The Cleveland Guardians had a memorable season once again. Despite a number of struggles for more than four months of the season, the Guardians did what they usually do. They turned it on in the final six weeks of the season and roared their way to the American League Central title.

They finished the regular season as the No. 2 team in the American League playoff structure and earned a bye in the first round. The Guardians faced the Chicago White Sox, the team they had tracked down in the AL Central, in the divisional round of the playoffs. After going down 0-2 at home in the series, the Guardians came back to life with two victories on the South Side of Chicago before winning the fifth game of the series before their adoring fans at Progressive Field to win the series.

The combination of Steven Kwan, Jose Ramirez, newcomer Jo Adell, Nate Lowe and rookie Chase DeLauter helped the Guardians gain a 2-1 lead in the American League Championship Series over the Tampa Rays, but that's where it came to an end. The Rays were the best team in the American League throughout the season and they demonstrated their superiority in the final three games of the series.

The season came to an end with a thud in a 7-3 defeat at the Tropicana Dome.

Getting to the playoffs has been a familiar achievement for the Indians/Guardians since 1995. However, every one of those 16 postseason appearances ended up falling painfully short of winning the franchise's first World Series since 1948.

Guardians must add starting pitching and HR power

Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) runs the bases after hitting a single against the Tampa Bay Rays during the sixth inning in game five of the ALCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Progressive Field.
Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

The Guardians went with an opener in the decisive 7-3 loss to the Rays in Game 6 of the ALCS. It did not go well as Shawn Armstrong could not get an out in the second inning and was replaced by a series of ineffective relievers. By the time the game was over, manager Stephen Vogt had used eight pitchers.

When Vogt and his coaching staff look back at the series, they just did not have enough starting pitching to compete against a hard-hitting team like the Rays. The Guardians depended on the power pitching of Gavin Williams and rookie Parker Messick as their two key starters in the postseason. That's not enough and the Rays proved it.

The Guardians did not go with a bullpen game in the finale and other points in the postseason out of choice. They didn't have enough starting pitching. This must be addressed in the offseason.

The other huge problem is the lack of power. They could not hit the ball over the fence during the regular season and the playoffs, and it hurt the team badly.

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Ramirez had hamate bone surgery during the season and that was a big part of it because he has hit as many as 39 home runs twice in his career. Ramirez hit 12 home runs in 2026.

Angel Martinez led the team with 18 home runs, DeLauter hit 16, while Travis Bazzana and Brayan Rochio both had 15 home runs. The Guardians finished 27th in home runs with 162 long balls. The only teams they were ahead of were the Los Angeles Angels, Milwaukee Brewers and Toronto Blue Jays.

The presence of the World Series favorite Brewers is shocking because they may end up being the best team in Major League Baseball. The Blue Jays had a flukish year as their power dissipated when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stopped hitting home runs. They are likely to bounce back in home runs in the future.

But the Guardians need to be able to hit the ball out of the ballpark. A healthy Ramirez and having Adell for a full season will help. But they need a slugger who can bash the ball in the middle of the lineup.