The Cleveland Guardians are on an absolute tear. They extended their winning streak to 10 games after dominating the Minnesota Twins 8-0 on Saturday night.
With this win, which completed a sweep of the day-night doubleheader, Cleveland has now won 15 of their last 16 games. Once left for dead in the AL Central race, 11 games back as of September 4, the Guardians are now just a single game behind the first-place Detroit Tigers.
They’re suddenly right in the thick of the wild-card hunt. This surge—fueled by timely hitting, airtight pitching, and, honestly, a stubborn refusal to quit—has turned them into one of MLB’s hottest and most dangerous teams with less than two weeks left in the season.
Guardians Making a Historic Push in the AL Central
The turnaround by the Cleveland Guardians over the past three weeks has been wild. A division title that once felt completely out of reach now looks possible, thanks to this relentless run of victories.
The AL Central gap shrank even more on Saturday as Detroit’s 6-5 loss to Atlanta gave Cleveland another shot at a late-season takeover.
From Basement to Contender in Record Time
Just over three weeks ago, Cleveland trailed the Tigers by a daunting 11 games. Now, they’ve slashed that deficit to one, all while keeping pace in the wild-card race.
Heading into Saturday’s nightcap, they were only a game behind the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros for that final playoff spot. Every win now feels like it’s doubling the postseason stakes.
Offense Ignites Behind Steven Kwan’s Big Night
One of the standout performers in the nightcap was Steven Kwan. He drove in four runs, including a clutch two-run single in the eighth inning.
Kwan’s knack for hitting in big moments keeps showing up. It’s become a defining factor in Cleveland’s offensive success.
Fifth-Inning Explosion Breaks the Game Open
The game’s decisive moment came in the fifth inning. The Guardians plated five runs and broke things wide open.
The outburst included:
- Gabriel Arias delivering a two-run double.
- Kyle Manzardo contributing an RBI single.
- C.J. Kayfus adding another RBI hit.
This offensive eruption gave Cleveland’s pitching staff more than enough cushion. From there, they controlled the rest of the game without much trouble.
Logan Allen Shines in Breakout Performance
Logan Allen picked a great time for his best outing of the season. The left-hander struck out seven over a career-high eight innings and finally picked up his first win since July 29.
He set the tone early, quieting Minnesota’s bats and building on a remarkable stretch for Guardians pitchers. Allen’s command and efficiency were just what the team needed.
Pitching Dominance Reaches Historic Levels
Cleveland’s pitching staff is rewriting the team’s record books. Saturday marked the 15th consecutive game where they allowed two earned runs or fewer—a new franchise record.
This consistency has become the backbone of their late-season surge. Opposing hitters just can’t seem to figure them out right now.
Twins’ September Woes Continue
While the Guardians celebrated, the Minnesota Twins kept sliding. Their 8-0 loss dropped them to 4-15 in September, a collapse that’s wiped out most of their earlier-season progress.
Starter Bailey Ober struggled, giving up six runs in five innings. It just made the team’s month-long malaise feel even heavier.
A Season Slipping Away
The Twins’ inability to hit consistently, plus their shaky starting pitching, has pretty much ended their postseason hopes. Every loss they take now directly helps teams like Cleveland, who are clawing their way back into the playoff picture.
What’s Next for the Guardians
The Guardians have just over a dozen games left in the season. Both the division title and a wild-card slot are right in their sights.
Their upcoming schedule looks packed with crucial matchups. These games could decide the fate of their 2024 campaign.
If Cleveland keeps up their mix of strong pitching and clutch hitting, who knows? This could be one of the wildest turnarounds we’ve seen in a while.
For Guardians fans, here’s the deal: buckle up. October baseball is close, and this team’s playing like they’re not planning to stop anytime soon.
Here is the source article for this story: Guardians within a game of division lead after beating Twins 8-0 for 10th straight win
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