CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Guardians started this six-game trip by winning two out of three games from the Blue Jays over the weekend at Rogers Centre. Here are five thoughts on the series that saw Cleveland leave Toronto with a 20-14 record to open a three-game series against the Nationals on Monday night at Nationals Park.
You can’t win a Gold Glove in the first 34 games of the season, but shouldn’t Rawlings put one on layaway for left fielder Steven Kwan? The only problem is does Kwan have enough shelf space because he’s already won three of them? He made two great plays on Friday and Sunday and went 7 for 13 in the series.Is closer Emmanuel Clase back or not? It’s a fair question. In Saturday’s 5-3 win, he retired the top of Toronto’s order in 10 pitches for his sixth save. In Sunday’s 5-4 win, he allowed a run and needed 25 pitches to get through the ninth. The seven saves in nine chances is encouraging. The 5.87 ERA and the increase in hard-hit percentage from 29.7% last year to 34.7% this year is not. In the clubhouse, however, he’s still the man. “I have unshakeable faith in him,” said Cade Smith, who saved three games during the last homestand when Clase was dealing with a sore right shoulder.It’s always dangerous to compliment a team’s defense because they play almost every day in the big leagues and the ball can take funny bounces. But the Guardians, who made two errors on Sunday, may have won the game in the first inning with Toronto’s Bo Bichette on third and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on first with no outs. Anthony Santander sent a hard grounder to Kyle Manzardo, who stepped on first and threw to shortstop Gabriel Arias, who threw to catcher Bo Naylor to catch Bichette in a rundown. In one pitch, starter Tanner Bibee was out of trouble.
Hunter Gaddis leads Cleveland pitchers with 10 holds this season.John Kuntz, cleveland.com
Hunter Gaddis, the big guy with the beard, sometimes gets overlooked in the bullpen. Gaddis earned his 10th hold on Sunday after pitching out of a jam in the eighth inning. He’s tied for second in the AL in holds and has allowed just one run in 15 appearances this year. Last year he finished tied for second in the AL with 78 appearances, not including the postseason.Daniel Schneemann’s last name in German means snowman. It seems appropriate that Schneemann would go to the Great White North and bury the Blue Jays on Saturday with consecutive home runs in the eighth and ninth innings. Schneemann’s ninth-inning homer was a grand slam that turned a 3-1 deficit into a 5-3 win. The Guardians drafted Schneemann in the 33rd round in 2018. It took him more than six years to get to the big leagues. He plays like he’s never forgotten that.Trivia and breakfast
With the Guardians arriving in Washington D.C. Sunday night after taking two out of three from the Blue Jays, they should celebrate Monday morning with a breakfast sandwich at a trendy diner. That’s what people do in the nation’s capital. Between bites of their favorite bacon, egg, cheese and tomato sandwich, they could consider this question about the Guardians — what is the G’s record in games decided by one run this season? Answer below.
Next
Monday: The Guardians vs. Nationals at 6:45 p.m. EDT at Nationals Park. RHP Luis Ortiz (2-3, 4.78) vs. RHP Jake Irvin (2-1, 4.01). CLEGuardians.TV, WTAM/1100, WMMS/100.7 FM and the Guardians radio network will carry the game.
Tuesday: The Guardians vs. Nationals at 6:45 p.m. EDT at Nationals Park. RHP Ben Lively (1-2, 3.72) vs. RHP Brad Lord (1-3, 4.43). CLEGuardians.TV, WTAM/1100, WMMS/100.7 FM and the Guardians radio network will carry the game.
Wednesday: The Guardians vs. Nationals at 12:05 p.m. EDT at Nationals Park. LHP Logan Allen (1-2, 4.02) vs. LHP Mitchell Parker (3-2, 3.48). CLEGuardians.TV, WTAM/1100, WMMS/100.7 FM and the Guardians radio network will carry the game.
Thursday: The Guardians have an off day after their six-game trip to Toronto and Washington, D.C.
Friday: The Phillies come to Progressive Field to start a three-game series.
Trivia answer
The Guardians are 8-1 in games decided by one run in 2025.