Guardians’ Corey Kluber gets brutally honest on 2016 World Series run

The Cleveland Guardians are still chasing the magic that defined their unforgettable 2016 World Series run against the Chicago Cubs. Nearly a decade later, Guardians legend Corey Kluber reflected emotionally on that October heartbreak. He also looked back on what remains the franchise’s biggest postseason moment in recent history. During an interview posted by News 5 Cleveland’s Mason Horodyski, Kluber admitted the pain from that loss still lingers.

"I don't want to say the wounds heal, but maybe they become less deep, and you're able to kind of look at the bigger picture and realize what we were able to accomplish"#Guardians Corey Kluber reflects on Cleveland's run to the World Series 10 years later#GuardsBall @WEWS pic.twitter.com/HlMsXnAVXg

— Mason Horodyski (@MasonHorodyski) May 15, 2026

“I don’t want to say the wounds heal, but maybe they become less deep, and you’re able to kind of look at the bigger picture and realize what we were able to accomplish,” Kluber said.

That 2016 World Series still feels raw for many Cleveland fans. The Guardians, then known as the Indians, pushed the Cubs to the limit before losing 8-7 in extra innings in one of baseball’s most dramatic Game 7 battles. Under the bright lights in Cleveland, the crowd believed history was within reach.

Kluber started the deciding game for Cleveland. However, the night quickly turned difficult. He lasted only four innings and allowed two home runs. Kluber also failed to record a strikeout before Terry Francona made the early move to the bullpen.

Corey Kluber’s legacy still resonates with the Guardians

Even with that painful ending, Kluber remains one of the most respected players of his era in Cleveland. The three-time All-Star and two-time AL Cy Young winner helped turn the Guardians into a legitimate contender during the late 2010s. His calm presence and dominance on the mound became part of the organization’s identity.

Since that World Series appearance, the Guardians have reached the ALCS only once. That came during the 2024 season before a five-game exit against the New York Yankees. Cleveland also captured the AL Central last year after the Detroit Tigers collapsed late, and the Guardians currently sit atop the division again at 24-22.

Still, for many fans, the 2016 World Series remains the standard. And as Corey Kluber looks back on that run, one question still echoes across Cleveland: will this franchise finally find its way back to October glory?

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