Slugger José Ramírez is invaluable to the Cleveland Guardians—there’s no question about it. And this time, their 2025 schedule is do-or-die for the Guardians.
An even bigger statement concerning Cleveland’s relevance in the American League Central is, “Where would the club be without Ramírez?” There’s no doubt that the Guardians’ senior member of continuous seasons with the club is the single biggest contributor for them remaining in the Wild Card race.
Having an opportunity to capture the Central Division title is all but out of question. The Detroit Tigers are 8 1/2 games ahead of Cleveland and showing no signs of slowing, with less than 40 games remaining on the schedule.
Backing into the postseason as a Wild Card achiever is nothing to be ashamed about. All that matters is that the Guardians are in the MLB “postseason party.” But, anything less than vintage Ramírez performances, day in and day out, and Cleveland’s chances at furthering their play past September, is minimal.
When Ramírez is in the batter’s box, Guardians manager Steven Vogt’s club is one swing away from tying or pulling ahead in a game. Cleveland’s seven-time all-star third baseman, who made his debut with the club as a pinch-runner in September 2013, most importantly, can be counted on to be in Vogt’s lineup through the rest of the season.
Having already played in 119 of the Guardians’ 121 games in 2025, last season Ramírez suited up in 158 games, and in the previous three regular seasons, he averaged 155 game appearances.
With the Guardians having lost their last two games in Atlanta and looking to avoid a sweep by the Braves on Sunday, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that the club is watching how others are faring.
Currently, on this road trip that takes Cleveland to Arizona for three games starting on Monday and three more at Texas, before returning home to Progressive Field on Aug. 25 to entertain the Tampa Bay Rays, the Guardians are 2 1/2 games behind the struggling New York Yankees for the final American League Wild Card slot.
When you’re a player of Ramírez’s stature, who on April 6, 2022, signed a five-year, $124 million contract extension to remain with the Guardians through 2028, pressure and pride play into how he prepares for opponents.
Earlier this season, Ramírez swiped his 250th base. Along with his 280 career home runs belted for Cleveland, scoring runs and putting himself in position to be a threat on the base path are heavily counted on by Ramírez’s teammates.
There is a sense of urgency for Ramírez and the Guardians to get back to the World Series—something that has escaped the organization since 2016. That fall, Cleveland (then the Indians) lost in the seven-game meeting to the Chicago Cubs. The last two American League pennants for Cleveland before 2016 came in 1995 and 1997. There were no World Series winners in these seasons either.
In 2024, the Guardians continued to come up short in postseason play. Although the team won in the American League Central, Cleveland lost to the Detroit Tigers in the divisional series round in five games.
Ramírez, considered by many as the best American Leaguer never to have won the MVP award, came in fifth place for the award in 2024. After declaring to the media in May 2024 that “I’m better than Barry Bonds,” Ramírez opened himself up to a great deal of scrutiny by comparing himself to MLB’s all-time home run king.
However, season after season, the Dominican Republic native has shown little difficulty backing up his claims. Last season, Ramírez scored 41 stolen bases. So far in 2025, he has collected 35 steals. His 278 steals over the last 13 regular seasons in Cleveland have Ramírez one bag swipe away from tying Omar Vizquel for second place on the Indians/Guardians all-time stolen base record.
No doubt, Ramírez is an impact player. His fielding, throwing, hitting, and running make a difference in each game that Vogt inserts him into the lineup. The Guardians are spoiled with how much the club counts on him to perform at such a high level each game.
With the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners ahead of the Guardians in the Wild Card chase, and showing signs of only getting stronger at this point of the season, the Kansas City Royals are only 1.5 games behind Cleveland—a tight race for sure. Aside from Ramírez’s .293 batting average, only left fielder Steven Kwan’s .279 is anything offensively to brag about.
What superstar Aaron Judge is to the New York Yankees, Mike Trout to the Los Angeles Angels, and Shohei Ohtani to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ramírez is every bit counted on to perform at his highest level, game after game. Seven all-star selections and five Silver Slugger Awards (best offensive player at each position selected by coaches and managers), these individual winnings by Ramírez pale to bringing home a World Series diamond-filled championship ring to Cleveland. Not since 1948 has there been a World Series title won by Cleveland.
With their remaining schedule through Sept. 28, the Guardians have nine games with the Mariners, Red Sox, and Tigers. These games could decide if Cleveland needs to book hotel rooms during the Wild Card Series. Ramírez surely has every intention of being ready to ask for his room key.
With great players come great expectations. Ramírez being Ramírez gives the Guardians a better-than-average shot at being postseason-bound.
