The Cleveland Guardians could possibly be known as considered one of the extra attention-grabbing groups in the American League. They gained the AL Central final 12 months (barely) and got here into 2026 with a rotation that appears deeper on paper than it did then, even with none main additions. Their document to date (10-8) displays a crew that’s been stable at residence and a good .500 on the highway. They’ve simply misplaced 4 of six together with a 13-1 spanking by Atlanta on Sunday, and a two-to-one series loss to St. Louis.
The offense is constructed round the normal suspects, plus just a few new ones, too. José Ramírez is José Ramírez — he wants no introduction at this level, having put collectively 9 seasons with an OPS over .800, which is solely considered one of the nice sustained runs of manufacturing in franchise historical past. Outfielder Steven Kwan is in the center of a down begin to the season, however he’s been considered one of the finest contact hitters in the sport. Outfielder Angel Martinez (at the moment hitting .314) has been considered one of the nice surprises of the early season and has been consuming into enjoying time for others. Rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter is hitting every thing in sight (.273/.349/.618/.967).
This is taken into account a Top Ten offense for now, however a number of hitters are ice chilly. Longtime Philly Rhys Hoskins has had a bumpy begin to his Guardians profession: he’s hitting .209 in 13 video games. Ditto Brayan Rocchio, who has an OPS beneath .700. Utility man David Fry, who performs first and a few outfield, is including unfavourable worth proper now, and Bo Naylor, samesies, given a .143 common in 12 video games.
Below the high few spots, this can be a lineup that doesn’t have a whole lot of family names, however is disciplined, makes contact, and doesn’t beat itself.
The Cleveland rotation, in the meantime, is often a energy, however with one exception it’s at the moment floundering a bit. Let’s flip to these matchups.
Game 1: Thursday, 6:10 pm, MASN
RHP Shane Baz (0-1, 4.50 ERA, 14 SO) vs. LHP Parker Messick (2-0, 0.51 ERA, 16 SO)
Baz has had an up-and-down begin to life in Baltimore, permitting no less than three earned runs in two of his first three outings and but to full six innings in any of them, giving him a 4.50 ERA and 1.56 WHIP by 16 innings. The stuff stays spectacular — his fastball is sitting round 97 mph and he’s been leaning extra closely on his knuckle-curve, which generated a virtually 30% whiff price in his early work. The command has been the difficulty, and it has been the difficulty with him in the previous.
On the different aspect of this matchup, nonetheless, is arguably the hottest pitcher in baseball proper now. The 25-year-old lefty Parker Messick has an 0.51 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, and a 16:5 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and in simply three begins he’s already amassed extra WAR (1.3) than he did in his total 2025 marketing campaign. His most up-to-date begin got here in opposition to Atlanta’s formidable offense, the place he held the Braves scoreless by 6.2 innings, permitting simply 4 hits and two walks. His changeup is particular, his command is phenomenal, and he isn’t afraid of the second.
Game 2: Friday, 6:10 pm, MASN
RHP Chris Bassitt (0-2, 9.00 ERA, 5 SO) vs. RHP Tanner Bibee (0-2, 6.38 ERA, 18 SO)
This one appears to be like extra like a sport the Orioles can win, no less than on paper, as a result of each starters are in poor type. Bassitt is available in at 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA and simply 5 strikeouts. He was acquired as knowledgeable innings-eater who retains the crew in video games, and that has not been what he’s delivered to date. His five-year monitor document of reliability provides motive to imagine he’ll discover his footing, however we’re not seeing it at current. In his final begin, the veteran proper stories having the ability to higher land his offspeed pitches, a welcome growth.
Bibee is in equally tough form. He entered Sunday’s begin in opposition to Atlanta with a manageable 3.29 ERA, however then allowed eight runs on 11 hits over 4.2 innings, sending his ERA ballooning to 6.38 and his WHIP to 1.64 throughout 18.1 innings this season. Bibee was the Guardians’ Opening Day starter and is their finest arm on paper — he was glorious in 2025 — so there’s each motive to suppose he’ll bounce again. Whether that bounce-back is available in Baltimore’s first go to to Cleveland is the query.
Game 3: Saturday, 6:10 pm, MASN
RHP Dean Kremer (0-0, 3.60 ERA, 9 SO) vs. RHP Gavin Williams (2-1, 2.38 ERA, 29 SO)
Kremer is available in at 0-0 with a 3.60 ERA and 9 strikeouts, having simply been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk in time to slot again into the rotation. I’ll say I really feel good to have him again. His latest Norfolk stints confirmed him getting sharper, and whereas proving extraordinarily homer-prone (3 HR allowed in 5 IP) he appeared extra like himself in his most up-to-date outing in opposition to the Diamondbacks. Now he attracts Gavin Williams, who has been amongst the only pitchers in the American League to date.
Williams, the Guardians’ No. 1, has a 2.38 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, and a 29:16 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 22.2 innings throughout 4 begins, with three earned runs over his final three outings after a rocky first sport. He is large, throws laborious, and has command of a number of pitches. This is a troublesome take a look at for a lineup that can want to grind out some runs if the Orioles are to steal this sport.
So how do you handicap this Birds’ crew’s odds? This is a harder matchup than the White Sox, nevertheless it’s not but clear what the Guardians are. The Orioles head to Progressive Field dealing with a crew with two starters who’re struggling, one who’s traditionally dominant, and one who is solely superb. A 2-1 series can be a positive final result. Three wins can be a real assertion.
How many video games do you suppose the Orioles will win in opposition to the Guardians this weekend?
