The Guardians fell 6-2 to the Cardinals on June 27 as the offense sputtered without an injured José Ramírez. Sonny Gray dominated for St. Louis. Read how.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was the question on every fan's mind heading into Friday's series opener: what would the Guardians' offense look like without José Ramírez? The answer, unfortunately, was as painful as the 6-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals that followed. Without their superstar third baseman, who was sidelined with a forearm injury, the lineup sputtered, the clutch hits never came, and the team fell back to .500 on the season in a frustrating night at Progressive Field.
We have to find ways to win even when our best guys are out. It's a challenge, but this group is resilient.
The void left by José Ramírez was immediately apparent. The Guardians' offense, which has relied so heavily on his production, managed to scatter hits but couldn't deliver the big blow, leaving a painful eight runners stranded on base. While Steven Kwan did his part with two hits, the rest of the lineup struggled against Cardinals ace Sonny Gray, who was sharp all evening. On the other side, Cleveland starter Luis Ortiz couldn't keep the game close, surrendering a key two-run homer to Alec Burleson that put the Guards in an early hole they could never climb out of. The 6-2 final felt like a direct reflection of one team having its star power and the other desperately missing its own.
The bad news started before the first pitch. Manager Stephen Vogt confirmed that Ramírez was out after being hit by a pitch on the forearm earlier in the week, stating he was 'probably not going to be able to play.' While the team remains hopeful for a quick return, the uncertainty is palpable. The injury bug didn't stop there, as the team also announced that outfielder Will Brennan was transferred to the 60-day injured list with an elbow injury. It's another significant blow to the team's depth, leaving Vogt with fewer and fewer options as the season hits a critical juncture.
In his pregame media session, Manager Stephen Vogt preached a message of perseverance. 'We have to find ways to win even when our best guys are out,' he stated, emphasizing the group's resilience. While the sentiment is exactly what a manager should express, Friday's game was a stark reminder of how difficult that is in practice. Losing a player of Ramírez's caliber isn't just a hole in the lineup; it's a hole in the team's identity. The challenge Vogt laid out for his team was put to the test immediately, and on this night, they couldn't meet it.
Falling back to .500 is a tough pill to swallow, especially with the injury list growing. The next two games against the Cardinals are now more than just a series; they're a test of this team's depth and character. Can the offense find a way to manufacture runs without its MVP-caliber leader? All eyes will be on the lineup card tomorrow, hoping for good news on Ramírez and for someone, anyone, to provide the spark that was missing tonight.
