CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Guardians’ playoff aspirations have taken a devastating hit during a disastrous road trip that has exposed the team’s most glaring weakness: an offense that simply cannot produce runs when needed.
The numbers tell a sobering story. The Guardians have now been shut out 14 times this season, leading the American League in that dubious category and sitting second in the majors behind only the Pittsburgh Pirates. Over their most recent stretch, Cleveland has lost eight of nine games, including back-to-back shutout losses to close out a sweep at the hands of the Texas Rangers.
“They lose 10-0 on Saturday, 5-0 on Sunday and forget about the division now. Staying in contention for a wild card is really the only focus of this team,” Cleveland.com’s Paul Hoynes said on the latest Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast.
What’s particularly alarming is how completely the offense has disappeared. Against Texas, Cleveland managed just one run in 21 innings while facing the Rangers’ starting pitchers. The team hit a paltry .159 across the entire road trip and an even more dismal .158 with runners in scoring position.
“This offense right now looks dead in the water,” Cleveland.com’s Joe Noga observed. “It looks like the 10 game losing streak offense where they were shut out five times and averaged 1.5 runs a game.”
This offensive collapse has striking similarities to the team’s midseason 10-game losing skid. What makes this current slump even more concerning is that it’s happening when the team desperately needs wins to stay in the wild card hunt.
The struggles of key players like José Ramírez and Steven Kwan have been particularly damaging. Kwan hit just .125 against Texas with no home runs or RBIs, while Ramírez managed a .238 average. When these two offensive engines stall simultaneously, the team’s already limited run-production capabilities nearly vanish.
“When those two guys don’t hit, this team really has little if any chance of winning a ball game,” Hoynes noted.
With five games separating them from the final wild card spot and 34 games remaining, the mathematics remain technically possible. However, the on-field reality paints a much bleaker picture.
Manager Stephen Vogt has maintained an optimistic public stance, insisting the team will continue fighting until they’re either “popping champagne or they’re told that they’re out of it.” But even this professional positivity struggles to mask the reality of a team that appears fundamentally broken at the plate.
For a young team that has shown flashes of potential throughout the season, this regression to offensive futility raises serious questions about their core identity. Are they the club that bounced back strongly after the All-Star break, or are they the team that’s currently making history for all the wrong reasons?
With Tampa Bay arriving in town and the schedule offering no respite, the Guardians face a critical juncture. Their response in the coming weeks will either validate Vogt’s optimism or confirm what many fans already fear – that this offensive collapse has effectively ended their 2025 playoff hopes.
Podcast transcript
Joe Noga: Welcome back to the Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast. I’m Joe Noga, joined by Paul Hoynes. Hoyns. The Guardians just no way, no other way to say it but a disastrous road trip to Arizona and Texas swept by the Rangers over the weekend and shut out in the final two games of the series. They lose 10 nothing on Saturday, five nothing on Sunday and you know, forget about the division now. Now staying in contention for a wild card is, is really the, the only focus of this team. That’s pretty much the only path to the, to the postseason for these Guardians and, and, and really that’s in, in doubt right now. Just just looking at the way that the offense has been playing. Uh, what did you take away from this uh, this road trip? Uh, Guardians are what, one and eight in their last nine games?
Paul Hoynes: Yeah Joe, just a disastrous six game trip through Arizona and Texas. You know, they’re playing two teams that you know were supposedly out of the race that had. And they go one and two against Arizona, lose and then go get swept by Texas. Only though like I think the second time since 2005 they’ve been swept in Arlington. Just a, just a terrible display of offense and everything almost that could go wrong did go wrong. You know, Cade Smith blows back to back games in the ninth inning. They get shut out in the last two games of the Texas series. They’ve now been shut out 14 times this season. Joe. They lead the American League in shutouts. Their second in the big leagues in shutouts. The only other team that’s been shut out more is the Pirates. My God, the lowly Pirates are the only team separating the Guardians from being shut out the most times in the big leagues. Joe. It is amazing that they’ve stayed this close for this long with this kind of offense.
