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CJ Kayfus Saves the Guardians in Doubleheader Split With Cubs
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- CJ Kayfus Saves the Guardians in Doubleheader Split With Cubs
CLEVELAND – The cold weather that swept through on Saturday evening also cooled off the Cleveland Guardians ' bats ahead of Sunday's doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs.
With Cleveland taking down the Cubs during Friday's home opener, the Guardians only needed to win one game to secure a series victory. While they didn't make it easy on themselves, Cleveland did just that, thanks to CJ Kayfus, who saved the Guardians with a pair of timely hits.
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The Guardians only managed to log one hit off the Cubs in the first game of the doubleheader. That hit was a double, which was just shy of a home run, landing on the warning track in right field and bouncing off the wall.
That play was just a precursor for what was to come in the Guardians in the nightcap of the two-game day.
Apr 5, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; The Cleveland Guardians celebrate a win over the Chicago Cubs at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
Cleveland's bats started out just as cold as they were in the first game of the doubleheader. They only had two hits through the first five innings, but finally started to get something rolling in the sixth inning, and Kayfus was in the middle of it.
After the Cubs took out left-handed starter Shota Imanaga, Kayfus pinch hit for starter David Fry with runners on first and second. He ripped a ball right back up the middle, scoring Kwan and giving the Guardians their first run of the game and of the day.
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Even though Kayfus wasn't a starter in this game, he said after the game he made sure to be ready once Chicago's starter was done, because he realizes in-game substitutions are something the Guardians routinely do.
Cleveland continued to claw back and went into the eighth inning down just one run. Kayfus found himself back at the plate in a big moment and delivered again, slugging a solo home run over the right field wall to tie up the game.
This home run set up a three-run inning for the Guardians, leading them to a 6-4 victory.
Kayfys entered Sunday's doubleheader off to a rough start to the new year. In 10 at-bats on the 2026 season, the rookie was 0-for-10 with six strikeouts and only two walks.
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Kayfus was one of the young players the Guardians believed could help make an immediate impact on the lineup, which is why they were so reluctant to make any offseason moves.
While his slow start was a little discouraging, the rookie proved on Sunday that he deserves to continue to get playing time, and Cleveland is better off with him on the roster.
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