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Cade Smith Cade Smith Hangs on for third save
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 10:13 PM
Smith earned the save during Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader against the Cubs, allowing one run on one hit and two walks in the ninth inning. He struck out two.
Analysis: Smith had the Cubs down to their final out before things got a bit messy. The right-hander then lent back-to-back free passes before Ian Happ plated a run on a single, but Smith got Carson Kelly to strike out to hold on for his third save. Smith has now gone 3-for-4 on save chances to go with a rough 7.50 ERA and 1.67 WHIP across his first six innings, but there's no indication at the moment that the Guardians are going to turn away from him as their primary closer. |
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Parker Messick Parker Messick Six Ks in five strong innings
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 9:58 PM
Messick didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Cubs, allowing one run on two hits and three walks in five innings. He struck out six.
Analysis: After firing six scoreless innings in his first start of the season versus the Dodgers, Messick kept his foot on the gas in his second appearance of the year. The southpaw induced 13 whiffs during the nightcap of Sunday's doubleheader, though he was shaky a bit with his control while tossing just 51 of his 91 pitches for strikes. Messick still has a strong 11:3 K:BB through his first 11 frames of 2026, but another tough test in Atlanta awaits him in his next scheduled outing. |
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Gabriel Arias Gabriel Arias Delivers two runs
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 8:04 PM
Arias went 2-for-4 with two RBI in Sunday's 6-5 win over the Cubs in the second game of a doubleheader. He went 0-for-3 in the matinee.
Analysis: Arias had RBI knocks in the sixth and eighth innings to help Cleveland gain a split of the doubleheader. His bat has come alive of late. After recording one hit over his first 18 at-bats, the shortstop is 4-for-12 with a walk, two home runs and four RBI over the last four games. |
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CJ Kayfus CJ Kayfus Plays both ends of doubleheader
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 6:05 PM
Kayfus started in left field and went 1-for-2 with a double in a 1-0 loss to the Cubs in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader. He came off the bench in the nightcap and went 2-for-2 with a solo home run, two RBI and an additional run scored.
Analysis: Kayfus recorded his first hit of the season and the Guardians' lone knock in the opening game. In the nightcap, he singled and drove in a run as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning, stayed in the game to play right field and tied the game in the eighth inning with a home run. The offensive production could lead to more opportunities for Kayfus, who entered Sunday having been held out of the starting lineup in the previous four games. |
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Slade Cecconi Slade Cecconi Rebounds with six shutout frames
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 3:58 PM
Cecconi took a no-decision Sunday against the Cubs, allowing no runs on one hit and one walk in six innings. He struck out six.
Analysis: The right-hander bounced back in a big way following his season debut, when he surrendered six runs in 4.1 innings against the Mariners. Cecconi scattered a lone hit and fired 55 of his 85 pitches for strikes Sunday, and he perhaps benefitted from the elements of a chilly afternoon at Progressive Field in Cleveland. Cecconi has a difficult assignment in Atlanta slated for his next start, which might limit his streaming appeal. |
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Daniel Schneemann Daniel Schneemann Out of lineup for Game 2
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 3:23 PM
Schneemann is not in the lineup for Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader against the Cubs.
Analysis: Schneeman went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts during Game 1, dropping his slash line for the season to .192/.192/.346 through eight contests. Steven Kwan is handling center field in the nightcap while Angel Martinez starts in left. |
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Kyle Manzardo Kyle Manzardo On bench for nightcap
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 3:21 PM
Manzardo is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader against the Cubs.
Analysis: Manzardo went 0-for-3 with a walk during the matinee, extending his hitless streak to six games. He'll head to the bench for Game 2 while Chase DeLauter serves as the designated hitter, opening up right field for David Fry. |
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Parker Messick Parker Messick Scheduled for second game Sunday
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 9:52 AM
Messick will pitch the second game of Sunday's doubleheader against the Cubs, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The Guardians and Cubs were rained out Saturday, forcing the two teams to double up Sunday. Saturday's scheduled starter, Slade Cecconi, will work the first game of the twin bill. |
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George Valera George Valera Building up on rehab stint
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 9:48 AM
Valera (calf) is building up to physically handle playing multiple days per week, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Valera made his third appearance for Triple-A Columbus on Saturday, playing on back-to-back days for the first time on his rehab stint. That makes three games over four days for the outfielder. Valera is 4-for-13 (.308) with a double, a home run, two walks and three RBI since beginning the assignment, and he appears close to making his season debut for Cleveland. |
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Rhys Hoskins Rhys Hoskins On bench for matinee
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 9:15 AM
Hoskins is out of the lineup for Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader against the Cubs, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: It's the second straight game on the bench for Hoskins despite the fact he's enjoyed a strong start to the campaign with four walks, two doubles and an .873 OPS through 18 plate appearances. Jose Ramirez is resting his legs as the designated hitter while CJ Kayfus enters the lineup in place of Hoskins, who will likely be back in action for Game 2. |
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Logan Allen Logan Allen Called up for twin bill
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 8:58 AM
The Guardians recalled Allen from Triple-A Columbus to serve as the 27th man for Sunday's doubleheader against the Cubs, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The left-hander failed to crack Cleveland's starting rotation to begin the season and has instead stayed stretched out at Columbus. Allen pitched well in his lone Triple-A start, allowing one run on four hits with five strikeouts and a walk across five innings. Slade Cecconi and Parker Messick are penciled in as the Guardians' starting pitchers for the twin bill, setting up Allen to potentially work as a long reliever. |
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Slade Cecconi Slade Cecconi Saturday's start postponed
Sat, Apr 4, 2026, 4:24 PM
Cecconi won't make his scheduled start against the Cubs on Saturday, as the game was postponed due to inclement weather, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Chicago and Cleveland will make up Saturday's contest in a doubleheader Sunday, and Cecconi is penciled in to start the early game, per Chris Assenheimer of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram. The 26-year-old righty got off to a poor start to the season by allowing six earned runs in 4.1 innings during his season debut against the Mariners last Sunday. |
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Shawn Armstrong Shawn Armstrong Earns third hold
Sat, Apr 4, 2026, 9:16 AM
Armstrong struck out one over a scoreless inning to pick up a hold in Friday's 4-1 win over the Cubs.
