Series Finale: Rangers Look to Sweep, Guardians Look to Salvage
First pitch: 1:10 PM ET | Progressive Field | TV: Guardians.TV, Rangers Sports Network
Happy July 1, Cleveland. The dog days are here — and so is the heat. Today’s afternoon contest will be played under an extreme heat warning with temperatures in the 90s in Northeast Ohio. But the weather isn’t the only thing burning the Guardians right now. Cleveland has dropped nine of 14 games since All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez broke his left hamate bone on June 13. This is a club that needs a win badly.
Their six-game surge will be on the line Wednesday as the Rangers wrap up a three-game series against the host Cleveland Guardians. The Guardians have already lost a home series to Texas for the first time since June 2016. Today is about pride — and stopping the bleeding.
On the Mound: Cantillo vs. Gore
Joey Cantillo (CLE) — LHP
- 2026 record: 6-3, 3.87 ERA, 85 SO
- Cantillo has been outstanding in his past three starts, going 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA and 22 strikeouts over 19 innings.
- His last loss came at Texas on June 7, when he was rocked for seven runs on nine hits in five innings. In two career games against the Rangers, Cantillo is 0-1 with a 7.59 ERA and has allowed four homers in 10⅔ innings.
- His elite extension and slightly above-average induced vertical break allow his 92.2 mph four-seamer to play up, while his changeup and curveball will flash plus.
The numbers against Texas are genuinely ugly, but Cantillo has been a different pitcher lately. Manager Stephen Vogt has praised his zone-attacking approach, saying: “That’s exactly what we’ve talked about — attacking the zone. That was one of the best games we’ve seen him pitch.” If he can replicate that mentality, there’s reason for optimism even with the tough matchup history.
MacKenzie Gore (TEX) — LHP
- 2026 record: 5-6, 4.05 ERA, 97 SO
- Gore is coming off a road win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday, when he threw seven innings of three-run ball.
- Gore has pitched against the Guardians only once before — as a rookie with the San Diego Padres — giving up one run in 5⅔ innings in a no-decision at Cleveland on May 4, 2022.
- The 27-year-old southpaw has issued multiple free passes in four straight appearances and 12 of his 16 outings so far this season.
Control has been a common issue for Gore in 2026, and Cleveland’s patient lineup — when healthy — knows how to work counts. That’s the path to getting to Gore early.
Opponent Scouting: Red-Hot Rangers
Joc Pederson’s power has propelled the Texas Rangers to their longest regular-season road winning streak in nine years, and the Guardians have had no answer for it this series.
- Pederson has five home runs in his past six games — the second time he’s achieved that feat this season.
- Since being installed as Texas’ leadoff hitter in mid-May, Pederson is batting .252 with 11 homers and 21 RBIs in 41 games.
- The Rangers are without Wyatt Langford (left hamstring strain) and lost Corey Seager (back tightness) before his initial at-bat on Tuesday.
- American League West-leading Texas has won six in a row overall, outscoring the Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland by a combined 31-20 margin.
Even banged up, this Rangers squad is dangerous. Texas will likely continue to heavily shield Pederson against left-handed pitching, which matters since Cantillo is a lefty — but Pederson has found ways to beat everyone lately.
Players to Watch
🔥 Joc Pederson, TEX DH — The man is on fire and he’s already torched the Guardians this series. His most recent long ball occurred Tuesday, when he connected in the third inning against Tanner Bibee for a two-run shot that traveled 403 feet. Watch how Cantillo attacks him — or avoids him — with runners on base.
⚡ Travis Bazzana, CLE 2B — The No. 1 overall pick from 2024 has been a bright spot in a rough stretch. Bazzana is thriving as the Guardians’ current leadoff batter, hitting in all six games (9-for-23) since being deployed at the top of the order, also stealing his eighth base in 28 big-league games. He’s the spark plug Cleveland desperately needs today.
🩺 Brayan Rocchio, CLE SS — With Ramirez out, Rocchio’s bat matters more than ever. He posted a strong .293/.374/.415 slash line with four home runs, 27 RBI, nine steals and 26 runs across 58 games through the end of May before a mid-June slump. A bounce-back today in the middle of the order could swing the game.
Series Context & Team Form
The Guardians sit at 44-41, second in the AL Central. That’s a decent record, but this losing skid — driven largely by the Ramirez injury — has been concerning. Manager Stephen Vogt was left scrambling over the weekend following several injuries, with Jose Ramirez’s hand injury the most severe, as Ramirez had settled in at the second spot in the batting order and Vogt needs to find a replacement for the next 5-to-7 weeks.
The good news? The 2026 Guardians entered the season with a roster that feels deeper and more balanced than at any point in recent years, with a young core that has continued to mature. This team has real character. Today is a chance to show it before heading into the July 4th stretch against the White Sox.
Cantillo’s recent dominance gives Cleveland a fighting chance, but the Rangers’ six-game streak and Pederson’s hot bat make this a steep hill to climb at Progressive Field. Go get ’em, Guardians.
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