Things are certainly hotting up in the race for 1st place in the AL Central standings this season as the MLB continues to roll on.

Indeed, we are well past the midway stage of the 22/23 season now and, naturally, many will be getting excited about the prospect of participating in the postseason, where they will then be hoping to challenge for a place in the World Series before potentially being in with a chance of winning it.

The Cleveland Guardians are perhaps one team that could be in with a shout of enjoying a huge amount of success this season, as they continue to impress with each ball game that they play at the moment. As a result, we thought it would be wise to take a look at how good the Guardians are at the moment, and try and predict where they may end up at the end of the 2022/23 MLB season!

Cleveland Guardians impressing in the race for 1st

As already highlighted, the Cleveland Guardians are really impressing everyone with their baseball this season, and many have taken note of what they have been able to do when they have stepped up to the plate in the games that they have played thus far.

As of writing, the team from Ohio has managed to put together a winning record of 56-52, thus ranking them second in the AL Central standings for the time being. This is just one game back from the Minnesota Twins, who currently lead the division 57-51. However, the Guardians will also need to be wary as a slip up could be costly at this stage.

Gritty win for the Guardiac Kids.#ForTheLand | #GuardiWWins pic.twitter.com/a9WTpyOBsi

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) August 7, 2022

The team is only one game ahead of the team in third at the moment, with the Chicago White Sox currently sitting on a record that reads 53-53. Nonetheless, it is perhaps easy to see why there has been a lot of excitement regarding the Ohio organization’s chances of being able to clinch first place in the division.

Guardians are in form and hitting all the right notes

At the moment, the Guardians have been able to extend their Last 10 match record to 6-4 after defeating the impressive Houston Astros (70-40) 1-0 in an encounter to have taken place on Sunday, August 7. This is a positive for the franchise, as the Twins are 5-5 over the same game period, while the White Sox continue to remain on the team’s tail as they are also 6-4.

Additionally, it appears that it could be worth backing the Guardians down the stretch when it comes down to home games, as the organization appears to be having more success while playing in front of their own crowd at Progressive Field.

Indeed, celebrations about a potential World Series year will have to be calmed down, as those who continue to support the organization will know that it has been a very long time since this last happened, however there may be some that will be considering whether it might be time to place a friendly wager on it happening.

Now punters have the ability to check the odds at Ohio online sports betting sites available in the state to utilize, there may be some that will feel this year could be the end of a 74-year wait, having last won the World Championship back in 1948.

Of course, that does not mean that fans of the Cleveland Guardians can not potentially think about placing a wager on the team finishing first in the AL Central standings and reaching the postseason, though…

Predictions

Making predictions – especially at this stage of the season – can be a difficult task to get right, but there is no denying that it is an enjoyable task and one that all of us like to make, even if we find it being among one of the most difficult things to do.

As revealed, the Guardians are currently in some good form heading to the business end of the 2022/23 MLB season and there will be an air of confidence that the organization can reach the playoffs, but will it be as the No. 1 team in the AL Central?

A bad man in the best way possible.#ForTheLand | #GuardiWWins pic.twitter.com/7ht9l8HaB0

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) August 7, 2022

They missed last year’s postseason after finishing second with a record of 80-82, which was evenly split 40-41 at home and on the road. It was the first time that the team had finished with a losing record since 2012, thus perhaps having a point to prove this year.

Indeed, it would appear rather clear that the team is intent in trying to obtain the top spot in the standings, as they continue to push the Twins as far as possible, and with the run-in potentially in the Guardians’ favor, perhaps they will overturn the one-game deficit and take command of the AL Central.

The Ohio franchise has 16 games against the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals still to come this season and look ahead to, with each of these games being winnable sporting encounters. They begin against the Tigers imminently, having recently recorded back-to-back victories over the Houston Astros.

However, there could be some doubts as the team did not do anything during the Trade Deadline period, whereas the main competition – the Twins – decided to work hard and get in a number of players to help them down the stretch. Indeed, the likes of Tyler Mahle, Jorge Lopez, and Michael Fulmer all arrived, and these men could have a huge impact for the Minnesota outfit.

Final Thoughts

So, will the Cleveland Guardians be able to secure themselves first place in the AL Central standings? At the moment, and with how competitive sport is played, there is every chance that the Ohio outfit might just be able to do so.

Of course, time will only tell at this moment and the team will need to be at their very best if they are to be able to accomplish the feat, while they will also have to hope that they have a little slice of fortune on their side, too.