MLB predictions: Why we're buying low on the Cleveland Guardians

I regret to inform you all that the Guardians are once again up to their old tricks.

The Guardians’ notoriously pesky offense is beginning to resemble the one that nearly took them into the ALCS a season ago.

Entering the weekend, the Guardians have the 10th-best offense in MLB judging by wRC+ and they’ve done it in typical fashion.

Cleveland players have struck out in just 17.3 percent of their plate appearances, the best mark in baseball during that time.

Cleveland ranks second in contact rate for the season, but has hit the ball a bit better recently.

The Guardians own a meek .131 isolated power for the season, but over the last 30 days, have checked in with a .152 — a mark that puts them around the league average, at worst.

The season has been a success for Cleveland’s pitching staff and there have been some marked improvements there as well.

The Guardians’ starting rotation ranks eighth in MLB with a 3.88 ERA since the start of June and their bullpen’s 3.97 ERA puts them just outside of the top 10 in that regard.

Cleveland has been able to hit the ball much better over the last month and change, and is finally beginning to support a pitching staff that has been effective enough to deserve the offense.

Now, this team can push for a division title.

Minnesota is really beginning to stagnate, splitting its last 10 games heading into Friday, and its lead in the AL Central was down to just two games.

The Twins’ rotation ranks 18th in ERA since the start of June and their bullpen just lost one of their most promising arms a couple of weeks ago when Brock Stewart went down.

Cleveland is running hot at the plate and has enough discipline to believe in this team.

The pitching has never been in question, but it doesn’t hurt that the staff has been even better of late.

That’s why I love a bet on the Guardians to win the AL Central at +230 (FanDuel), and it certainly doesn’t hurt matters that they don’t really have to worry about the Tigers and White Sox coming for their spot, either.

This is the clearest path for the Guardians to make the postseason considering the AL East should dominate most of the wild-card race.

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With Cleveland standing at +220 to make the playoffs and +230 to win the division, I think there’s little reason to look elsewhere.

Of course, you could also take a stab at a miraculous Guardians run to the World Series at 25/1 odds on an AL championship, but as I’ve mentioned before in this section I’m a big fan of the Blue Jays’ championship prospects.

I’d back them against any team in baseball not named the Braves in a seven-game series, but the Guardians certainly have enough in the tank to beat the Orioles, Red Sox, Yankees and even the Rays.

The Astros have also regressed a bit of late, opening up this American League pennant race.