Analysis: Armstrong worked a 1-2-3 eighth inning, his first appearance without allowing baserunners, to earn his third hold of the season. After giving up a home run in his initial outing, Armstrong hasn't allowed a run in four subsequent appearances (3.2 IP). The right-hander has allowed five base runners during the scoreless streak but has managed to work around the traffic. |
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George Valera George Valera Homers on rehab
Sat, Apr 4, 2026, 9:04 AM
Valera (calf) went 1-for-6 with a two-run home run for Triple-A Columbus on Friday.
Analysis: Valera appeared in his second rehab game -- he's played right field in both and logged a combined 11 plate appearances. He's yet to play on consecutive days, which may be one box to check before the Guardians activate him. With CJ Kayfus (0-for-10) off to a slow start and being held out of the last four starting lineups, there could be a roster spot available when Valera is ready. |
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Gabriel Arias Gabriel Arias Separating swing in win
Fri, Apr 3, 2026, 7:11 PM
Arias went 1-for-2 with a walk and a solo home run in Friday's 4-1 win against the Cubs.
Analysis: Arias broke a seventh-inning tie with his second home run of the season, the game-winning swing for the Guardians. It was a part of a day in which the 26-year-old reached base multiple times for the first time all year. That marks two strong games in a row in April for Arias, who had a tough March. He is slashing just .143/.217/.429 on the young season. |
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Chase DeLauter Chase DeLauter Big impact in lineup return
Fri, Apr 3, 2026, 7:05 PM
DeLauter went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run and three RBI in Friday's 4-1 win over the Cubs.
Analysis: DeLauter fouled a ball off of his foot Tuesday against the Dodgers and had been out of the lineup since, but he returned in a big way Friday. The 24-year-old drove in three of the four runs scored by the Guardians with the biggest swing being a two-run home run to extend the Guardians lead from one to three. It's DeLauter's fifth home run on the young season, tied for the most in MLB alongside Shea Langeliers. |
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Cade Smith Cade Smith Picks up second save
Fri, Apr 3, 2026, 7:00 PM
Smith earned the save Friday against the Cubs, allowing no runs and one hit while striking out the side.
Analysis: A single surrendered to Carson Kelly was the only blip in an otherwise dominant appearance for Smith. He struck out the other three batters he faced en route to his second save of the season in his third try. The 26-year-old had allowed runs in three straight appearances, but Smith showed what he can bring to the closer's role when he's on his game Friday. He now sports a 7.20 ERA on the season but has just one walk and six strikeouts in five innings. |
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Joey Cantillo Joey Cantillo Works to no-decision
Fri, Apr 3, 2026, 6:49 PM
Cantillo didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Cubs, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out six in 5.1 innings pitched.
Analysis: Cantillo's second start went better than his first. After only making it to the fourth inning in his season debut, he worked into the sixth inning Friday and limited a Cubs offense that averaged five runs per game entering play to just one. The 26-year-old has now pitched exactly nine innings on the season and sports a 3.00 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 11 strikeouts and five walks. His next scheduled start will come against the Royals on Wednesday. |
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Rhys Hoskins Rhys Hoskins Not in Friday's lineup
Fri, Apr 3, 2026, 10:25 AM
Hoskins is absent from the lineup for Friday's game against the Cubs.
Analysis: The Guardians have faced all right-handers so far, but Hoskins has still been in the lineup four times in eight tilts. Kyle Manzardo will cover first base Friday and Chase DeLauter is getting a start at designated hitter. |
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Chase DeLauter Chase DeLauter Returns to Guardians' lineup
Fri, Apr 3, 2026, 10:23 AM
DeLauter (foot) will start at designated hitter and bat second in Friday's game versus the Cubs.
Analysis: DeLauter had to depart Tuesday's game against the Dodgers after fouling a ball off his foot. X-rays came back clean, and he's feeling well enough to serve as the DH as the Guardians kick off their first homestand of the season. |
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