Colton Cowser turned one swing into a standings swing.
For a moment, Jake McCarthy looked ready to give the Guardians exactly what they needed. He got a sinker from reliever Andrew Kittredge out over the middle and sent it deep toward center field, with the ball appearing headed for a walk-off win. Instead, Cowser timed it perfectly at the wall and stole it away, preserving a 2-1 Orioles lead with a game-ending catch that changed the night and the American League Wild Card picture with it.
The Orioles’ win moved them back to .500 at 68-68, their first time at that mark since April, and pulled them within a half-game of the Guardians for the final Wild Card spot in the American League.
That race is crowded fast. Cleveland is now 69-68, three games behind the White Sox in the AL Central and just ahead of Baltimore in the Wild Card chase. The Rangers and Blue Jays are also sitting 1 1/2 games back of the Guardians, which makes every result around them feel heavier by the day.
That’s what gives Cleveland’s upcoming stretch so much weight. The Guardians are about to open a crucial three-game series against the Blue Jays at Progressive Field, and the stakes are obvious: a series win would go a long way toward knocking Toronto out of the chase, while a loss would leave Cleveland in a dangerous spot, especially with Baltimore still having two more games left against the Rockies.
And the Orioles-Guardians battle isn’t likely to stay abstract for long. Next week, the two teams meet at Camden Yards, where the standings picture could get even tighter.
Cleveland’s September slate is shaping up as both an opportunity and a trap. The Guardians have a chance to eliminate a cluster of teams around them with series against the Blue Jays, White Sox, Orioles, Red Sox and Tigers. But every time one of those teams beats them, that opponent gains a full game in the process.
So Cowser’s robbery didn’t just save a game for Baltimore. It also kept Cleveland from gaining ground on an idle day. The Guardians still control their own fate, but the margin is thin now, and they’ll have to cash in on it themselves.
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 🡒]