| News |
|---|
|
Johnathan Rodriguez Johnathan Rodriguez Makes Opening Day roster
Fri, Mar 28, 2025, 8:40 AM
Rodriguez was recalled from Triple-A Columbus ahead of Thursday's 7-4 extra-inning win over the Royals and went unused off the bench.
Analysis: Cleveland had previously optioned Rodriguez to Triple-A on March 21, but the Guardians were able to add him back to active roster six days later after the team placed five players on the injured list prior to Opening Day. The right-handed-hitting Rodriguez could see occasional starts in right field or at designated hitter against left-handed pitching, though Cleveland went with Jhonkensy Noel and Kyle Manzardo at those respective positions Thursday against Royals southpaw Cole Ragans. |
|
Jhonkensy Noel Jhonkensy Noel Starts opener
Thu, Mar 27, 2025, 9:01 PM
Noel started in right field and went 1-for-4 with an RBI in Thursday's 7-4 win over Kansas City.
Analysis: Noel is expected to serve as the short side of a platoon in right field with the recently acquired Nolan Jones. Noel had a hopeful camp, batting .333/.328/.509 with three home runs but also struck out 19 times in 57 at-bats. |
|
Gabriel Arias Gabriel Arias Opens at second base
Thu, Mar 27, 2025, 8:48 PM
Arias started at second base and went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Thursday's 7-4 win over the Royals.
Analysis: Arias won a camp-long battle to become the Guardians' primary second baseman. The job may not be his all year, as Cleveland will track the progress of Juan Brito and Travis Bazzana in the minors, but Arias should get more opportunities than Daniel Schneemann to start the season. |
|
Kyle Manzardo Kyle Manzardo Huge day in opener
Thu, Mar 27, 2025, 7:19 PM
Manzardo went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer, a double, a triple and four total RBI in Thursday's 7-4 win over Kansas City.
Analysis: Manzardo stared in Cleveland's Opening Day win, ultimately winding up a single shy of a cycle. The left-hander put the Guardians ahead 4-3 with a two-run homer off Angel Zerpa in the fourth inning before driving in two more runs with a triple in the 10th, the first of his MLB career. Manzardo already came into the season as a popular sleeper candidate after a strong showing in Spring Training. He slashed .234/.282/.421 with five homers and 15 RBI in 156 plate appearances as a rookie last year. |
|
Ben Lively Ben Lively Decent in surprise start
Thu, Mar 27, 2025, 6:44 PM
Lively did not factor into the decision in Thursday's 7-4 win over Kansas City, allowing three runs on four hits over five innings. He struck out three.
Analysis: Lively was announced as Cleveland's Opening Day starter Thursday morning after Tanner Bibee (illness) was a late scratch. The 33-year-old Lively filled in admirably, with all of Kansas City's offense coming on Vinnie Pasquantino's three-run homer in the third. Lively figures to hold down a spot at the backend of Cleveland's rotation after going 13-10 with a 3.81 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 118 strikeouts last year. |
|
Paul Sewald Paul Sewald Earns save in Cleveland debut
Thu, Mar 27, 2025, 6:36 PM
Sewald earned the save in Thursday's 7-4 extra-inning win over the Royals, striking out one in a perfect 10th inning.
Analysis: After Kansas City tied the game off Emmanuel Clase in the bottom of the ninth, Sewald successfully preserved a three-run lead in the 10th to earn the save in his first appearance with the Guardians. Sewald, who signed a one-year deal with Cleveland in the offseason, started the 2024 season as the Diamondbacks' closer, though he struggled in the second half before eventually losing the ninth-inning job. While Sewald won't overtake Clase, it looks like the 34-year-old right-hander will be trusted with a high-leverage role. |
|
Emmanuel Clase Emmanuel Clase Blows save, grabs win in opener
Thu, Mar 27, 2025, 6:14 PM
Clase (1-0) blew the save but picked up a win in Thursday's 7-4 extra-inning victory over the Royals. He allowed one run on three hits while striking out one in the ninth inning.
Analysis: Clase was nearly perfect last season, converting 47 of 50 save opportunities while pitching to a pristine 0.61 ERA. However, it was a rocky start to the 2025 campaign for the right-hander. Tasked with protecting a one-run lead, Clase gave up back-to-back hits to start the ninth before Michael Massey tied the game with a sac fly. While he'd eventually earn the win after Cleveland scored three runs in the top of the tenth, it certainly wasn't the start to the year that Clase managers expected. Still, there's little cause for concern here as Clase has proven to be one of the game's elite closers, posting 40 or more saves in each of his previous three seasons. |
|
Erik Sabrowski Erik Sabrowski Heads to injured list
Thu, Mar 27, 2025, 1:52 PM
The Guardians placed Sabrowski (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.
Analysis: Sabrowski missed most of the Cactus League schedule while dealing with inflammation in his elbow, but he has resumed throwing from flat ground. The 27-year-old doesn't have a defined return timeline just yet, but that may change once he receives the green light to begin throwing off a mound. |
|
John Means John Means Sent to injured list
Thu, Mar 27, 2025, 1:48 PM
The Guardians placed Means (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.
Analysis: The Guardians will hold off on sending Means to the 60-day IL for now, though he isn't expected to be ready for MLB action until the final month of the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in June. If the left-hander runs into any snags during his throwing program, Cleveland may also opt to keep Means on the shelf until 2026. |
|
Trevor Stephan Trevor Stephan Placed on injured list
Thu, Mar 27, 2025, 1:43 PM
The Guardians placed Stephan (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.
