CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Guardians will open their 2023 season when they face the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park at 10:10 p.m. ET on Thursday night.
With that in mind, here are three things to look for from the Guardians this season as they look to build on last season's success.
Can the kids avoid a sophomore slump?
Despite laying claim to the youngest roster in baseball, with a franchise record-tying 17 players making their MLB debuts, Cleveland tallied a 92-70 record in 2022, winning the American League Central Division by 11 games. In doing so, the Guardians became the first team with baseball's youngest roster to make the playoffs since the 1986 New York Mets and proceeded to beat the Tampa Bay Rays in the Wild Card round before falling to the New York Yankees in five games in the American League Championship Series.
In 2023, the Guardians will once again be relying on plenty of youth, including many of the players who contributed to Cleveland's run to the playoffs as rookies in 2022. Second-year outfielders Steven Kwan and Oscar Gonzalez figure to be staples of the Guardians' lineup, with infielder Gabriel Arias, outfielder Will Brennan and catcher Bo Naylor also expected to contribute, and top prospects George Valera and Brayan Rocchio on the verge of making their own debuts.
In order for Cleveland to repeat -- and even build on -- its success in 2023, the Guardians will once again need contributions from the youngest players on their roster. While each player could conceivably take steps forward this season, it will be just as important for them to avoid sophomore slumps in order for one of baseball's youngest teams to play above its experience level.
What will Josh Bell and Mike Zunino add?
The Guardians had a relatively quiet offseason, but they did make at least two significant acquisitions. In signing first baseman/designated hitter Josh Bell to a one-year contract (with a player option for 2024), Cleveland added a former All-Star capable of adding some much-needed pop to the middle of the Guardians' lineup.
The addition of the right-handed hitting Bell should add some protection for All-Star third baseman and provide flexibility in how the team uses first baseman/designated hitter Josh Naylor. Currently, Bell projects to bat cleanup for Cleveland behind Kwan, shortstop Amed Rosario and Ramirez.
In addition to Bell, the Guardians also signed catcher Mike Zunino to a one-year contract. While he followed a 2021 All-Star season in which he hit 33 home runs with an injury-plagued 2022 season in which he only appeared in 36 games, the former Rays backstop should provide more offense than Cleveland has previously been able to count on from the catcher position.
What about the pitchers?
After a down 2021 campaign, the Guardians' pitching staff returned to form in 2022, with ace Shane Bieber (13-8, 2.88 ERA) turning in another stellar season, Triston McKenzie (11-11, 2.96 ERA) emerging as a legitimate No. 2 option and Cal Quantrill (15-5, 3.38 ERA) turning in his best season as a full-time starter.
Zach Plesac (3-12, 4.31 ERA) and Aaron Civale (5-6, 4.92 ERA) rounded out the rest of Cleveland's rotation, although both battled injuries and inconsistencies. Currently, the Guardians appear poised to enter the season with a rotation featuring Bieber, Civale, Quantrill, Plesac and rookie Hunter Gaddis, while McKenzie recovers from a right shoulder strain that could keep him sidelined for up to eight weeks.
As for the bullpen, Cleveland returns one of baseball's best. Emmanuel Clase (1.36 ERA, MLB-best 42 saves) is coming off an All-Star season, Trevor Stephan (6-5, 2.69 ERA) emerged as the team's setup man and the Guardians have plenty of depth -- both on the big league roster and in the minor leagues.
Make no mistake, McKenzie's early season injury looms large. But when you add that top prospect Daniel Espino (No. 16 overall per MLB.com) could be making his debut at some point this season, it would be surprising if the Guardians' pitching staff was anything but one of baseball's best in 2023.
