Steven Kwan's clutch 9th-inning single tied the 2025 All-Star Game, but the AL fell 7-6. Can his heroics spark a second-half run for the 46-49 Guardians?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
At 46-49, the Guardians trail the first-place Tigers by 12 games and sit four-and-a-half games out of the final Wild Card spot.
The All-Star Game is about moments, and Steven Kwan provided the biggest one of the night. With the AL trailing 6-5, Kwan slapped a ball just out of the shortstop's reach for an infield single, tying the game and capping a furious rally from a 6-0 deficit. While the AL ultimately fell 7-6 in the first-ever home run swing-off, Kwan's performance was a massive highlight. It was a reminder on the national stage of the gritty, contact-first approach that makes him so valuable and a welcome sight for fans starved for a big win.
Kwan's heroics stand in stark contrast to the team's first-half performance. As analyst Terry Pluto pointed out, the numbers tell a grim story. The Guardians enter the second half with a 46-49 record, a full 12 games behind the division-leading Detroit Tigers. The bullpen, once a league-best unit, has fallen to 10th. The offense ranks a lowly 26th in runs scored. Perhaps most shockingly, the team's typically stellar defense ranks 28th in fielding percentage. It's a formula that has them four-and-a-half games out of the final Wild Card spot and looking up at a steep hill.
Just as the second half is set to begin, a ray of hope has appeared on the horizon. Ace Shane Bieber has officially begun a rehab assignment with the ACL Guardians in Arizona. While it's just the first step, his potential return is exactly the kind of reinforcement the pitching staff needs. A healthy Bieber could stabilize the rotation, take pressure off the struggling bullpen, and provide the veteran leadership needed to turn things around. His progress will be the most-watched storyline as the Guardians begin their second-half push.
The All-Star break offers a moment to reset. Steven Kwan showed the world the kind of clutch DNA that exists on this roster. Shane Bieber's impending return offers a tangible boost. But the challenges are real and the deficit is large. The Guardians have shown they can fight back in a single game; now they have 67 games left to prove they can fight their way back into a season.
