The Cleveland Guardians have been on fire as of late. They have won five straight games, and the Guardians have taken over first place in the AL Central.

As the Guardians prepare for the playoffs, MLB Insider Joel Sherman thinks that other teams do not want to face Cleveland in the playoffs.

“Another team, like a smaller-market team that is good all the time, is the Guardians, who look like they are now going to win the AL Central,” Sherman said. “Parker Messick not only has a shot at AL Rookie of the Year, hes going to be a top-five finisher for the Cy Young. We keep waiting: who's going to join Jose Ramirez to help make the offense a little better? Bazzana looks like he may be that guy. DeLauter may be the guy. Two other rookies who are going to get some love in the voting after the season… Gavin Williams looks like a high-end number two guy, a big strikeout guy. Because of Messick and Williams, you even think about them in the playoffs, a short series. Like, not somebody you want to go face when you have pitching like that.”

Article Continues Below

The combination of Williams and Messick could be great in a short series. Williams is 14-8 on the year with a 3.63 ERA. He is also second in the majors in strikeouts with 244. Further, he is coming into the postseason hot. In September, he has pitched 25 innings, giving up just four earned runs and striking out 40 batters. Messick is 12-9 this year and sixth in the majors in both ERA and WHIP. He has not given up more than three runs in a start since June 29.

The Guardians are 81-75 on the season, which places them in first place in the AL Central. They currently have a one-game lead over the Chicago White Sox, who have possession of the final wild card spot in the American League. The Guardians open a series with the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday, before finishing the season with a series against the Kansas City Royals.