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Cade Smith Cade Smith Nails down 10th save
Thu, May 7, 2026, 6:38 PM
Smith secured the save Thursday against the Royals, throwing a clean ninth inning. He struck out two.
Analysis: The 26-year-old right-hander threw just half of his 18 offerings for strikes Thursday, but the Royals were unable to muster a baserunner. Through 17.1 innings, Smith has a 3.12 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 23:4 K:BB while converting 10 of his 12 save opportunities. Smith has allowed just one earned run over his last 11 outings, and now he's tied with David Bednar and Lucas Erceg for the American League lead in saves. |
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Slade Cecconi Slade Cecconi Mixed results in second win
Thu, May 7, 2026, 6:31 PM
Cecconi (2-4) notched the win Thursday against the Royals, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks in 5.1 innings. He struck out three.
Analysis: The outing was a mixed bag for Cecconi but a positive one overall. Although the right-hander threw only 45 of his 82 pitches for strikes and walked multiple batters for the third time in his past five starts, he pitched at least five frames while yielding two runs or fewer for only the second time this year and also managed to keep the ball in the yard. Cecconi still has a shaky 6.15 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 31:16 K:BB across 41 innings, so he shapes up as a risky fantasy option versus the Angels his next time out. |
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Back in action at High-A
Thu, May 7, 2026, 2:31 PM
Hawke (shoulder) has gone 3-for-10 with a double, two walks and two stolen bases in three games with High-A Lake County since being reinstated from the 7-day injured list April 30.
Analysis: Hawke missed just under a month to begin the season while completing his recovering from the right shoulder injury he suffered last July. With 65 steals in 67 games between Single-A and High-A last season, the 23-year-old outfielder was one of the minor league's more prolific base stealers when healthy. |
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Angel Martinez Angel Martinez Out of lineup Thursday
Thu, May 7, 2026, 10:49 AM
Martinez is absent from the lineup for Thursday's tilt in Kansas City.
Analysis: Martinez started the first three games of the series, but he'll grab a seat for Thursday's finale. Steven Kwan, Petey Halpin and Chase DeLauter will be the Guardians' outfield trio. |
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Petey Halpin Petey Halpin Scores go-ahead run
Thu, May 7, 2026, 8:21 AM
Halpin went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Wednesday's 3-1 win over Kansas City.
Analysis: Halpin moved up from first base when the runner ahead of him, Austin Hedges, stole third base. That put Halpin in position to score the go-ahead run on a two-run single by Chase DeLauter. The stolen base was his first since being called up last Friday and 10th overall in 2026, when including the nine he swiped for Triple-A Columbus. As another left-handed bat in a lefty-dominant outfield, Halpin doesn't appear to have a platoon advantage over the outfield regulars, but his speed could lead to pinch-running opportunities. |
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Austin Hedges Austin Hedges Sparks win
Thu, May 7, 2026, 8:11 AM
Hedges went 1-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Royals. He was also caught stealing.
Analysis: Hedges, a backup catcher, was an unlikely spark in the Guardians' win that snapped a three-game skid. At second base and down 1-0 in the top of the fifth inning, Hedges took off for third base and narrowly beat the throw for his first successful swipe of the season and 17th of his 12-year MLB career. On the play, Petey Halpin moved from first to second base, setting up a situation where Chase DeLauter's single delivered both runners. Hedges was later cut down trying to steal in the ninth. It was the second time in three starts that Hedges made an impact in a Cleveland win. There are no immediate plans to change the catching depth chart, but Hedges has .311/.360/.467 slash line over 16 games, which compares very favorably to starter Bo Naylor's .127/.188/.190 line through 27 contests. |
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Cade Smith Cade Smith Strikes out side for ninth save
Wed, May 6, 2026, 9:42 PM
Smith collected his ninth save of the season in the Guardians' 3-1 win over the Royals on Wednesday after allowing one hit and striking out three batters in the ninth.
Analysis: Smith made his first appearance out of the bullpen since Friday and was tasked with protecting Cleveland's two-run lead. He was perfect outside of a single to Vinnie Pasquantino, with Smith striking out each of the other three batters he faced in the inning. Smith has recorded a save in four consecutive outings (and in six of his last seven appearances), and his nine saves are tied for fifth-most in the majors. He sits at a 3.31 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 21:4 K:BB across 16.1 innings this season. |
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Joey Cantillo Joey Cantillo Earns second win of 2026
Wed, May 6, 2026, 9:38 PM
Cantillo (2-1) earned the win against the Royals on Wednesday, allowing one run on three hits and three walks while striking out one batter across five innings.
Analysis: Cantillo found himself in trouble both in the second and third innings, but he managed to limit the damage to one run on a Salvador Perez sacrifice fly in the third. It was by no means a blistering performance out of Cantillo, but it was fourth time this season that he gave up just one run (in eight starts). He'll bring a 3.43 ERA and 1.37 WHIP (across 39.1 innings) into his next start, which is slated for next week at home against the Angels. |
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Chase DeLauter Chase DeLauter Drives in two runs Wednesday
Wed, May 6, 2026, 9:33 PM
DeLauter went 2-for-4 with a double and a two-run single during the Guardians' 3-1 win over the Royals on Wednesday.
Analysis: DeLauter gave the Guardians the lead for good in the fifth inning after his single off Luinder Avila brought both Austin Hedges and Petey Halpin home. DeLauter has recorded a hit in 10 consecutive games, and over that span he has gone 18-for-35 (.514) with one home run, seven RBI and a 4:4 BB:K. |
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Travis Bazzana Travis Bazzana Receiving first night off
Wed, May 6, 2026, 5:22 PM
Bazzana is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Royals.
