The Cleveland Guardians are hosting the Philadelphia Phillies at Progressive Field on Friday night, looking to extend their recent good streak.
They have won seven of their last nine and 14 of their last 22 to come closer in the AL Central race.
Before the game, the organization honored a couple of former players with the first pitch of the night.
“Justin Masterson and Coco Crisp in the house tonight,” Guardians insider Tim Stebbins posted on X.
Justin Masterson and Coco Crisp in the house tonight pic.twitter.com/IXjo9s0rPL
— Tim Stebbins (@tim_stebbins) May 9, 2025
Masterson landed in Cleveland in 2009 and was a member of the team during the dog years between their last postseason appearance of the 2000s (2007) and the first year of the Terry Francona era (2013.)
He finished his MLB career with the St. Louis Cardinals and the Boston Red Sox in 2014 and 2015 but was a big part of that 2013 run.
That year, he went to his first and only All-Star Game, posting a 3.45 ERA in 193 frames.
Crisp made his debut with Cleveland in 2002 and stayed in the organization until 2005.
He won the 2007 World Series with the Red Sox and returned to Cleveland to make a run at a second title in 2016.
He had some big moments in that postseason, such as his home run against Boston in the Division Series.
Ultimately, he and the Guardians (then Indians) fell just short of the ring.
Both players made their impact in their own way.
They didn’t have a particularly long career in Cleveland, especially Crisp, but they are part of franchise history, and that will never change.
Perhaps their presence will send some good vibes to Cleveland as they face a formidable opponent.
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