View source for Ohio Cup

{{Short description|Major League Baseball cross-state rivalry and trophy in Ohio}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox sports rivalry
| name = Ohio Cup
| image = [[File:New Ohio Cup Trophy.jpg|250px]]
| team1 = Cincinnati Reds
| team2 = Cleveland Guardians
| team1logo = Cincinnati_Reds_Cap_Insignia.svg
| team2logo = Cleveland Guardians cap logo.svg
| city or region = [[Ohio]]
| firstmeeting = June 16, 1997<ref name="head2head">{{Cite web |title=Head-to-Head Records: Cincinnati Reds vs. Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Guardians from 1997 to 2025 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/head2head-games.cgi?team1=CIN&team2=CLE&from=1997&to=2025 |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><br>[[Jacobs Field]], [[Cleveland]]<br>Reds 4, Indians 1
| mostrecent = June 11, 2025<ref name="head2head"/><br>[[Progressive Field]], [[Cleveland]]<br>Guardians 11, Reds 2
| nextmeeting = TBA<!--[[Great American Ball Park]], [[Cincinnati]]-->
| stadiums = Reds: [[Great American Ball Park]]<br>Guardians: [[Progressive Field]]
| total = {{sum|77|64}}<ref name="m3">{{Cite web |title=mcubed.net : MLB : Series records : Cincinnati Reds against Cleveland Guardians |url=https://mcubed.net/mlb/cin/cle.shtml |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=mcubed.net}}</ref>
| most wins = Guardians
| regularseason = Guardians, {{winpct|77|64|record=y}}<ref name="head2head"/>
| largestvictory = {{Plainlist|
* Reds, 14–5 <small>(July 8, [[2000 Cincinnati Reds season|2000]])</small><ref>{{Cite web |title=Cleveland Indians vs Cincinnati Reds Box Score: July 8, 2000 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN200007080.shtml |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
* Indians, 19–4 <small>(July 11, [[2018 Cleveland Indians season|2018]])</small><ref>{{Cite web |title=Cincinnati Reds vs Cleveland Indians Box Score: July 11, 2018 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CLE/CLE201807110.shtml |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
}}
| longeststreak = {{Plainlist|
* Reds, 5 <small>(May 16–June 10, [[2025 Cincinnati Reds season|2025]])</small><ref name="head2head"/>
* Indians, 6 <small>(June 27, [[2010 Cleveland Indians season|2010]]–July 2, [[2011 Cleveland Indians season|2011]]; July 18, [[2015 Cleveland Indians season|2015]]–May 19, [[2016 Cleveland Indians season|2016]])</small><ref name="head2head"/>
}}
| currentstreak = Guardians, 1<ref name="head2head"/>
| trophy = Guardians 7<br>Reds 5<br>Tie 6 (all retained by the Guardians)
| section_header = Post-season history
| section_info = 
}}
{{OSM Location map
| coord = {{coord|40.296|-83.095}}
| zoom = 6
| width = 250
| height = 250
| caption = Location of the [[Cincinnati Reds]] and [[Cleveland Guardians]]
| mark1 = Red pog.svg
| label1 = Reds
| mark-coord1 = {{coord|39.09721|-84.50653}}
| label-pos1 = bottom
| label-color1 = black
| mark2 = Red pog.svg
| label2 = Guardians
| mark-coord2 = {{coord|41.49609|-81.68531}}
| label-pos2 = top
| label-color2 = black
}}
The '''Ohio Cup''', also known as the '''Battle of Ohio''' and the '''Buckeye Series''', is an annual [[Interleague play|interleague rivalry]] series between the two [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) teams from the U.S. state of [[Ohio]]: the [[Cincinnati Reds]] of the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] (NL) and the [[Cleveland Guardians]] (formerly Indians) of the [[American League]] (AL). The series name comes from the trophy the teams play for, which was first introduced in 1989 for an annual pre-season exhibition game between the two teams, and later reintroduced in 2008. The cup is awarded to the team that wins the most games against the other in a particular season. In the event of a tie, the team holding the trophy from the previous season retains it.

