Cleveland is Guards Balling its way to the top of the American League.
The Cleveland Guardians are slowly taking command of the AL Central and quieting every foe in their path, most recently outpitching the Philadelphia Phillies in a tightly-contested three-game series in which their starting pitchers held Philly’s sluggers to three runs in 18 ⅔ innings pitched.
The effort began with Gavin Williams’ 11 strikeouts over eight scoreless innings Friday and finished with Patrick Messick’s 5 ⅔ shutout innings Sunday as the Guardians won an entertaining series – and zoomed to No. 7 in USA TODAY Sports’ power rankings.
After quieting Philadelphia, Guardians starters rank sixth in the majors with a 3.46 rotation ERA. Perhaps of greater import, they’re second in innings pitched, their 307 IP trailing only Seattle. That will go a long way toward preserving a bullpen in which closer Cade Smith has nailed down 18 of 20 save chances.
Sprinkle in just a dash of timely offense, and Cleveland has won 11 of 13, establishing a 4 1/2 game lead over the Whtie Sox in the Central.
A look at our updated rankings:
May 18, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) celebrates at second base after hitting a two-run double against the Detroit Tigers in the sixth inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
Unstoppable for five weeks, Matt Olson in a .161/.224/.226 rut with one homer in 67 plate appearances.
A 38-inning scoreless streak from the bullpen – all without Edwin Diaz.
A split in the Bronx is just fine.
Ending an 11-game homerless streak amid a 4-for-35 slide is so very Aaron Judge.
The Miz leads the NL with 88 strikeouts.
They were 28th in homers last season, but can win with the longball this year.
7. Cleveland Guardians (+1)
Travis Bazzana surging in leadoff spot: .294, .824 OPS,
Shota Imanaga didn’t even wait until June to swoon, giving up 15 earned runs his past two starts.
Prospect Esmerlyn Valdez hits first big league homer in third game.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Athletics Lawrence Butler is tagged out by Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas as he tires to extend his double into a triple during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026.
(Scott Marshall, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Athletics Lawrence Butler is tagged out by Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas as he tires to extend his double into a triple during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026.
(Scott Marshall, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Cleveland Guardians mascot Slider interacts with fans during game against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field on April 17, 2026.
(David Richard, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Washington Nationals right fielder Daylen Lile attempts to catch a ball hit for a single by the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Jake Mangum during the first inning at PNC Park on April 16, 2026. The Nationals won the game, 8-7.
(Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Milwaukee Brewers catcher Gary Sanchez wears a special chest protector to commemorate Jackie Robinson Day during the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at American Family Field on April 15, 2026.
(Benny Sieu, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
April 13: The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Spencer Horwitz celebrates a home run in the dugout while wearing a welder’s hood during the 16-5 win over the Washington Nationals at PNC Park.
(Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
April 12: Philadelphia Phillies mascot, The Phanatic, entertains fans with local team mascots for a birthday celebration before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park.
(Kyle Ross, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
April 11: The Tampa Bay Rays’ Jonathan Aranda (left) celebrates with Ryan Vilade after hitting a walk-off single against the New York Yankees in the 10th inning of a 5-4 win at Tropicana Field.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Cleveland Guardians’ Jose Ramirez acknowledges the fans after becoming the team’s all-time leader in games played against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field on April 6, 2026.
(David Dermer, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
A rainbow appears during the fourth inning during the game between the San Diego Padres and Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on April 6, 2026.
(Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
A fan dresses as the Pope claps during the first inning of the game between the Chicago White Sox and Toronto Blue Jays at Rate Field on April 5, 2026. The White Sox won the game, 3-0, to complete a three-game sweep of the Blue Jays.
(Matt Marton, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Konnor Griffin celebrates with a traffic cone after making his major-league debut in a 5-4 defeat of the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park on April 3, 2026.
(Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
A young Red Sox fan meets Tessie the Boston Red Sox mascot before the Red Sox’s home opener against the San Diego Padres at Fenway Park on April 3, 2026.
(Eric Canha, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez (6) and center fielder Jakob Marsee celebrate a victory against the Chicago White Sox at loanDepot Park on April 1, 2026.
(Jim Rassol, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Fans try to catch a solo home run hit by the San Francisco Giants’ Matt Chapman as San Diego Padres left fielder Nick Castellanos looks on during the third inning at Petco Park on March 31, 2026.
(Denis Poroy, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Philadelphia Phillies mascot The Phillie Phanatic entertains fans during the game against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on March 31, 2026.
(Kyle Ross, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Toronto Blue Jays’ Kazuma Okamoto gets doused with ice water by teammates after a win over the Athletics at Rogers Centre on March 29, 2026.
(John E. Sokolowski, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Cincinnati Reds’ Eugenio Suárez blows a bubble as he waits to bat against the Boston Red Sox at Great American Ball Park on March 28, 2026.
(Aaron Doster, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The St. Louis Cardinals’ JJ Wetherholt is doused with water by teammates after hitting a walk-off two-run single against the Tampa Bay Rays during the 10th inning at Busch Stadium on March 28, 2026.
(Jeff Curry, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Fans react as the Milwaukee Brewers’ Jake Bauers homers against the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field on March 26, 2026.
(Jovanny Hernandez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Two F-35C planes from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron NINE Detachment Edwards Air Force Base perform a flyover before the Opening Day game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on March 26, 2026.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
Geno Suárez finally back after oblique forces him to miss 25 of first 50 games.
13. Athletics (-)
Nick Kurtz, Yolo County legend, surpasses Rickey Henderson, matches Jimmie Foxx with 47th consecutive game reaching base.
14. Philadelphia Phillies (-2)
Gamble $1.2 million in signing Korean right-hander Chan-min Park.
Davis Martin, 20-game winner? Might not be the unlikeliest thing about their season.
After eight solid starts, Jacob de Grom gives up 10 earned runs in his last two.
In his seventh career game, Colt Emerson bangs out four hits.
Max Meyer lowers ERA to 2.52 with seven-inning gem against Mets.
Jacob Young’s six home runs already doubled his previous career high.
21. Baltimore Orioles (+2)
Now 3-10 against AL East foes.
22. Minnesota Twins (+2)
Record first three-game sweep at Fenway Park since 1994.
23. Detroit Tigers (-6)
Kenley Jansen has 5.02 ERA after yielding third walk-off home run.
24. Kansas City Royals (+2)
Stephen Kolek tosses a shutout, may just establish himself in rotation.
25. New York Mets (-3)
26. San Francisco Giants (-1)
Rafael Devers pushes OPS to .700, a 100-point gain in three weeks.
27. Boston Red Sox (-)
Sour Caroline? Now 8-17 at Fenway Park.
28. Houston Astros (-)
Two things can be true: They are 23-31, and also four games out of first in the AL West.
29. Los Angeles Angels (-)
Sign Taijuan Walker to a minor league deal. Hey, the Phillies are payin’.
Jack O’Dowd, son of former GM Dan O’Dowd, hits two homers in high Class A debut..
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB power rankings: Guardians command AL Central standings
