The Cleveland Guardians are not only one of the best baseball teams, but they also have a prominent superfan in rapper Machine Gun Kelly. The Shaker Heights, Ohio native threw the first pitch before Tuesday’s game and had a Message for the teamposted on Cleveland’s official X account.

“I’ve got a Cleveland cap on my head, but all I’m thinking about is the World Series. Let’s go, Guardians! Number one in the league. If you need a backup pitcher, I just showed you my skills. I can’t, uh, do anything on the mound, but I’m a fan in the stands. Let’s go, Cleveland,” he said as he walked through the tunnel.

Kelly jumped to the mound to throw the first pitch, but took an unconventional route from there, throwing the ball into the crowd instead of over home plate. In fairness, he warned against calling it a spot start down the stretch.

The first pitch, if you can call it that, fell before the Guardians played the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday. They entered the game with a score of 70-49, tied with the Orioles and Dodgers. After a disappointing season in 2023, they missed the playoffs. With a good streak, they will get back to the postseason, where the Guardians could do serious damage.

Guardians’ chances in the playoffs

Fangraphs gives the Guardians a 94.3% chance of making the playoffs heading into Tuesday’s game. Their commanding lead in the division and continued elite performance make them almost a guarantee to return to the playoffs. They also have the best chance of securing the first-round bye at 56%.

Although the Wild Card round bye didn’t work out well last year, the Guardians would benefit greatly from it. Their weakest link is their starting pitcher. Having to play a three-game Wild Card series before getting to the Division Series would not be a recipe for success for the Guardians.

Last year, the Orioles, Braves and Dodgers all lost in the Division Series despite having a bye. The Astros were the only team to benefit from that, beating the Twins in four games. The underdogs came in with confidence and steamrolled the division winners last year. The Guardians, however, were unable to capitalize.

The key for teams that have to win so many games to win the championship is the starting pitcher. Nathan Eovaldi and Jordan Montgomery combined to lead the Rangers to the title last year. The Guardians are without Shane Bieber, who will undergo Tommy John surgery, and Tanner Bibee is dealing with shoulder problems. Other than Bibee, they have no starter with an ERA+ over 100.

If they are to fulfill Machine Gun Kelly’s ambitions, the Cleveland Guardians must finish their division and secure a bye to the Division Series. With their Jose Ramirez-led offense, the Guardians can do some damage in the playoffs, just like they did in 2016 when they last won the American League championship.