The Cleveland Guardians kicked off their season with a rollercoaster of a series against the Seattle Mariners, ending with a split and a .500 record. Hitting the road to start, the Guardians alternated between wins and losses at T-Mobile Park.
On the high side, outfielder Chase Delauter made a memorable entrance into the MLB, smashing two home runs in his regular-season debut on Opening Day and adding two more in the following games. His feat of hitting three homers in his first three games places him in elite company.
However, not everything was smooth sailing. Pitcher Tanner Bibee left his start early due to shoulder discomfort, while Gavin Williams and Slade Cecconi faced their own struggles. The offense, already a preseason concern, went silent for six innings in the series finale, failing to record a hit.
Despite the ups and downs, manager Stephen Vogt expressed pride in his squad after their series split with the Mariners. “Obviously we would love to have won the series, but walking away with a split to start the year feels pretty good.
We’re playing good baseball. A couple of missed plays here and there, but overall, I’m really proud of the way our guys have started,” Vogt shared.
The road ahead doesn’t get any easier for the Guardians as they gear up for a three-game series against the reigning World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers. A highlight of the series will be facing off against Shohei Ohtani on the mound come Tuesday.
Bibee, who was initially slated to pitch, remains uncertain for his next start. Although an exam showed no significant damage to his shoulder, he might be given additional time to recover.
Currently, the Guardians are batting a chilly .195 as a team, largely due to being stifled by Mariners starter Emerson Hancock. On the mound, Cleveland’s pitchers sport a 5.14 ERA, having given up eight home runs already.
Securing at least one win against the Dodgers could provide a much-needed boost as the Guardians head into their home opener against the Chicago Cubs on Friday.