Cleveland Guardians News

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Travis Bazzana • 2B • Guardians

Travis Bazzana a Must-Add Player off the Waiver Wire

Cleveland Guardians' No. 1 prospect and MLB's 13th-ranked overall prospect, Travis Bazzana, is breaking out in a big way since his call-up to the big league club back on April 28. Over the past month, Bazzana has slashed .302/.407/.458 with three home runs, 12 runs scored, 11 RBI, and seven stolen bases. Additionally, he has been batting leadoff against right-handed pitchers of late with the slumping Steven Kwan, which only should improve what he is already showcasing. He is displaying his upside by producing across all major fantasy categories. Bazzana, who is 23 years old and a former No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, doesn't appear to be going anywhere anytime soon. Bazzana, if available on your waiver wire, should be picked up, as he is approaching must-start territory.

Yesterday

Steven Kwan • LF • Guardians

Guardians Place Steven Kwan on Bereavement List

The Cleveland Guardians placed outfielder Steven Kwan on the bereavement/family medical emergency list on Thursday, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. Kwan will miss the entire three-game weekend series against the Boston Red Sox and could also miss the start of next week's series in the Bronx against the New York Yankees. Fantasy managers setting daily lineups must act accordingly. The 28-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder is having the worst year of his career in 2026 in his fifth season in the big leagues, as he enters play on Thursday hitting just .207/.329/.259 with a .588 OSP, one home run, 12 RBI, 25 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 54 games and 234 plate appearances. The former fifth-round selection in 2018 out of Oregon State has never been a big power guy at 5-foot-8 and 170 pounds, but his speed numbers have also been down, and he currently has a career-low 8.8% hard-hit rate, which sits in the first percentile in the big leagues. Kwan has a career-low .231 BABIP as well, which means he should see some positive regression to the mean, but his current expected average sits at .229.

2 days ago

Ralphy Velazquez • 1B • Guardians

Ralphy Velazquez Firmly on the Stash Radar Amid Recent Triple-A Promotion

Cleveland Guardians first base prospect Ralphy Velazquez is now firmly on the stash radar amid his promotion to Triple-A Columbus. The first baseman was enjoying a stellar start to the campaign at Double-A and was rewarded with an early promotion to the top club, putting him just one step away from the big leagues. With Double-A Velazquez appeared in 36 games, posting a .317/.414/.566 slash line with a dominant .980 OPS. During this stint, Velazquez went deep seven times and held a strong 31:22 K:BB. Since moving up to the top club, the infielder has yet to slow down, going 6-for-17 over his first five games with a 2:3 K:BB. While first base is not a direct position of need on the MLB roster, Velazquez could eventually shift to the DH spot if he maintains this pace. He is quickly climbing the stash rankings and could emerge as a must-stash option if he maintains this current trajectory.

3 days ago

Erik Sabrowski • RP • Guardians

Erik Sabrowski Avoids Structural Damage to his Elbow

Cleveland Guardians left-handed reliever Erik Sabrowski's (elbow) MRI results resulted in a best-case scenario, as he is not dealing with any structural damage to his elbow, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. The Guardians placed the electric reliever on the 15-day injured list on Monday with left-elbow inflammation, and although he doesn't have a timetable for a return, Cleveland is optimistic after his MRI results came back clean. The team was holding its breath since Sabrowski had Tommy John surgery in 2018 while he was in college and again in 2021 when he was in the San Diego Padres' farm system. The 28-year-old Canadian southpaw also injured his elbow in spring training last year and opened the season on the IL. Sabrowski has been one of the most dominant relievers in baseball in 2026, logging a 1.71 ERA and 0.95 WHIP with 39 strikeouts in 21 innings, and he currently leads the league with 17 holds. "I'm optimistic that it won't be very long, but that's not my decision," Sabrowski said. Despite not having any saves, Sabrowski is rostered in 20% of Yahoo leagues.

