Two weeks into the 2026 MLB season, the Cleveland Guardians are seen as one of the biggest surprises in baseball. After a very quiet offseason, they were projected by almost everyone to take a step back after winning the AL Central in back-to-back years.
Instead, thanks to rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter and a dominant starting rotation, the Guardians are back on top of the division. They have gotten there by not losing any of the series they have played so far.
Cleveland opened the season by splitting four games on the road against the Seattle Mariners. Then, the Guardians took two of three from the world champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
They rode that momentum into their first homestand, taking two of three from both the Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals. Now, Cleveland will begin its second road trip of the season, facing a similar team from the National League.
The Guardians’ weekend series against the Atlanta Braves will have high stakes, as neither team has lost a series so far this season.
“Only two MLB teams remain without a series loss this season: Braves, Guardians … and they go head-to-head this weekend,” DraftKings posted on X.
Only two MLB teams remain without a series loss this season:
🔥 Braves
🔥 Guardians…and they go head-to-head this weekend 🍿
(h/t @CespedesBBQ) pic.twitter.com/IjdLN58pAE
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) April 9, 2026
Atlanta is tied for first place in the NL East with the even more surprising Miami Marlins. The Braves have gotten to the same 8-5 record the Guardians have in a little bit of a different way.
They opened the season at home, where they won the first two games against the Royals before losing that series finale. The Braves then took two of three from the Athletics before going on the road.
There, Atlanta split a four-game set with the Arizona Diamondbacks, then lost the series opener to the Los Angeles Angels but won the final two. Now, the Braves return home for their second home series of the season at Truist Park, which includes the featured Sunday night game on Peacock.
Coming off a weather-plagued homestand at Progressive Field, the Guardians will have Slade Cecconi as their starting pitcher in the first game. He will be followed by Parker Messick and Tanner Bibee as the rotation tries to continue its excellent performance so far this season.
If the offense can come around, the Guardians may surprise many more people as the season moves along.
NEXT: Guardians Rotation Is Dominating MLB Right Now
