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Cleveland Guardians 2024 season recap: Guards end first year of Stephen Vogt era in ALCS
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- Cleveland Guardians 2024 season recap: Guards end first year of Stephen Vogt era in ALCS
CLEVELAND — The Guardians were one of the final four teams standing in the MLB playoffs until their 2024 season ended Saturday night at Progressive Field .
With a 5-2 loss to the New York Yankees in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series , the Guardians were eliminated 4-1 in the best-of-seven series. The Yankees advanced to the World Series, where they'll meet the winner of the NLCS between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets .
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With rookie manager Stephen Vogt guiding Cleveland after succeeding future Hall of Famer Terry Francona , the Guardians went 92-69 in the regular season and won the AL Central , the 12th time the franchise has capture a division title.
Led by five All-Stars — third baseman Jose Ramirez , closer Emmanuel Clase , left fielder Steven Kwan , first baseman Josh Naylor and utility man David Fry — the Guardians earned the No. 2 playoff seed in the AL and a bye in the wild-card round.
Then the Guardians defeated the AL Central rival Detroit Tigers 3-2 in the best-of-five AL Division Series and advanced to the meet the top-seeded Yankees, who finished the regular season 94-68.
Guardians manger Stephen Vogt walks to the mound to to relieve pitcher Joey Cantillo (54) in the fourth inning of Game 4 of the ALCS, Oct. 14, 2024, at Yankee Stadium.
More on ALCS Game 5: Cleveland Guardians vs. New York Yankees highlights
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Cleveland baseball has gone 3-3 in its six ALCS appearances. The 2024 ALCS was the organization's first since 2016, Francona's fourth season in charge of the club. The 2016 team also advanced to the World Series before falling in seven games to the Chicago Cubs .
Cleveland's drought without a World Series title has reached 76 years. Since the team's last triumphant World Series in 1948, it has fallen in each of its four subsequent appearances in 2016, 1997, 1995 and 1954.
In early April, the Guardians lost ace Shane Bieber for the season to Tommy John surgery. Fellow starting pitchers Triston McKenzie and Logan Allen struggled and were sent to the minors over the summer.
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The Guardians had MLB's best bullpen in the regular season, but their pitching eventually wore down amid the physical and mental grind of the postseason, and the Yankees capitalized.
Reliever Hunter Gaddis became the latest in a long line of Guardians pitchers to be tormented by the high-powered Yankees when he surrendered a three-run home run to Juan Soto in the 10th inning of Game 5. The 402-foot blast to center field proved to be the decisive blow ending Cleveland's season.
Guardians pitcher Shane Bieber is introduced before Game 1 of the ALDS, Oct. 5, 2024, in Cleveland.
Which Cleveland Guardians players are set for free agency in the 2025 MLB offseason?
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Starting pitcher Shane Bieber
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Starting pitcher Matthew Boyd
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Starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco
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Starting pitcher Alex Cobb
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Catcher Austin Hedges
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Relief pitcher Anthony Gose
Cleveland Guardians column: Guards should retain Matthew Boyd, their best starting pitcher in MLB playoffs
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When do the Guardians play next?
The Guardians' Cactus League opener is scheduled for Feb. 22 against the Cincinnati Reds and their new manager, Terry Francona , at Goodyear Ballpark in Arizona .
Guardians 2025 MLB schedule: Cleveland Guardians announce 2025 schedule, will open the season with 9-game road trip
When is Guardians' 2025 home opener?
After opening the 2025 MLB regular season on the road for nine games , starting March 27 at Kansas City , the Guardians will play their home opener on Tuesday, April 8, against the Chicago White Sox .
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians season ends in ALCS loss to Yankees. What's next?
