Where do the Guardians stand as the Deadline approaches?

CLEVELAND — That is the time of 12 months when groups determine who they’re. The Trade Deadline is simply across the nook, and understanding one’s place in a season is essential when figuring out who to attempt to purchase or who to commerce. However Monday night time’s sport definitely didn’t make it simpler for the Guardians to determine what their method needs to be.

However Cleveland’s state of affairs is way extra difficult than its 49-51 file or its second-place divisional standing. The loss adopted a tough afternoon of stories, because the Guardians needed to face the truth of placing starter Shane Bieber on the 60-day injured listing. The earliest he can return is Sept. 10.

The information was not a shock. The Guardians knew that Bieber would want one other week with out selecting up a baseball. Then, he’d have to start out ramping up his actions earlier than getting despatched on a rehab project. It made sense to easily transfer Bieber to the 60-day IL to unlock a roster spot for a bullpen that desperately needed a fresh arm.

The optimistic information? Bieber appears to be trending in the best course, which ought to imply he’ll make at the very least another begin earlier than the top of the 12 months. Will it matter at that time? Will the Guardians be ready to clinch a postseason berth, which might enable Bieber to have extra time to pitch within the playoffs? That continues to be to be seen.

“He’s doing nice, which we love listening to,” Guardians supervisor Terry Francona mentioned of Bieber.

With out Bieber, the Guardians want beginning pitching assist. The issue is that they is probably not prepared to half with the one belongings that may have the ability to deliver a high quality starter to Cleveland. Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti mentioned final week that it’s one thing they’ll monitor because the Deadline approaches, however it’s tough to make that sort of transfer at this level within the season.

“[It’s especially difficult] if you happen to’re eager to attempt to get a man that may assist you to win video games,” Antonetti defined. “There’s a distinction between getting somebody to fill innings and get by means of the top of the season versus discovering somebody who can assist you win video games.”

The Guardians are down a starter who was in a position to eat up bunches of innings, leaving three rookies and Aaron Civale to attempt to assist take hundreds off the bullpen within the meantime. It’s clear that including a starter, particularly if Cal Quantrill and Triston McKenzie nonetheless want ample time on the IL, is crucial to serving to Cleveland keep in rivalry within the division.

However Monday was additionally a reminder {that a} bat is required, and now the Guardians don’t have somebody like Bieber to dangle on the commerce market to make that occur. They should be benefiting from the variety of video games they play towards the AL Central, contemplating all however one of many groups has a sub-.500 file. The newest loss dropped Cleveland’s file towards division opponents this season to 13-14, which makes it much more tough for the staff to make a surge to the highest of the AL Central over the ultimate two months. However as a result of the Twins have but to drag away, it’s nonetheless inside attain.

The Guardians now discover themselves caught within the center. In every other division, their file would imply they’re specializing in the longer term and promoting on the Deadline. However within the AL Central, it’s nonetheless potential to catch the Twins. Nevertheless, we’ve realized there are large hurdles to beat to make that occur.

For now, the Guardians are going to concentrate on what’s in entrance of them, and the silver lining they will take out of Monday’s loss is that Logan Allen was in a position to toss seven innings after Sunday’s bullpen sport. If the ‘pen is recent for the remainder of the collection, Cleveland nonetheless has an opportunity to take the following two video games and attempt to give the entrance workplace a clearer image of the place it stands earlier than the Commerce Deadline.