5 bold predictions Cleveland Guardians’ for the regular season

The Cleveland Guardians are back!

A new season for the Cleveland Guardians is about to be underway and the squad should have a lot higher expectations than they do. Many in the baseball sphere don’t see the Guards as a playoff contender, but are they? Well, maybe.

They need certain things to break their way and talent to mature as hoped. If they do, this season is going to be interesting. That’s why I’m predicting that they do in fact win enough games to get into the playoffs.

I don’t like making predictions, and in no way should anyone put stock or money onto these predictions. This is more about me, once again, every year, predicting that my believed Cleveland Guardians will exceed my expectations.

And if they don’t, I don’t mind, I just love baseball in Cleveland. So let’s have some fun and look at five bold predictions for the Guardians in 2022.

Five bold predictions for the Cleveland Guardians 2022 season

Talks for a Shane Bieber extension get serious

Jose Ramirez gets a deal done with the Cleveland Guardians

Now, originally, as you can see, Jose Ramirez getting a new deal was going to be my first bold prediction. It came true, hurrah, though no one will actually believe I called it. So, that sucks. Here’s my next one, however; while a deal won’t get done in 2022, there will be real traction with getting Shane Bieber locked up. It won’t’ be for many years, but I can see a three-year, big-money extension being added on that would start in 2026.

Jose Ramirez wins the AL MVP

He’s finished in the Top 6 four of the last five seasons, and in the top three in three of the last five. To say Jose Ramirez is a different class of player would be an understatement. I have (spoiler) the Guards going to the playoffs this year and you better expect Ramirez will be the driving force for that run.

Shane Bieber puts together one of the best seasons in Guards history

Shane Bieber is just the next in a long line of top-shelf aces. Corey Kluber was next level and it’s not completely known if Bieber can get to that level of dominance but if he can, it’ll start this season. I highly expect Bieber to post a sub 2.00 ERA, 200+ strikeouts, and 20+ wins. Like I said, bold.

Cal Quantrill or Triston McKenzie is the team’s AL Cy Young front-runner

Despite that, I think one of the young pups in Cal Quantrill or Triston McKenzie will sneak to the top of the AL Cy Young conversation. How? Better ERA. Strikeouts are the pitching equivalence of RBIs for a hitter, but a low ERA is like a great batting average. The lower it goes, the more impressive the performance. I think one of those two could hit a sub 1.50 ERA this year, and maybe even lower. But, that’s only if they put together a more consistent season.

The Guardians make the playoffs

Yup.