CLEVELAND — The Guardians are again trying to get back on track.

The Guardians enter Wednesday having lost four of their last five games, one of the few speed bumps they've hit during a torrid run over the first few months of the season.

Still, the Guardians (44-26) hold a 4.5-game lead over the Minnesota Twins in the American League Central entering Wednesday. The Twins have won six in a row heading into Wednesday's slate, and have taken advantage of the Guardians and Kansas City Royals cooling down a bit.

Before the game, the Guardians placed Nick Sandlin on the injured list with lower back inflammation and recalled right-handed pitcher Darren McCaughan from Triple-A Columbus.

Check back here throughout Wednesday's game for live score updates, highlights and analysis.

Guardians beat the Mariners 8-0

The Guardians snapped their recent skid with an 8-0 win over the Mariners, fueled by Tanner Bibee's 12-strikeout day and Josh Naylor's multi-homer game.

The added importance of Bibee's start was the bullpen wasn't needed much after Tuesday's short outing by Triston McKenzie.

Josh Naylor has multi-homer night; Guardians lead Mariners 8-0

Josh Naylor is having himself a night.

Naylor just belted a solo home run to right-center field, his second of the night. It's his fourth career multi-homer night and the second this season. He now has a four-RBI night.

Naylor rounding back into form would be a key to the Guardians further unlocking their lineup.

Tanner Bibee sets career high with 12 strikeouts against Mariners

Tanner Bibee has put together one of the best outings of his career tonight.

Bibee struck out a career-high 12 batters — eclipsing his previous best of 11 set a week ago — and allowed just three hits and a walk in six shutout innings. He also generated 20 swing-and-misses.

The Guardians are cruising, up 7-0 in the seventh inning.

Josh Naylor home run extends Guardians lead over Mariners

The Guardians have put together a three-run, two-out rally.

After Gimenez scored from single on an infield single, Josh Naylor crushed a no-doubt, two-run home run to right field to extend Cleveland's lead to 6-0.

Naylor hasn't been quite as hot as he was earlier this season, but he's had a great night tonight with a home run and three RBIs.

Andres Gimenez scores from second on an infield single; Guardians lead Mariners 4-0

Andres Gimenez just put on a bit of a masterclass of baserunning.

With two outs, he drew a walk and then stole second base. Jose Ramirez then grounded a ball to second baseman Ryan Bliss, who just entered the game due to J.P. Crawford's ejection. Bliss' throw wasn't great, and Ramirez won the race to first base. But by the time Mariners first baseman Ty France had collected himself, Gimenez had already rounded third and was heading home, and he beat the throw to the plate to give the Guardians a 4-0 lead.

Tanner Bibee ties career high with 11 strikeouts; J.P. Crawford ejected as Guardians lead 3-0

Tanner Bibee struck out J.P. Crawford looking to end the fifth inning, and Crawford was almost immediately thrown out.

After the call, Crawford got right in the face of home plate umpire Doug Eddings and began pointing, leading to a quick hook. Crawford had to be physically held back and led to the dugout. Mariners manager Scott Servais was also ejected a few moments later.

Bibee has allowed only three hits thus far. Pitch tracking data seems to suggest that the third strike call was in the zone. The second called strike was borderline, but appears to have clipped the top of the zone.

Tanner Bibee has double-digit strikeout game against Mariners

Tanner Bibee had never reached double-digit strikeouts in a game until a week ago. Now he's done it in back-to-back starts.

Bibee isn't yet through the fifth inning, but he now has 10 strikeouts. Last week against the Reds, he struck out a career-high 11 batters.

Steven Kwan hits two-run home run off the foul pole; Guardians lead Mariners 3-0

Steven Kwan is chasing a .400 average. Adding a little power into the equation as he does it is something the Guardians will certainly welcome.

After drawing a walk in his first-bat, Kwan in the second inning launched a two-run home run that hit off the right field foul pole. It extended his current hit streak to 13-games, and the Guardians now have a 3-0 lead.

Kwan, meanwhile, is hitting .396.

Josh Naylor drives in Steven Kwan to give the Guardians a 1-0 lead

Steven Kwan drew a walk to open the game for the Guardians and, a few batters later, was driven in via a single to right field by Josh Naylor.

Kwan's walk extended his on-base streak to 24 games, and Naylor's single gave him 51 RBIs this season.

Will Brennan had a chance to do some additional damage with runners on the corners and two outs, but Mariners starter Bryan Woo induced a flyout to left-center field.

Below is some pregame information.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt discusses the passing of the late, great Willie Mays

The game of baseball lost a legend Tuesday, as the San Francisco Giants confirmed that Hall-of-Fame outfielder Willie Mays, one of the sport's icons, passed away at the age of 93.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt's father idolized Mays. Vogt discussed Mays' meaning to their family and the impact he had on the sport.

Can Steven Kwan put together a .400 season in 2024?

Steven Kwan entered this series hitting .398. He's now chasing history as he tries to hit one of the game's biggest milestones.

Cleveland Guardians activate Jose Ramirez and option Kyle Manzardo to Triple-A Columbus

About four and a half hours before the series was scheduled to begin, the Guardians announced they activated five-time All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez from the paternity list and optioned rookie designated hitter and first baseman Kyle Manzardo to Triple-A Columbus.

Ramirez spent three days on the paternity list.

Manzardo had been with the Guardians since being called up from Columbus and making his MLB debut on May 6. In 82 at-bats with the Guardians, Manzardo hit .207 with seven RBIs, 10 doubles, three walks, 23 strikeouts and a .571 OPS.

Mike Hargrove, wife share Cleveland baseball memories in Akron

Former Cleveland manager Mike Hargrove shared some baseball tales with the Akron Beacon Journal.

Does David Fry have a 2024 MLB All-Star Game case with the Guardians?

David Fry has been among the game's best hitters by some metrics, but does he have a case to be named to the 2024 AL All-Star team?

Daniel Schneemann debut is a baseball classic tale

Daniel Schneemann made his major league debut and jumped on the first pitch he saw in the major leagues for a two-run double. It completed a long, grinding road to the majors for a former 33rd-round draft pick.

Steven Kwan All-Star case continues despite absence due to injury

Steven Kwan recently returned from the injured list and played so well that his teammates began joking that he isn't even human.

Browns cornerback Denzel Ward throws a wild ceremonial first pitch at Guardians game

Browns cornerback Denzel Ward tossed the ceremonial first pitch at a recent game at Progressive Field and, well, it was eventful.

Guardians City Connect uniforms unveiled

The Guardians wore their new Nike City Connect uniforms for the first time against the Minnesota Twins.

Guardians schedule, next game

The Guardians begin a six-game homestand Tuesday night against the Seattle Mariners. After the three-game series against the Mariners, the Guardians welcome the Toronto Blue Jays to Progressive Field. Cleveland will then travel to Baltimore and Kansas City on an upcoming road trip.

How can I watch, listen or stream the Cleveland Guardians game tonight?

The game will be broadcast locally on Bally Sports. It'll be broadcast on the radio by WTAM (1100-AM) and WARF (1350-AM, Spanish broadcast).

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Guardians score today vs. Seattle Mariners updates