Reddit AMA: The tale of the Guardians' two halves of season

On Wednesday, MLB.com Guardians beat reporter Tim Stebbins held an “Ask Me Anything” on Reddit with Guardians fans at r/ClevelandGuardians. This mailbag features questions and answers from the AMA, the full version of which can be read here.

Questions and responses have been lightly edited for clarity.

What do you think changed in the second half that this team is now competing for the third Wild Card spot and can still clinch the division?

We've asked players some form of this question during this hot stretch. The answer often has been some form of the team is playing better baseball. That's rather generic. I look at a few things.

• The uptick in offensive production has included much better clutch hitting. From Opening Day through July 6, the Guardians hit .230 with runners in scoring position (27th in the Majors), had a .317 on-base percentage (25th) and tallied 214 RBIs (tied for last). From July 7 through Tuesday, they have hit .263 (11th), had a .362 OBP (sixth) and tallied 111 RBIs (fourth) with RISP.

• The starting rotation has been huge, having tossed 345 2/3 innings since June 1 (third in MLB) and recorded a 3.85 ERA (seventh). It's simple, but not a small thing: When you get length, you can navigate your bullpen more freely and not be forced to lean on it heavily.

• The bullpen entered Wednesday with an MLB-leading 2.21 ERA since July 1. The group has been so reliable over the past month, certainly a huge development given Emmanuel Clase's status.

• And more generally: How often through the first few months this season did it feel, offensively, like the Guardians needed José Ramírez and Steven Kwan to produce in order to win? They always will count on those guys, but every team needs contributions from up and down the lineup. We've seen that during this stretch.

Who's the first starter up now that Shane Bieber is no longer an option?
I think we have to let the next six and a half weeks play out, but it certainly will be interesting to see how the Guardians would order the rotation if they reach the postseason.

In a Wild Card Series, you're only guaranteed two games. I would think you're looking at the trio of Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams and Slade Cecconi in some order. Right now, it could be Gavin Williams leading off, given his continued emergence this season that culminated in his near no-hitter last week against the Mets. He entered Wednesday with a 2.36 ERA in 12 starts since June.

I still believe Tanner Bibee would be featured in this scenario, given his track record. He called his first half "super up-and-down," but expressed confidence in better times ahead in the second half. There have been some tough stretches, and there have been good ones. He entered 2025 as the rotation's ace and has been working relentlessly this season through the ups and downs.

We obviously can't discount Cecconi, either. Other than a few outliers, he has been a revelation since he joined the Guardians’ rotation in May. As he's continually shown, when his deep arsenal of pitches are working, he's hard to beat.

What are the plans for John Means this season?

First and foremost, completing his rehab from June 2024 Tommy John surgery. Guardians manager Stephen Vogt noted on Sunday that has to come before anything, and there's no rushing that process. The Guardians don't have a set date in mind, Vogt said, but he noted that Means "100 percent" could be an option for the Guardians down the stretch this season, assuming all continues to go well with his rehab.

Means threw two innings in a game at the Guardians' complex in Arizona on Saturday. It was his first game action since he underwent Tommy John. He threw a bullpen on Wednesday in Cleveland. A logical next step could include him pitching for one of the Guardians' Minor League affiliates.

If Means continues to progress, he could be an option for the Guardians in September. What that would look like would seem to depend on a multitude of factors -- what need(s) do the Guardians have on their pitching staff, how stretched out Means is at that point, etc.

And don't forget, Means' contract includes a club option for 2026.

What is your favorite moment covering the Guardians?

José Ramírez making history seemingly every week always stands out, such as when he became Cleveland's first player with 250 homers and 250 steals on May 1 -- and then scored the winning run. Or Tuesday, when he set Cleveland’s record for multihomer games by breaking a tie with Jim Thome and Albert Belle. Those guys are legends, and I don't take for granted getting to watch Hosey every night.