The Cleveland Guardians fell 5-2 to the Chicago Cubs on July 2, 2025, for their 5th straight loss. Despite a Carlos Santana milestone, Gavin Williams struggled.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Another game, another loss, and another night of wondering where the runs have gone. The Cleveland Guardians dropped their fifth consecutive game on Tuesday, a 5-2 defeat to the Chicago Cubs that felt all too familiar. While the team finally snapped a 17-inning scoreless drought, the offensive crisis has reached a boiling point. The box score shows a loss, but the bigger story is a team that looks completely lost at the plate.
The Guardians have now scored in just two of their last 45 innings.
The Guardians' offense showed a brief flicker of life in the fourth inning, with a Nolan Jones RBI single and an Angel Martínez sacrifice fly plating two runs. But that was it. Cubs starter Matthew Boyd was otherwise dominant, holding Cleveland in check for seven innings. Meanwhile, Gavin Williams couldn't keep the Cubs off the board, surrendering four runs on seven hits and four walks in a losing effort. A Seiya Suzuki home run served as the dagger, highlighting the power disparity between the two clubs right now.
Amid the team's struggles, there was a moment for celebration. Veteran first baseman Carlos Santana smacked his 400th career double, a significant personal achievement for one of the franchise's most beloved players. Santana, who finished with two hits, continues to be a professional at the plate. It's a shame such a great milestone had to come during one of the team's toughest stretches of the season.
The front office is clearly trying to shake things up, recalling shortstop Brayan Rocchio for infield depth. While Rocchio has struggled with the bat himself this year (.165 average), it's a sign that the status quo is unacceptable. The bigger question fans are asking is: when will Chase DeLauter get the call? The top prospect is tearing it up in Triple-A Columbus, batting .305 and currently riding a 26-game on-base streak. With the big-league club's struggles, the calls for DeLauter will only grow louder.
Just when you thought the news couldn't get worse, the team announced that Shane Bieber's comeback from Tommy John surgery has hit a snag. The former Cy Young winner is experiencing elbow soreness, and his anticipated return before the All-Star break is now off the table. It's a brutal blow for a team and a pitcher who were hoping for a significant second-half boost. Bieber's timeline is now uncertain, adding another layer of gloom to a frustrating period.
The Guardians have one more chance to salvage a game at Wrigley Field before heading home. But it won't be easy. They'll send Tanner Bibee to the mound to face Cubs ace Shota Imanaga in what promises to be a difficult series finale. Can Cleveland find a way to generate some offense against one of the league's better lefties, or will this losing streak continue to snowball? All eyes will be on the lineup card and the scoreboard Wednesday night.
