The Cleveland Guardians are being given the fifth-highest odds to win the World Series this year.
The Cleveland Guardians were able to scratch and claw their way to another American League Central division title this season.
Despite the team trailing the Chicago White Sox for much of the season, Cleveland was able to use a surge down the stretch to take the crown. This marked the third straight division title for the Guardians, and four in the last five seasons.
With them clinching the division, Cleveland now has a first-round bye to work with, giving the team a few extra days off. The Guardians will begin in the ALDS against the winner of the Houston Astros and White Sox playoff series.
But ahead of the postseason starting, the Guardians have been given some interesting odds in their chance to win the World Series. According to Opta Analyst, the Guardians have the fifth-highest odds to win the title this season entering the playoffs.
The only teams ahead of them are the Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Tampa Bay Rays, and New York Yankees. But Cleveland is ahead of some other interesting teams, making these odds very intriguing for fans.
Cleveland finished the season with a record of 85-77, winning the division. But in the National League, the Guardians wouldn't have made the playoffs, with their final wild-card team winning 88 games.
So, for the Guardians to be ranked this highly does raise the question about their chances this postseason. But this team has a lot of talent, and experience tends to play out well come playoff time.
The Guardians have been in this spot before, but the team hasn't been able to get over the hump to even reach the World Series. Cleveland made the ALCS two years ago before falling to the New York Yankees in six games.
But this season, the Guardians feel like they can surprise some people to go on another deep run. Cleveland has the pitching to make something happen, and this will need to carry them throughout the playoffs.
With their ALDS opponents being either the Astros or the White Sox, both teams could create some problems for Cleveland. The Guardians went 2-4 against the Astros during the regular season, and 6-7 against the White Sox.
But the playoffs are an entirely different animal, with the teams seeing everything wiped clean from the regular season. Games in the playoffs tend to be tighter, with pitching often determining a lot.
Cleveland will have the pitching advantage entering their ALDS series against either of the two teams. The Guardians are set up well to go on a deep playoff run, and now all they have to do is prove themselves out on the field.
