA in his last 15 outings and is now tied with Mason Miller for the most saves in MLB (14).

Given the track record of the Guardians bullpen over the years, it is highly likely the group can improve their production.

The Ugly
Steven Kwan is slumping big time

For as nice of a surprise as it has been to see a couple unexpected Guardians step up their offense, it has unfortunately coincided with a household name slumping at the plate.

Steven Kwan has had a rough go of it to start the 2026 campaign. His batting average sits just above .200 and his on base percentage is .320.

The good news is Kwan has a reputable track record to this point in his career and is always elite with his glove. His plate discipline is also still there, as he has five more walks than strikeouts on the season.

Regardless, its been fun to watch two big-time rookies make significant contributions and a couple of utility players step up offensively in the first 48 games of the season. It will also be interesting to see if the bullpen can take things to the next level and if Steven Kwan can get things turned around.

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