The Cleveland Guardians claimed SP Lucas Giolito, RP Reynaldo Lopez, and RP Matt Moore on waivers from the Los Angeles Angels Thursday. The Angels saw a number of players get claimed after placing them on waivers, as the Halos' trade deadline decision to buy clearly did not work out. The Guardians are now seemingly trying to win the American League Central, a division in which they currently trail the first place Minnesota Twins by five games.
The Guardians haven't had a very successful season. They are six games under .500 as of this story's publication and even traded away some key players ahead of the 2023 deadline. Nevertheless, reaching the playoffs isn't out of the question as a result of the division they play in. So will Cleveland's waiver claims give them enough momentum to win the AL Central over the Twins?
Why Guardians will win AL Central over Twins
The Guardians' roster has been decimated by injuries. This has been especially apparent in the rotation, where key pitchers such as Shane Bieber, Triston McKenzie, and Cal Quantrill have all missed time due to injury. Fortunately, the Guards are hoping to get all three pitchers back at some point in September.
Cleveland's rotation has found success even without that star-studded trio though.
Top prospect Gavin Williams has endured his share of ups and downs since being promoted to the MLB club. Although his 1-5 record is far from ideal, his ERA is just under 3.50. Tanner Bibee, meanwhile, has made a case for the AL Rookie of the Year award. The right-hander owns a superb 3.03 ERA and 10-3 record to go along with 125 strikeouts across 124.2 innings pitched.
Pitchers Logan Allen and Xzavion Curry have also pitched well at times for the Guardians. If Cleveland is able to get healthy and have Bieber, McKenzie, and Quantrill re-join the pitching staff, the Guardians will instantly feature plenty of depth. Claiming Lucas Giolito only adds to that depth.
The Guardians have the potential to feature one of the best pitching rotations in baseball following this move. Pitching will be extremely important given Cleveland's offensive frustrations throughout the 2023 campaign.
Cleveland's bullpen moves shouldn't be overlooked
The Guardians have often relied on their bullpen over the years. It's been a recipe for success but has had question marks in 2023. Adding Lopez and Moore gives the team extra versatility and veteran help.
Lopez's 3.93 ERA in 2023 is respectable. He actually performed better with the Angels after being traded from the Chicago White Sox, pitching to a 2.77 ERA in Anaheim.
Moore, a left-handed reliever, owns a quality 2.66 ERA this season. He recorded a 1.95 ERA last year as well. Moore has quietly emerged as one of the better left-handed relief options in the game, something that will be crucial for the Guardians down the stretch.
Can the Guardians actually overcome a five-game deficit?
The Twins are not running away with the AL Central, leaving the door open for Cleveland. The Guardians are set to open a pivotal homestand on Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays. Following the Rays-Guardians three-game series at Progressive Field, Cleveland will host the Twins in another three-game set.
To summarize, Cleveland's next six games will go a long way in determining whether or not they win the division. If the Guardians can hold their own against the talented Rays, they will have a direct chance to inch closer in the division against Minnesota.
The month of September is destined to be interesting as Cleveland tries to stay alive in the AL Central.