CINCINNATI — Caleb Ferguson is a journeyman reliever pitching for his sixth team in the last 30 months. Julian Garcia, a 31-year-old rookie, pitched last summer for the independent Kansas City Monarchs. Jose Franco, another rookie, served as the Reds’ 27th man on Tuesday.Tejay Antone is finally healthy after three Tommy John procedures. Emilio Pagán, the Cincinnati Reds’ closer, sports an ERA north of 5.00.That quintet held the Cleveland Guardians to three harmless singles in Tuesday night’s 2-0 loss on the banks of the Ohio River. The motley crew, members of MLB’s 25th-ranked bullpen, bullied another Gavin Williams masterpiece into a footnote.In his last two starts, Williams limited opponents to two runs on five hits across 14 innings, with one walk and 23 strikeouts. The Guardians lost both games.MLB Mailbag: Trade deadline lightning roundAndy McCulloughIn their last four games, the Guardians have suffered three losses — 3-0, 2-0 and 1-0. The real suffering, though, has been endured by anyone watching this outfit try to cross home plate.Pull a string on the back of your Stephen Vogt doll and the manager will recite the same lines about the opposing starting pitcher being really talented and the hitters needing to keep working. Steven Kwan shrugged off suggestions of frustration setting in and insisted there’s optimism that they’re “going to start clicking.” The only thing resembling discontent from a team once again making a habit out of squandering great pitching came when Williams, asked whether his tiny walk total or gaudy strikeout total satisfied him more, replied: “I like wins.”Last season, the Guardians ranked 29th in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. At the end of the season, the organization’s figureheads declared they needed to be better, but didn’t do anything to actually promote any improvement. And now, the offense is once again a liability, ranking 30th in OPS. It’s an endless cycle.This season, though, the American League is pitiful. It’s inviting anyone and everyone to the playoff chase. That includes the Guardians, who sit behind the upstart Chicago White Sox in a division whose winner might fall backwards into a first-round bye.If the Guardians win a game, it’s typically the result of sterling starting pitching. That’s been the backbone of the organization for the last decade.Cleveland owns the sixth-best rotation ERA in the league. All five starters have avoided the injured list. It’s a group of pitchers in their mid-20s, still charting a path toward their full potential.