Why you shouldn't quit on the Cleveland Guardians just yet

The Cleveland Guardians currently sit at 40-42, which feels like a significant underachievement after their run to the American League Championship Series last year along with a roster featuring a wealth of young, returning talent.

Their inability to capitalize on the momentum from last season has led a good portion of the fanbase to start to give up on this group and gear up for next season. And while that reaction is understandable, here are three reasons why you should still prepare for Guardians baseball this October.

The starting rotation is beginning to look like a group that can keep Cleveland in games

Here's how Cleveland's starters did in June:

Not too shabby.

While none of those pitching lines are particularly elite, Cleveland has five guys who can go out, eat innings, and keep runs off the board. None of the them are over 26, and the team is still expecting Shane Bieber to be back at some point this summer. The reports of the death of Cleveland's pitching factory have been greatly exaggerated.

Bullpen reinforcements are on the way

While Cleveland's bullpen hasn’t been as dominant this year (4.02 ERA this year compared to a 2.57 ERA last year) thanks to a handful of injuries and a slow start from Emmanuel Clase, it's still one of the best relief units in baseball and a net positive to the team.

Erik Sabrowski just returned from the injured list, which will give Cleveland a strikeout-seeking lefty to pair with Tim Herrin, and Paul Sewald and Trevor Stephan recently began rehab assignments as well.

The addition of Sewald and Stephan would bring two high-leverage arms back to a bullpen that has been overworked so far this year.

The offense can only get better

It is no secret that the Guardians offense has held this team back from true contention, but there are still some signs of hope even after a tough week.

José Ramírez and Steven Kwan continue to play like All-Stars. Lane Thomas is finally healthy and is starting to swing the bat with more consistency. Kyle Manzardo has been inconsistent, but still appears to be developing into an everyday option for this team.

In addition to the current roster, there is some help in Triple-A. It is well known that Cleveland’s front office is notorious for being cautious with promotions, but when the time comes, there are some notable options in Columbus.

Chase DeLauter and CJ Kayfus are the hot names, but don’t forget about Juan Brito and Jhonkensey Noel. Brito has been a high level hitter his entire MiLB career, and Noel is finding his swing again after a mid-season demotion.

It is easy to write the season off as a loss, they're still only 2 1/2 games out of a Wild Card spot. Everything this group wants to accomplish is right there for the taking.