Prior to the introduction of interleague play, the current Cincinnati and Cleveland franchises had only met in spring training or other exhibition games. Because the two teams play in opposite leagues, the only chance to meet at that time was in the [[World Series]]. The Ohio Cup series was originally created in 1989 and was an exhibition game between the two teams played in the state capital of [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus]] at [[Cooper Stadium]] just prior to the start of the season. A total of eight Ohio Cup games were played, from 1989 to 1996, with the Indians winning six. The games in Columbus were typically well-attended, with attendance topping the stadium's 15,000-seat capacity in all but one year.

The regular-season series began in 1997 with the start of interleague play and has been played every season since except 2002. From 1999 to 2001 and until 2012, the teams met in two three-game series per season, one in [[Cincinnati]] and one in [[Cleveland]]. Since 2013, two-and-two-game series are played at each team's home field most years. In the years the AL Central plays the NL Central as part of the interleague play rotation, the teams usually meet in two three-game series, [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on baseball#2020 season|with the exception of 2020]] despite the year falling on the AL vs NL Central rotation. As of the 2025 season the Guardians lead the regular-season series 77–64. The Reds currently hold the trophy and have done so since the 2025 season by virtue of either series wins or retention via tie.

==History==
Cincinnati and Cleveland both have long histories in professional baseball and the current [[Cincinnati Reds]] and [[Cleveland Guardians]] franchises are among the oldest in [[Major League Baseball]]. The original [[Cincinnati Red Stockings]], founded in 1869, were the first professional baseball team, and they were soon followed by other professional teams, including one in Cleveland known as [[Cleveland Forest Citys|Forest City]], founded that same year. The two teams played in Cleveland on July 2, 1869, a 25–6 win for the Red Stockings. The two cities competed directly again during the [[1879 in baseball|1879 season]] as members of the [[National League (baseball)|National League]]. An earlier Reds franchise, a charter member of the NL, met the [[Cleveland Blues (NL)|Cleveland Blues]] twelve times that year, with the Reds winning eight games and the Blues winning four.<ref>{{cite web |title=1879 Cleveland Blues Schedule |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLV/1879.shtml |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=July 16, 2020}}</ref> After that season, the Reds disbanded while the Blues continued until 1884.

The two cities resumed competition with each other in the latter years of the [[American Association (19th century)|American Association]] after the current [[Cincinnati Reds]] franchise was founded in 1882 as a charter member of the AA, and the [[Cleveland Spiders]], first known as the Blues or Forest Citys, formed in 1887. The first American Association meeting between Cleveland and Cincinnati was played at [[League Park (Cincinnati)|League Park]] in Cincinnati, a 16–6 win for the Red Stockings. During their two seasons together in the AA, Cincinnati won 21 games with Cleveland taking 13.<ref>{{cite web |title=1887 Cleveland Blues Schedule |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/1888-schedule-scores.shtml |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=July 16, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=1888 Cleveland Blues Schedule |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/1887-schedule-scores.shtml |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=July 16, 2020}}</ref>

The teams met again two years later, as members of the National League, after Cleveland joined the NL in 1889 and Cincinnati in 1890. The game was played at [[National League Park]] in Cleveland, a 3–2 Spiders win. The following season, the Spiders hosted the Reds in the very first game played at [[League Park]] in Cleveland, won by the Spiders 12–3 behind winning pitcher [[Cy Young]].<ref>{{cite book |title=League Park: historic home of Cleveland baseball, 1891–1946 |author1=Krsolovic, Ken |author2=Fritz, Bryan |publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc. |year=2013 |pages=10–12 |isbn=978-0-7864-6826-3}}</ref> The series continued until 1899, when the Spiders were one of four teams contracted by the NL at the end of the season. Over the 10 seasons both were part of the National League, the Reds and Spiders played 138 times, with Cincinnati winning 75, Cleveland 60, and three ties.<ref>{{cite web |title=CLV vs. CIN from 1890 to 1899 Head-to-Head Records |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/head2head-games.cgi?team1=CLV&team2=CIN&from=1890&to=1899 |work=Baseball-Reference.com |year=2017 |access-date=April 5, 2017}}</ref>