3 days ago

Will Dion • SP • Guardians

Guardians Promote Pitching Prospect Will Dion to Big Leagues

Cleveland Guardians left-handed pitching prospect Will Dion has been promoted to the major leagues, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. This is Dion's first promotion to the majors, so his next big-league appearance will be his MLB debut. The southpaw has been in Triple-A ever since the start of the 2024 season, so this is a hard-earned promotion. He owned a 4.50 ERA through his first 15 minor league appearances this year, but his 1.83 FIP suggests he experienced bad batted-ball luck and is due for some favorable regression. He also posted 12.46 K/9, 1.73 BB/9, and 0.35 HR/9 at Triple-A. The only really concerning underlying metric for Dion is his 25.8% ground ball rate this year. He hasn't been giving up home runs, but this ground ball rate indicates that hitters are still finding ways to produce loud contact (fly balls and line drives) against him. Nevertheless, we're encouraged by his results this year, and he should fill a key bullpen role for the Guardians, who demoted Logan Allen to Triple-A on Tuesday.

4 days ago

Angel Martínez • LF • Guardians

Is Angel Martinez an Undervalued Waiver-Wire Target?

As the early portion of the 2026 MLB season gives way to the summer months, Cleveland Guardians outfielder Angel Martinez looks like he could be on the verge of a breakout campaign. Across his first 186 plate appearances of the year, the 24-year-old is hitting .246/.286/.468 with nine home runs, 27 RBI, 24 runs scored, and eight stolen bases. Martinez has added significant power while also reducing his swing-and-miss, raising his barrel rate from 3.5% to 8.5% and cutting his strikeout rate from 22.7% to 18.8%. He's also been significantly more aggressive as a runner, as his current stolen base total (eight) already matches what he posted across 139 games in 2025. While Martinez may not provide elite production in any one fantasy category, he profiles as a balanced contributor who should provide quality counting stats due to his everyday role in the Cleveland outfield. He should hold broad waiver wire appeal for fantasy managers across most formats.

4 days ago

Tanner Bibee • SP • Guardians

Tanner Bibee Allows Five Home Runs in Loss, Time to Drop in All Leagues?

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee had a rough outing on Monday night at home against the Nationals, giving up seven runs on eight hits, including five home runs. Bibee gave up a leadoff homer to James Wood to start things off on the wrong foot and never got any kind of momentum going. The loss dropped Bibee to 0-7 on the year with a 4.57 ERA and 4.85 FIP. He has allowed 12 homers in his 12 starts and has allowed 11 runs in his last three games. Despite Monday's home run derby, he has had a few strong outings recently. He went eight innings and gave up just one run in Detroit in his previous start, and he had three quality starts in a row before Monday's disaster. There are enough reasons for optimism to still hold onto him in deep leagues, but until he turns things around, he's not worth a roster spot in shallower formats.

4 days ago

Erik Sabrowski • RP • Guardians

Erik Sabrowski Goes on Injured List With Elbow Inflammation

Cleveland Guardians left-handed reliever Erik Sabrowski (elbow) is being placed on the 15-day injured list on Monday with left-elbow inflammation, according to the team. Right-hander Codi Heuer is being recalled from Triple-A Columbus in a corresponding move. Although Sabrowski isn't in the mix for saves in Cleveland as a late-inning setup man, he's still rostered in 25% of Yahoo leagues and has been one of the best all-around relievers in baseball so far in 2026. The 28-year-old Canadian southpaw leads the league with 17 holds and has gone 2-1 with a stingy 1.71 ERA (1.84 FIP) and 0.95 WHIP with 39 strikeouts and 13 walks in 21 innings pitched out of the bullpen. Sabrowski also had a 1.84 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 42:21 K:BB in 29 1/3 relief innings for Cleveland last year. Only he and Mason Miller of the Padres are in the 100th percentile in strikeout rate in 2026, which tells you all you need to know. In fantasy leagues that reward points for holds, Sabrowski is worth holding.

5 days ago

Gavin Williams • SP • Guardians

Gavin Williams Dominates Phillies on Friday for Seventh Win

Cleveland Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams was in peak form in Friday night's 1-0 shutout win over the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, tossing eight shutout innings with four hits allowed, no walks, and a season-high 11 strikeouts for his seventh win of the year. Williams' strong performance lowered his season ERA to 3.25, and his sweeper was electric, drawing 10 swings and misses on the night. The 26-year-old former first-rounder in 2021 out of East Carolina has had issues with control in the past, but he has turned it around so far in 2026 and came into Friday's start with a career-best 8.8% walk rate in his 10 starts. Williams has gone at least six innings pitched in each of his last seven starts and has had at least six strikeouts in his last five outings, quickly becoming a fantasy ace this year for managers. He has 84 total strikeouts and 22 walks in his 69 1/3 innings. Williams won't have an easy matchup his next time out against the Washington Nationals, but he has become a must-start in traditional fantasy leagues.

