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GAME THREAD: Guardians at Mets, game 112 of 162

2025-08-04T19:00:00-04:00

Photo by Grace Hoppel/MLB Photos via Getty Images

Kings of Queens?

Here's the Guardians lineup:

Here is how we line up for our first of three in New York.#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/wEEPwXvv4e
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) August 4, 2025

Here's the Mets lineup:

New series on deck. #LGM pic.twitter.com/ayLSVIwTo6
— New York Mets (@Mets) August 4, 2025

Let's go, Guardians!

Series Preview: Guardians at Mets

2025-08-04T14:31:58-04:00

Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Putting the renewed Guardians’ team to the test

The Guardians, on the outskirts of the AL playoff chase, meet the Mets, firmly in the thick of the NL East and NL Wildcard races, for three games tonight in New York.

The Guardians are 56-55 with a -28 run differential, 25th in team wRC+ at 90, 11th in baserunning runs above average at 2.1, sixth in Defense at 4.4, 22nd in starting pitcher FIP at 4.37, and sixth in reliever FIP at 3.64.

The Mets are 63-49 and +40 run differential, seventh in team wRC+ at 107, eighth in baserunning runs above average at 5.8, 15th in Defense at -7.1, ninth in starting pitcher FIP at 3.97, and ninth in reliever FIP at 3.71.

The Guardians are better at bullpen work and Defense. That’ll be enough, right?

Matchups:
Monday, 7:10PM EDT: Slade Cecconi, RHP 4.62 FIP vs. Sean Manaea, LHP 2.93 FIP
Tuesday, 7:10PM EDT: Logan Allen, LHP 4.48 FIP vs. Clay Holmes, RHP 4.29 FIP
Wednesday, 1:10PM EDT: Gavin Williams, RHP 4.42 FIP vs. David Peterson, LHP 3.33 FIP

The Guardians are led by Jose Ramirez at 146 wRC+, Kyle Manzardo 114 wRC+, Steven Kwan 110 wRC+ and Daniel Schneemann at 103 wRC+.

The Mets are led by Juan Soto at 141 wRC+, Pete Alonso at 139 wRC+, Jeff McNeil 125 wRC+, Brandon Nimmo 120 wRC+, Starling Marte 118 wRC+, Francisco Lindor 114 wRC+, Francisco Alvarez at 113 wRC+ and Ronny Mauricio at 106 wRC+. They also recently added Cedric Mullins who has a 103 wRC+ overall this year.

Folks, the Mets are a very good team. They have NINE hitters who are above average major league hitters (IMAGINE THAT!). They just added Ryan Helsley, Gregory Soto and Tyler Rogers added to the pen, who are very good, and their pen was already very good prior to that. The only matchup, on paper, in which the Guardians would seem to have a fighter’s chance is Tuesday. But, hey, this is why they don’t play the games on paper. Miraculously getting two of three in this series could help propel the Guardians into the wildcard race ahead of a resuming of an easier schedule to follow. Winning one of three would be acceptable. Getting swept would further affirm the team’s deicision to not be buyers at this trade deadline and, instead, to trade Shane Bieber.

I resolve to continue to just enjoy the ride and hope to see Jose mash and our young hitters grow and develop.

Guardians News and Notes: Now to Play a Good Baseball Team

2025-08-04T11:22:43-04:00

Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images

News and Notes for Monday, August 4th, 2025

The Guardians dropped the series finale to the Twins 5-4, breaking a streak of winning 14 straight games when the score was decided by one-run against Minnesota.

Nicole has your recap here. The Guardians couldn't quite overcome a bad first inning from Joey Cantillo, but it was nice to see him finish strong. CJ Kayfus getting his first hit was the big highlight.

Catch up on Guardians injury news here. Sounds like John Means is progressing nicely in terms of throwing off a mound.

Stephen Vogt offered some comments about his lineup philosophy in this piece by Tim Stebbins. I think my main point of disagreement with him remains that he needs to recognize that not everyone needs to play 3-4 times a week. Some guys are bench bats for a reason.

