Cleveland Guardians
2024 record: 92-69
First place, AL Central
Team ERA: 3.61 (3rd in MLB)
Team OPS: .703 (17th in MLB)
What Went Right
After a disappointing 2023 campaign, the Guardians made a remarkable comeback, clinching the division title and advancing to the American League Championship Series (ALCS). A significant factor in their resurgence was the exceptional performance of the often-overlooked star, Jose Ramirez. Ramirez showcased his prowess, falling just one home run short of joining the prestigious 40-40 club, while also contributing an impressive 118 RBIs to the Cleveland offense. His offensive output provided a major boost to the team’s overall performance. Additionally, Josh Naylor had a breakout season, hitting 30 home runs for the first time and also driving in 108 runs, all while setting a personal best with 58 walks. The Guardians bolstered their lineup with key contributions from David Fry, who posted an .804 OPS, and Steven Kwan, who excelled with a .292 batting average and .793 OPS, helping to elevate the offense to middle-of-the-pack status in the league. The formidable Cleveland pitching staff played a crucial role in the team’s success, particularly the bullpen. Despite facing challenges during the postseason, Emmanuel Clase was extraordinary during the regular season, racking up 47 saves and boasting an impressive 0.61 ERA. The relievers who set the stage for Clase also shined, with Hunter Gaddis, Cade Smith, and Tim Herrin each delivering ERAs under 2.00, adding depth to an already strong bullpen. The starting rotation was solid, led by Tanner Bibee, who recorded a 3.47 ERA and an impressive 187 strikeouts against just 44 walks. Both Matthew Boyd and Ben Lively also made significant contributions, keeping the team competitive in many outings.
What Went Wrong
Ultimately, the Guardians’ quest for a championship ended in the ALCS, where they faced a formidable challenge from the Yankees. Close games highlighted the series, but the bullpen’s performance faltered, particularly Emmanuel Clase, who struggled to maintain leads, allowing multiple runs in crucial matchups. While the regular season showcased competitiveness, the offense proved to be top-heavy; beyond Ramirez and Naylor, no other Cleveland hitter with over 300 at-bats managed an OPS exceeding .700. Andres Gimenez experienced notable struggles at the plate with a disappointing .252 batting average and a .340 slugging percentage; however, he salvaged his fantasy value somewhat with 30 stolen bases. The starting rotation did not quite match the brilliance of the bullpen, which paints a commendable picture of the relief squad but raises concerns regarding the health and effectiveness of the starters. Shane Bieber made the unfortunate decision to undergo Tommy John surgery after just two starts. Gavin Williams started the season on the injured list and subsequently struggled to find his rhythm, achieving a 4.86 ERA over 16 starts. While Triston McKenzie managed to stay healthy, his performance did not meet expectations, leading to a demotion with a lackluster 1.56 WHIP and a 5.11 ERA. Other pitchers, such as Logan Allen, Carlos Carrasco, Joey Cantillo, and Alex Cobb, displayed flashes of quality but ultimately struggled to form a reliable starting rotation throughout the majority of the season.
Fantasy Slants
– Kwan’s overall numbers are solid, but it’s worth pointing out how much better they were prior to the final two months of the season. He was hitting .332 heading into August, but a .207 average in August followed by a .195 mark in September saw that number drop considerably. He was as good if not better than anyone in baseball in avoiding strikeouts, but he was also as bad as anyone at making hard contact and barreling the baseball. Kwan’s ability to put the ball in play is wonderful and he should be good for around 15-20 steals as long as he stays healthy, but you’ll have to take some low points to go with the highs.
– Bo Naylor got a chance to be the full-time catcher in 2024, and things did not go as well for little bro as they did for Josh. He hit .201 with a .614 OPS, and he struck out 122 times in 364 at-bats. He did hit 13 homers, and his barrel rate along with his chase rate were above-average figures. There’s still long-term upside for Naylor to be a strong fantasy catching option, but he’s got just as much risk as he does reward at this stage of his career.
– Kyle Manzardo made his MLB debut in 2024, and his first stint with the club saw him disappoint with a .571 OPS over his first 30 games before being optioned back to Columbus. He got another chance in September and showed vast improvement with an .873 mark; and he was a part of the lineup against right-handers in the postseason. Manzardo has solid power, a strong approach at the plate, and should make just enough hard contact to be more contributor than detriment in the average category. Being limited to first base also limits the fantasy value, but there’s enough here to believe he has a shot to be a solid option in 2025 and beyond.
