April 30, 2026
In the bottom of the first inning on Opening Day, Seattle leadoff hitter Brendan Donovan got things started with a home run off Tanner Bibee.
It’s just the second time in franchise history Cleveland’s Opening Day starter has allowed a home run to the first batter of the season.
In 1932, Detroit’s Roy Johnson led off the bottom off the first with a solo shot off Wes Ferrell. Cleveland would end up winning the game in 11 innings.
Last night against the Angels, Tanner Bibee gave up seven runs in four innings. Luis Ortiz gave up seven runs against the Padres his last time out too.
That’s just the 12th time in franchise history at least two starters have allowed seven or more runs in a game through the team’s first eight games.
The last time it happened was in 2013:
Over the past three games, Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee and Logan Allen have combined to allow just one run in 19 innings of work.
Their one run allowed is the fewest combined runs allowed by rookie starting pitchers in three consecutive games in franchise history, breaking a record set by Bibee, Allen and Xzavion Curry earlier this year.
On a more depressing note, it was just the third time in franchise history the team won just one game in a three-game span in which its starting pitchers allowed one or fewer runs. The other instances:
In consecutive games against the Blue Jays, Gavin Williams and Tanner Bibee tossed seven shutout innings.
It’s the first time rookie starters pitched at least seven scoreless innings in consecutive games since Jeff Mutis and Albie Lopez in 1993 against the California Angels.
Mutis tossed a complete-game four-hit shutout, while Lopez tossed seven scoreless before giving way to the bullpen.
Here’s the full list of rookie starters to toss 7+ shutout innings in consecutive games, with their combined strikeouts in parentheses:
The 18 combined strikeouts by Williams and Bibee are also tied for the second most by rookie starters pitching in consecutive games. Here’s the leaderboard:
Logan Allen has 33 strikeouts through his first six career games, while Tanner Bibee has 34. The era in which which we’re in is a big factor here, but those are the sixth and seventh most strikeouts through six games in franchise history.
The list:
Cleveland lost 2-1 in extra innings to the Cardinals on Saturday, despite Guardians pitchers allowing just two hits and striking out 12.
It was just the fourth time in franchise history they lost despite recording six times as many strikeouts as hits allowed. The list:
The 1987 loss occurred despite Candiotti getting within four outs of a no-hitter. However, even in the 8th inning he was already trailing 1-0, before a walk, error and the lone hit allowed a second run to score. Earlier in the game a walk, error, sac bunt and fielders choice allowed a run.
In 1969, Paul allowed three runs on one hit due to two walks preceding a double with the runner advancing to third on the throw home, followed by a sacrifice fly.
And the 1915 loss may be the strangest of all. The first batter reached on an error by pitcher Hagerman, advancing to second on the throwing error, then to third on a fielders choice. The next batter, Clyde Milan, then hit into a fielders choice with runner on third getting thrown out at home – but the rundown was so chaotic, Milan was able to advance to third. During the next at-bat, Milan stole home.
Hagerman ended up tossing a complete-game one-hitter with that being the only run to score, but Bert Gallia tossed a shutout for the Senators.