Around MLB:

The Yankees got swept by the Marlins and the Mariners beat the Rangers. Guardians are three games back of Seattle in the wildcard race, 3.5 of the Yankees and 2 back of the Rangers.

Remember we switch over to a new design and host site together so you'll need to login again. Sorry about that! Thanks for your loyal reading

Twins 5 - Guardians 4: C.J. Kayfus Gets His First Hit!

2025-08-03T16:34:47-04:00

Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Game Recap for Sunday, August 3rd, 2025

The Cleveland Guardians were looking for the series sweep against the skeleton crew of a Minnesota Twins lineup.

Joey Cantillo didn’t make things easy for himself. In the first inning, three singles and a double had the Twins up 2-0 before an out was even recorded. With two outs, another single put the Guards down 4 runs. Joey locked in for the rest of the game. Stephen Vogt and squad continue to stretch him back out into a starter, which was shown today. In the remainder of his 5.2 innings pitched, Joey only allowed another hit and two walks. His final line reads 5.2IP, 6H, 4R/ER, 2BB, 9K. He was one strikeout shy of his career high, but marking a season high and threw 91 pitches.

In the bottom of the first, Daniel Schneemann continued his sneaky lil hot streak with a one-out single. In his last fifteen games Schneemann is hitting .333/.426/.511 with 15H, 9R, 4RBI, and 8BBs. Someone who is on a very LOUD hot streak is one José Ramírez. José, with Schneemann on, hit a homer to right.

I repeat: José Ramírez is on a heater.

2-run homer in the first. He's got 22 this season.

Since the break: .333/.441/.649, 4 homers, 9 RBIs, 10 BB and 3 K in 15 games
— Tim Stebbins (@tim_stebbins) August 3, 2025

Jakob Junis came on in the bottom of the sixth to record the final out. He ended up going 2.1IP with 2H, 1R/ER, and 3K. Carlos Hernández pitched the ninth, walking one batter but otherwise keeping the Twins from tacking on any more runs.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Guards put together a strong effort of a rally. Nolan Jones drew a lead off walk, the first lead off hitter to reach for the Guards all game. C.J. Kayfus recorded his first major league hit with a double to right.

Brayan Rocchio was brought in to pinch hit for Angel Martínez. Rocchio slapped a single to left to score both NoJo and C.J.

After a pitching change, the top of the lineup went 1-2-3 to retire the side and end the game. The Guards fall by one run.

Cleveland will head up to New York to face the Mets for a three game series that starts tomorrow.

From “Unwatchable” to Unmissable: The Guardians’ Wild Card Push

2025-08-03T16:05:00-04:00

Once dismissed by ESPN’s “Watchability Index,” the Guardians are proving they’re one of baseball’s most compelling teams — playing gritty, high‑drama baseball with October in their sights.

Before Quincy Wheeler gave me my big break as a contributor here at Covering the Corner, I was just another guy making fan posts. My very first fan post was a takedown of ESPN’s so‑called “Watchability Index.” And while we’ve certainly had stretches of tough‑to‑watch Guardians baseball, we now find ourselves in the final weeks of the season staring at a schedule full of high‑drama, can’t‑miss games.

ESPN claimed that the Guardians were unwatchable. But now the Guards are proving what I was arguing all along — baseball’s best teams aren’t the most “watchable” — because the most compelling baseball isn’t a blowout by a powerhouse; it’s when the outcome is still unknown. When your heart’s pounding with every pitch and every swing of the bat. And with the finish to this season shaping up for a dramatic final push for a Wild Card spot, compelling baseball is exactly what we’re getting.

This is the kind of baseball you can’t look away from. It’s not always perfect — and we’ve certainly had our ups and downs this season — but it’s a riveting story whose finale has yet to be written...and it’s what makes the Guardians worth watching now more than ever.

Just a few days ago we were all frantically refreshing ESPN and doomscrolling X to see what would happen at the trade deadline. The deadline could have gone a number of different ways—and yes, we suffered as the seconds slowly ticked toward 6 PM waiting to see what direction the front office would go—but that’s high drama.

