Three Guardians Who Could Take Off In The Second Half Of The Season

Originally posted on FanNation Cleveland Baseball Insider
By Tommy Wild | Last updated 7/14/23

Yes, I know. Technically we are already passed the halfway mark and the All-Star Game is just a market for the midway point of the season. However, the extended time between series is a good reference point when discussing where players turned their season around.

The Cleveland Guardians entered the break first in the (less than stellar) American League Central and still have more to give. These three players could turn it on and make a big impact during the season's final months.

Andres Gimenez

Andres Gimenez went from someone who got MVP votes last season to someone hoping to get on base any way they can. There's no denying he's struggled up to this point in the season as he's only hitting .248 with an OPS+ of 99.

But better days could be on the way.

In Gimenez's final 15 games before the break, he had a batting average of .281, OBP of .379, and slugged in two home runs. This two-week stretch could prove that Andres is ready to get back to the form that earned him a $100 million dollar extension before the season started.

Eli Morgan

Having a big impact doesn't just mean a player's number gets better. In the case of Eli Morgan, this could mean continuing to be the pitcher he's been but in more high-leverage situations.

Morgan has sneakily had an incredible season through the first 90 games. He's made 34 appearances while posting an ERA of 1.89 and a WHIP of 1.16.

The Guardians have struggled to find a pitcher that can consistently bridge the gap to Emmanuel Clase in the seventh and eighth innings. James Karinchak and Trevor Stephan struggled in this role and Sam Hentges can't pitch every day.

Giving Eli the opportunity to pitch in these one-run scenarios could be exactly what the team needs to preserve the bullpen and close out those tight games.

Amed Rosario

We've been waiting for Amed Rosario to get hot all season and fingers crossed that time may be coming.

Rosario got off to a cold start to the season as he hit just .227 through March and April. The month of May wasn't much better either. However, Rosario got it going in the month of June finishing up with a batting average of .309 and an OPS of .750 and he's on track for similar results in July too.

Putting the defense aside for a second, when Amed's bat is hot he's exactly the type of hitter the Guardians thrive within their lineup. Let's hope the second half contains a more consistent Rosraio at the plate.

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This article first appeared on FanNation Cleveland Baseball Insider and was syndicated with permission.

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