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Daniel Espino Daniel Espino Opening again Thursday
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 10:22 PM
Espino will serve as the opening pitcher during Thursday's game against the Red Sox, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Espino gave up three earned runs in one inning during his most recent appearance while working as an opener last Friday against the A's, but Cleveland will give him an opportunity to redeem himself Thursday. He'll likely remain in the game for an inning or two before handing the ball over to bulk reliever Joey Cantillo. |
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Foster Griffin Foster Griffin Limits damage in sixth loss
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 8:57 PM
Griffin (15-6) took the loss against Boston on Wednesday, allowing one run on 10 hits and no walks in six innings. He struck out seven.
Analysis: Griffin certainly danced around plenty of trouble, holding the Red Sox in check in spite of giving up 10 singles. The seven punchouts were his most since July 8 as a member of the Nationals, and it was just the southpaw's third quality start since being dealt to Cleveland. Griffin posted a 5.19 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 42:15 K:BB over 43.1 innings for the Guardians as his regular season comes to an end. |
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Shawn Armstrong Shawn Armstrong Reinstated from 60-day IL
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 3:28 PM
The Guardians reinstated Armstrong (calf) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
Analysis: Armstrong landed on the 15-day IL with a left calf strain in late July and was later transferred to the 60-day IL. He has now been cleared to return after making four rehab appearances at Triple-A, though Armstrong figures to be eased back in with some low-leverage innings to close the campaign. The veteran righty has regressed in a major way, posting a 4.91 ERA and 1.45 WHIP so far this year after putting up a 2.31 ERA and 0.81 WHIP last regular season. |
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Connor Brogdon Connor Brogdon Bumped from 40-man roster
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 3:20 PM
The Guardians designated Brogdon for assignment Wednesday.
Analysis: A 40-man spot was needed for the return of Shawn Armstrong (calf) from the 60-day IL, and Brogdon is the odd man out. Brogdon made a lone appearance during his latest stint with the big club, throwing a scoreless two-thirds of an inning back on Sept. 14. The right-hander has put up a 5.06 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 15:3 K:BB in 16 major-league appearances (16 innings) this season. |
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Colin Holderman Colin Holderman Receives wrist injection
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 3:08 PM
Holderman received an injection in his right wrist Saturday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The right-hander departed his first rehab appearance with Triple-A Columbus on Thursday after aggravating his wrist injury, and he was set to resume throwing Monday after getting the injection. Holderman seems unlikely to rejoin the big-league bullpen during the final week of the regular season following the setback, but it's possible he's good to go next week for the start of the playoffs. |
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Angel Martinez Angel Martinez On bench Wednesday
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 2:58 PM
Martinez is not in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.
Analysis: Martinez is enjoying a nice September with a 1.073 OPS and four homers in 15 games around a brief absence due to side discomfort. The 24-year-old switch hitter has emerged as the primary left fielder for Cleveland, but he will sit Wednesday as Petey Halpin starts in center field, pushing Steven Kwan to left against right-hander Sonny Gray. |
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Parker Messick Parker Messick No-decision against Boston
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 9:13 AM
Messick did not factor into the decision Tuesday against the Red Sox, allowing one run on five hits and one walk while striking out five over five innings.
Analysis: Tuesday's pitchers' duel featured two candidates in the American League Rookie of the Year race in Messick and Payton Tolle. Messick got the better of Tolle, with the former allowing only one run on an RBI groundout in the second inning. Messick was in line for his 13th win of the season before the Red Sox tied things up at 2-2 in the eighth on a solo homer by Mickey Gasper. Messick is currently slated to make one final start in the regular season this weekend against the Royals, though the 25-year-old southpaw may not pitch depending on the Guardians' playoff situation. If Tuesday's outing at Fenway Park was Messick's last of the regular season, he'll finish with a 12-9 record across 31 starts with a 2.55 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 191:48 K:BB over 183.1 innings. |
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Cade Smith Cade Smith Collects save at Fenway Park
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 9:08 AM
Smith earned the save in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Red Sox, allowing one walk while striking out one batter in a scoreless ninth inning.
Analysis: The Guardians took the lead in the top of the ninth inning on a sacrifice fly by Nathaniel Lowe, setting up Smith for the save opportunity. The right-hander struck out Isiah Kiner-Falefa before issuing a walk to Jarren Duran, but Smith secured the save after getting the next two batters to ground out, needing 16 pitches (11 strikes) to lock down the win for the Guardians. Smith's 40 saves are tied with Bryan Baker for most in the majors, and the former sports a 1.99 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 104:23 K:BB over 72.1 innings. |
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Brayan Rocchio Brayan Rocchio Logs hit in return
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 6:11 AM
Rocchio went 1-for-5 in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Red Sox.
Analysis: Rocchio returned to the lineup after missing one game due to a left leg injury. He was back home at shortstop and batted ninth for the Guardians. Rocchio has rebounded nicely from an August slump (.474 OPS) and is slashing .267/.343/.500 with 16 RBI through 18 games this month. |
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Brayan Rocchio Brayan Rocchio Returns to Cleveland lineup
Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 2:45 PM
Rocchio (leg) will start at shortstop and bat ninth in Tuesday's contest in Boston.
Analysis: Rocchio departed Saturday's game against the Athletics and didn't play Sunday because of left leg tightness. He got an extra day of rest with the Guardians being idle Monday and is feeling well enough to give it a go Tuesday. |
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Gets green light to return
Mon, Sep 21, 2026, 7:56 PM
Velazquez (lower body) has returned to play at Triple-A Columbus after missing 10 days earlier this month due to lower-body soreness.
