Guardians' conservative deadline could cost them a division title

At the end of the trade deadline on July 30, the Cleveland Guardians held a 6.5-game lead in the AL Central with a record of 65-42. Since then, they have faltered significantly, going 7-10, and shrinking their division lead to just two games. Their offensive struggles have been a major factor in their downturn.

Over the past month, they have struggled mightily at the plate, posting a team batting average of .223, the fifth lowest in the MLB. Additionally, their on-base percentage (.282) and OPS (.657) both rank the third lowest in the majors.

These issues were highlighted by their recent sweep at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers. In the three-game series, the Guardians scored just four runs on 13 hits, managing only one run on six hits in the last two games.

At the trade deadline, the Guardians were relatively quiet, partly due to their comfortable division lead. While their lead was substantial, the offense still had evident gaps that needed addressing. Their most notable acquisition was Washington Nationals outfielder Lane Thomas. Prior to joining Cleveland, Thomas had a .253/.331/.407 slash line with eight home runs and 42 RBI in 77 games. Since the trade, however, his performance has sharply declined, with a .113/.217/.151 line in 16 games.

Despite the offensive setbacks, the Guardians remain in a strong position overall, sitting just one game behind the Philidelphia Phillies for the best record in the MLB and half a game behind the Baltimore Orioles for the best record in the American League, thanks to exceptional pitching.