CLEVELAND -- The first five months of the Guardians’ 2025 season have been defined by a series of highs and lows and twists and turns, with moments of elation mixed in with punches to the gut.
For all that they’ve experienced this year, heading into September, Stephen Vogt’s ballclub can say this: They’ve at least given themselves a shot at making a run at a playoff spot over the next four weeks.
But it also is hard not to feel like Sunday was a missed opportunity, given the Guardians still face an uphill climb to get to October. That path was made no easier after their 4-2 loss to the Mariners at Progressive Field, which represented a two-game swing in the standings.
Cleveland (68-67) stands four games behind Seattle (73-64) for the final American League Wild Card spot. Had they completed the three-game sweep Sunday, the Guardians would have been two games back heading into the final month.
Cleveland's shot at nabbing a playoff spot looks better than it did a week ago (when they completed a 1-5 road trip against Arizona and Texas) thanks to a 4-2 homestand this week against the Rays and Mariners. But the bottom line heading into September is simple. The Guardians have to have their best month of the season.
“I think we know we’ve just got to win a lot of games,” second baseman Daniel Schneemann said. “We try to take it one day at a time, but we know it's going to take a big month from us. So let's just start with Boston [this week].”
Calling this Guardians season a roller coaster would be underselling it. Consider the stretches they have experienced over the past two months.
• June 26-July 6: 0-10
• July 7-Aug. 14: 23-9
• Aug 15-Aug. 25: 1-9
• Aug. 26-Aug. 31: 4-2
Cleveland deserves a ton of credit for getting off the mat twice to even be in the picture going into September. After Saturday’s 4-3 win over Seattle, Steven Kwan attributed it to the players’ trust in one another.
“Yeah, there have been some down parts of this year that haven't been great,” Kwan said Saturday. “But I think it shows the resilience of us to trust in each other. I think it'd be really easy again to just kind of focus on your numbers, try to get as many hits and homers as possible, and then block everything else out.
“… I think we’ve got one thing that we're focused on, and that's to play in October.”
If the Guardians get there, they’ll have earned it.
Cleveland’s September slate will kick off with a seven-game road trip against the Red Sox (who, at 76-62, hold the second Wild Card spot) and Rays. The Guardians have four games remaining against the Royals and three against the Rangers (both of whom they trail in the Wild Card picture), plus six games against the AL Central-leading Tigers.
“All we’ve got to focus on right now is just winning the next game, winning every day,” starter Tanner Bibee said. “The only way we put ourselves into a position -- whether it's striking distance or getting into the postseason -- is winning games next month.”
Sunday’s missed opportunity saw the Guardians score two runs on just two hits. Kwan doubled and Schneemann followed with a two-run homer in the third.
Bibee was charged with four runs on six hits and two walks over 6 1/3 innings (his longest start since he went seven innings July 21 against the Orioles). He allowed a two-run homer to Randy Arozarena in the fifth and two runs came across after he exited.
With a runner on first and one out in the seventh, Bibee walked Mariners nine-hole hitter Cole Young. Vogt then called upon Matt Festa, who ran into a tough-luck moment with two outs and the bases loaded. Julio Rodríguez recorded a two-run infield single on a grounder to Schneemann via a bang-bang play at first.
From some angles, Schneemann’s throw from behind the second-base bag appeared to beat Rodríguez. The Guardians challenged the play, which stood after review. Vogt lamented the review’s lack of a conclusive outcome.
“It's hard to tell,” Vogt said. “I'm just sick of it coming back [as call] stands.”
The Guardians had begun walking back to the dugout and those on the field were visibly frustrated, putting their hands on their heads when the review decision was announced.
“Nothing you can do about it,” Bibee said. “Obviously you saw everyone's reaction, so I'll just keep it at that.”
The Guardians know they didn’t lose because of that moment alone.
“We have to get more than two hits to win a game,” Vogt said.
Especially if they want to hang around in the race to October.