Joe Noga: Right? The just on a consistent basis that the at bats just haven’t been there when they need them with runners and scoring position. We saw that throughout the, the Arizona series particularly. But in, in Texas they couldn’t muster any sort of offense. The, the starting pitching for the Rangers, which was supposed to be the strength of that team heading into the season, uh really sort of dominated uh the Guardians from from start to finish. Uh Friday through Sunday they scored The.
Paul Hoynes: Guardian scored one run against the Texas rotation in this three game series. One run in 21 innings. Avaldi VI, then Jack Leiter. Jack Leiter and then, and then Kelly just dominated them seven innings each. Evaldi was the only guy that’s that that allowed a run and he might be the best out of the three of them, Joe, and he’s a Cy Young candidate. But you know, you know, the way, you know, Merrill Kelly and, and lighter pitched against them, I mean it’s, it’s, it’s crazy to think how, how Texas has lost as much as they have. I mean they, they did a great, great job against Cleveland. But that, you know, I don’t know, Joe. This, this offense, it right now looks dead in the water. It looks like, you know, the 10 game losing streak offense where they were shut out five times and average 1.5 runs a game and that they did score that. That’s what it looks like to me right now. That team streak is resurfaced and they are on a bad one right now.
Joe Noga: Yeah, this is shades of the, the sort of the cycle that they go through. There’s a stretch of games where they don’t hit and the offense can’t capitalize on situations. And then, you know, they, they looked like they had figured things out after that 10 game losing streak around the All Star break. They came out, you know, after that trip to Houston and looked, looked pretty hot and together and then just over these last nine or so games, dozen or so games actually, that they’ve really struggled to not only get runners on base, but to get them in and not hitting in situations. This is, again, it’s a sign of a young team as well. It, like you said, team streak, we say that about the team in 2021, in 2023 when the offense was going like this. This is sort of the same problems repeating themselves on an offense. Let’s, let’s talk about individuals. Jose Ramirez, Stephen Kwon, when those guys aren’t hitting and when those guys are struggling. I believe Steven Vogt said Jose Ramirez looks like he’s a little in between right now. When those guys aren’t producing for you, it’s, it’s really hard for this club to get, get runs across. Yeah.
Paul Hoynes: Quan against Texas hit.125. 3. 3 for 24. No, no home runs, no RBIs. Ramirez goes 5 for 21. He said he had.238, one home run, four RBIs. Just, you know, when, when those two guys don’t hit, you know, and they’re the best two hitters on the ball club, you know, this team really has little if any chance of winning a ball game. And you know, I think both Texas and Arizona did a great job pitching into these to these two guys and neutralize them and really took the sting out of the. What little sting there is In Cleveland’s.
Joe Noga: Offense over his past 26 games, Gabriel Arias, 35 strikeouts, four walks in 87 at bats. He’s hitting.195 with a.590 OPS. Just this is since he came back from the ankle injury and really since he’s had Brian Rocchio over at second base. You know, the shortstop job, he is his. And it’s, it’s mind boggling that, that the at bats have been not as consistent as they were prior to the injury. And you know, him looking like he had sort of figured a few things out. What’s, what do you think they do and how long do you think they, they stick with Gabriel Arias? Is Gabriel Arias the answer long term for this team at shortstop?
Paul Hoynes: You know, Joe, that is, I thought he had answered that question. You know, the one, the one saving grace is he’s still playing great defense. You know, he’s got the great arm. He made two really good plays yesterday, then he threw a ball away, but it was a tough error. But still he’s playing good defense, defense. But, you know, I thought he had turned the corner as a complete player, Joe. But you know, the streak is, you know, it really leaves you in doubt. Can they, is he the guy for, for 20, 26 and beyond, you know, the question, the questions that were there at the start of the season have come back to me at least.