7 days ago

Travis Bazzana • 2B • Guardians

Travis Bazzana Holding his Own, Worth a Look on the Waiver Wire

Cleveland Guardians rookie second baseman Travis Bazzana debuted to plenty of fanfare on April 28 after the Guards took the Australian infielder first overall in 2024 out of Oregon State, and the highly-regarded prospect has quickly made his mark in the majors. The 23-year-old left-handed-hitting second baseman has gone 21-for-73 (.288) in his first 21 big-league contests, adding two home runs, nine RBI, seven stolen bases, and 10 runs scored across 88 plate appearances. Bazzana isn't going to be a major asset for fantasy managers in the power department, but his advanced approach at the plate is already paying dividends as Cleveland's starting second baseman of the future. The 5-foot-11, 199-pounder has been especially hot in his last eight games, going 13-for-32 (.406) with a homer, three RBI, and three runs scored in his 33 plate appearances. Fantasy managers in need of a boost in on-base percentage at the second base position should look no further than Bazzana, who is currently available in over half of Yahoo leagues.

May 22

Angel Martínez • LF • Guardians

Angel Martinez a Power Bat Worth Adding Off the Waiver Wire?

Cleveland Guardians outfielder Angel Martinez is having a solid season at the plate, and his power surge is enough to justify adding him off the waiver wire in fantasy baseball. Martinez homered 11 times across 139 games last year, and he's already up to nine homers through just 48 games this year. He also has 18 stolen bases, as well as a career-high eight stolen bases. So far, he's slashing .263/.305/.500 with a 4% walk rate, 19% strikeout rate, and 124 wRC+. We'd like to see the K/BB ratio improve, but we're certainly impressed by his power and speed. He also has the ability to play all three outfield spots, which helps get him in the lineup on an everyday basis. Martinez currently ranks as RotoBaller's #61 outfielder, and he is available in approximately 50% of fantasy baseball leagues.

May 21

Ralphy Velazquez • 1B • Guardians

Ralphy Velazquez Headed to Triple-A, Officially on the Stash Radar?

The Cleveland Guardians have promoted first base prospect Ralphy Velazquez to Triple-A, according to Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com. Velazquez was the Guardians' first-round pick in 2023, signing for $2.5 million out of Huntington Beach High School in California. It's a much-deserved promotion for the left-handed hitter, who was slashing .317/.414/.566 with seven home runs, a 13.0% walk rate, a 18.3% strikeout rate, and 159 wRC+ in Double-A. He has 29 homers over his last 158 minor league games, reminding fans and fantasy managers of his impressive power. Although the Guardians won't rush his development, it seems likely that he'll make his MLB debut this season if he continues to hit well at Triple-A. Once he reaches the majors, his power-hitting profile will make him a worthwhile first baseman to roster in fantasy baseball leagues.

May 19

Kyle Manzardo • 1B • Guardians

Kyle Manzardo Doubles his Homer Total in One Game on Sunday

Cleveland Guardians first baseman Kyle Manzardo continues to heat up offensively in May. In the team's 10-3 win at home on Sunday against the visiting Cincinnati Reds, Manzardo went 2-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, three RBI, and two strikeouts to raise his season batting average to .223 and his OPS to .663. Manzardo wasn't the only Cleveland batter feeling good in the series finale, as the Guards totaled six home runs on the day. The 25-year-old Manzardo may not have gotten off to a strong start at the plate in 2026, but he has been heating up in May, hitting .295 (13-for-44) with three long balls, two doubles, a triple, nine RBI, and 12 runs scored in 14 games played across 49 plate appearances. He is now slashing .223/.301/.362 with four doubles, four home runs, 16 RBI, and 15 runs scored in his 146 plate appearances for Cleveland. Fantasy managers will want to continue to ride the left-handed-hitting first baseman while he's hot.