It could have been a gut-wrenching wave of the proverbial white flag. But instead, the memes told the story — memes showing Kwan as Jordan Belfort from The Wolf of Wall Street, yelling that he wasn’t going anywhere. Fitting, really, that a season packed with drama would deliver a trade‑deadline twist straight out of a cinematic epic. Because with our two All-Stars still here, and a slew of young players hoping to put it all together as we come down the final stretch, we still have a chance. And as we all know...with baseball, once you’re in the playoffs...anything is possible.

Right now, we’re only a couple of games out of the Wild Card and eight back in the division — with six games against the Tigers still to come. Four of our next five series are winnable, and we’ve already taken four of the first five series after the break. Meanwhile, most of our rivals face tougher matchups.

But what makes this final stretch so watchable isn’t just that the Guardians are chasing a playoff spot — it’s about the individual players fighting for their place in that chase. Angel Martinez was on a tear before cooling off recently, Daniel Schneemann has been hot, Manzardo is proving he needs to play every day, and now we’ve got C.J. Kayfus joining the mix (finally).

Now every at‑bat, every inning is a chance for these guys to prove they’re part of the solution, part of the playoff roster, part of the Guardians’ future. That urgency — the fight to stay in the lineup and force the manager’s hand — just adds another layer of drama.

Since the All‑Star break, you can feel something shifting. The Guardians aren’t just grinding out games — they’re having fun again. We’ve seen series wins stack up, comeback victories that sent the dugout into a frenzy, and those smiles we all love are returning to the team: when José flips his bat after a clutch home run. When Kwan comes back to the dugout, greeted by high‑fives, after another throwout at the plate. With a game-winning hit by Manzardo that has the team swarm the field throwing water in the air. These aren’t just wins — they’re reminders of why we watch this beautiful game of baseball in the first place.

This is the joy that was missing during the team’s toughest stretch before the break, and it’s finally returning in the most important stretch of the season.

So here we are — back where we started. My first fan post was a direct challenge to ESPN’s idea of what “watchability” is, and now the Guardians are proving my case once again. ESPN executives in their corporate suits will never understand it, but Cleveland fans can feel it. If you wanted meaningful baseball down the stretch, this is it. Every game matters. Every series shifts the standings. This isn’t a superteam that receives ESPN headlines. This is Cleveland baseball: gritty, unpredictable, and electric.

So strap in. Clear your calendars. Keep your heart rate monitors handy. Because from here on out, every pitch is a playoff pitch, and every win brings us one step closer to baseball in October.

De “Inmirables” a Imperdibles: El Impulso de los Guardianes hacia el Comodín

2025-08-03T16:00:00-04:00

Antaño descartados por el “Índice de Visibilidad” de ESPN, los Guardianes están demostrando ser uno de los equipos más cautivadores del béisbol, jugando con garra y drama en busca de octubre.

Antes de que Quincy Wheeler me diera mi gran oportunidad como colaborador aquí en Covering the Corner, yo era solo otro aficionado publicando fan posts. Mi primera publicación fue una crítica al llamado “Índice de Visibilidad” de ESPN. Y aunque hemos tenido rachas en las que ver a los Guardianes era complicado, hoy nos encontramos en las semanas finales de la temporada frente a un calendario lleno de partidos de alto drama que no te puedes perder.

ESPN afirmó que los Guardianes eran inmirables. Pero ahora el equipo está demostrando lo que yo sostenía desde el principio: los mejores equipos de béisbol no son necesariamente los más “vistosos”, porque el béisbol más emocionante no es una paliza de un gigante, sino cuando el resultado aún es incierto. Cuando el corazón late con fuerza en cada lanzamiento y en cada swing del bate. Y con el cierre de esta temporada perfilándose como un empuje final dramático hacia un puesto de Comodín, lo que estamos viviendo es justamente béisbol cautivador.

Este es el tipo de béisbol del que no puedes apartar la mirada. No siempre es perfecto —y esta temporada hemos tenido nuestros altibajos—, pero es una historia apasionante cuyo final aún no se ha escrito… y es lo que hace que los Guardianes valgan más la pena que nunca.