Joe Noga: I mean, the answer that the Guardians are probably going to give you is, you know, you have to take a look at the whole season and his entire body of work and, you know, they’ll evaluate sort of beyond this season, you know, at the end of the year. But right now, if you’re a team that’s still scratching and clawing to try to hang on to a third wild card spot or just outside of that, contend for it, you know, these, these, these questions need to be answered now. And with his play on the field, sort of the crazy thing with all this is it’s just that five games out of the wild card with a lot of games in front of them against teams that they’re chasing. So you can’t completely write this team off. Stephen Vogt said they’re going to keep trying and keep fighting until they’re popping champagne or they’re, they’re told that they’re out of it. What, you know, what do you take away from that? Is vote just, you know, trying to, trying to keep these guys positive or is that something that there’s a realistic chance?
Paul Hoynes: I guess there’s a chance, Joe, with the wild card with three teams, you know, eligible to make the postseason through the wild card process, anything can still happen. But, but I mean, they’re five games out now with what, two games, two teams ahead of them? I mean, you know, even to get to the third spot, you know, it is, it is a tough, tough process. It’s, it’s a, you know, a daily grind. And we’ve been through this before and even when you, if you get there, you’re probably so exhausted by just the process of getting there. Is it. Are you one and done, even if you get out? But if they could get in, that would be an accomplishment, perhaps even more, you know, a better accomplishment than winning the division last year. But they’ve got a lot of work to do, Joe. There’s 34 games left and Vote is saying what he has to say as a manager. You know, I mean, he says they’re frustrated. They are frustrated, but you look at that offense, Joe, and I just don’t see it. I, you know, they hit 158 with runners in scoring position against Texas. I mean, I didn’t know for the whole, for the whole road trip, there was 158. For the whole world trip, they hit 159 as a team for the whole road trip. I mean, how do you win with that? You can’t, you know, you’ve got a new closer that, that is going through a rock patch. You, you know, you’ve got, you know, starters, you know, know Logan Allen and Gavin Williams and Saturday and Sunday combined to give up 11 earned runs, four home runs and eight and a third innings. It’s, it is, you know, it is a, it’s not looking good right now, Joe. I mean, they’ve got to do some serious work to get back in to the, to the wild card race. They, they really, really have to, you know, really kind of dig down and, and find something that we haven’t seen them show, you know, since they got on that run after the 10 game losing week.
Joe Noga: Yeah. And it’s not like there’s a cavalry coming or, you know, any additions or areas where they can add to the roster or make moves that, that really seem like they can make improvements. You touched on Cade Smith. You go back to the series finale in Arizona. They looked like they, they were in position to salvage that series and, you know, come out with two wins. And Smith goes in and blows the save in the ninth inning. A home run by Lotus Goriel puts Arizona on top and they win it in the bottom of the ninth or I’M sorry, the bottom of the tenth in extra innings. What, you know, what are we seeing different in Kate Smith or is it he. Is he just looking overwhelmed at this point?
Paul Hoynes: I don’t think he’s overwhelmed, Joe. I think he’s still getting used to the role. I mean, you cannot go in there and pump fastballs down the middle. You know, and first, you know, really, I mean, he challenges hitters. You got to give him that, you know, he’s not messing around. But there has to be a little finesse, I think, involved in this thing as well. He’s got to learn how to get them to chase. I mean, it’s, you know, because if you, if you’re throwing 96 miles on fastballs right down the middle of the plate, they’re going to get hit.
Joe Noga: Yeah. And I think the same problem again showed up. They were in position to win on Friday as well. Jose Ramirez had given them a lead with a two run double. And it was, you know, things were looking positive and then all of a sudden the same issue comes up against Texas.
Paul Hoynes: Yeah, and that happened so fast, Joe. I mean, it happened in seven pitches. Three straight hits in seven pitches, two runs. And the Rangers are walking it off and they’re singing the Yell Rosa Texas or whatever they sang Sing, you know, their, their celebration song at Globe Life Field. So it was, it happened so fast. It was a blink of an eye. I, if you, if you, if you were down keeping, you know, marking the, marking the runs in the scorebook, it was over before you could even do that. And, you know, I think that was just another, you know, he kind of, he went with the split a little bit, left it up and then, you know, two, two, you know, two fastballs right down the middle of the plate and, and that, you know, I just think we’re seeing a closer, you know, in, in the, in the learning process. I know he. Okay. Closed in in the, in the minors. I know, you know, he’s an excellent, you know, setup guy. 8th inning, 7th inning, wherever, wherever the, you know, the heat was the most. He’s, he’s proven he can handle that. And right now he’s, he’s just working into that ninth inning and it is, it, you know, it’s a tough role. It’s a different role. Nobody you trying to get the last three outs of the game is always the toughest, the toughest job to me in of, in the, in anybody’s bullpen.
