Stephen Vogt Opens up About the Cleveland Guardians Strong Start

Ignoring any box scores, advanced statistics, or any of their individual single-game performances, there’s one stat the Cleveland Guardians should focus on three series into the 2026 season: 6-4. 

That is Cleveland’s record a week and a half into the year, and it’s something the team should be proud of and encouraged by, considering the schedule they had to start the season: a seven-game west coast road trip, only to return home and immediately be forced into a doubleheader due to unpredictable Cleveland weather. 

Stephen Vogt admitted that Cleveland’s current record likely comes as a surprise to some people around baseball, but if anything, it’s a reminder to the locker room just how good this team is, and has the potential to be. 

“We had a tough way to start, and it doesn't get easier. We have another tough week ahead of us, and I'm sure it doesn't get easy after that. Every team in the big leagues is really good,” said Vogt. 


“I couldn't be more thrilled with where we are at six and four, through these first 10 games. I know probably not many people had that record on paper for us. I think we're just proving to ourselves, again, we are good, and we know that, um, and we just have to continue to go one day at a time, one aning at a time. 
The second game today was a testament to that.”

Simply, the logistics of Cleveland’s schedule to start the season were difficult enough, but the quality of the team the Guardians went up against only made it that much more challenging. Still, Cleveland came out of it with a winning record.

The Guardians have managed to put together a winning record after starting the year with a West Coast road trip against the Seattle Mariners, who were in the ALCS just a few months ago, and the two-time defending World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers. 

Then, came home to Progressive Field to take two of three games from the Chicago Cubs, who were also in the 2025 postseason and made improvements over the offseason. 

The Guardians can’t be complacent or too high after these first three series, but as Vogt said, it is a reminder of how good this team is. Cleveland may have gone up against three playoff teams a year ago, but all three of their opponents can say the same thing about the Guardians.

This roster is proving early on not to write them off at any point this season. 

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