Guardians Defeat Dodgers in LA Behind Williams and Ramirez

Cleveland's young pitching and veteran sluggers lead to series win over the Dodgers.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 4:54am

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The Cleveland Guardians capped off a tough season-opening road trip with a 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Rookie right-hander Gavin Williams struck out 10 batters, while veteran sluggers Gabriel Arias and Jose Ramirez hit home runs to power the Guardians' offense.

Why it matters

The win over the Dodgers, one of the National League's top teams, is an impressive early-season statement for the young Guardians squad. Their ability to win on the road against a powerhouse like Los Angeles suggests the Guardians could be a team to watch in the American League this year.

The details

Williams delivered a dominant performance on the mound, striking out 10 Dodgers batters over 6 innings of work. Arias and Ramirez provided the offensive firepower, each hitting solo home runs to account for half of the Guardians' runs. The Guardians' pitching and power hitting proved too much for the Dodgers to overcome.

  • The game was played on April 1, 2026.
  • This was the final game of the Guardians' season-opening road trip.

The players

Gavin Williams

A 24-year-old right-handed pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians, making his third career MLB start.

Jose Ramirez

A 33-year-old All-Star third baseman and one of the Guardians' veteran leaders.

Gabriel Arias

A 23-year-old outfielder in his second MLB season with the Guardians.

Los Angeles Dodgers

One of the National League's premier franchises, the Dodgers are expected to contend for a World Series title this season.

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What they’re saying

“Gavin really set the tone for us today with his strikeouts. And when our big bats like Jose and Gabriel get going, we're a tough team to beat.”

— Terry Francona, Guardians Manager

What’s next

The Guardians will return home to Cleveland to host the Chicago White Sox in their home opener on April 4.

The takeaway

The Guardians' ability to win on the road against a powerhouse like the Dodgers is an early-season statement that this young Cleveland team could be a force to be reckoned with in the American League this year.