– McKenzie was one of the best young hurlers in baseball in 2022 with a 2.96 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 190 strikeouts in just-over 191 innings. Two years later he was one of the least effective options before he was sent down, and the advanced stats are unkind. He walked 14.4 percent of the hitters he faced, gave up a barrel rate of 13 percent when he wasn’t issuing free passes, and hitters slugged a whopping .652 against his four-seam fastball. Is it possible McKenzie finds his form and gives you a semblance of the 2022 version? Sure, it’s just very hard to bet on it given how often he got rocked in 2024. Take a wait-and-see approach.
– Most of Cleveland’s top prospects are in the lower levels, but one player that could help the Guardians and potentially fantasy players is Chase DeLaughter. DeLaughter was a first-round pick in 2022, and while he battled injuries in 2024 — as well as 2023 — he was effective with an .841 OPS and eight homers over 39 games. He was particularly good once he reached Triple-A with a slash of .304/.407/.739, but that’s a sample of just six games. Still, DeLaughter has the tools to hit for both average and power; enough so to make up for the fact he won’t make an impact on the bases. He’s someone to monitor in redraft leagues on a team that is not exactly loaded with outfield options going into 2025.
Key Free Agents
Shane Bieber, Matthew Boyd, Alex Cobb, Austin Hedges, James Karinchak
Team Needs
The Guardians will have to address the starting pitching market even if they have faith in rebounds from McKenzie and Williams and/or belief in young starters like Joey Cantillo and Logan Allen. The infield appears to be set, but they could certainly use an upgrade or two in the outfield even with Lane Thomas acquired at the deadline. The current roster is certainly good enough for Cleveland to be a playoff contender in 2025, but they will need to add some pop to the lineup and help at the top of the starting group if they’re going to compete for a World Series.
**Interview with Fantasy Baseball Expert on the Guardians’ 2024 Season**
**Interviewer:** Welcome, and thank you for joining us to discuss the Cleveland Guardians’ remarkable 2024 season. With their record of 92-69 and a successful run to the ALCS, there’s a lot to unpack here. Let’s start with the positives. What contributed most to the Guardians’ resurgence this year?
**Expert:** Thanks for having me! One of the standout factors was the performance of Jose Ramirez. He came incredibly close to achieving the 40-40 milestone, finishing with 39 home runs and 118 RBIs. His production and leadership were pivotal. Josh Naylor also had a breakout season, hitting 30 homers and driving in 108 runs, which added a much-needed offensive boost.
**Interviewer:** It sounds like the offense had some key players stepping up. Were there any other contributors that helped shift the team’s performance?
**Expert:** Absolutely! David Fry and Steven Kwan provided crucial support. Fry had an OPS of .804, which is solid, and Kwan maintained a high batting average of .292. Collectively, these contributions helped elevate the team’s OPS ranking to the middle of the league, which is significant considering their struggles in 2023.
**Interviewer:** Switching gears to the pitching staff, specifically Emmanuel Clase, who was recognized as a top relief pitcher. What can you tell us about his performance in the regular season?
**Expert:** Clase was phenomenal this season. He recorded 47 saves with an astonishing 0.61 ERA. His consistency in the bullpen was a major strength, especially alongside pitchers like Hunter Gaddis and Cade Smith, both of whom had ERAs under 2.00. This depth allowed the Guardians to stay competitive throughout the season.
**Interviewer:** However, we must address the postseason. The Guardians faced challenges against the Yankees in the ALCS. What went wrong there?
**Expert:** The ALCS was tough. The bullpen, which had been a strength all year, faltered at crucial moments, with Clase not able to close out games like he did in the regular season. Ultimately, the offensive support was lacking; beyond Ramirez and Naylor, the rest of the hitters struggled to produce consistently, which proved costly in close games.
**Interviewer:** Looking ahead, which players from the Guardians’ roster should fantasy baseball managers keep an eye on for 2025?
**Expert:** Steven Kwan is definitely worth mentioning. Even though he had a rough final two months, his ability to avoid strikeouts and contribute steals makes him valuable. I’d also keep an eye on Kyle Manzardo, who showed improvement later in the season and possesses good power. Lastly, Bo Naylor, despite his tough rookie year, has upside as a young catcher and could be a potential sleeper pick.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your insights! The Guardians had an impressive season, and it will be interesting to see how they build on this success moving into 2025.
**Expert:** My pleasure! I’m excited to see how they develop, and there’s certainly a lot of potential in that lineup and pitching staff.