===Modern era===
The Spiders were replaced in Cleveland by a minor league team called the [[Cleveland Lake Shores|Lake Shores]] in the [[American League]] for the 1900 season. The AL declared itself a major league for the 1901 season with the Cleveland franchise, then called the Blues, as a charter member. The team was later called the Bronchos and Naps before being named the Indians in 1915 and Guardians in 2022. Because the two teams are part of different leagues, however, the only chance for them to meet prior to the introduction of [[Interleague Play]] in 1997 was in exhibition games or in the [[World Series]]. The Indians and Reds came close to meeting on three occasions, first when Cincinnati won the tainted [[1919 World Series]] with the Indians {{frac|3|1|2}} games back in the AL. The following season, the Indians won the [[1920 World Series|World Series]] with the Reds third in the NL. In 1940, the Reds again won the [[1940 World Series|World Series]] with the Indians finishing one game back in the American League.

Through 2024, the teams have made the playoffs in the same season three times. The first time was in {{by|1995}} when both teams won their respective division and advanced to their respective [[League Championship Series]]. The Reds lost the [[1995 National League Championship Series|National League Championship Series]] to the [[1995 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]] to prevent an all-Ohio World Series. The Indians won the [[1995 American League Championship Series|American League Championship Series]], but lost to the Braves in the [[1995 World Series|World Series]].

In {{by|2013}} both the Reds and Indians qualified as wild-card teams, and both were eliminated in their respective Wild Card Games. Both teams qualified as wild card entries in the expanded {{by|2020}} playoffs, but each lost in the first round.

===Ohio Championship Series===
In July 1910, the Cincinnati manager challenged the Cleveland Naps to a seven-game "Championship of Ohio" series, which was held after the conclusion of the regular season. The Reds won the opener in Cincinnati, 14–7, and ultimately won the series 4–3, with the home team winning all seven games. After the 1911 season, the series was held again, with the Reds winning 4–2. The opener of the 1911 series, however, only drew 580 fans in Cincinnati, and while the remaining games, all played at League Park in Cleveland, drew better, the series was discontinued.<ref>Krsolovic & Fritz, pp. 45–46</ref>

===First Ohio Cup===
{| class="wikitable"
!No.
!Year
!Date
!colspan="2"|Winner
!Venue
!Attendance
|-
|1||{{by|1989}} || April 2 || style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians || style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | 1–0 || [[Cooper Stadium]] || 15,978
|-
|2||{{by|1990}} || April 8 || style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians || style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | 12–3 || Cooper Stadium || 15,878
|-
|3||{{by|1991}} || April 7 || style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians || style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | 4–3 || Cooper Stadium || 16,276
|-
|4||{{by|1992}} || April 5 || style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | Reds || style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | 2–0 || Cooper Stadium || 15,820
|-
|5||{{by|1993}} || April 3 || style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians || style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | 9–1 || Cooper Stadium || 15,596
|-
|6||{{by|1994}} || April 1 || style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians || style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | 8–4 || Cooper Stadium || 15,894
|-
|7||{{by|1995}} || March 31 || style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | Reds || style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | 6–1 || Cooper Stadium || 2,000
|-
|8||{{by|1996}} || March 31 || style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians || style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | 5–3 || Cooper Stadium || 16,697
|-
|}
Details of the original Ohio Cup were unveiled at a press conference on August 25, 1988. At that time, the two teams occasionally played each other in [[spring training]] and had yet to make the post-season in the same season. The managers of both teams did not treat the cup game as anything more than an exhibition, but many fans in Columbus treated it like a referendum on major league sports in the city as, at that time, Columbus did not have any major sports franchises.<ref name="chronicle">Chronicle-Telegram. Sunday, April 2, 1989</ref>

Sitting between Cleveland and Cincinnati, the city was always divided when it came to allegiance to the state's big league teams. "Half the fans (in Columbus) love the Reds and hate the Indians and the other half love the Indians and hate the Reds. It's a great matchup", said the game's promoter, [[Keith Sprunk]].<ref name="chronicle"/> Indians manager [[Doc Edwards]] agreed. "I'll love to play it, it's great. San Francisco and Oakland do the same thing. I'd like to see (the Ohio Cup) become an annual thing, either during the spring or in the summer."<ref name="chronicle"/> Crowds averaged 15,910 fans for the first five Ohio Cups at the 15,000-[[seating capacity|seat]] Cooper Stadium. Those crowds ranked 3rd, 4th, 7th, 9th and 12th among all-time largest baseball crowds at the stadium. Only about 2000 made it out in 1995 with temperatures near freezing and replacement players taking the field.