Analysis: Velazquez was considered day-to-day after experiencing some lower-body soreness, so it's not a surprise to see that he's been cleared to return to action. He's appeared in four games since Sept. 16, going 5-for-16 with three RBI, one walk and three runs. |
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Gavin Williams Gavin Williams Dominant effort in win
Sun, Sep 20, 2026, 5:59 PM
Williams (14-8) earned the win against the Athletics on Sunday, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out nine over seven scoreless innings.
Analysis: Williams breezed through seven scoreless frames, throwing 63 of 89 pitches for strikes with a whopping 21 whiffs. It continued a stellar September for the 27-year-old, who's yielded just four earned runs over four outings while logging three quality starts and racking up 40 punchouts. He'll take a 3.63 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 244:57 K:BB across 181 innings this season and lines up for his final start of the regular season on the road against Kansas City next weekend. |
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Cade Smith Cade Smith Earns 39th save
Sun, Sep 20, 2026, 5:11 PM
Smith earned the save in Sunday's 1-0 win over the Athletics, allowing one hit and no walks with three strikeouts over 1.1 innings.
Analysis: Smith was tasked with preserving a team shutout with two outs in the eighth inning and was able to complete the four-out save on 20 pitches. The 27-year-old has now held opponents scoreless in 10 straight contests, and he's yielded just two earned runs overall in 24 second-half appearances. He trails Bryan Baker's major-league-leading 40 saves by just one and owns a 2.02 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 103:22 K:BB across 71.1 innings in his first full season as the Guardians' closer. |
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Brayan Rocchio Brayan Rocchio Sitting out Sunday
Sun, Sep 20, 2026, 9:55 AM
Rocchio (leg) is out of the lineup for Sunday's matchup with the Athletics.
Analysis: After exiting Saturday's game early with left leg tightness, Rocchio will ride the bench for Sunday's series finale. Angel Genao will take over at shortstop and bat ninth for Cleveland. |
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Slade Cecconi Slade Cecconi Credited with win Saturday
Sun, Sep 20, 2026, 8:55 AM
Cecconi (5-7) was credited with Saturday's win over the Yankees, retiring the final six batters with two strikeouts over two scoreless innings.
Analysis: Starter Tanner Bibee was pulled with two outs in the fourth inning and Cleveland leading, 11-6. Two relievers combined for 2.1 scoreless innings (and three walks) before Cecconi entered to finish the final two frames. Apparently, because the two relievers that followed Bibee were deemed to be ineffective, the official scorer named Cecconi the winner based on his two perfect innings. Since coming off the injured list earlier this month, he's operated as a multi-inning reliever and has allowed four runs on six hits and two walks while striking out 11 over 10 innings (four appearances). |
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Brayan Rocchio Brayan Rocchio Exits with leg soreness
Sun, Sep 20, 2026, 8:36 AM
Rocchio was removed from Saturday's 12-6 win over the Athletics with left leg tightness, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Rocchio, who was 1-for-3 with an RBI double and a run scored, was removed after five innings in what looked like a precautionary move with the Guardians leading 11-6. He was replaced by Angel Genao. |
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Chase DeLauter Chase DeLauter Goes deep in win
Sun, Sep 20, 2026, 6:21 AM
DeLauter went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run and an additional run scored in Saturday's 12-6 win over the Athletics.
Analysis: DeLauter got the Guardians on the board with a blast in the first inning before coming around to score after a single in the third. It continued a steady second half for the 24-year-old, who owns an .868 OPS with 18 extra-base hits, 19 RBI, 26 runs scored and eight stolen bases over 47 games since the All-Star break. Overall, he's slashing .290/.363/.458 with 15 homers, 65 RBI, 59 runs scored and 11 steals across 531 plate appearances in what has been a successful rookie campaign. |
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Angel Martinez Angel Martinez Monster performance in return
Sun, Sep 20, 2026, 6:16 AM
Martinez went 4-for-5 with two home runs, a double, four RBI and three runs scored in Saturday's 12-6 win over the Athletics.
Analysis: In his first game since Monday, Martinez fell a triple shy of the cycle and notched his second two-homer game of the season. It continued a long stretch of strong play by the 24-year-old, who's hitting .325 with 18 extra-base hits, 24 RBI and 19 runs scored over 35 games since the calendar flipped to August. For the year, he's slashing .255/.292/.467 with 17 home runs, 57 RBI, 47 runs scored and 11 steals across 390 plate appearances. |
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Tanner Bibee Tanner Bibee Hit around in no-decision
Sat, Sep 19, 2026, 9:08 PM
Bibee did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 12-6 win against the Athletics, allowing six runs on 12 hits and no walks with two strikeouts over 4.2 innings.
Analysis: Bibee was spotted a huge lead but struggled, yielding a career-high 12 hits while generating just seven whiffs on 95 pitches. It continued a rough September for the 27-year-old, who owns a bloated 8.24 ERA in four starts this month while failing to log five frames in three of them. He owns a 4.35 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 142:54 K:BB across 182 innings overall and will try to rebound in his final matchup of the regular season at Kansas City next weekend. |
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Angel Martinez Angel Martinez In Saturday's lineup
Sat, Sep 19, 2026, 2:58 PM
Martinez (side) will start in left field and bat fifth Saturday against the Athletics.
Analysis: Martinez has missed each of Cleveland's last three games while dealing with a right side injury, but he now appears to have made a full recovery ahead of Saturday's contest. The 24-year-old has had a largely successful September thus far, slashing .268/.318/.537 with two homers, five RBI and seven runs scored over 44 plate appearances. |
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