MIAMI - June 13 has already taken on a heavy meaning for the Guardians, no matter where the 2026 season goes from here.
That was the day Cleveland beat Detroit, 3-1, but paid for it in a brutal way. Jose Ramirez went down with a broken hamate bone in his left hand.
Angel Martinez broke a bone in his left foot. Chase DeLauter suffered a hairline fracture in his right ribcage.
A win over Tarik Skubal and the Tigers pushed the Guardians to 39-33 and gave them a half-game lead in the American League Central, but it also came with three major losses that changed the shape of the roster.
Since then, Cleveland has gone 9-13. The Guardians are still in a virtual tie with the White Sox for first place, but the division has tightened into a four-team race. The Twins sit at 46-48, two games back, and the Tigers are hanging around at 43-50, 4 1/2 games out.
“The best way I can say it is that we’ve found ways to win,” manager Stephen Vogt said when asked about the stretch since that day. “We haven’t played our best baseball, but again when you take three guys out of your lineup, it’s going to take some time to see how the pieces work.”
One of those pieces has been DeLauter, who returned to the lineup on June 28 and has given the offense a jolt. He’s batting .362, going 17 for 47 with two homers and nine RBI since coming back. Even before the injury, he had been locked in since June 6, hitting in 16 of 17 games and posting a .362 average (25 for 69) with 11 RBI and a .919 OPS.
Ramirez and Martinez, meanwhile, are still waiting in the wings. Their return is expected sometime in late July or early August.
“I think our guys have grown a lot during this time,” Vogt said. “I think we’re going to be better for it.
We’ve found a way to salvage series; we’ve found ways to win series. And we’ve got to do it one more time before the All-Star break.”
Cleveland opened a three-game set against the surging Marlins on Friday night, trying to steady itself after a rough start to the trip. The Guardians dropped two straight to the Twins on Tuesday and Wednesday before bouncing back with a 5-2 win on Thursday.
Before that, they went 5-5 on a homestand against Seattle and Texas, then split a four-game series with the White Sox in a tense matchup.
“I’ve been really proud of us,” Vogt said. “We have not let one series dictate the next.
We have not let one day dictate the next. We’ve shown up every day ready to win and ready to work.”
The numbers from the last 22 games show how hard Cleveland has had to grind. The Guardians are hitting just .216, with 157 hits in 727 at-bats. Their 24 home runs match the number of homers their pitching staff has allowed over that span.
They’ve also been outscored 90-84 and out-hit 177-157.
“We’ve had different guys step up,” hitting coach Grant Fink said. “Those two guys (Ramirez and Martinez) are a big part of our offense.
But we’ve been able to keep our head above water. We’ve manufactured some runs when we’ve needed to.
I’m proud of our guys.”
In Other News...
Guardians Fans May Not Love Where Stuart Fairchild Just Resurfaced
Stuart Fairchilds stop in Cleveland was brief, and his next landing spot already looks a little more promising. After being designated for assignment by the Guardians and then electing free agency, the outfielder has resurfaced in the Mariners organization, where he wasted little time making an impression in the Arizona Complex League by homering in his first game.
For Guardians fans, the more frustrating part may be the timing. Fairchild never found much traction during his stint in Cleveland, but Seattles rash of outfield injuries could give him a clearer path upward if he keeps producing. It is the kind of roster turn that can make a short-lived move look a lot more consequential in hindsight. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Trade Deadline Wish List Just Got A Lot More Real
The Guardians search for a lineup boost is starting to feel a lot less theoretical as the trade deadline approaches. Cleveland has been linked to outfield help, and the names surfacing fit the kind of swing the front office has been chasing - a player with real power and another who could bring longer-term value without forcing the club to empty the cupboard.
Mickey Moniak and Garrett Mitchell each offer something different, which is part of what makes the situation worth watching. Moniak brings the appeal of a bat that has flashed big slugging production and a contract situation that would make him more of a short-term add, while Mitchell would be a tougher pull from a contending Brewers club but comes with years of control attached. With the AL Central and Wild Card races both tightening, Clevelands deadline plan may come down to how aggressively it wants to push for help now versus protecting what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians May Be Running Out Of Time With Kody Huff
The Guardians have already leaned heavily on their player pipeline this season, bringing nine players to the majors before the All-Star break, and that kind of churn has only sharpened the focus on who might be next. Kody Huff has put himself into that conversation with a breakout offensive year, hitting .272/.384/.498 with 14 doubles and 11 home runs, while also showing he can handle more than one spot on the field.
Acquired from the Rockies in 2023, Huff has expanded beyond catcher and given Cleveland a look at him at first base and third base as well. That versatility matters for a club that has been willing to move prospects quickly when the roster calls for it, and it leaves the Guardians with a decision to make on how soon they want to test him at the highest level. [Read more 🡒]