<!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[File:Ohio cup.jpg|200px|thumb|right| A ticket from the 1989 Ohio Cup.]] -->

The first Ohio Cup match-up was marred by {{Convert|40|F|C|adj=on}} temperatures made colder by constant rain and brisk wind. Cleveland started only four regulars while Cincinnati opted to play seven of their nine starters. It remained scoreless until the top of the eighth inning when a throwing error by Reds outfielder [[Herm Winningham]] allowed [[Luis Aguayo]] to score the only run. Minor league pitcher [[Greg McMichael]] received the win while Reds' reliever [[Mike Griffin (pitcher)|Mike Griffin]] was credited with the loss.

In the {{by|1990}} contest, catchers [[Sandy Alomar Jr.]] and [[Joel Skinner]] combined for six RBI as the Indians won their second straight Ohio Cup before a standing-room only crowd. In an action-packed game, the Indians banged out 13 hits, including six in the fourth inning which resulted in seven-runs. [[Cory Snyder]] hit a monster blast off [[Danny Jackson]] that traveled well past the 400-foot sign in straightaway center field. Alomar homered twice, the first a three-run shot to left-center, the second a solo effort. Skinner hit a two-run shot after being brought in to replace Alomar.

Indians outfielder [[Albert Belle]] hit his eleventh home run of the exhibition season as the Indians beat the defending World Series Champion Reds 4–3 in {{by|1991}}. [[Jerry Browne]] hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning to lift the Indians to victory. The Reds finally ended their rivals' supremacy in {{by|1992}}. Cincinnati took the lead in the first. Lead off hitter [[Bip Roberts]] doubled and later scored. They added another run in the fourth. Reds' third baseman [[Chris Sabo]] counted an RBI double among his two hits while Albert Belle hit two of his team's four hits.

[[Mike Bielecki]] stopped Cincinnati on one run and four hits in six innings and Albert Belle had a three-run single as the Tribe won their fourth Ohio Cup in five years in the {{by|1993}} contest. Highlights included a home run by Indians' first baseman [[Paul Sorrento]]. The only Reds run was scored by Barry Larkin.

In {{by|1994}}, [[Manny Ramírez]] and [[Paul Sorrento]] homered in a five-run second inning to help give the Indians an 8–4 win. [[Mark Clark (baseball)|Mark Clark]] pitched seven innings, allowing five hits and three runs, walking one and striking out five to gain the win. [[Albert Belle]] and [[Eddie Murray]] led off the second inning with singles and Sorrento followed with his homer. After [[Jim Thome]] singled, Ramírez homered. All five runs came off [[Tom Browning]].

With the [[1994–95 Major League Baseball strike]] only coming to an end on April 2, [[List of Major League Baseball replacement players|replacement players]] traveled to Columbus to take part in the {{by|1995}} edition. Teamsters picketed outside the stadium as snow fell. With temperatures near freezing and replacements [[Tim Delgado]] and [[Rich Sauveur]] taking the mound, only a couple thousand fans made it out. The Reds won the game 6–1.

A line drive single by [[Julio Franco]] in the fifth inning broke a 3–3 tie as Cleveland defeated Cincinnati 5–3 to win the final Ohio Cup in {{by|1996}}. Manny Ramírez had given Cleveland a 3–1 lead with a three-run homer to left field in the second off the Reds' [[Mark Portugal]]. Hal Morris drove in two runs for the Reds with a first-inning single and a double in the third, with [[Bret Boone]] scoring both times. A single by [[Vince Coleman (baseball)|Vince Coleman]] in the fifth drove in [[Jeff Branson (baseball)|Jeff Branson]] and tied the score at 3–3. The victory gave the Indians a 6–2 lead in the Ohio Cup series and was viewed by 16,697 people, the largest crowd in the game's history and the second largest at Cooper Stadium. Indians starter [[Joe Roa]] was the winning pitcher.

