Guardians fall to Cardinals 5-4 on June 27, 2025, in a tough loss. Despite sparks from Kwan & Manzardo, Cleveland's offense couldn't close the gap. Recap.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a story that's becoming all too familiar for Guardians fans this season: a hard-fought battle, a glimmer of hope, and ultimately, a narrow defeat. The Cleveland Guardians dropped a nail-biter to the St. Louis Cardinals, 5-4, at Progressive Field, in a game that perfectly encapsulated the team's current predicament—just not enough firepower to get over the hump.
The Guardians entered the day ranked 24th in MLB in batting average (.231) and 25th in runs scored (297), a trend that continues to put immense pressure on a depleted pitching staff.
The Friday night lights at Progressive Field saw a classic seesaw affair. The Guardians clawed their way into contention, trading blows with the Cardinals all evening. But in the crucial late innings, the bullpen, stretched thin by injuries, couldn't slam the door shut. The 5-4 final score felt like a gut punch, especially on a night where the offense showed some signs of life.
While the final result stings, not all was lost offensively. Steven Kwan continued to be a professional table-setter, and Kyle Manzardo showed why the organization is so high on him. These individual performances are bright spots, but they can't mask the team's larger issues. Cleveland's offense remains near the bottom of the league, ranking 24th in batting average (.231) and 25th in runs scored. The team's inability to consistently string together rallies and produce runs is a major hurdle they have yet to clear.
You can't talk about the Guardians' performance without looking at the lengthy injury list. The pitching staff is a shell of its projected self, with aces and key relievers like Shane Bieber, Ben Lively, Paul Sewald, John Means, and Tanner Burns all on the shelf. This rash of injuries to key arms has forced the team to rely on young players and bullpen depth, which inevitably leads to the kind of late-game struggles we saw against the Cardinals. It's a tough situation for any club to overcome.
As the Guardians look to bounce back, the path forward is clear but challenging. They need the offense to find consistency beyond just a few players and for the pitching staff to weather this injury storm until reinforcements arrive. With the trade deadline looming, all eyes are on the front office to see if they'll make a move to bolster this resilient but depleted roster. One thing is certain: this team will continue to battle, but they'll need more than just grit to turn these close losses into wins.
