The 2026 Major League Baseball playoffs kick off Tuesday with four Game 1s in the Wild Card Series. It’s a huge 12-team field, and before the first pitch is even thrown, we need to talk about the bottom of the barrel when it comes to offensive firepower. We’re talking about the Cleveland Guardians, who are bringing the 24th-ranked offense in all of baseball to October. Seriously, 24th!
October’s Offensive Headaches: The Guardians and Phillies Struggle
Let’s not sugarcoat it: the Guardians’ offense is projected as absolutely terrible for the playoffs. They hit for a low average, don’t exactly get on base at a high clip (even if the OBP isn’t completely awful), and power? Forget about it. This squad is dead last among playoff teams in runs scored, clocking in at 24th across the entire league. Sure, they can swipe some bases, ranking seventh overall, and maybe José Ramírez can finally click, or Travis Bazzana and Chase DeLauter could magically get hot. But on paper? Rough stuff.
Then you look at the Philadelphia Phillies, and it’s a similar story. How much load can two guys really carry? Only Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber finished with an OPS+ over 100 among their regulars, meaning basically everyone else was below average. They’re a low batting average, high-strikeout team. Luis Arraez was supposed to help that, but he’s dealing with a sprained ankle right now. They finished 19th in runs and 22nd in OPS. This offense is basically Harper and Schwarber, and then you cross your fingers.
Home Run Kings and Hidden Gems: Astros and Red Sox
Switching gears, the Houston Astros actually led the entire majors in home runs this season. Wild, right? But despite all those dingers, they ranked only 13th in runs and seventh in OPS. Yordan Alvarez was straight up the best hitter in baseball during the regular season, no doubt about it. He’s got Jeremy Peña and Isaac Paredes who had quality seasons, and Yainer Díaz is a good-hitting catcher. Don’t forget Christian Walker’s power, or that Jose Altuve always shows out in the playoffs. The question is, will they get enough support for Alvarez when it truly matters?
And then there are the Boston Red Sox, who are a bit of a mystery box. They’re middle-tier in batting average and OPS, and they’re one of the lightest-homering teams in the playoffs, sitting in the bottom five of all 30 MLB teams. Homers are huge in October against elite pitching. But there’s a glimmer of hope! Roman Anthony and Trevor Story both missed almost the entire season due to injury but are back and hitting well. Trade deadline acquisition Adley Rutschman is picking things up, and Ceddanne Rafaela is back from the IL. Plus, Willson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu have been productive all year. That’s six potential difference-makers who could make this offense more dangerous than their numbers suggest.
So, as those four Game 1s fire up Tuesday, we’re not just watching baseball; we’re watching to see if these offenses, from the shockingly low-ranked Guardians to the home-run-happy Astros, can actually deliver when the lights are brightest. Who’s going to step up and prove these rankings wrong? It’s going to be a wild ride.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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