==Interleague Series (1997–present)==
[[File:OhioCupLogo.jpg|150px|thumb|right|The former logo for the Ohio Cup.]]

In 1997 the Ohio Cup match series was discontinued with the introduction of [[interleague play]] and games between the [[Cleveland Indians|Indians]] and the [[Cincinnati Reds|Reds]] continued as the "Battle of Ohio" series. The Indians and Reds first met on June 16, 1997 at [[Jacobs Field]], in front of a sellout crowd of 42,961. Cleveland starting pitcher [[Orel Hershiser]] struck out lead off hitter [[Deion Sanders]]. Indians' designated hitter [[Kevin Seitzer]] recorded the first ever hit in a Battle for Ohio game when he doubled in the bottom of the first inning. [[Pokey Reese]] recorded the series first ever run, scoring in the bottom of the second inning for the Reds. [[Manny Ramírez]] hit the first Buckeye Series home run in the bottom of the ninth, but it was not enough to prevent the Reds winning the inaugural game 4–1.

Except in 2002, the Indians and Reds have played each other every year since interleague play has been established. They have played each other 6 times every year from 1999 to 2012 except 2002 and 2003, with each team hosting a three-game series. The Reds and Indians did not play each other in 2002 and played one three-game series in 2003. In 2004, the Indians-Reds rivalry resumed, playing six games per year.

===Ohio Cup revived===
The Ohio Cup was reintroduced in 2008 with a new trophy. The trophy was 3 feet high, with a 12-inch stainless cup in the middle. It is awarded to the team that wins the season series in a given year. When the teams split the season series, the team that currently holds the trophy retains it. Through the 2024 season, the Indians/Guardians have won the trophy seven times, the Reds four times, with six ties.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kypost.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=632D2122-5007-44E5-A0EB-DE145E84D0DE&gsa=true |title=Ky. Firm Designs Ohio Cup - KYPost.com<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2009-03-10 |archive-date=2008-12-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201171815/http://www.kypost.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=632D2122-5007-44E5-A0EB-DE145E84D0DE&gsa=true |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In the revived trophy's inaugural season, the Reds swept the first three-game series at home, which took place May 16–18 {{by|2008}}, after three strong performances by [[Edinson Vólquez]], [[Aaron Harang]], and [[Johnny Cueto]]. As the series moved back to Cleveland on June 27–29, with the Indians' [[CC Sabathia]] throwing a 6–0 shutout against the Reds in the first game. In the second, the Reds battled back with a strong effort by Cueto to win game two 5–0. The Cincinnati Reds clinched the cup with this win. In the final game in [[Cleveland]], the Reds overcame a late surge by the Tribe to win 9–5, and the series itself 5 games to 1. Ballots were passed out in the middle of the final game for the [[Most Valuable Player|MVP]], awarded to [[Cincinnati Reds|Reds]] outfielder [[Adam Dunn]], who had a combined five [[home runs]] and 10 [[run batted in|RBI]] in the series.

In {{by|2009}}, the Reds retained the trophy, winning four of the six contests. The Reds took two of the three games in Cincinnati in May, and went on to win two of the three games in Cleveland in June. In 2010, the Reds won the Ohio Cup again, winning 2 of 3 games in Cincinnati, and again winning 2 of 3 games in Cleveland. The Indians won the trophy in 2011 by sweeping the first series in Cleveland, and winning 2 of 3 in the Cincinnati series. The Indians retained the trophy in 2012 and 2013 as the two teams split the Ohio Cup series, with each team sweeping their respective home series.

[[File:Cleveland Indians vs. Cincinnati Reds (17864308140).jpg|thumb|right|The Indians and Reds play at Progressive Field in 2015]]
Beginning in 2013, this rivalry, along with all other interleague rivalries, played four games per year in two back-to-back two-game series, instead of six games as they played through 2012. From 2013 to 2017 the two teams would play in one city on a Monday and Tuesday and the other city that Wednesday and Thursday. Since 2019, the teams now play the four games in separate two-game series due to changes in the MLB schedule. The teams played six games in separate three-game series in 2015, 2018 and 2021, when the AL Central played the NL Central as part of the interleague play rotation. In 2023, under the MLB's new balanced schedule, they adopted the four-game series format, with two games in each ballpark each season. In 2025, the six-game series format was restored with three games in each ballpark annually.

