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Cleveland Guardians face challenges in second half of season

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 17, 2026, 6:00 AM

Last updated Jul 17, 2026

Cleveland Guardians face challenges in second half of season

Summary

The Cleveland Guardians enter the second half of the season tied for first place in the American League Central with the Chicago White Sox. Issues include a lack of right-handed hitting, an alarming number of strikeouts, and struggles with clutch hitting resulting in low run production. The team has relied on only five starting pitchers and needs additional bullpen depth as they move forward. The return of Jose Ramirez and Angel Martinez from the Injured List may prompt tough roster decisions regarding current players. Improvement is also needed from rookie Travis Bazzana, who is struggling both offensively and defensively.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Guardians tied for first place with the White Sox in July standings.
•Team struggles with right-handed hitting and high strikeout rates.
•Current roster has relied on only five starting pitchers this season.
•Jose Ramirez and Angel Martinez's return may lead to tough roster decisions.
•Rookie Travis Bazzana needs to improve offensively and defensively.

Latest Updates

6:00 AMYahoo Sports — 10 Issues Facing 1st Place Cleveland Guardians In The 2nd Half

What they're saying

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The Cleveland Guardians enter the second half in a 1st place tie with the Chicago White Sox. But the Guardians have issues to resolve as they move forward.
— Yahoo Sports

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