In late June 2025, the Cleveland Guardians hosted the St. Louis Cardinals for a three-game interleague series that turned into a surprising and dominant sweep by the Cardinals. With top-tier performances on both the mound and at the plate, this series showcased standout player stats and notable achievements for St. Louis, while exposing some of the struggles faced by the Guardians.
This blog post presents an in-depth recap of Cleveland Guardians vs St. Louis Cardinals match player stats, including hitting and pitching highlights, milestone moments, and team insights. Whether you’re a fan, fantasy player, or sports analyst, this detailed breakdown will provide valuable knowledge on how each player and team performed across the series.
Table of Contents
Game-by-Game Player Stats Overview
The Cleveland Guardians vs St. Louis Cardinals match player stats tell the full story of a one-sided three-game sweep that featured elite pitching, clutch home runs, and a stark contrast in offensive execution. Below is a breakdown of each game and the key performances from both teams.
Game 1 – June 27: Cardinals 5, Guardians 0
Pitching Performance:
Sonny Gray delivered one of the most dominant performances of the 2025 MLB season. He pitched a complete-game one-hitter, allowing no walks and striking out 11 batters. This was his first complete game since 2017 and his first shutout since 2015.
Cardinals Hitting Leaders:
- Pedro Pagés: 1-for-3, HR, RBI
- Alec Burleson: 1-for-4, 2-run HR
- Nolan Arenado: 2-for-4, 2 RBI
Guardians Performance:
- The Guardians were held to 1 hit (a single by Tyler Freeman) and failed to advance any runners into scoring position.
Game 2 – June 28: Cardinals 9, Guardians 6
Guardians Offensive Surge:
Despite ultimately losing, the Guardians jumped to a 6-1 lead in the first half of the game, fueled by early offense:
- Gabriel Arias: 2-run HR
- Kyle Manzardo: Solo HR
- Steven Kwan: RBI triple
Cardinals Comeback and Key Stats:
- Alec Burleson: 2-run single to ignite comeback
- Victor Scott II: 2-run double in the 6th inning
- Willson Contreras: Solo HR in the 9th inning
- Nolan Gorman: RBI single
Pitching Notes:
- Matt Svanson picked up his first MLB win in relief.
- Ryan Helsley recorded his 100th career save.
Read More: washington commanders vs dallas cowboys match player statsGame 3 – June 29: Cardinals 7, Guardians 0
Cardinals Batting Leaders:
- Nolan Gorman: 3-run HR in the 1st inning
- Victor Scott II: 2-run HR in the 7th inning
- Nolan Arenado: 3-for-4, double, reached his 1,900th career hit
Pitching Performance:
- Matthew Liberatore: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 5 BB, 5 K
- Bullpen: Romero, O’Brien, and King combined for 3 scoreless innings
Guardians’ Struggles:
- The team went 0-for-29 with runners in scoring position in Game 3.
- Offensive production completely stalled, with no extra-base hits recorded.
Top Offensive Performers in the Series
Here’s a look at the most impactful hitters from the series.
Cardinals Standouts:
- Nolan Gorman: HR, 4 RBI, 2 runs
- Victor Scott II: HR, 4 RBI, 2 runs, clutch hits in Game 2 and 3
- Alec Burleson: HR, 4 RBI, consistent production in all games
- Nolan Arenado: 5 hits, 2 doubles, 3 RBI, veteran leadership
Guardians Highlights:
- Gabriel Arias: Only Guardian with a home run
- Kyle Manzardo: Solid contact, 2 RBIs
- Steven Kwan: Spark plug in Game 2 but cooled off afterward
Pitching Matchups and Bullpen Impact
Cardinals Dominance on the Mound:
- Sonny Gray (Game 1): 9 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 11 K, 0 BB
- Matthew Liberatore (Game 3): 6 IP, 0 ER
- Ryan Helsley: 100th career save in Game 2
Guardians Pitching Issues:
- No starter lasted more than 5 innings
- Bullpen allowed a combined 12 earned runs across 3 games
- Key relievers gave up leads and momentum in Game 2
Career Milestones and Game Highlights
Notable Player Achievements:
- Sonny Gray: First shutout in nearly a decade
- Ryan Helsley: Earned his 100th MLB save
- Matt Svanson: Logged his first MLB win
- Nolan Arenado: Reached 1,900 career hits and 400 doubles
- Gabriel Arias: Exited Game 3 with an ankle injury, but X-rays were negative
These milestones highlight both team success and individual development, especially for rising stars like Svanson and Scott II.
Head-to-Head Trends Between the Teams
Looking at the broader picture, the Cleveland Guardians and St. Louis Cardinals have met sparingly in interleague play. Before this series, the Guardians held a slight all-time series lead of 15–12.
Recent Trends:
- Cardinals now on a 3-game win streak over the Guardians
- All 3 games featured dominant starting pitching and aggressive offense from St. Louis
- Guardians showed inconsistency at the plate and a declining bullpen performance
This series may shift the momentum between these two clubs going forward.
Strategic Takeaways and What We Learned
- Cardinals’ Offense is Peaking: With balanced contributions from power hitters and speedsters like Scott II, the Cardinals are showing playoff potential.
- Guardians Need Lineup Adjustments: Despite some strong early innings, their inability to convert RISP chances was glaring.
- St. Louis’ Pitching is Deep: Starters delivered quality innings, and the bullpen closed games efficiently.
These insights are valuable not only for fans but for fantasy baseball players and team scouts analyzing mid-season form.
FAQs – Cleveland Guardians vs St. Louis Cardinals Stats
1. Who had the most RBIs in the series?
Nolan Gorman led with 4 RBIs, including a 3-run homer in Game 3, making him the most productive batter across the series.
2. Which pitcher stood out the most?
Sonny Gray’s complete-game one-hitter with 11 strikeouts in Game 1 was the standout pitching performance of the series.
3. Did any players reach career milestones?
Yes. Ryan Helsley got his 100th save, Nolan Arenado hit his 1,900th career hit and 400th double, and Matt Svanson earned his first win.
4. How did the Guardians perform overall?
They were outscored 21–6, had major RISP issues, and were shut out twice. Only Game 2 showed offensive promise.
5. What was the turning point of the series?
Game 2’s comeback by the Cardinals, erasing a 5-run deficit, shifted momentum and broke the Guardians’ spirit for Game 3.
What’s Next for the Guardians and Cardinals
Cleveland Guardians Outlook:
The Guardians will need to address their lack of hitting consistency. With Gabriel Arias’ status uncertain and poor bullpen outings, changes might be necessary if they want to stay in contention.
St. Louis Cardinals Outlook:
Momentum is clearly on their side. This sweep may be the start of a playoff push. Nolan Gorman, Arenado, and Sonny Gray are leading this charge.
Fans can expect both teams to make adjustments as the All-Star break approaches.