The Cleveland Guardians shut out the Colorado Rockies 5-0 on July 31, 2025. After keeping Steven Kwan, a six-pitcher gem proves their post-deadline playoff bet.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
The trade deadline has passed, the dust has settled, and the Cleveland Guardians are still here, still whole, and still winning. Hours after standing pat and keeping their core intact for a postseason push, the Guards delivered a resounding 5-0 shutout victory over the Colorado Rockies at Progressive Field, making one thing perfectly clear: this team believes it can win now.
The Guardians improved to 44-12 when scoring four or more runs this season.
While rumors swirled around stars like Steven Kwan, the Guardians' front office ultimately chose continuity over a shake-up. After dealing Shane Bieber and the injured Paul Sewald for future assets earlier, the team held firm at the final bell, retaining key veterans like Kwan and Carlos Santana. The message from the front office is unambiguous: they believe this current roster has what it takes to make a deep run in October. It's a calculated gamble that puts the onus on the clubhouse to reward that faith, and Thursday's win was a powerful first step.
The victory was a masterclass in pitching depth. Making a spot start, Kolby Allard was electric, striking out five over 3 1/3 scoreless innings and retiring nine straight Rockies at one point. He passed the baton to a bullpen that was simply untouchable. Jakob Junis, Nic Enright, Hunter Gaddis, and Cade Smith followed, combining with Allard to allow just three hits all night. This 'pitching by committee' approach is exactly what the team needs to thrive, especially with Emmanuel Clase on paid leave and the newly activated Trevor Stephan getting stretched out in Triple-A.
The offense provided all the support the pitching staff would need. David Fry got the party started early, launching a two-run homer in the first inning to give the Guards a lead they would never relinquish. The veterans did their part, with José Ramírez and Carlos Santana each collecting two hits. Ramírez's first-inning double was a historic one, moving him into sole possession of seventh place on the franchise's all-time hit list. Meanwhile, Steven Kwan quietly extended his hitting streak to eight games, continuing to be the reliable table-setter this offense counts on.
The front office has made its statement by keeping this team together. Now, it's up to the players on the field to prove them right. With a crucial stretch of games ahead, Thursday's dominant performance was the perfect opening argument. The Guardians have the talent, the depth, and now, the clear vote of confidence. The rest of the season is in their hands.