Hace apenas unos días, todos estábamos actualizando frenéticamente ESPN y haciendo doomscrolling en X para ver qué pasaría en la fecha límite de traspasos. El desenlace pudo haber ido en muchas direcciones —y sí, sufrimos mientras los segundos se agotaban rumbo a las 6 PM, esperando a ver hacia dónde se inclinaría la directiva—, pero eso también es drama puro.

Pudo haber sido un momento desgarrador, la rendición simbólica con bandera blanca. Pero en su lugar, los memes contaron la historia: memes mostrando a Kwan como Jordan Belfort en The Wolf of Wall Street, gritando que no se iba. Muy apropiado, en realidad, que una temporada cargada de drama nos regalara un giro en la fecha límite digno de una épica cinematográfica. Porque con nuestros dos All-Stars aún aquí, y un grupo de jóvenes buscando encajar todas las piezas en esta recta final, todavía tenemos una oportunidad. Y como bien sabemos… en el béisbol, una vez que entras a los playoffs… todo es posible.

Ahora mismo estamos solo a un par de juegos del puesto de Comodín y a ocho de la cima divisional, con seis partidos pendientes contra los Tigres. Cuatro de nuestras próximas cinco series son ganables, y ya ganamos cuatro de las primeras cinco series después de la pausa del Juego de Estrellas. Mientras tanto, la mayoría de nuestros rivales enfrentan duelos más complicados.

Pero lo que hace que esta recta final sea tan atractiva no es solo que los Guardianes estén peleando por un lugar en los playoffs: es ver a cada jugador luchando por ganarse su puesto en esa pelea. Ángel Martínez estaba encendido antes de enfriarse un poco, Daniel Schneemann sigue caliente, Manzardo está demostrando que necesita jugar todos los días, y ahora —por fin— tenemos a C.J. Kayfus sumándose a la mezcla.

Cada turno al bate, cada entrada, es una oportunidad para que estos muchachos demuestren que son parte de la solución, parte del roster de playoffs, parte del futuro de los Guardianes. Esa urgencia —esa pelea por mantenerse en la alineación y obligar al mánager a contar con ellos— añade otra capa de drama.

Desde el Juego de Estrellas se siente un cambio. Los Guardianes no solo están peleando los partidos: han vuelto a divertirse. Hemos visto series ganadas una tras otra, remontadas que vuelven loco al dugout, y las sonrisas que tanto nos gustan están regresando al equipo: cuando José gira el bate tras un jonrón clave. Cuando Kwan vuelve al dugout, recibido con high fives, después de otro tiro certero al plato. Cuando un imparable de Manzardo para ganar el partido provoca que el equipo invada el campo lanzando agua al aire. No son solo victorias: son recordatorios de por qué amamos este hermoso juego llamado béisbol.

Esta es la alegría que había desaparecido en el tramo más duro antes del descanso… y que por fin regresa justo en el momento más importante de la temporada.

Así que aquí estamos… de vuelta al punto de partida. Mi primer fan post fue un desafío directo a la idea de ESPN sobre lo que es la “visibilidad” en el béisbol, y ahora los Guardianes están volviendo a darme la razón. Los ejecutivos de ESPN, con sus trajes corporativos, nunca lo entenderán… pero los aficionados de Cleveland lo sienten. Si querías béisbol con peso propio en la recta final, aquí lo tienes. Cada juego cuenta. Cada serie mueve la tabla. No somos un súper equipo que llame la atención de ESPN. Esto es béisbol de Cleveland: aguerrido, impredecible y eléctrico.

Prepárense. Liberen sus agendas. Listos para que el corazón se les salga del pecho. Porque de aquí en adelante, cada lanzamiento es un lanzamiento de playoffs, y cada victoria nos acerca un paso más al béisbol de octubre.

