Cleveland Guardians' Hot Start to Season is One of the Best in Franchise History
Following series wins over the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners, the Cleveland Guardians own a plus-28 run differential – their third-best ever through seven games.
The Cleveland Guardians have done more than just open the 2024 regular season with back-to-back series victories – they've done so in historically dominant fashion.
Through seven games, the Guardians boast a plus-28 run differential. That is tied with their start to the 2002 season as their third-best mark through seven games in franchise history, according to MLB.com's Sarah Langs.
Cleveland's best season-opening run differential was plus-33 in 1999. Their only other time reaching plus-30 through seven games was back in 1922.
Being in the same camp as the 2002 Indians isn't exactly ideal for the Guardians, considering that team finished the year 74-88. Manager Charlie Manuel was fired midseason, and it wound up being the club's second-worst campaign in the 14-year stretch between 1995 and 2008.
The 1999 Indians won 97 games and a fifth consecutive AL Central title, though, so approaching their early-season accomplishments is a promising sign.
And considering this is the Guardians' first season without manager Terry Francona at the helm since he arrived in 2013, the hot start is more than welcome.
Francona, a two-time World Series champion with the Boston Red Sox, led Cleveland to six playoff berths, four division titles and one American League pennant. The 64-year-old retired last fall, ranking No. 13 on MLB's all-time wins list, and it's only a matter of time before he ends up in Cooperstown.
Stephen Vogt, on the other hand, is a 39-year-old, first-time manager. The two-time All-Star and longtime Oakland Athletics catcher was just a year removed from his final big league at-bat when the Guardians hired him, and he already seems to have a hang of things in the dugout.
Cleveland won its first three games of 2024 by eight, four and nine runs, respectively. After a one-run loss in the series finale versus the Athletics, then another one-run loss to the Seattle Mariners a day later, the Guardians have bounced back with a three-run win and an eight-run win.
The Guardians open their next series against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday, with first pitch scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET. They won't play their first home game until they welcome the Chicago White Sox to Progressive Field on April 8.
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