Guardians Look to Extend Winning Streak Against Royals at Progressive Field

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Guardians aim to secure a series sweep against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field on Sunday, following a dominating 7-0 victory on Friday.

Manager Stephen Vogt reported positive news regarding outfielder Lane Thomas, who has been sidelined with a bruised right wrist since Tuesday. “He’s trending better,” said Vogt. “This is the best he’s felt. We’re hoping he can get back in the lineup soon.”

The Guardians celebrated their young players’ contributions in Friday’s win. Notably, Gabriel Arias and Angel Martínez delivered standout performances, each recording three hits and making key defensive plays. Vogt praised Arias’ three-run home run in the fourth, signifying his growth as a player. “He is one of the most talented players on the planet, we’ve all known that,” Vogt stated. “To see him earning everyday at-bats and being able to impact us both defensively and offensively… it’s been really fun to watch.”

Arias emphasized the importance of his focused pregame routines. “All the work that we did, the approach, the working with the machines, those are the keys to getting successful at-bats,” he said through interpreter Agustin Rivero. He noted his past struggles with perfectionism and expressed a newfound freedom in his gameplay, allowing him to relax and enjoy his performance. “I can just focus and go out there, do my best, have fun, enjoy the baseball that I know I can play,” Arias added.

Martínez, a utility player, also reflected on his approach. “Anything I can do to help the team win, that’s allowed me to prepare,” he noted, emphasizing the importance of readiness in various roles. Vogt emphasized the crucial contributions from players in lower batting order positions, stating, “Tonight the bottom half of the order was outstanding, getting things going, driving people in.”

On the field, the Guardians are making headlines for their historical ties as well. They recently commemorated the 50th anniversary of Frank Robinson’s debut as the first Black manager in MLB history. Vogt expressed gratitude for the opportunity to meet Robinson’s family, who attended the game, adding that it was meaningful for them to jointly acknowledge the legacy of barrier-breaking players like Larry Doby.

As the Guardians (8-6) step onto the field today against the Royals (7-8), starting pitchers include RHP Ben Lively (0-1, 4.40) for Cleveland and LHP Cole Ragans (0-0, 2.81) for Kansas City. Fans can catch the action at 1:40 p.m. ET on CLEGuardians.TV and the Guardians Radio Network.