​The 2026 MLB Draft is wrapped up, with scouting teams trying to sleep off the copious amounts of coffee and Red Bull they consumed over the last several weeks.And on deck? The trade deadline and then the final home stretch of the regular-season playoff races.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Guardians (51-46) enter the 2026 All-Star break in a virtual dead heat with the Chicago White Sox (50-45) in the American League Central. The Minnesota Twins (48-49) and Detroit Tigers (44-52) might not be completely buried yet, but both could be heading the other direction in terms of the moves those teams might make at the trade deadline.Here are the top questions facing the Guardians in the second half of the season.1 / 12MIAMI, FLORIDA – JULY 10: Chase DeLauter #24 of the Cleveland Guardians hits a single against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at loanDepot park on July 10, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Sam Navarro/Getty Images)(Sam Navarro, Getty Images)Arguably the Guardians’ MVP of the first half of the season, Parker Messick earned an All-Star nod while posting a 2.73 ERA in 19 starts. And after being one of six starting pitchers to open spring training camp vying for five spots, Messick pitched his way onto the rotation and has been that group’s best in 2026.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementTanner Bibee and Gavin Williams have each had some poorer moments. Joey Cantillo has largely been solid, if a touch inconsistent. Slade Cecconi was great over the last several weeks, but it came after a painful start to the season. Messick, meanwhile, has been the best of the bunch, to the point of flirting with a few no-hit bids. He’s one of three Guardians All-Stars — along with Cade Smith, Travis Bazzana — and he’s one of the most important players on the roster in the second half.1 / 18Apr 14, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals catcher Iv‡n Herrera (48) tags out Cleveland Guardians first baseman Kyle Manzardo (9) during the fourth inning at Busch Stadium.(Jeff Curry, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)It’s been a dreadful season for Steven Kwan at the plate, at least by his standards.Through June 22, a span of 71 games, Kwan was hitting .206 with a .572 OPS, concerning enough that he was sent tumbling to the No. 9 spot in the order after acting as the club’s lead-off hitter for four seasons.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut there might be some hope on the horizon for the Guardians. Since June 23, a span of 18 games, he’s slashing .309/.387/.418 for an .805 OPS with four extra-base hits, three RBIs, five runs scored and three stolen bases.The Guardians seem stuck in a continuous search for more offense. With a few rookies holding down the top of the lineup and some others returning from injury over the next few weeks, Kwan returning to form would alleviate some of that offensive pressure on others.Cleveland trading Kwan was one of the biggest decisions of the winter. They opted to hang ont