The Indians dominated the series in 2015 and 2016, winning nine of the ten games during those years including the only season-sweep by either team in {{by|2016}}.

On May 7, 2021, Reds P [[Wade Miley]] threw the first and, to date, only no-hitter in the series, leading the Reds to a 3–0 win at [[Progressive Field]].

In 2024, the Reds became the first of either teams to have two managers for a single season series, with one at each respective series (full-term manager [[David Bell (baseball)|David Bell]] in Cincinnati and interim manager [[Freddie Benavides]] in Cleveland).

==Season-by-season results==
{{Game log start|style={{Baseball primary style|}};|title= Cincinnati Reds vs. Cleveland Guardians Season-by-Season Results}}
{{Game log section start|hide=y|style={{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};|title=1990s (Indians, 7–5)|Season|colspan2=2|Season series|at [[Cincinnati Reds]] |at [[Cleveland Indians]] |Overall series|Notes}}
|-
| {{mlby|1997}}
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | '''Reds'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | '''2{{nbnd}}1'''
| ''no games''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | Reds, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | Reds<br>2{{nbnd}}1
| [[Interleague play]] was introduced in the {{mlby|1997}} season, marking the first time the Indians and Reds played each other in the regular season.<br>Indians lose the [[1997 World Series]].
|-
| {{mlby|1998}}
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | '''Indians'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | '''2{{nbnd}}1'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians, 2{{nbnd}}1
| ''no games''
| Tie<br>3{{nbnd}}3
| Indians win the AL Central title.
|-
| {{mlby|1999}}
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | '''Indians'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | '''4{{nbnd}}2'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians, 3{{nbnd}}0
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | Reds, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians<br>7{{nbnd}}5
| First year of six-game home-away format.<br>Indians win the AL Central title.
{{Game log section end}}
{{Game log section start|hide=y|style={{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};|title=2000s (Reds, 26–25)|Season|colspan2=2|Season series|at [[Cincinnati Reds]] |at [[Cleveland Indians]] |Overall series|Notes}}
|-
| {{mlby|2000}}
| '''Tie'''
| '''3{{nbnd}}3'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | Reds, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians<br>10{{nbnd}}8
| On July 8 in Cincinnati, the Reds beat the Indians 14-5, their most runs scored in a game against the Indians and their largest margin of victory over the Indians.
|-
| {{mlby|2001}}
| '''Tie'''
| '''3{{nbnd}}3'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | Reds, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians<br>13{{nbnd}}11
| Last series the Indians and Reds played at [[Riverfront Stadium|Cinergy Field]] (previously known as Riverfront Stadium).<br>Indians win the AL Central title.
|-
| {{mlby|2003}}
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | '''Indians'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | '''2{{nbnd}}1'''
| ''no games''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians<br>15{{nbnd}}12
| No games played in the {{mlby|2002}} season.<br>Series reverts to 3-game format for 2003 season.<br>Reds open up at [[Great American Ball Park]].
|-
| {{mlby|2004}}
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | '''Indians'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | '''4{{nbnd}}2'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | Reds, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians, 3{{nbnd}}0
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians<br>19{{nbnd}}14
| First time the Indians sweep the Reds at home.
|-
| {{mlby|2005}}
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | '''Indians'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | '''4{{nbnd}}2'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians<br>23{{nbnd}}16
|
|-
| {{mlby|2006}}
| '''Tie'''
| '''3{{nbnd}}3'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | Reds, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians<br>26{{nbnd}}19
| On June 30 in Cincinnati, the Reds overcame 7–0 & 8–4 deficits to defeat the Indians 9–8, as [[Adam Dunn]] hit a walk off grand slam in the bottom of the 9th inning.
|-
| {{mlby|2007}}
| '''Tie'''
| '''3{{nbnd}}3'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | Reds, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians<br>29{{nbnd}}22
| Indians win the AL Central title.
|-
| {{mlby|2008}}
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | '''Reds'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | '''5{{nbnd}}1'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | Reds, 3{{nbnd}}0
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | Reds, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians<br>30{{nbnd}}27
| First time Reds sweep the Indians at home.<br>Following their loss to the Reds on June 28, the Indians go on a 10–game losing streak.<br>The Ohio Cup trophy is awarded for the first time.
|-
| {{mlby|2009}}
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | '''Reds'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | '''4{{nbnd}}2'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | Reds, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | Reds, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians<br>32{{nbnd}}31
|
{{Game log section end}}
{{Game log section start|hide=y|style={{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};|title=2010s (Indians, 31–19)|Season|colspan2=2|Season series|at [[Cincinnati Reds]] |at [[Cleveland Indians]] |Overall series|Notes}}
|-
| {{mlby|2010}}
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | '''Reds'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | '''4{{nbnd}}2'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | Reds, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | Reds, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | Reds<br>35{{nbnd}}34
| Reds retake the overall series record for the first time since [[1997 Cincinnati Reds season|1997]].<br>To date, this remains the last season the Reds held the overall series record.<br>Reds win the NL Central title.
|-
| {{mlby|2011}}
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | '''Indians'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | '''5{{nbnd}}1'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians, 3{{nbnd}}0
