This isn’t an April Fools joke.<\/p>\n
It’s real.<\/p>\n
The Cleveland Guardians defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, April 1, to take two of three games in the teams\u2019 second series of the 2026 MLB season. They won, 4-1, with runs scored in the third and eighth innings. <\/a><\/p>\n In Wednesday’s win, the Guardians looked to be on top of their game, with multiple players contributing offensively while strong pitching anchored the performance. Starting pitcher Gavin Williams, who looked rocky in his season debut against the Seattle Mariners, put any doubts to rest by pitching seven innings, striking out 10 and allowing just five baserunners.<\/p>\n The bats also looked sharp, as Cleveland finished with six total hits. Two players were able to smack home runs, including Gabriel Arias, who has struggled for most of the 2026 campaign. <\/a><\/p>\n With several areas of the team\u2019s performance trending upward, the momentum is shifting in the right direction as they return home for a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs. The Guardians will host their home opener on Friday, April 3, at 4:10 p.m. EST.<\/p>\n Here are some of the biggest takeaways from the Guardians’ win on Wednesday:<\/p>\n Gavin Williams Looked Elite<\/p>\n Williams may have downplayed the fact that he has the potential to be the Guardians’ ace<\/a> before the season, but after Wednesday night, it is going to be hard to argue he isn’t the man for the job. <\/p>\n He allowed just two hits and three walks while striking out 10 batters<\/a>, including Shohei Ohtani. He also induced Ohtani into a double play with two runners on and no outs, a pivotal moment that halted any potential Dodgers comeback. Plays like that don\u2019t always show up in the stat sheet, but they highlight just how effectively Williams controls the game. <\/p>\n Now, on the 2026 campaign, Williams is at a 2.25 ERA across 12 innings pitched. He is also posting a 1.08 WHIP and a measly .111 batting average against. <\/p>\n If he can keep this up moving forward into a couple of important home series for Cleveland, the team will be in good hands to continue putting marks in the win column. <\/p>\n Players Stepped Up With DeLauter Out<\/p>\n