Two weeks ago when the Cleveland Guardians were in the midst of a 10-game losing streak, pitcher Slade Cecconi made a bold statement. "We're going to see ourselves in a great spot at the end of the season,

Cecconi then got a strikeout and got Shea Langeliers to send a lazy fly ball with a .210 batting average to right field. Where Johnathan Rodriguez was, perhaps, taking a nap and let it fall and then misplayed it into a double:

Stephen Vogt discusses Slade Cecconi's excellent start and Johnathan Rodríguez's first Major League homer in the Guardians' 8-6 win over the Athletics

The Cleveland Guardians entered the 2025 season with their starting rotation in disarray. An injury to Ben Lively and the struggles of Triston McKenzie, combined with Matthew Boyd’s departure, left the pitching staff searching for answers.

The Guardians may well be sellers at the trade deadline this season. Cleveland sits 12 games behind the Tigers in the American League Central and 4.5 games back in the Wild Card chase. They won six of their final ten heading into the Break which has them positioned squarely on the fence in terms of buying or selling at the deadline.