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians<br>39{{nbnd}}36
|
|-
| {{mlby|2012}}
| '''Tie'''
| '''3{{nbnd}}3'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | Reds, 3{{nbnd}}0
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians, 3{{nbnd}}0
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians<br>42{{nbnd}}39
| First time both teams sweep at home in a season.<br>Reds win the NL Central title.
|-
| {{mlby|2013}}
| '''Tie'''
| '''2{{nbnd}}2'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | Reds, 2{{nbnd}}0
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians, 2{{nbnd}}0
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians<br>44{{nbnd}}41
| Series changed to four game home-away format, except in the years that the AL Central plays the NL Central.<br>Both teams earn wild card berths but lose to their respective [[Major League Baseball Wild Card Game|Wild Card Games]].
|-
| {{mlby|2014}}
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | '''Reds'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | '''3{{nbnd}}1'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | Reds, 2{{nbnd}}0
| Tie, 1{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians<br>45{{nbnd}}44
|
|-
| {{mlby|2015}}
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | '''Indians'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | '''5{{nbnd}}1'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians, 3{{nbnd}}0
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians<br>50{{nbnd}}45
|
|-
| {{mlby|2016}}
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | '''Indians'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | '''4{{nbnd}}0'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians, 2{{nbnd}}0
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians, 2{{nbnd}}0
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians<br>54{{nbnd}}45
| Following their loss and eventual sweep to the Indians on May 16, the Reds go on a 11–game losing streak.<br>Only season sweep by either team.<br>Indians lose the [[2016 World Series]].
|-
| {{mlby|2017}}
| '''Tie'''
| '''2{{nbnd}}2'''
| Tie, 1{{nbnd}}1
| Tie, 1{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians<br>56{{nbnd}}47
| First time both teams split the season series.<br>Indians win the AL Central title.
|-
| {{mlby|2018}}
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | '''Indians'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | '''4{{nbnd}}2'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians, 3{{nbnd}}0
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | Reds, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians<br>60{{nbnd}}49
| On July 11 in Progressive Field, Indians beat the Reds 19-4, their most runs scored in a game against the Reds and their largest victory over the Reds with a 15-run differential.<br>Indians win the AL Central title.
|-
| {{mlby|2019}}
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | '''Indians'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | '''3{{nbnd}}1'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians, 2{{nbnd}}0
| Tie, 1{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians<br>63{{nbnd}}50
|
{{Game log section end}}
{{Game log section start|hide=y|style={{Baseball primary style|}};|title=2020s (Tie, 14–14)|Season|colspan2=2|Season series|at [[Cincinnati Reds]] |at [[Cleveland Guardians|Cleveland Indians/Guardians]] |Overall series|Notes}}
|-
| {{mlby|2020}}
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | '''Indians'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | '''3{{nbnd}}1'''
| Tie, 1{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians, 2{{nbnd}}0
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians<br>66{{nbnd}}51
| Both teams qualified for the postseason but lose to their respective [[Major League Baseball Wild Card Series|Wild Card Series]].
|-
| {{mlby|2021}}
| '''Tie'''
| '''3{{nbnd}}3'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | Reds, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Indians<br>69{{nbnd}}54
| On May 7, Reds P [[Wade Miley]] threw a no-hitter in a 3–0 win.
|-
| {{mlby|2022}}
| '''Tie'''
| '''2{{nbnd}}2'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Guardians, 2{{nbnd}}0
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | Reds, 2{{nbnd}}0
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Guardians<br>71{{nbnd}}56
| The Indians change their name to the "Guardians".<br>Following their loss to the Guardians on April 12, the Reds go on a 11–game losing streak.<br>Away team wins all games for the first time in series history.<br>Guardians win the AL Central title.
|-
| {{mlby|2023}}
| '''Tie'''
| '''2{{nbnd}}2'''
| Tie, 1{{nbnd}}1
| Tie, 1{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Guardians<br>73{{nbnd}}58
| Temporary adoption of the four-game series format, with two games in each ballpark every season. This will change in 2025, with 3-and-3 series returning.
|-
| {{mlby|2024}}
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | '''Guardians'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | '''3{{nbnd}}1'''
| Tie, 1{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Guardians, 2{{nbnd}}0
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Guardians<br>76{{nbnd}}59
| Reds become the first of either teams to have two managers for a single season series, with one at each series ([[David Bell (baseball)|David Bell]] in Cincinnati, [[Freddie Benavides]] in Cleveland).<br>Guardians win the AL Central title.
|-
| {{mlby|2025}}
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | '''Reds'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | '''5{{nbnd}}1'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | Reds, 3{{nbnd}}0
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | Reds, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | Guardians<br>77{{nbnd}}64
| 
{{Game log section end}}
{{Game log section start|hide=y|style={{Baseball primary style|}};|title=Summary of Results|Season|colspan2=2|Season series|at [[Cincinnati Reds]] |at [[Cleveland Guardians]] |Notes}}
|-
| Regular season games<!--Through 2025 regular season-->
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | '''Guardians'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | '''77{{nbnd}}64'''
| <!--at CIN--> style="{{Baseball primary style|Cincinnati Reds}};" | '''Reds, 35{{nbnd}}34'''
| <!--at CLE--> style="{{Baseball primary style|Cleveland Guardians}};" | '''Guardians, 43{{nbnd}}29'''
|
{{Game log section end}}
{{Game log end}}

