First-Place Cleveland Guardians Using A Familiar Script

So far this year’s Cleveland Guardians look a lot like last year’s model.

The latest example came Monday night at Progressive Field when three pitchers for the visiting Yankees combined on a four-hitter – but Cleveland still won the game 3-2.

Cleveland ace Shane Bieber survived a two-run first inning then combined with two relievers on eight scoreless innings.

Eleven games into the 2023 season, the defending AL Central champions resemble the team that came within one win of reaching the ALCS last season.

Manager Terry Francona’s band of feisty scrappers are leading the AL Central with a record of 7-4, one-half game ahead of second place Minnesota (6-4).

So far Cleveland has followed the same kind of blueprint that frustrated opponents in 2022. It starts with this: the closer the game, the harder they are to beat. The Guardians are already 4-0 in extra-inning games, and a combined 17-6 (.739) in overtime games this year and last year.

In one-run games last year and this year the Guardians’ winning percentage is .627 (32-19).

Almost two weeks into the season Cleveland is also excelling in many of the same categories they excelled in last season. Through their first 11 games their hitters lead the league in stolen bases (15) and walks (56, 12 more than the next closest team). They’re tied for hitting into the fewest double plays (four), have the most sacrifice flies (five), and in the category of most intentional walks drawn, Cleveland has nine – and so does the rest of the American League combined.

As they did last year, the Guardians thus far are proving if you do enough of the little things well, all those little things combined can become big things. Cleveland is good at making little things big things. Winning things.

The Guardians are also, as they were last year, the youngest team in the major leagues. That youth was tested right out of the gate when the schedule maker did Cleveland no favors by having the Guardians play seven games in seven days, all of them on the road, no off days, to start the season. In addition to that, seven of the Guardians’ first 10 games were against a very good Seattle Mariners team. Cleveland won four of those seven games, but the Guardians also had to weather some bad luck.

Just two weeks into the season the Guardians have already lost 20% of their starting rotation, and one of their best relievers. Triston McKenzie, who finished in the top 10 in the American League in eight pitching categories last season, was placed on the injured list prior to opening day with a strained right shoulder, and right-hander Aaron Civale was placed on the injured list Monday with a left oblique strain.

Sam Hentges, who averaged 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings to go with a 2.32 ERA as one of the best left-handed relievers in the league last season, has been on the injured list since opening day with a left shoulder inflammation.

Monday night, however, Cleveland’s bullpen rose to the occasion. With the Guardians leading 3-2, the Yankees had the tying run at third and no outs in the top of the eighth inning. Guardians setup man James Karinchak then waded through the teeth of the Yankees’ order. He retired Aaron Judge on a popout, then struck out Anthony Rizzo and Giancarlo Stanton.

In the ninth inning, Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase struck out Willie Calhoun, retired D.J. LeMahieu on a groundout, and struck out Franchy Cordero to end the game.

Three Yankee pitchers combined on a four hitter, but lost, 3-2. Cleveland won because over the game’s last seven innings Guardians pitchers held New York scoreless on two hits in the first game between the two teams since New York beat Cleveland 5-1 in the deciding Game 5 of last year’s Division Series.

“Our bullpen was one of our biggest strengths last year. What we did a lot of last year, we’re picking it up this year,” said Bieber, who after giving up two runs on three hits in the first inning, held the Yankees scoreless on two hits over the next six innings.

What the Guardians did most frequently last year was win. Among American League teams only the Astros and Yankees won more games than Cleveland’s 92.

The Guardians signed two significant free agents in the offseason, catcher Mike Zunino and first baseman Josh Bell. Zunino is hitting .320 and only two of his eight hits are singles. Bell is hitting .079, and all three of his hits are singles.

But, like last year, Cleveland is winning, and Francona isn’t worried about Bell.

“Guys who have numbers like Josh has on the back of his baseball card,” Francona said, “he’ll get as hot as he’s been cold.”