2023 Season

April 2, 2023: Tim Herrin became the first player in history to strike out the first four batters he faced in his big-league career.

Season Preview:  Top to bottom, the Guardians may have one of the best teams in the American League. Everyone contributes when Cleveland wins and everyone shares responsibility when they don’t. The team has solid pitching and a quality defense, and added slugger Josh Bell over the winter to improve their hitting. He joins a club full of young talent that helped the Guardians make a surprising run to the playoffs last season. There are even more future stars waiting their chance in the minor leagues. As always, hard-hitting Jose Ramirez will provide leadership for his young teammates, along with Mike Zunnino, Andres Gimenez, and Amed Rosario.

2022 Season

Season Recap: The Guardians were the youngest team in baseball, but they played like experienced veterans. They won 92 games and finished atop the AL Central thanks to a monster season from All-Star Jose Ramirez and breakout years from Andres Gimenez, Oscar Gonzalez, Steven Kwan, Will Brennan, Triston McKenzie, and Emmanuel Clase—all of whom are under the age of 25. Manager Terry Francona used his players wisely and put together a great bullpen. The Guardians fell one win short of making to the ALCS.

October 04, 2022: Emmanuel Clase was named AL Reliever of the Month for September. It was the second month in a row—and third time during the season—that Clase won the award.

April 15, 2022: The team that had been called the Indians for more than a century took the field for their first home game as the Cleveland Guardians. They lost to the Giants, 4–1.

Season Preview: Cleveland fans were happy to see the Guardians sign slugger Jose Ramirez to a long-term contract. Many experts are picking him to win AL MVP in 2022. He is the key building block in a long-term plan that is likely to include five good starting pitchers: Shane Bieber, Cal Quantrill, Aaron Civale, Zach Plesac, and Triston McKenzie. Depending on how the rest of the lineup does, Cleveland could make the playoffs… or finish last in the AL Central this season. Keep an eye on outfielders Myles Straw and Steven Kwan, as well as DH Franmil Reyes—their numbers could be eye-popping.

2021 Season

Season Recap: The big news in Cleveland during 2021 was the changing of the team’s name from Indians to Guardians beginning in 2022. Despite some quality players, the club fell out of the playoff race in June and lost a lot of close games in the second half. Jose Ramirez had a super season at the plate, leading the Tribe in runs, homers, stolen bases, and RBIs. Shane Beiber followed his great 2020 season with a so-so 2021 after missing time to injury, but Cal Quantrill, Zach Plesac, and Aaron Civale picked up some of the slack in the starting rotation. 

September 02, 2021: Emmanuel Clase was named AL Reliever of the Month for August after going a perfect 6-for-6 in save chances.

July 23, 2021: The Cleveland Indians, who have played under than name for more than a century, announced that they were officially changing their name to Guardians when they take the field in 2022.

May 19, 2021: Corey Kluber no-hit the Rangers, 2–0. One day earlier, the Tigers no-hit the Mariners. It was the first time in 52 years that there were no-hitters two days in a row.

April 18, 2021: Shane Beiber became the first player in 128 years to strike out 10 or more batters in each of the season’s first four starts.

Season Preview: The Indians keep pumping out good pitchers and, in 2021, there is no reason to believe this won’t continue. Two talented Rosarios—Eddie and Amed—step into a batting order that could use their help with the trade of Francisco Lindor to the Mets. Jose Ramirez and Franmil Reyes need to keep popping home runs to give the Tribe a shot at a playoff spot.

2020 Season

November 12, 2020: Shane Bieber won the American League Cy Young Award. He received 30 out of 30 first-place votes.

Season Recap: The Indians had the best pitcher in baseball, Shane Bieber, and one of the game’s best clutch hitters, Jose Ramirez. The two superstars powered Cleveland to a 35–25 record, but the team could not overcome the hot hitting of the Yankees in the playoffs. They were eliminated in the longest nine-inning game is history, which lasted 4 hours, 50 minutes.

July 30, 2020: Shane Bieber set an American League record by striking out 27 batters in his first two starts of the season.

Season Preview: Infielders Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez, and outfielder Franmil Reyes, lead a team expected to go deep into the playoffs. Although there is plenty of power in the batting order, the Indians will likely advance as far as their pitching takes them. Shane Bieber and Brad Hand lead a staff with good talent but with many questions that must be answered in a short 60-game season.

2019 Season

Season Preview: It has been a long time since the Indians remade their roster, and just three years since they came within a game of winning the World Series. In 2019, Cleveland fans will see a number of new faces in familiar places, but their superstar core of Corey Kluber, Brad Hand, Francisco Lindor, and Jose Ramirez is still there—and they gives the team enough of an edge to be the favorites in the AL Central.

2018 Season

Season Recap: The Indians won the AL Central with ease but ran into the red-hot Houston Astros in the playoffs, losing the ALDS in three straight. Infielders Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez had career years at the plate, becoming the first teammates to have 90-plus extra-base hits since Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, in 1927. Corey Kluber won 20 games for the first time in his career, and was one of four Indians to strike out more than 200 batters—the first time in history a team accomplished this feat.