Analysis: Stephan has been throwing off a mound since the beginning of March, though he still has a long way to go in his rehab from UCL reconstruction surgery. Assuming the rest of his ramp-up process goes smoothly, he should return to Cleveland's bullpen within a few months. |
|
Slade Cecconi Slade Cecconi Move to IL official
Thu, Mar 27, 2025, 1:39 PM
The Guardians placed Cecconi (oblique) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.
Analysis: Cecconi has yet to start up a throwing program since being diagnosed with a left oblique strain March 18, and there's no telling when he'll be cleared to do so. His move to the IL will keep him out until at least April 11, though a longer stay is possible if he doesn't show signs of progress soon. |
|
Shane Bieber Shane Bieber Officially moved to injured list
Thu, Mar 27, 2025, 1:33 PM
The Guardians placed Bieber (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.
Analysis: Bieber still has several months left in his rehab from Tommy John surgery, so his move to the injured list is simply procedural. Assuming he doesn't run into any setbacks, the right-hander should be able to return around midseason. |
|
Ben Lively Ben Lively Draws short-notice Opening Day nod
Thu, Mar 27, 2025, 11:33 AM
Lively will start Thursday's season opener versus the Royals in Kansas City, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Lively had been expected to make his 2025 debut during the Guardians' second series next week in San Diego, but he'll instead draw the Opening Day nod after Tanner Bibee was scratched from the assignment due to a stomach illness. The 33-year-old right-hander will be pitching on five days' rest after covering six innings and 81 pitches in his final Cactus League start March 21. |
|
Tanner Bibee Tanner Bibee Falls ill, won't start opener
Thu, Mar 27, 2025, 11:17 AM
Bibee has been scratched from his scheduled start Thursday against the Royals due to acute gastroenteritis, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Bibee is recovering from a bout with food poisoning and will get some extra time off to recuperate. Ben Lively will be pushed up in the pitching schedule and will get the Opening Day nod in place of Bibee, who could still make his season debut later on in the three-game series in Kansas City, depending on how quickly he bounces back from the stomach bug. |
|
Luis L. Ortiz Luis L. Ortiz Final spring outing
Wed, Mar 26, 2025, 8:10 AM
Ortiz allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out one over four innings in Tuesday's spring start against the Diamondbacks.
Analysis: This was Ortiz's final outing of the preseason, which was a rocky one for the Guardians' winter acquisition. The right-hander finished with 14 strikeouts and 13 walks over 17.1 innings this spring. Despite his struggles, Ortiz is expected to start the third game of the regular season Sunday against the Royals. |
|
Nolan Jones Nolan Jones Slated for right field versus RHP
Mon, Mar 24, 2025, 4:26 PM
Jones is expected to see the bulk of his playing time in right field against right-handed pitching, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The Guardians acquired Jones via trade Saturday and sent Will Brennan down Monday, effectively replacing the latter with the former as the strong side of a platoon in right field. Jhonkensy Noel is likely to start in right field versus left-handers. Jones exiting Coors Field isn't ideal on the surface, but Progressive Field ranked fourth in baseball for home runs for left-handed batters last season, per Baseball Savant's Park Factors. |
|
Joey Cantillo Joey Cantillo Opening season in bullpen
Mon, Mar 24, 2025, 4:20 PM
Cantillo will open the season in the Guardians' bullpen, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Cantillo lost out on the fifth spot in Cleveland's rotation but will be included on its Opening Day roster as a reliever. The left-hander made eight starts and one relief appearance last season, collecting a 4.89 ERA and 44:15 K:BB over 38.2 frames. Cantillo could still be considered for starts at some point later this season. |
|
Andrew Walters Andrew Walters Sent to Triple-A
Mon, Mar 24, 2025, 3:57 PM
The Guardians optioned Walters (shoulder) to Triple-A Columbus on Monday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: After retiring just one batter and giving up three earned runs in his Cactus League debut Feb. 24, Walters was shut down for a brief period of time due to right shoulder stiffness. Walters was cleared to return to action March 15 and gave up one earned run on three hits and two walks over 2.2 innings across his final three appearances of the spring, but the missed time along with the fact that he had minor-league options remaining likely worked against him in his bid for the Opening Day roster. If he's able to get off to good start to the season at Triple-A, Walters should be in the mix for an early call-up, as he excelled in his first taste of the majors in 2024. The young righty allowed just six baserunners over 8.2 innings during the regular season and then held opposing batters to a .111 average over three postseason appearances. |
|
Will Brennan Will Brennan Denied Opening Day roster spot
Mon, Mar 24, 2025, 3:51 PM
The Guardians optioned Brennan to Triple-A Columbus on Monday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Brennan seemed to be in good position to open the season in the strong side of a platoon in right field, but the Guardians' acquisition of Nolan Jones over the weekend ended Brennan's hopes of breaking camp with the big club. The 27-year-old should be in line for steady at-bats with Columbus while he awaits another opportunity with the big club. |
|
Will Brennan Will Brennan Roster spot not confirmed
Mon, Mar 24, 2025, 8:03 AM
Brennan may not make the Guardians' Opening Day roster after the team acquired Nolan Jones from Colorado via a trade Saturday, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Analysis: Brennan appeared headed for a platoon role in right field with Jhonkensy Noel -- and was informed he'd made the team earlier last week by manager Stephen Vogt -- but Saturday's acquisition of the left-handed hitting Jones throws Brennan's roster status up in the air. "No final decisions have been made," Vogt said. "We just have to work through some things over the next few days. This was unforeseen." That Jones is out of options and can't be sent to the minors while Brennan has options indicates the latter may open the regular season at Triple-A Columbus. |
Connect With Us:
