CLEVELAND, OH — Cleveland’s face of the franchise José Ramírez was hitting .189 for his career in postseason elimination games prior to Games 3, 4 and 5 of the American League Division Series against the White Sox this week.
Another season would soon be down the drain for the reigning AL LatinoMVP and Guardians—trailing Chicago 2-0 in their best of five ALDS—as teams down 2-0 in a best of five postseason set after losing their first two games at home stood little to no chance.
Only three teams had overcome such a deficit—down 2-0 and then headed on the road—the 2015 Blue Jays, 2012 Giants and 2001 Yankees.
But that was before this ALDS between the White Sox and Guardians.
Our house.#GuardsBall | #StandGuard pic.twitter.com/b7opTMI5aQ
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) October 11, 2026
And only if the 34-year-old of Baní, Dominican Republic, a future Cooperstown Hall of Famer, already deserving of a statue outside of Progressive Field, failed to answer back with his back against the wall since Cleveland goes as Ramírez does.
No?
The numbers show it. So does his underlying impact in a clubhouse consisting of 25 other players, several coaches and members upstairs in the front office each viewing Ramírez as their guy. One who has shown time in and time out that if he is going, Cleveland is, too.
José Ramírez’s ALDS vs. White Sox
- Games 3, 4 & 5 (9-3, 9-5 & 2-0 wins): 5-12, 2 HRs (each go-ahead blasts), a double, triple, 7 RBI, 1 walk, 5 runs scored, 1 strikeout
- Games 1 & 2 (3-0 & 4-3 losses): 0-6, 2 walks, 1 run scored, 3 strikeouts
A fourth-inning go-ahead two-run home run in their winner-take-all Game 5 Saturday night from the seven-time All-Star and six-time Silver Slugger would be all the Guardians needed at the plate as Cleveland’s pitching was nearly perfect.
JOSÉ RAMÍREZ!
GUARDIANS TAKE THE FIRST LEAD OF GAME 5! pic.twitter.com/Z0zoqm513R
— MLB (@MLB) October 11, 2026
On the bump first was right-hander Gavin Williams pitching on one-day rest after the 27-year-old had thrown an inning in relief in Game 4 Thursday night and it not even playing a factor.
Throwing 5.2 innings of one-hit ball with two walks allowed and 12 strikeouts, he tied Yankees RHP Cam Schlittler (2025 AL Wild Card Series, Game 3) for the second-most ever Ks in a winner take all postseason game in MLB postseason history.
Then it was relievers Erik Sabrowski, Hunter Gaddis, and Cade Smith out of Cleveland’s bullpen, who followed Williams and combined for 3.1 innings of two-hit ball with nine strikeouts.
You know bro 😤#GUARDSBALL https://t.co/Jfs3Zq9ZIP pic.twitter.com/Ra64nqDMZB
— MLB (@MLB) October 11, 2026
Twenty one strikeouts across the board as a pitching staff in a win or go home scenario, winning Game 5 by a final of 2-0 to send the Guardians to the American League Championship Series where Cleveland will now square off against Tampa Bay in the franchise’s seventh ALCS appearance all-time.
JRam’s Heroics and More from his HR
According to MLB’s Sarah Langs—Ramírez’s two-run HR on a 2-2 79-MPH knuckle curveball off White Sox RHP Sean Burke Saturday night at Progressive Field in front of 36,889 rabid fans was the lowest pitch he’s homered on in his career (0.74 feet above the ground)—including the playoffs and lowest pitch hit for a postseason homer in MLB since 2008—a year in which the league began tracking.
Spark plug.#GuardsBall | #StandGuard pic.twitter.com/6dqGtBiR0T
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) October 11, 2026
“We’ve faced him a couple of times, so we knew he has a really good curveball,” Ramírez said through interpreter Agustin Rivero. “In that AB, I was looking for a curveball for a strike. I was able to get my legs and get good contact. That was the plan on that AB. With these games, you want to do your best because it’s do or die. Thank God it came out for us.”
Guardians React to JRam’s Heroics
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt: “It was like we got our backs against the wall and he said, ‘all right, I got you.’ That’s what he’s been doing for this franchise long before I got here. And he’s been through a lot this year. We’ve been through a lot this year and we cannot wait to play on Monday. I can’t wait to keep watching José Ramírez do what he does.”
RHP Gavin Williams: “José’s the GOAT. He’s always one swing away. We know that. We believe in him, we love him and he’s just gonna do what José knows how to do. He always has that one moment all the time.”
Reliever Cade Smith: “I mean, he’s the best. He’s the best player. It’s such a blessing to be in the clubhouse and watch him play every day (with) the way he plays, the way he works, the teammate he is. Hands down, my favorite things (about him). He’s awesome.”
Looking Ahead to the ALCS
José Ramírez (34, of Baní, D.R.) vs. Junior Caminero (23, of Santo Domingo, D.R.) with the American League pennant and a trip to the World Series on the line?
Sign us up.
It will be Guardians vs. Rays in the ALCS!
Who will represent the American League in the World Series? pic.twitter.com/IWPO18Tswm
— MLB (@MLB) October 11, 2026
Regardless of who comes out on top between the Guardians and Rays in this best of seven ALCS, starting Monday night, October 13th, at Tropicana Field, Major League Baseball wins with a head-to-head postseason matchup amongst arguably two of the most exciting players in the game out of the Dominican Republic.
A future Hall of Famer against a young Dominican superstar who admires Ramírez and potentially on the same or similar career trajectory as him.
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