Guardians Dominate Royals 10-2, Climb AL Wild Card Standings

The Cleveland Guardians delivered a dominant performance against the Kansas City Royals, winning 10-2 with a season-high 16 hits and seven doubles, including a historic four RBI doubles in the fourth inning. Slade Cecconi nearly pitched the first no-hitter of the 2025 MLB season, carrying the bid into the eighth inning before allowing a single. This victory boosted the Guardians ahead of the Royals in the American League Wild Card race, narrowing the gap to 2 1/2 games behind the Mariners for the final spot. The team's offensive explosion featured balanced contributions throughout the lineup, with standout performances from Kyle Manzardo, Brayan Rocchio, Daniel Schneemann, and Nolan Jones. Cleveland's recent four-game winning streak and upcoming schedule against teams in and out of the playoff race provide a critical opportunity to improve their postseason chances, which have risen from 2.1% to 8% according to Fangraphs. Defensive plays by Rocchio also helped preserve Cecconi's near no-hit bid, adding to the team's momentum as they push toward the playoffs.