Guardians on the Verge of Getting Two Key Bats Back Just in Time for the Stretch Run

The Cleveland Guardians are about to get a serious jolt of offensive firepower. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, both Jose Ramirez and Angel Martinez are close to returning from their respective injuries. For a team currently tied for first place in the AL Central, that timing couldn’t be much better.

Ramirez has been sidelined with a fractured hamate bone. The seven-time All-Star hasn’t looked like his usual dominant self this season, hitting .239 with a .339 on-base percentage across 72 games. But even on a down year, the 33-year-old third baseman still has 10 homers, 18 doubles and 24 steals. His presence alone changes how opposing pitchers approach the middle of Cleveland’s lineup.

Angel Martinez might be the more surprising development here. The 24-year-old was quietly having a breakout year before a foot injury put him on the shelf. He’s hitting .239 with 11 home runs and 11 doubles. And here’s a stat that jumps out: despite missing time, Martinez is still tied for the team lead in homers with Chase DeLauter. That tells you how badly Cleveland has needed his pop in the lineup.

The Guardians’ offense has been uneven all season long. They rank near the middle of the pack in most offensive categories, and the injuries to Ramirez and Martinez only made things worse. Getting both back should help stabilize things, but it’s not a cure-all. Cleveland would still be smart to go out and grab another bat before the trade deadline. Even with these two returning, the lineup could use another consistent threat.

The Guardians enter the second half at 51-46, technically percentage points behind the Chicago White Sox in the division standings. But let’s be honest — that’s effectively a tie for first place in a division that’s been wide open all year. The White Sox are 50-45, so this thing is anyone’s to win.

Cleveland opens the second half Friday night at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates. First pitch is at 7:10 PM EST at Progressive Field. If Ramirez and Martinez are both in the lineup, that’s a pretty good way to start the second half.