José Ramirez makes the All-Star team, but the Guardians lose 5-4 to the Cubs on July 3, 2025. Tanner Bibee struggles as the team's losing streak hits six.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It's a strange and frustrating time to be a Guardians fan. On one hand, we have the immense pride of watching José Ramirez officially named an American League All-Star starter for the fourth time. On the other, there's the cold, hard reality of a sixth consecutive loss, a 5-4 heartbreaker to the Cubs that feels all too familiar and pushes the team further into a hole.
The Guardians went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base.
For a moment, it looked like the bats had finally woken up. Back-to-back solo shots from Carlos Santana and Lane Thomas in the second, followed by a David Fry blast in the third, gave Cleveland a promising 3-0 lead. It was the kind of power we've been desperate to see. But as has been the case during this miserable slide, it wasn't enough. The Cubs chipped away and then broke through against Tanner Bibee, who was tagged for five earned runs in just four innings. The final score of 5-4 tells only part of the story. The real killer was the inability to capitalize on opportunities, a theme that has defined this losing streak. A ninth-inning sac fly from Steven Kwan was too little, too late, especially when the team leaves seven runners stranded.
Amidst the team's struggles, José Ramirez continues to be a beacon of excellence. His seventh career All-Star selection, and fourth as a starter, is a testament to his incredible talent and consistency. The fan vote confirmed what we already knew: he is the best third baseman in the American League. This selection puts him in truly elite company, tying him with legends like Lou Boudreau, Larry Doby, and Bob Lemon for the second-most All-Star nods in franchise history. He's now just one behind the immortal Bob Feller. It’s a moment of celebration for a player who gives this city his all, night in and night out.
Every loss now carries extra weight as the trade deadline approaches. With the team falling to 40-44 and the playoff picture looking bleak, the front office faces a difficult decision: push forward or sell? The chatter is growing louder that the Guardians will become sellers. Names like Carlos Santana and Lane Thomas, both on expiring deals, seem like logical candidates to be moved for future assets. The more intriguing name is closer Emmanuel Clase. Despite a slow start, he's rebounded and is under team control through 2028, making his trade value immense. Dealing Clase would signal a significant retooling effort for 2026 and beyond.
Manager Stephen Vogt is doing his best to keep the clubhouse from spiraling. He acknowledged the brutal month of June, where the team went 9-16 and scored a paltry 2.88 runs per game. His message was simple: forget June and get back to fundamentals. 'We just need to relax and play our baseball,' Vogt urged. That brand of baseball—strong pitching, smart baserunning, and timely hitting—has been absent. With a tough stretch against division leaders coming up before the All-Star break, the team has a short window to show the front office they're worth betting on.
So where do the Guardians go from here? Fans are left celebrating a franchise icon in José Ramirez while simultaneously bracing for a potential fire sale. The next couple of weeks feel monumental. Will the team respond to Vogt's call and turn things around, or will this losing streak be the final push that convinces the front office to trade away key pieces and officially turn the page on the 2025 season? The clock is ticking.
