The Cleveland Guardians left the week with something they hadn’t had in a while: a series win.
Cleveland closed out its three-game set against the San Francisco Giants with a 5-2 victory on Thursday afternoon, and that was enough to snap a run of five straight series losses - the club’s longest such skid of the season. The Guardians’ previous series win came on July 29 against the Cincinnati Reds, and their last home series victory came on July 26 against the Seattle Mariners.
“It felt good to win a series,” manager Stephen Vogt said after the game. “Obviously, it's been a little while, so it just felt good to complete that game... I thought we executed well and really well-played game today.”
What stood out most across the series was how cleanly Cleveland played in its two wins. On Tuesday night, Jo Adell powered the offense with six RBIs, while the pitching staff limited San Francisco to just seven base runners. Then on Thursday, Gavin Williams got the tone set early and turned in another double strikeout performance as the Guardians grabbed an early lead and kept building on it, something that has not always come easily for this team this season.
The offense also did its job with runners in scoring position, finishing the series at .286 (8-for-28) and going .400 (4-for-10) in the finale. That still leaves room for more, but it was a productive step forward.
Cleveland also managed the series win without its best hitter, Chase DeLauter, appearing in any of the three games.
Now the Guardians move on to a road series against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, hoping this stretch can keep pushing them in the right direction. Even with the win over San Francisco, Cleveland still has plenty of work ahead if it wants to be a playoff team in 2026.
In Other News...
Gabriel Arias Just Got Another Big League Lifeline
Gabriel Arias has turned into one of those players who keeps finding a new organization with a need at just the right moment. After Cleveland designated him for assignment, he was first picked up by the Mets and then landed with the Cubs, who were looking to bolster their infield mix after Dansby Swanson hit the injured list. For a player still trying to carve out a stable major league role, that kind of movement can be unsettling, but it also shows there is still a market for his glove and versatility.
What makes this latest stop especially interesting is the roster squeeze that comes with it. Arias is out of minor league options, so Chicago cannot simply stash him away for insurance if the fit is not perfect. He has to stay on the major league roster unless the Cubs take the risk of designating him again and he gets through waivers, which leaves his immediate future tied to how aggressively they want to use him in the middle infield. [Read more 🡒]
Former Guardians Prospect Just Made Cleveland Revisit An Uncomfortable Trade
Matt Wilkinsons first big league appearance came with a little extra meaning attached, since the Giants handed him the ball against Cleveland at Progressive Field after acquiring him from the Guardians earlier this season. Working as an opener, the former Guardians prospect settled in quickly and covered two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while showing enough poise to make his debut look much bigger than the moment usually allows.
For Cleveland, it also turned into a reminder of the trade that sent Wilkinson away, especially because he lined up against a pair of familiar faces from his High-A Lake County days. Angel Genao and Travis Bazzana were among the batters he handled in that outing, a small detail that only sharpened the sense that the Guardians were watching a player they once developed begin his career somewhere else. [Read more 🡒]
Zach Plesac's Latest Baseball Chapter Is A Tough Reminder For Cleveland Fans
Zach Plesacs baseball journey has taken another turn, and for Cleveland fans it serves as a reminder of how quickly a once-promising pitching career can drift from the big leagues. The former Guardians right-hander has already been through stops with the Angels and several independent and minor league clubs, keeping his professional life alive well beyond the familiar settings where he first made his name in Cleveland.
Now in the American Association, Plesac has found himself in some unfamiliar roles as he keeps chasing another chance to stick. His latest chapter has even included time in the field, and a small offensive contribution in one of those games showed just how far his path has stretched from the mound-only profile most fans remember. [Read more 🡒]