The Cleveland Guardians continue to flirt with excellence, only to remind us all that they are far from that standard at the moment. They are still a highly competitive team, a young and hungry group, but after falling 6-4 to the Baltimore Orioles on Monday to open the week, things are starting to get complicated with an eye on a postseason spot.
Cleveland was actually down 6-1 heading into the ninth inning, but a comeback attempt that included three runs in that inning fell just short. With the defeat, the Guardians are now 73-72 for the season, with the O’s climbing to 70-75. Their biggest problem right now, however, is the Toronto Blue Jays.
Final: Orioles 6, Guardians 4
— Tim Stebbins (@tim_stebbins) September 7, 2026
If the reigning American League champs beat the Athletics on Monday night, they will tie the Guardians for the third and final Wild Card spot. That’s why every game is huge for Cleveland at this juncture.
They just didn’t have it on Monday. Joey Cantillo issued five walks and hit two batters in just 2.1 innings, allowing four runs and losing the game. His ERA now stands at 4.00, and his rotation spot could be in danger.
With two men on base in the bottom of the second inning, Dylan Beavers hit an RBI double that plated Samuel Basallo and gave Baltimore its first run. The O’s would add three more in the bottom of the third.
Coby Mayo greeted Cantillo in that inning with a solo homer. Later, with Franco Aleman on the mound relieving the struggling lefty, a walk to Blaze Alexander forced in the third run, and after that, the righty issued another bases-loaded base on balls, this time to Pete Alonso, to make it a 4-0 ballgame. Both runs were charged to Cantillo, though.
Jo Adell drove in the Guardians’ first run of the game in the sixth with a double. Brayan Rocchio scored it. Baltimore, however, wasn’t done.
With Slade Cecconi on the hill, Mayo found Jackson Holliday on the basepaths and brought him home with a two-run shot. The game, at that point, was 6-1 Baltimore.
Cecconi at least gave Cleveland some length, allowing the two runs in three otherwise solid innings of work. Those two runs, sadly, were the difference after what happened in the ninth frame.
Adell and Jose Ramirez opened the inning with consecutive singles. Angel Martinez then lined out, but Nathaniel Lowe belted a three-run homer that made it a 6-4 ballgame. Unfortunately, Angel Genao and Patrick Bailey surrendered outs 26 and 27.
Lowe sure justified Stephen Vogt’s decision to pinch-hit for David Fry in the ninth and hit that important homer. Adell went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Daniel Espino and Craig Yoho pitched a scoreless inning each.
The series will continue on Tuesday at 6:35 pm at Camden Yards, with Tanner Bibee facing Brandon Young.
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