CLEVELAND -- Amed Rosario’s massive leap as he rounded first base in the eighth inning of the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader said it all.

No one is starting to calculate magic numbers yet. Nobody is scoreboard watching or making postseason plans. Yet the pressure was building for the Guardians this week in the late days of June. And finally, that burden lessened as Rosario delivered a clutch two-run single to hand Cleveland a 3-2 victory over Minnesota in the matinee of a doubleheader at Progressive Field, resulting in a celebratory hop at first base. But that momentum was halted in the nightcap, as the Guardians fell 6-0.

Cleveland had proven over its attention-grabbing road trip that it has the talent to be a playoff contender -- something not many believed to be the case heading into the season. But just as the excitement was at an all-time high, the team came crashing down by getting swept by the Red Sox and dropping the series opener against the Twins, putting the Guardians three games back in the division.

The pressure was building to snap out of this rut before the Twins could take too big of a lead in the division. Cleveland took a step in the right direction with a victory in Game 1, but losing Game 2 puts the weight back on the Guardians heading into the latter half of the five-game set.

The key to getting back on track for the Guardians is finding that spark plug for the offense. So often it’s José Ramírez, but as he’s hit just .256 (above average, but well below his standard) over his last 11 games, the club needs to be able to turn to another hitter to fill that leadership role when Ramírez goes through struggles. And who better than Rosario, the person who’s always joined to Ramírez’s hip?

Rosario may have started off the season slow, but he’s started to find the consistency he displayed in 2021, as he entered Tuesday hitting .357 with a .936 OPS over his last week of games before his 3-for-4 performance in the first game and 1-for-4 effort in the second.

“When he’s staying up the middle and hitting the ball to right field, he gets really dangerous because he’s quick,” manager Terry Francona said, “and that’s why early on when it wasn’t going really good, that’s why we stayed with him because you know that’s in there. He did the same thing last year. Once he got hot, he stayed hot.”

Rosario could easily stay hot at the plate again just like he did last season. But the Guardians are going to have to take the next month to determine whether his bat is worth keeping around.

There’s no doubt the team will gladly take his offensive production, especially when it's trying to remain in contention for a playoff spot in a division that’s proven to be up for grabs this season. But if Rosario isn’t in Cleveland’s long-term plans as it goes through this transitional period, his hot stretches may not just be helping the Guardians plate runs, but they could also be building his trade value before the Aug. 2 Trade Deadline.

If the Guardians have a realistic chance of making a run at the playoffs this season, there’s no reason they shouldn’t try to be aggressive at the Deadline. Or if Cleveland realizes it’s slipped out of contention, maybe it’s time to stock up for next year and beyond. Either way, all signs seem to be pointing toward Rosario’s name getting brought up in trade rumors.

Rosario mostly plays shortstop for the Guardians. If he’s at short, Andrés Giménez is pushed over to second and middle infield prospects Gabriel Arias, Tyler Freeman, Brayan Rocchio and Jose Tena (all of whom are likely to reach the big leagues in the near future) have no place on the big league roster. The longer Rosario is around, the longer the organization has to wait to see its next wave of young middle infield talent.

But because of the way Rosario has played and the way he’s absorbed Ramírez’s quiet leadership style, the Guardians can only benefit from his presence in the lineup, regardless of how they handle him, assuming his bat continues to produce. Before any Trade Deadline talks occur, Rosario is showing that he’s still an impact player, as he recorded a hit in 22 of 25 games in June, slashing .352/.367/.495 in that span.

If the Guardians end up trying to trade him, this stretch can only improve his stock. If he’s with Cleveland, he can be an impact player and a leader in the clubhouse.

“He’s a good pro,” Francona said. “Guys love him. Him and Josey are always together, and guys look up to those guys.”