==Spring training==
The Guardians and Reds have played each other many times in [[spring training]] as part of the [[Grapefruit League]] and [[Cactus League]] as the two teams trained at various times in Florida and Arizona. Since 2010, the Guardians and Reds have shared [[Goodyear Ballpark]] in [[Goodyear, Arizona]] as their main spring training site.

The teams cleared their benches during an exhibition in 1993, when [[José Mesa]] threw a pitch behind Cincinnati's [[Hal Morris]] leading to a fight in which Morris separated his shoulder when Mesa slammed him to the ground.<ref>{{cite news | last=Associated Press | author-link=Associated Press | title=SPORTS PEOPLE; Reds' Morris Injured| date=1993-03-31 | work=[[New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/03/31/sports/sports-people-reds-morris-injured.html?sec=&spon=| access-date = 2009-03-30 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Major League Baseball rivalries]]
* [[Baseball awards#Awards given to specific teams]]
* [[Bengals–Browns rivalry]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/news/interleague/index_04.jsp The Battle for Ohio at MLB.com]

{{Cincinnati Reds}}
{{Cleveland Guardians}}
{{MLB rivalries}}

[[Category:Major League Baseball rivalries]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball trophies and awards]]
[[Category:Cincinnati Reds]]
[[Category:Cleveland Guardians]]
[[Category:Baseball in Ohio]]
[[Category:2008 establishments in Ohio]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 2008]]
[[Category:Awards established in 2008]]