Analysis: With a tough southpaw (Cole Ragans) on the hill for the opposition, the Guardians will give the left-handed-hitting Bazzana his first night off since he was promoted from Triple-A Columbus on April 28. Through his first seven big-league games, Bazzana went 4-for-23 with two stolen bases, four runs, two RBI and a 6:4 BB:K. |
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Bo Naylor Bo Naylor Idle against lefty
Wed, May 6, 2026, 5:19 PM
Naylor is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Royals.
Analysis: With a lefty (Cole Ragans) on the bump, the left-handed-hitting Naylor will take a seat Wednesday. Austin Hedges will handle catching duties for the Guardians. |
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Steven Kwan Steven Kwan Taking seat Wednesday
Wed, May 6, 2026, 5:18 PM
Kwan is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Royals.
Analysis: After going 0-for-12 over his last three games, the left-handed-hitting Kwan will be given a chance to catch his breath rather than going up against a tough left-hander in Royals ace Cole Ragans. Angel Martinez will in as the Guardians' left fielder and leadoff man in place of Kwan, who had started each of the last nine contests. |
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Rhys Hoskins Rhys Hoskins Swats three-run homer in loss
Wed, May 6, 2026, 9:27 AM
Hoskins went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and one walk in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Royals.
Analysis: Hoskins took Stephen Kolek deep in the fourth inning, accounting for Cleveland's lone extra-base hit of the night and all three runs. Hoskins has now homered in two of his last four games after going deep just once in Cleveland's first 32 contests. The veteran first baseman is slashing .207/.353/.390 with three homers, 13 RBI, 15 runs scored and an 18:28 BB:K across 102 plate appearances this season. |
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Gavin Williams Gavin Williams Yields five runs in loss Tuesday
Wed, May 6, 2026, 9:24 AM
Williams (5-2) took the loss Tuesday against the Royals, allowing five runs on eight hits and two walks with seven strikeouts across six innings.
Analysis: After he was tagged for six runs over six innings against the Blue Jays on April 24, Williams pitched a season-high 7.2 innings of one-run ball against Tampa Bay last week. Williams' ERA has ballooned from 2.12 to 3.28 with the two bad outings sandwiched around his dominant start against the Rays. Williams served up a pair of homers to lefties Isaac Collins and Michael Massey at the bottom of the Royals' lineup Tuesday. Through 49.1 innings, Williams has an MLB-best 60 strikeouts, though walks (21 issued) remain a problem for the right-hander. He's in line to face the Twins at home Sunday. |
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Brayan Rocchio Brayan Rocchio Not in Tuesday's lineup
Tue, May 5, 2026, 5:31 PM
Rocchio is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Royals.
Analysis: Rocchio started the previous 15 games but will hit the bench Tuesday while in the midst of a 5-for-25 slump. Daniel Schneemann will shift to shortstop while Rhys Hoskins enters the lineup at designated hitter for Cleveland. |
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David Fry David Fry Provides early, only offense
Tue, May 5, 2026, 7:36 AM
Fry served as the designated hitter and went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI in Monday's 6-2 loss to the Royals.
Analysis: Fry put Cleveland on the board early with a two-run homer in the second inning, but that's all the team could do against Kansas City pitching. It was Fry's third time going deep in his last six games. He doesn't get nearly the number of opportunities as others on the team, but Fry is second on the Guardians with an .892 OPS over 51 plate appearances. |
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Tanner Bibee Tanner Bibee Remains winless in poor showing
Mon, May 4, 2026, 9:56 PM
Bibee (0-5) took the loss Monday against the Royals, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks in four innings. He struck out four.
Analysis: The 27-year-old right-hander gave up his second-most runs of the season Monday, also matching a season low in innings. Bibee has just two quality starts under his belt in 2026, and he's now walked multiple batters in six of his first eight outings. Bibee is still recovering from an eight-run implosion in Atlanta during his April 12 appearance, which has left with him a shaky 4.58 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 36:16 K:BB over 39.1 innings, and he'll try to get back on track this weekend against the Twins. |
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Kyle Manzardo Kyle Manzardo Heading to bench Monday
Mon, May 4, 2026, 4:53 PM
Manzardo is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Royals.
Analysis: Manzardo typically starts against right-handed pitchers, but he'll hit the bench for the series opener in Kansas City while Michael Wacha toes the rubber for the Royals. The Guardians will go with Rhys Hoskins at first base in place of Manzardo, who has followed up his 27-homer 2025 regular season with just two long balls through his first 31 games of 2026. |
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Chase DeLauter Chase DeLauter Getting night off
Mon, May 4, 2026, 3:53 PM
DeLauter is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Royals.
Analysis: Unless he's used off the bench, DeLauter will put an eight-game hitting streak on hold Monday while the Guardians go with Angel Martinez in right field and David Fry at designated hitter in the series opener in Kansas City. During the hitting streak, DeLauter has gone 15-for-27 (.556 average) with four extra-base knocks and a 4:3 BB:K, raising his season OPS 140 points in the process. |
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Austin Peterson Austin Peterson Returns to action at Triple-A
Mon, May 4, 2026, 11:50 AM
Peterson (triceps) has made two starts for Triple-A Columbus since being activated from the 7-day injured list Tuesday, covering seven innings and striking out six batters while yielding one earned run on four hits and one walk.
Analysis: Peterson was shelved to begin the season after being diagnosed in late February with a right triceps strain, but he appears to have made a seamless recovery from the injury and was able to join the Columbus rotation last week without requiring a rehab assignment. The Guardians added the 26-year-old righty to their 40-man roster over the winter, but he remains somewhat buried on the organizational depth chart and may need the Cleveland rotation to lose multiple key arms before getting the chance to make his MLB debut. |
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