UPDATE: The Cleveland Guardians’ season ended in a stunning defeat as they lost to the Detroit Tigers 6-3 in Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series on September 28, 2023. Despite making the largest in-season comeback in MLB history to claim the American League Central Division title, the Guardians’ hopes for a deep playoff run have been dashed.
Dillon Dingler delivered a game-changing solo homer in the sixth inning, igniting a five-run rally for Detroit that sealed Cleveland’s fate. After leading the division by 151⁄2 games in early July and 11 games in early September, the Guardians found themselves eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, a stark contrast to their success last year when they advanced to the AL Championship Series.
All-Star left fielder Steven Kwan reflected on the loss, stating,
“I’ll remember the good times of the year, not what happened today. But you’ve got to remember this feeling, because you don’t want to feel like this again.”
This sentiment resonates deeply with a team that has not won a World Series since 1948.
José Ramírez, another All-Star, expressed his disappointment but remained hopeful for the future. He stated,
“It’s going to sting a lot, but I believe we can get better. Always, you feel bad after this, but you’ve got to keep your head up and work harder for next season.”
The Guardians concluded the season with an overall record of 88-74 and a commanding 20-7 mark in September, securing home-field advantage throughout the Wild Card Series.
However, the team’s offensive struggles continued into the playoffs, as they batted a mere .178 against the Tigers, managing only 16 hits across three games. Their offensive woes starkly contrasted their previous season’s performance, where they set a franchise record with a low batting average of .226.
Manager Stephen Vogt acknowledged the need for improvement, stating,
“We can nitpick and talk about little things here, little things there, but at the end of the day, we just need to execute in all areas of the game. I’m proud of what we accomplished, but it’s not enough. We show up every year to win a World Series. No excuses. Nothing else.”
Rookie Chase DeLauter was called up from Triple-A Columbus to bolster the lineup, but he struggled, finishing the series with just 1 hit in 6 at-bats and committing an error in center field. Ramírez was non-committal when asked about the need for veteran additions to the roster, saying,
“You’ll have to ask the management. Ask (team president Chris) Antonetti because I’m only here to make us better.”
The Guardians’ bullpen faltered in the decisive game, with Erik Sabrowski and Hunter Gaddis allowing four runs in just two-thirds of an inning. This collapse underscored the impact of the absence of All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase, who has been on paid leave due to an ongoing MLB investigation related to sports betting.
As the dust settles on this disappointing postseason exit, the focus for the Guardians now shifts to the offseason. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how management addresses the team’s pressing needs for veteran power hitters and overall offensive improvement.
The emotional sting of this loss will linger, but the Guardians remain committed to their goal of returning stronger next season.
