2 MLB Teams Ended A Power Drought On Wednesday

Power hitting hasn’t come easy for two MLB teams in particular this season: the Cleveland Guardians and the Washington Nationals.

Perhaps, not coincidentally, both squads have a sub-.500 record as of Thursday afternoon.

Home runs are the easiest path to runs, and they both have lacked in that department this year.

For a day, however, they looked like they were playing in the middle of the steroid era, or in the year of the “juiced” ball.

“Yesterday, the Guardians hit three home runs in their win at Baltimore and the Nationals hit five homers in their victory at Dodger Stadium. Entering play on Wednesday, Cleveland and Washington were the only teams that had not hit more than two home runs in a game this season,” OptaSTATS tweeted.

Yesterday, the Guardians hit three home runs in their win at Baltimore and the Nationals hit five homers in their victory at Dodger Stadium. Entering play on Wednesday, Cleveland and Washington were the only teams that had not hit more than two home runs in a game this season. pic.twitter.com/pJ0T1xlPPf

— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) June 1, 2023

For the first time this season, the Nats and the Guards hit at least three home runs in the same game.

Before Thursday’s games, the Nationals ranked 28th out of 30 MLB teams with 44 home runs, and the Guardians were last with 33.

For reference, the leading team, the Tampa Bay Rays, has 103 round-trippers.

The difference is considerable.

At least for a game, though, both squads were able to punish some baseballs.

Not coincidentally, they both earned wins against tough opponents: Cleveland defeated the Orioles and Washington beat the Dodgers.

Home runs are extremely valuable, but they cost a lot of money in most cases.

Money is not exactly plentiful in Cleveland and Washington at the moment.

Both organizations do have some guys who can drive the ball with authority, but they need to do what they did on Wednesday more often.