The Cleveland Guardians approach Sunday’s finale against the Detroit Tigers under mounting pressure, not just to avoid a sweep at home but to breathe life back into a season that’s steadily slipping out of reach. Now 40–46 and buried 12.5 games behind the Tigers in the AL Central, Cleveland finds itself at a crossroads as it stares down one of the league’s best teams and arguably the best pitcher in the American League in Tarik Skubal. The Guardians have dropped the first two games of this series by a combined margin of 11–3, further highlighting the offensive inconsistencies and pitching woes that have plagued them throughout 2025. Though they’ve been able to lean on José Ramírez, who’s hitting .299 with 13 home runs and continues to be a force in the middle of the lineup, and Steven Kwan, who’s batting .296 and providing steady production from the top of the order, there’s been little support behind them. The remainder of the batting order has struggled with timely hitting and situational execution, leading to long scoring droughts and wasted opportunities, particularly against high-quality starters like those Detroit brings to the table. Injuries have made matters worse—Cleveland’s rotation has been gutted by the absence of Shane Bieber and Ben Lively, forcing the Guardians to rely on younger, unproven arms and middle relievers to carry innings.

The bullpen, once a source of reliability, has faltered under the added strain, blowing multiple leads over the past two weeks and posting a collective ERA north of 4.50 since mid-June. Manager Stephen Vogt has experimented with lineup reshuffling and bullpen matchups, but with a roster stretched thin and confidence waning, results have been hard to come by. Defensive lapses have compounded their issues, as Cleveland ranks near the bottom of the league in fielding percentage and continues to commit costly errors that turn tight games into lopsided losses. To avoid being swept at home, the Guardians will need a breakout performance both from their starting pitcher and their offense—particularly from players like Josh Naylor and Will Brennan, who’ve shown flashes of power but haven’t delivered consistent run production lately. More than anything, the Guardians need to play with urgency and clean fundamentals, using aggressive baserunning and disciplined at-bats to put pressure on a Detroit team that has largely dictated the pace of this series. This game could serve as a pivotal moment in Cleveland’s season; a win would not only stave off the sweep but could also help spark a turnaround and instill some much-needed belief heading into the All-Star break. Conversely, another flat performance would deepen the hole they’re in and further highlight the growing divide between themselves and the division leaders. The Guardians have enough talent to be competitive, but unless they can summon a complete, mistake-free effort on Sunday, they risk becoming a non-factor in the division far earlier than anticipated.