The Guardians kept stacking up reasons to feel good about the week of August 23rd, going 4-2 and finishing with a sweep of the Los Angeles Angels. That run pushed them back into second place, and there were a few individual moments that stood out inside the team result.
Chase DeLauter had the loudest night of the bunch in Cleveland’s 11-1 win over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday. He went 4-for-4 with a single, a double and a triple, falling one home run short of the cycle.
The double in the bottom of the fourth inning brought home his 60th RBI of the season. After that performance, he’s hitting .293/.365/.454 with 125 hits and 50 walks.
He also has a chance to show what he can do in the postseason this year since his “debut” came in the Wild Card series in 2025.
José Ramírez also gave the lineup a jolt by finally leaving the yard. For the first time since June 6th, he hit a home run, ending a drought that had stretched nearly two months. It was his 296th career homer, moving him closer to 300 and leaving him second on the franchise home run list behind Jim Thome, who has 337.
Then there was Angel Martínez, who delivered the kind of defensive play that can swing a game in a heartbeat. In the eighth inning of Wednesday’s matchup, the Guardians and Angels were tied 6-6.
Los Angeles had a runner on first with two outs, and Mike Trout was at the plate when he drove a ball toward center. Martínez read it all the way, ran it down to the warning track, jumped, and hauled it in to end the inning.
Cleveland went on to win 8-6, and that victory helped complete the sweep.
The week even came with a little extra fun off the field. On Sunday, the Guardians offered a special ticket package that included a bobblehead of Big Bird wearing a Guards jersey and hat while waving a Guards flag.
In Other News...
Clase And Ortiz Face A Damaging New Twist In Cleveland Case
Federal prosecutors say the Cleveland Guardians pitchers at the center of the alleged pitch-rigging and betting case did more than simply face accusations tied to baseball integrity. In court filings, they allege Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz tried to mislead Major League Baseball investigators about their involvement, deepening a scandal that has already put the club in the middle of one of the sports uglier legal fights.
Both pitchers have pleaded not guilty to charges that include conspiracy, fraud, money laundering and sports bribery, and the case is now headed toward a November 2 trial. Prosecutors contend the pair ran afoul of MLBs Rule 21, which bars betting on baseball, while also attempting to hide payments and their roles during the leagues inquiry, adding another layer of risk for a franchise still waiting for this case to play out. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Bullpen Move Comes With One Roster Twist To Watch
The Guardians are set to get a little more flexibility as September roster expansion gives the club a chance to shuffle some pieces around. Right-hander Carlos Hernndez will be added to the major league roster to fill an open spot on the 40-man, while utility man Daniel Schneemann is also coming back up from Triple-A Columbus to give Cleveland some extra bench depth.
Hernndez has been in the organization on a minor league deal and recently returned from injury, which makes his promotion a notable step as the team evaluates its bullpen options down the stretch. Schneemanns recall gives the Guardians another versatile bat and glove to work with, and the move creates one roster wrinkle worth keeping an eye on as Cleveland sorts out how it wants to use its expanded September group. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Spark Debate With September Choice On Intriguing Young Bat
The Guardians' September roster move brought a little bit of everything, with the club adding Daniel Schneemann and Carlos Hernandez as the expanded roster opened the door for help down the stretch. But the most interesting omission was Ralphy Velazquez, a first baseman whose minor league performance has made him one of the more intriguing young bats in the organization. His name had been in the conversation for a look, especially with rosters growing and the season entering its final month.
Instead, Cleveland is taking a cautious path with Velazquez, and the reasoning appears tied to bigger-picture concerns about how a potential MLB lockout next season could affect his development. The choice has already drawn some second-guessing, mostly because Velazquez is at a stage where every opportunity matters and the immediate upside is hard to ignore. For now, the Guardians are betting on patience, even if the decision leaves plenty of room for debate about when the next chance will come. [Read more 🡒]