The Cleveland Guardians' offensive struggles persist, despite some notable improvements in 2026. While their walk rate has increased and their wRC+ has risen to 20th in the MLB, the team's overall performance still falls short of expectations. The core issue lies in their inability to hit the ball hard enough, as evidenced by their low bat speed, hard-hit rate, and barrel rate. This problem is further exacerbated by their poor performance against changeups, with a -14.9 runs below average against this pitch type. The Guardians' hitters, including Jose Ramirez, Kyle Manzardo, and Steven Kwan, have struggled to adjust to the steady diet of offspeed pitches, leading to a decrease in bat speed and pull-rate. The team's swing rate on first pitches is also below average, indicating a need for more aggressive at-bats. To address these issues, the Guardians must focus on improving their swing speed, getting more barrels on the ball, and adapting to the changing pitch mix. This will require a lot of work and dedication, but the team has the potential to become a top 15 offense in baseball by the summer.
