The Cleveland Guardians have built a reputation as a team that grinds out wins. They don’t rely on superstar sluggers. Instead, their formula—elite defense, aggressive baserunning, and a dominant bullpen—has kept the team competitive. However, with an offense that lacks true power hitters, question remains: Can Cleveland’s approach sustain long-term success? The Astros have highlighted a similar pitching-reliant approach but with one vital distinctiveness—power at the plate.

Cleveland’s bullpen was nothing short of dominant in 2024. They finished the year with an MLB-best 2.57 ERA. The base of Emmanuel Clase, Hunter Gaddis, Tim Herrin, and Cade Smith made late-game comebacks nearly impossible for opponents. Smith, in particular, was a breakout star, posting a 1.91 ERA with 103 strikeouts in 75.1 innings.

As Talking Baseball put it, “They consistently find ways to win. They have a formula: play D, manufacture runs, and hand it over to the bullpen. They have proven it to be a winning formula over the years“. And Cleveland certainly proved that formula works, finishing 2024 with an AL Central title and pushing the Yankees to the brink in the ALCS. But while such an equation worked for Cleveland in 2024, will it work in the long run?

That’s where the concerns arise. Unlike the Astros, who balance elite pitching with middle-of-the-order sluggers like Yordan Álvarez and Kyle Tucker, the Guardians rely on small-ball tactics. It works in the regular season, but in October, teams often need a game-changing bat to break through elite pitching. That was Cleveland’s downfall.

Talking Baseball highlighted- “we are looking at a lineup and yeah, it is light. I don’t know if it matters, Jake“. That is the vital issue—can elite pitching alone carry a team through the postseason? Will Cleveland need more power? The Astros’ success suggests that while pitching is vital, a team also needs a reliable offensive core. If Cleveland wants to truly contend for a World Series, they may need to tweak their formula before their window of contention starts to close.

What should the Cleveland Guardians learn from the Astros?

While Cleveland relied on its bullpen to compensate for an inconsistent offense, the Astros utilized their relief arms as an extension of an already well-balanced team. With Josh Hader locking down the ninth inning and Bryan Abreu excelling in high-leverage moments, the team’s bullpen was built to shorten games and suffocate opposing lineups. In addition, former closer Ryan Pressly continued to provide value, giving the team a feared late-game unit in MLB.

However, what truly set the Astros apart was their depth. Even with injuries to Kaleb Ort and Shawn Dubin, Houston still ranked among the top 10 in bullpen ERA. Their top five relievers combined for 3.8 bWAR, proving their effectiveness even in a season where expectations weren’t fully met.

But this bullpen wasn’t just good—it was built for October. It had the ability to lock down games while being backed by a lineup that could strike at any moment. Still, Houston understands that bullpen success can be volatile. That’s why they continue to adjust and reinforce their relief corps, adding arms like Jake Beeks in free agency while keeping an eye on potential impact trades.

The Guardians have decisions to make this offseason. Bringing back Shane Bieber, Matthew Boyd and Alex Cobb would enhance their rotation. However, will they also look to add a power bat? If the team thinks to take the next step, they could need to tweak their formula—before their window of contention starts to close.