Joe Noga: Yeah. And Stephen voted started, you know, after the Emanuel classes, you know, was put on leave. Voted Said, you know, there would be a closure by committee or there would be different options at different times. But, but Smith is obviously the guy that they, they want for this role, that they’re putting him in this role as as many opportunities as there are, just there are really no other options right now. And if you’re looking beyond 2025, you know he’s going to be your closer in the, in the future because Emmanuel Class A is not going to be an option.
Paul Hoynes: Yeah, I mean, you know, from all, you know, we still don’t know that completely, Joe, about a Class A. But you know, the, you know, the feeling is right now that there will be no decision made at, at August 31st, the latest deadline that MLB will extend its investigation past the end of August, perhaps even into the off season. So, you know, there’s still no definite word that. About Class A or Luis Ortiz, but I think if you’re the guardians, you know, you have to operate on the assumption that those guys will not be backed. Don’t you. Is it. Don’t you think that’s good?
Joe Noga: That’s. I think you have to put everything in place to, to say, hey, you know, Class A is not going to be a part of the organization. And you know, having Kate Smith, you know, sort of learn the closers role sort of on the fly is, is what it’s going to have to be and you’re going to have to live with the results. And this, this road trip sort of, sort of showed what can be the result of a guy who not. Not saying he’s not ready. I think he’s, he’s ready to step forward and sort of learn it. But it might be a while before he becomes the automatic thing that you had with Class say for sure as far as, you know, coming off the road trip and the standings and where they are and you know, moving forward. It doesn’t get any easier with Tampa Bay coming into town. Tampa Bay, obviously a team that’s in a, a bit of a different position as well, but they always seem to play Cleveland tough.
Paul Hoynes: Yeah, the last few years they have. They have had Cleveland’s number. They played them really well. They always seem to, you know, they’ve got Junior Caminero coming to town. What? He hit a grand slam yesterday. He’s leading. He’s leading the raise with 37 home runs and 90, 91 RBIs, I believe. And Joe, what. How. How would he look hitting behind Jose Ramirez right now?
Joe Noga: Yeah, I think that the Guardians lineup would look a lot different. And in an Alternate reality. I think Chris Antonetti turnoff would, would, would say that, that that trade wouldn’t have been made and Kamenur would still be a part of the organization. But you know, who knows, you know, where he would be. Guy almost wins the Home Run Derby. I mean you got to think about this is exactly what you need. It was a right handed power hitter in the organization and they haven’t had that for so long. Carlos Santana, veteran first baseman, has had his playing time reduced over the last several weeks. CJ Kaifas and Kyle Manzardo sort of taking those at bats from him, you know, what’s, what’s Carlos Santana’s approach? I mean obviously this is a 15 year veteran, a guy who you don’t just, you know, send him to the bench. You have conversations with him about that. But does, does he seem like he’s accepting this role?
Paul Hoynes: I think he, I think he has Joe. I don’t think he’s got much of a choice, you know, and you know, it’s happens, you know, and especially happens, you know, at times like this when the team is out of the race or you know, just kind of on the periphery of the race and you’ve got young guys you got to find out about. Everybody knows what Carlos can and can’t do. Has he had his best offensive season? No. Has he been, you know, the second half player that he usually is? No. But he’s still the best defensive first baseman on the ball club. And when you play Kuipers, when you play Manzano at first base, you weaken the od, the defense and you know, so, you know, but that’s, that’s the choice they’ve made, you know, and, and I guess, you know, from strict, strictly a talent and a business point of view, it makes sense, it’s, but it’s a cold, kind of cold aspect of professional sports. The old guy, you know, that has given you so much and given Cleveland so much, you know, he ends his stay in Cleveland, I would imagine his third tour in Cleveland, you know, with reduced playing time, watching the kids play in front of them.
