Guardians make surprising moves in effort to sneak into the playoffs

With a trio of rookie pitchers leading the charge, adding Giolito gives them a veteran presence that has vast experience in the AL Central after spending seven seasons with the Chicago White Sox. 

Although he struggled during his six starts with the Angels, he was solid with the White Sox before getting traded. In 21 starts this season with the White Sox he was 6-6 with a 3.79 ERA while striking out 131 in 121 innings pitched.

Already possessing a stout bullpen that ranks fifth in the MLB with a 3.48 ERA, adding Lopez and Moore gives them two more reliable arms to lean on in late innings. 

Lopez, who has been Giolitos's teammate since 2016 in a crazy sequence of moves, is having a solid season but got better after his move to the Angels. With a 2.77 ERA in 13 appearances in Los Angeles, he will look to continue that success in Cleveland. 

Moore has reinvented himself over the past two seasons after he looked like he was on his way out of the league, posting a 9-3 record with a 2.21 ERA over 118 innings out of the bullpen he might be the biggest addition of the three.

With first baseman Josh Naylor starting his rehab assignment on Tuesday, he should be back soon and will provide the Guardians offense a much-needed boost. 

Losing Naylor to an oblique injury at the beginning of August, the Guardians had a team average of .228 while scoring the fifth-fewest runs in the month with 101.

In what could be manager Terry Francona's final season, look for this team to give it their all as they try to sneak their way into the playoffs. 

Because once in the playoffs, it's a clean slate and anything could happen.