CLEVELAND — Looking down the Guardians lineup these days closely resembles the directions given to NASCAR drivers at Daytona.
Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left.
The Guardians lineup is so left-handed (how left-handed is it?) some cobwebs have probably taken up residence in the right-handed batter’s box at Progressive Field.
The Guardians are the most left-handed-heavy lineup in the league by a mile. And they’re on pace to be one of the most left-heavy batting orders in the last 50 years.
They’ve been southpaw-specific for a few years, but the 2026 season is taking it to another level. Through their first 82 games, the Guardians had accumulated only 565 plate appearances by right-handed hitters (or switch-hitters batting on the right side of the plate).
They’re the only team below 600 right-handed plate appearances so far (or 700, or 800, or 900). The next lowest club in that regard, and the only other one below 1,000, is the Washington Nationals with 946. The lowest American League club, the Seattle Mariners, have more than twice as many as Cleveland with 1,154. The Houston Astros lead the league with 2,363 right-handed PAs.
Guardians stats
The Guardians were last in the majors in right-handed PAs in each of the last two seasons (1,271 last year and 1,594 in 2024). This season, they’re on pace for 1,116 PAs by righties, which would be the fewest in 50 years among MLB teams that played a full 162-game season (meaning it excludes 2020, 1994, etc.).
The only team in that time even remotely close to Cleveland’s 2026 pace was the 1986 St. Louis Cardinals, who finished with 1,272. No other team playing a full MLB season in 40 years has been as left-handed dominant as the 2026 Guardians.
It’s certainly no secret. The Guardians know they’re probably going to face every left-handed pitcher teams can throw at them every series. Still, although Cleveland lacks a balanced lineup by handedness, its results haven’t been too tilted toward one direction. Through 82 games, the Guardians against right-handed pitchers had a 93 wRC+ and a .227/.331/.373 slash line; against lefties it’s 86 wRC+ (25th in MLB), .225/.312/.346.
And at this point, they’re just leaning into it (which just happens to be to the left, of course).
“I mean, I think we’re doing everything we can,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said when asked about avoiding their left handedness becoming an Achilles heel. “We need to beat the starter. I mean, we know teams can match up really well with us in the bullpen, and we know we’re very left-handed, but if we’re going to be left-handed, let’s go all in on it. And that’s just where we are right now.”
The disparity is likely only widening over the next few weeks. Jose Ramirez (hamate bone) and Angel Martinez (foot), two of the switch-hitters in the normal lineup, are both out with injuries. And while Chase DeLauter is also on the injured list, he’s progressing in his rehab and might not be far off from activation.
Plus, Cooper Ingle was promoted to the majors from Triple-A, adding yet another left-hander to the mix.
It’s as if “The Cupid Shuffle” is playing, but the CD is skipping on the line “To the left, to the left, to the left.”
It’ll be something the Guardians might prioritize at the trade deadline if they can find the right deal for a righty. Until then, opposing left-handed pitchers know they might as well start warming up now.
Ryan Lewis covers the Guardians for the Akron Beacon Journal. He can be reached at rlewis1@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians lineup on pace to be among most left-handed orders of all time
Reporting by Ryan Lewis, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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By Ryan Lewis, Akron Beacon Journal | USA TODAY Network