Joe Noga: Yeah. And I got to imagine that they’ll, they’ll do something at the end of the year maybe to celebrate Carlos Santana knowing you sort of like what they did with Bieber and Carlos Carrasco at the end of last year without really officially saying it, but sort of giving all indications that, you know, maybe the time is coming to an end in Cleveland. You kind of had to know that this was going to happen when he stayed with the club after the trade deadline, they could have made a move to open up that roster spot, just moving him to anybody who would have taken him or even DFA ing him at that time. But instead they kept him and they kept him on the roster. I’m sure they had a conversation with him and said, hey, you know, this is how it’s going to be down the stretch. We’re going to play the younger kids and, you know, he’s handled it like a veteran. Like you said, the leadership that he’s showing is going to last. It’s going to send a message and it’s going to be an example for the guys in that clubhouse, you know, beyond this year, when, when they talk about Carlos Santana, when this team talks about Carlos Santana in the next couple of years, they’re going to talk about him, you know, glowingly. And it’s because of how he’s handling this situation. The, you know, some moves that happened over the last couple of days here. The, the right hander that they acquired from Toronto, the minor leaguer, Cal Stephan, he made his organizational debut, went three scoreless innings for Akron over the weekend. The organization has to be thrilled with Cal Stefan and, you know, just his ability to get back on the mound after having the shoulder impingement which held him back when they acquired him at the trade deadline.
Paul Hoynes: Yeah, Joe, just really impressive appearance by. Impressive start by, by Stephen. He threw 71% of his pitches for strikes. Like you said, three scoreless innings. This is Toronto’s number two pick from last year. He was 9 and 1 when he was injured at Double A for Akron, I mean, for Toronto. So he’s returned to Akron now the Double A level, and it’s going to be interesting to see what he can do in the last month and a half or last six weeks of the season. Joe, I would imagine they won’t push him too hard, but he’s already pitched close to 100 innings, so. But still really impressive to see that he’s back and active. And the guardians, you know, got good reports on this guy, you know, health wise, that, that the injury, you know, the shoulder impingement wasn’t that serious and he was. And he was able to rehab it in Goodyear and come back and pitch Saturday for Akron. So that’s, that’s a good step, especially because Bieber, you know, pitched so well for Toronto on Friday.
Joe Noga: Yeah, you want to talk about a rehab? And in a first appearance, Shane Bieber did about as well as anybody could expect. This is what Toronto traded for when they, when they acquired him from Cleveland at the trade deadline. He goes six scoreless strikes out, what, nine in his. I’m sorry. He gives. He gives up a run, six innings, nine strikeouts and dominates in Miami. Just what you would expect out of a typical Shane Bieber start. It was as if he was right back where he left off, back in 2024, before the injury.
Paul Hoynes: Yeah, what a. What an addition this is. This is going to be for the Blue Jays, Joe. I mean, he could take them, you know, deep into the postseason. I mean, they got to win the AL east, you know, first. First. But they’ve got a comp. They’ve got a good lead there. Bieber only makes him better. And this is the kind. This is what you pray. Pray to happen when. When you. When you make a deal like that on. And it was an if come deal. You really didn’t know how healthy Bieber was, you know, how much he’d come back. But it’s certainly. It’s good for. Good for Shane Bieber. He worked hard. Strange kind of setting for. For Cleveland. They. They trade that. They trade their ace, their former Cy Young winner, and they could watch him pitch another team into the postseason.
Joe Noga: Yeah, it’s. It’ll be something to keep an eye on, definitely a storyline moving forward and something we’ll follow. All right, Hoines, that’s going to wrap up a quick edition here of the Cleveland Baseball Talk podcast. We’ll be back to talk tomorrow morning about the. The opener of the Tampa Bay series, and we’ll check in with you then.
Paul Hoynes: Good deal, Joe.
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