What has been the key to the Guardians' success in 2026?
Yahoo Sports senior MLB analyst Jordan Shusterman is joined by Zack Meisel of The Athletic to explain how this year's version of the Cleveland Guardians have been as successful as they have been. Hear the full conversation on the “Baseball Bar-B-Cast” podcast - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify or wherever you listen.
Video Transcript
What is, what is working for the 2026 Guardians, and what's maybe different that people need to know compared to the last few seasons when they've been good?
Yeah.
Jordan, you're an advanced metrics guy, right?
Like, you like to dive into the numbers.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah?
So there's a- Yeah.
usually there's a new metric.
I, I don't know if you're familiar with, with this new metric, though.
It's, it's called X-Dog.
Okay.
And it is what the Guardians bullpen has used to evaluate some of their teammates.
Yeah, that's I don't know if it's on- Can I- FanGraphs yet.
Okay.
I'm, I'm lifting up my FanGraphs mug.
I don't know if it's on there yet, but I'll have to I'll check with Meg Rowley about that.
Yeah.
I think they're, they're It's still in beta testing, but they're- It's, it's basically Look, Parker Messick is the perfect example of this.
He might not have the flashiest stuff, but he's got a 221 ERA and, he got called up last August and pitched really well down the stretch last season, too, so we might be at the point where we can say it's not a fluke.
this is a team that has three rookies thriving.
And yeah, there's a little bit of the, the Guardians that people are accustomed to, where they don't hit for a ton of power and it's just slapping the ball over the place and running and pitching well.
Like, that, that still holds true, but I think there's a little bit more legitimacy to this team because of the rookies.
And they, they say Messick rates hel- well in X-Dog, because this kid is supposed to be a rookie who's, you know, terrified of a big moment, like a lot of young players would be naturally, and yet he is just fearless.
And it's the same for Travis Bazan, who has come up and looked like a polished veteran drawing walks and, you know, they pulled Steven Kwan out of the leadoff spot 'cause he wasn't performing well, and Steven Vo kept saying, "Ah, you know, I prefer Bazan hitting sixth or seventh."
And it took a week, and then Bazan was in the leadoff spot.
And I don't know that he's ever giving that up, 'cause he just looks like a perfect fit there, hitting right in front of Jos Ramrez.
Who's hitting right behind Jos Ramrez?
Another rookie, Chase DeLauter, who debuted in a playoff elimination game last season.
So that tells you his X-Dog must be off the charts, right?
it's, it's a team that has young players who don't look like they're young or inexperienced or daunted by anything.
Perfect example, playing in Yankee Stadium for the first time last night.
You know, Travis Bazan steps up to the plate, bases loaded, they need insurance runs late.
The two guys in front of him struck out.
They had the bases loaded with nobody out.
And Bazan, you know, gets his veterans off the hook and laces a three-run double to right field.
So, I think that's, that's been the key.
You know?
They're not hoping and praying that Nolan Jones figures it out or that Bo Naylor figures it out.
they've got young And it, it's not, like, scrappy underdogs.
Bazan was the first overall pick.
Chase DeLauter- Right was a top prospect.
So, they are The talent is, you know, it's, it's showcasing itself, and I think this is a team that they've got a lot of work to do still and a lot of development.
but it's a team that I think is definitely more legitimate than it has been the last few years.
