For months, even a couple of years, you might have come across the term ‘Guards ball.’
But what exactly does that mean?
Well, Guards ball is usually associated with gritty, hard-nosed baseball.
The philosophy implies that the Cleveland Guardians could be beaten, but they won’t be outhustled.
This type of approach preaches team baseball, with quality pitching and defense and just enough offense to win most games.
One of the main marks of the philosophy is having a fantastic bullpen, which the Guardians definitely do.
The combination of these factors produces a lot of wins in closely contested games.
It’s probably why the Guardians succeed so much in this particular situation: one-run games.
“The Guardians have won 8-straight one-run games. This is their longest winning streak in one-run contests since 1995,” Guardians on SI posted on X.
The Guardians have won 8-straight one-run games. This is their longest winning streak in one-run contests since 1995.#GuardsBall | #Guardians
— Cleveland Guardians On SI (@GuardiansOnSI) May 5, 2025
The Guardians haven’t lost a one-run game since the opening weekend against the Kansas City Royals.
Overall, they hold a robust 8-1 record in that situation this year, a mark that many teams envy.
Granted, these teams usually don’t have explosive offenses, and that probably fits the Guardians’ description.
They would surely love a better offense, but they have embraced this gritty identity and, most importantly, are competitive while preaching it.
All that matters is that Cleveland is winning often.
At 20-14, they are the third-best squad in the American League behind the Detroit Tigers and the Seattle Mariners.
With closer Emmanuel Clase slowly turning the corner and the team getting healthier, Cleveland even has some room for improvement.
NEXT: Guardians Reliever Activated From Injured List To Pitch In Columbus