May 3, 2018: Rajai Davis became the 75th player in history to steal 400 bases.

Season Preview: Many experts picked the Indians to win he pennant last year. Many of those experts are making the same prediction in 2018. Cleveland goes into battle with the same solid lineup, led by Jose Ramirez and Francisco Lindor, and a pitching staff headed by Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco. The secret to the Tribe’s success is that every player on the roster can beat you—and often they do.

2017 Season

Season Recap: The Indians had their best regular season on more than 60 years, winning 102 games. Corey Kluber led a pitching staff that had the best ERA and the most strikeouts in the AL, while Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez powered an offense that could score runs in many different ways. Cleveland fans expected their team to return to the World Series, but the surprising Yankees defeated them 3 games to 2 in the Division Series.

September 14, 2017: The Indians defeated the Royals in extra innings to set a new AL record with 22 wins in a row

June 15, 2017: Corey Kluber became the fastest Indian to reach 1,000 strikeouts. He fanned #1,000 in his 148th game. The old record belonged to Hall of Famer Bob Feller (167 games).

2016 Season

November 1, 2016: The Indians put together one of baseball’s most consistent and balanced lineups in 2016, and the result was the team’s first pennant since the 1990s. Cleveland seemed to have a different hero every day. Corey Kluber bounced back after a poor 2015, and young stars Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramirez, Tyler Naquin and Trevor Bauer played well under pressure. The Indians looked like champs after building a 3–1 lead against the Cubs in the World Series, but ran out of gas and lost in seven games.

August 1, 2016: Outfielder Tyler Naquin was named AL Rookie of the Month for the second month in a row.

2015 Season

October 6, 2015: After a promising 2015, the Indians never rose above 3rd place in 2015. Infielders Jason Kipnis and Francisco Lindor had excellent seasons, while outfielder Michael Brantley tied for the AL lead with 45 doubles. Cy Young Award winner Korey Kluber went from leading the league in wins to leading the league in losses.

April 5, 2015: Cleveland’s pitching was great toward the end of 2014. The Indians need to keep it going in 2015. Carlos Carrasco, Trevor Bauer, and Corey Kluber give the club three talented starters. The team also needs a couple of hitters to have the kind of breakout years that Michael Brantley had last season.

2014 Season

November 15, 2014: Korey Kluber edged Felix Hernandez for the AL Cy Young Award. He is the fourth Cleveland pitcher to win the award. The first three were Gaylord Perry (1972), CC Sabathia (2007) & Cliff Lee (2008).

November 1, 2014: The Indians had a good year, but never strung together enough wins to grab first place in the AL Central. Cleveland got great years out of pitcher Corey Kluber, catcher Yan Gomes, and outfielder Michael Brantley—three young leaders who can push the team back into the playoff picture in the years to come.

September 26, 2014: Corey Kluber struck out 11 Tampa Bay Rays to help the Indians set a new record with 1,431 strikeouts in a season. Kluber tied for the league lead with 18 wins.

July 30, 2014: Corey Kluber faced just 28 batters in a win against the Mariners. Six days earlier, he faced only 28 batters in a victory over the Royals. Kluber was the first pitcher ever to face 28 batters in back-to-back nine-inning games.

July 27, 2014: Danny Salazar fanned Nori Aoki of the Royals to record the two millionth strikeout in major league history.

March 31, 2014: The Indians were one of the best stories in baseball in 2013. Much will depend on their three young hitting stars—Michael Brantley, Carlos Santana and Jason Kipnis—and new closer John Axford. The team’s pitching was very good last year thanks to starters Ubaldo Jimenez and Scott Kazmir, but Kazmir is now in Oakland and Jimenez is now an Oriole. If flamethrower Danny Salazar steps up in 2014 to join ace Justin Masterson, it could still be a very interesting season in Cleveland.

2013 Season

October 1, 2013: Cleveland was one of baseball’s brightest surprises in 2013. New manager Terry Francona made his players believe they could win any game, and the Indians went on to log 92 victories. The team’s bright spots included second baseman Jason Kipnis and catcher Carlos Santana, along with pitchers Justin Masterson, and Ubaldo Jimenez. The Indians earned a Wild Card berth, but fell 4–0 to Tampa Bay in the playoff game.

March 30, 2013: Cleveland fans know they must be patient as the team rebuilds, but there is hope for a winning season in 2013. New manager Terry Francona leads a young team that has added veteran newcomers Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher into battle. But success now and in the future will probably depend on the improvement of Carlos Santana, Jason Kipnis, Justin Masterson, and Lonnie Chisenhall.

2012 Season

October 3, 2012: The Indians fell short of their goals in 2012, mainly because of the struggles of their starting pitchers. Big things were expected of Ubaldo Jimenez, Justin Masterson, and Josh Tomlin, but they won only 25 games with an ERA well over 5.00. The bright spots for the tribe were second baseman Jason Kipnis—who became a star in his first full year with Cleveland— and Shin-Choo Soo, who is now one of the top right fielders in baseball.

April, 2012: With the addition of veteran Derek Lowe, the Indians have a pretty good pitching staff in 2012. But a lot will depend on their young hitters, including Jason Kipnis and Lonnie Chisenall.