Time running short for Guardians to ignite offense

DETROIT -- The last time the Guardians packed up to leave Detroit, a broom rested conspicuously in the middle of the visitors’ clubhouse at Comerica Park as Cleveland celebrated a four-game sweep of the Tigers that kept the Guards cemented atop the AL Central standings.

As the Guardians left Detroit on Thursday, their season was in a much more tenuous position than it was after that May series.

The Guardians lost, 3-0, to the Tigers on Thursday, in the rubber match of a three-game series. It left Cleveland (59-63) fourth in the division standings and 1 1/2 games behind Detroit (60-61) and Texas for the final AL Wild Card spot, with the Rangers set to play later in Anaheim.

The Guardians tallied just four hits and one walk in the finale; three hits and the walk against starter Keider Montero. It marked the first time Cleveland was shut out without striking out once since July 15, 1990, against the Mariners.

“[Montero] was landing a bunch of offspeed for strikes, getting ahead,” outfielder Steven Kwan said. “He's always kind of done pretty well against us, so clearly, we haven't figured him out just yet.”

With 40 games remaining, the Guardians’ season is not over. It is, however, slipping away from them amid an 8-17 stretch post-All-Star break that pushed Cleveland out of the postseason picture. The core of this team was also in a standings predicament one year ago, which provides some solace. But this is a new season, and you can only lean on that so much.

“I think we always just kind of zoom out and just be like, ‘Well, it could be worse.’ And it was worse, and we made it out of that,” Kwan said of the Guardians’ comeback to win the Central in 2025. “If we can make it out of what we did last year, this is going to be nothing.

“It still sucks. We still have to find out why these things are happening. But I think mentally, we need to still stay dialed [in].”

The Guardians haven’t been playing enough complete games, and Thursday again showed why they need more consistent offense to salvage their season. Here’s what could prove key.

1. J-Ram finds his spark

When the Guardians are at their best, José Ramírez is at the center of their run production. He’s had a tough time at the plate since he returned from left hamate surgery on July 22. In 17 games, he has slashed .197/.333/.197 and logged zero extra-base hits. His average exit velocity is 85 mph.

There were two good signs in Detroit. In the third inning Wednesday, Ramírez smashed a 100 mph lineout to third baseman Kevin McGonigle. Thursday, Ramírez's ninth-inning lineout to the right-field warning track had a 101.5 mph exit velocity.

“Hosey’s giving us everything he has every day. We just appreciate him going for it,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “If one or two of these balls fall, no one's talking about it. I feel like his at-bats have been good. He's just missing some balls, but that happens to any hitter.”

2. Rocchio gets on track

After a breakout first half, Brayan Rocchio has scuffled for an extended stretch. He’s hitting .173 with a .456 OPS in 25 games since the All-Star break, after hitting .276 with a .751 OPS in 94 games prior.

Vogt took ownership for some of Rocchio’s struggles Thursday morning, given he has moved him around the lineup frequently. Before Ramírez, Angel Martínez and Chase DeLauter were injured on June 13, Rocchio almost exclusively batted ninth. With a thinner lineup, Vogt slotted him between the Nos. 2-6 spots.

Vogt said Rocchio is a creature of habit. He also said his approach has been a bit off, and he’s been working to lock it in. He went 1-for-3 with a single on Thursday.

“It's been a rough two-week stretch, and I think he's going to bounce back,” Vogt said.

3. An uptick in hitting with RISP

The Guardians didn’t have many chances with runners in scoring position on Thursday, going 0-for-4. Their issues in those spots have flared up throughout the season. Cleveland entered Thursday 29th in OPS (.679) with RISP.

The Guardians have been better offensively, in a smaller sample, since the Trade Deadline -- when they landed Jo Adell and Nathaniel Lowe in a pair of deals. In 113 games before the Deadline, they had a team-wide .231/.310/.370 slash line. In nine games since, they have a .244/.342/.348 line.

The Guardians’ rotation has been the club’s backbone all season. Parker Messick took the loss after allowing two runs on three hits over 5 2/3 innings. More timely hitting could give him and the rest of the staff more wiggle room.