GAME THREAD: Guardians at Twins, game 111 of 162

2025-08-03T13:00:07-04:00

Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images

Sweep, sweep, sweep

Here's the Twins lineup:

Sunday's lineup

https://t.co/7owDbqKTsI pic.twitter.com/cZjQct7R6K
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) August 3, 2025

Here's the Guardians lineup:

Looking for a sweep before we hit the road.#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/0EMBO31gxR
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) August 3, 2025

Let's go, Guardians!

Top prospects Travis Bazzana, Jaison Chourio and Juneiker Caceres all have monster games Saturday

2025-08-03T11:56:19-04:00

Cleveland Guardians minor league recap for Sunday, August 3rd, 2025

Columbus Clippers 8, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 0

Box Score · Clippers fall to 46-56

Columbus ended its losing streak in a big way on Saturday, dominating on both offense and pitching.

Every member of the Clippers had at least one hit, with Milan Tolentino leading the way wiht a monster game, going 2-for-3 with two home runs and a walk. These were Tolentino’s 18th home runs of the season at 23 years old at Triple-A. His batting average needs work (.229) but the former 2020 fourth round pick is having a power breakout this year, already more than double the homers he’s hit in any previous season.

ITS OUTA HERE pic.twitter.com/dfYvvFISRC
— Columbus Clippers (@CLBClippers) August 3, 2025

Jhonkensy Noel also reached base safely three times, going 2-for-3 with a hit by pitch and Dayan Frias went 2-for-4 with a double.

Starting pitcher Parker Messick was terrific, tossing 5.2 scoreless inning on just one hit. He struck out six and walked two.

The bullpen finished the game solidly as Will Dion, Trevor Stephan, Luis Frias and Zak Kent combined for 3.1 scoreless frames to close out the victory.

Akron RubberDucks 5, Erie SeaWolves 6 (F/10)

Box Score · RubberDucks fall to 56-44

Travis Bazzana did everything he could to try to will Akron to a victory on Saturday. The No. 1 overall pick last year went 3-for-5 with a home run and a double, raising his season OPS to .833 at Double-A. I think he might be ready for a new challenge.

A GAME TYING BAZZANA BLAST!!!!@TBazzana @GuardsInsider pic.twitter.com/j6CMi9PGtG
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) August 3, 2025

Angel Genao and Guy Lipscomb both had a pair of hits, with Genao doubling and Lipscomb also getting hit by a pitch and stealing a base.

Starting pitcher Tommy Mace allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits with four strikeouts and three walks in 6.0 innings. Steven Perez was excellent out of the bullpen with 2.0 scoreless innings, as was Magnus Ellerts, who had a scoreless inning. Alaska Abney gave up an unearned run in extra innings without giving up a hit to take the loss.

Lake County Captains 5, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 1

Box Score · Captains improve to 55-46

Jaison Chourio had his best game of the season for Lake County on Saturday, going 4-for-5 with a double and three runs batted in to practically carry the Captains offense singlehandedly.

Ralphy Velazquez went 1-for-2 with three walks and Christian Knapczyk and Jose Devers both singled and walked.

Starting pitcher Cam Favors was splendid, allowing one run on four hits in 6.0 innings with five strikeouts and a walk.

Tyler Naquin continued his scoreless innings streak with 2.0 spotless frames and Jay Driver closed out the win with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

Lynchburg Hillcas 3, Delmarva Red Sox 6

Box Score · Hillcats fall to 54-45

Juneiker Caceres has continued the scorching start to his full-season baseball career. The 17-year-old went 2-for-4 with a double and his first full-season home run on Saturday. After impressing in the ACL with a .888 OPS through 40 games, he currently is slashing .500/.538/1.538 through his first week at Single-A. His prospect status is absolutely skyrocketing right now.

3 doubles in 3 games...Juneiker Caceres is adjusting just fine in Lynchburg

Caceres is currently batting .500 (5-for-10) in his first ever series with the Hillcats. pic.twitter.com/KPPHdDqo4Q
— GuardsInsider (@GuardsInsider) August 3, 2025

Jeffrey Mercedes added a triple.

Starting pitcher Joey Oakie was solid, allowing one run on four hits in 3.0 innings with two strikeouts and one walk. Keegan Zinn gave up a pair of runs in one inning