The Cleveland Guardians' 2025 season was a rollercoaster ride that kept fans on the edge of their seats. Chasing the Detroit Tigers seemed like an uphill battle, especially when they trailed by as many as 15.5 games. Even in September, they were still 11 games behind, making any comeback seem improbable.
But the Guardians had other plans. With determination and grit, they chipped away at the Tigers' lead, setting up a dramatic finish to the AL Central race.
Cleveland swept a crucial three-game series in Detroit and took two more before the Tigers managed a win. The Guardians then clinched the division title by winning two of three against the Texas Rangers, while the Tigers faltered against the Boston Red Sox.
Their reward? An AL Wild Card face-off against the very team they had just overtaken-those same Tigers. It was a matchup fraught with tension, and unfortunately for Cleveland, it ended in a best-of-3 series loss.
Manager Stephen Vogt reflected on the season's end with a mix of pride and disappointment. "You play the same team nine times in 14 days, it’s difficult to beat anybody that many times," Vogt admitted.
"Our guys, they never quit. They fought till the very end, and I was super proud of them.
But, yeah, it stings. It stings when you don’t finish what you felt like you started."
The Guardians had all the momentum heading into the series. In Game 1, they went toe-to-toe with Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, only to lose a nail-biter 2-1 after a potential tying run was thrown out at home. They bounced back with a commanding 6-1 victory in Game 2, but Game 3 slipped away with a 6-3 defeat, abruptly ending their season.
After reaching the ALCS the previous year, this outcome was a tough pill to swallow. But as spring training kicks off, the Guardians are laser-focused on bigger goals. They're eyeing a return to the World Series, a stage they haven’t graced since 2016, and aiming to end the longest current MLB title drought, dating back to 1948.
While some projections cast doubt on their playoff chances this season, dismissing the Guardians would be a mistake. Their resilience last year proved they have the heart and talent to defy expectations. As the new season dawns, Cleveland is ready to write the next chapter in their storied journey.