The 2026 season of the Major Leagues They are already undefeated. Los Angeles Dodgerswho had started the campaign with a perfect pace, suffered their first defeat of the year this Monday at fall 4-2 to the Cleveland Guardiansin a result that leaves the MLB without any undefeated team.
After sweeping their opening series against the Arizona Diamondbacks and opening with a 3-0 record, the Dodgers could not maintain their ideal start and were stopped by solid work from starter Parker Messick, who silenced one of the most feared offenses in the game. baseball.
Dodgers lose their undefeated record and MLB 2026 no longer has perfect teams
With the fall of Los Angelesthe list of undefeated teams at this start of the campaign was officially closed. The Dodgers were the last club to maintain a perfect record, after having come back in each of their first three games.
However, this time the reaction was not enough. Although they attempted another comeback in the ninth inning, Cleveland held on and sealed an impact victory early in the season.
The setback not only represents the Dodgers’ first loss in 2026, but also a clear message that, even at the start of the championship, no one seems untouchable in the MLB.
Parker Messick was the great figure of Cleveland against the Dodgers
The star of the night was Parker Messick (1-0), who pitched six scoreless innings and completely controlled the Los Angeles offense.
The left-hander neutralized figures like Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Kyle Tucker, who had a discreet day. Between the four of them they barely combined to hit 3 hits in 16 at-bats, a figure well below what was expected for a lineup of that caliber.
Messick was solid, attacking the zone and constantly forcing weak contact, keeping the two-time defending World Series champions at bay.
Steven Kwan and Daniel Schneemann made the difference
Cleveland opened the scoring with an RBI double by Steven Kwan, who punished Japanese Roki Sasaki with a line drive to the right field corner to make it 1-0.
The game remained close until the seventh inning, when the Guardians put together the decisive three-run rally.
First, Rhys Hoskins drew a bases-loaded walk after being down 0-2 in the count, forcing Austin Hedges to score. Then Daniel Schneemann appeared, who hit a two-run double to extend the lead to 4-0 and leave Los Angeles on the ropes.
That episode also left another important fact: it was the first run allowed by the Dodgers bullpen of the season.
Roki Sasaki took the loss in an irregular start
On the Dodgers’ side, Roki Sasaki (0-1) had an up-and-down start in his return to the mound, his first start since May 9.
The Japanese right-hander worked four innings, allowing one run and four hits, while also recording four strikeouts and two walks. Although he was not penalized severely, he had trouble establishing control and was removed from the game after allowing a single leading off the fifth inning.
Sasaki was also the first of a series of three consecutive Japanese starters scheduled by the Dodgers for this series against Cleveland, a detail that had generated great expectations.
José Ramírez continues making history with Cleveland
Another highlight of the meeting was the presence of José Ramírez, who played his 1,614th game with Cleveland, tying Nap Lajoie for second place in franchise history.
The third baseman went 1-for-5 and was only five games behind Terry Turner, the club’s absolute leader with 1,619 games played.
Everything indicates that Ramírez could keep that record this weekend, when Cleveland plays at home.
Next game: Shohei Ohtani will debut as a starter this season
The series will continue this Tuesday with a high-profile duel. Right-hander Tanner Bibee (0-0, 5.40 ERA) will start for Cleveland, while the Dodgers will send Shohei Ohtani (1-1, 2.87 ERA) to the mound, who will make his season debut as a pitcher.
It will be a new opportunity for Los Angeles to respond after losing its undefeated record, while Cleveland will seek to confirm that its blow on Monday was no coincidence.