May 18

Travis Bazzana • 2B • Guardians

Travis Bazzana a Rookie Waiver-Wire Target in OBP Leagues

Cleveland Guardians rookie second baseman Travis Bazzana, the team's top prospect per MLB Pipeline, is worth considering off the waiver wire for his speed and on-base abilities after recently debuting in the big leagues. The 23-year-old Australian has gone just 10-for-45 (.222) at the plate with one home run in his first 14 major-league games with the Guards, but he's also produced a .407 on-base percentage with 12 walks and nine strikeouts, and he has added seven stolen bases in 59 plate appearances. He's extremely disciplined as a hitter and rarely chases, so he should continue to take plenty of walks and get on base frequently, even if he's not hitting for average or power. Bazzana has a quick, compact swing from the left side and is more of a gap-to-gap hitter than one that features over-the-fence pop. Fantasy managers looking for counting stats should look elsewhere, but those in need of a boost in OBP should look his way. Bazzana is currently rostered in 42% of Yahoo leagues.

May 15

Chase DeLauter • RF • Guardians

Chase DeLauter is Still Looking for Power

Cleveland Guardians outfielder Chase DeLauter has been posting decent results with the bat, but continues searching for power. Over the last month, DeLauter has gone 27-for-93 at the plate with one home run, 14 RBI, and 13 walks. His ability to draw walks is encouraging, but the lack of power has certainly been frustrating for fantasy managers. The rookie outfielder has six home runs on the season, but most of them came at the beginning of the year. He has only blasted one home run this month, but has been able to salvage his fantasy value in other ways. Fantasy managers might want to try to move DeLauter while his results are still solid right now.

May 14

Parker Messick • SP • Guardians

Parker Messick Fueling Guardians' Division Lead

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Parker Messick has emerged as a bright spot in the rotation, posting a 4-1 record with a spectacular 2.30 ERA so far. In his first full season, the southpaw has been an anchor in the back half of the rotation by racking up strikeouts while limiting hits, walks, and runs. The Guardians are just a game above .500, but they're in first place in the AL Central, and Messick is a main reason why. Fans and fantasy managers can breathe a sigh of relief when he pitches, largely due to his 2.82 FIP, 9.77 K/9, and 2.11 BB/9. He's also limiting loud contact with 0.77 HR/9, and he's allowing fewer than one walk plus hit per inning. As long as Messick continues to pitch at this level, he'll rack up fantasy points while earning some All-Star consideration. Rostered in 89% of fantasy leagues, Messick is perhaps still a little undervalued. He's an intriguing target in dynasty leagues, where he could be a fantasy staple for many years to come.

May 12

Cade Smith • RP • Guardians |

Cade Smith • SP • Yankees

Cade Smith has Become a High-End Closing Option in Fantasy

Cleveland Guardians right-handed reliever Cade Smith hasn't been perfect, but he has quickly become one of the best options for saves in fantasy baseball in 2026. The 27-year-old Canadian pitcher is currently tied for the American League lead in saves with 11 and has gone 2-0 with a 3.44 ERA (1.86 FIP), 1.25 WHIP, and 24:4 K:BB in 18 1/3 innings pitched for the Guards. He gave up a run in his last appearance on Friday against the Minnesota Twins, but Smith still managed to hold on for the save in his inning of work, and he's been successful in each of his last eight save opportunities, allowing two earned runs on 10 hits while walking one and striking out 13 in 9 1/3 innings. Under the hood, Smith is in the 93rd percentile in strikeout rate, the 91st percentile in walk rate, and the 92nd percentile in whiff rate while posting an 11.8 K/9 in his third year in the big leagues. There's a reason why he's rostered in 98% of Yahoo leagues.

May 12

Patrick Bailey • C • Guardians

Patrick Bailey Traded to the Guardians

The Cleveland Guardians have traded for 26-year-old catcher Patrick Bailey in exchange for left-handed pitching prospect Matt Wilkinson and the 29th pick in the 2026 draft. The former Giant backstop saw his playing time put in jeopardy when the San Francisco Giants called up prospect Jesus Rodriguez, who has since started behind the plate in three of his first four games. Now in Cleveland, Bailey could very well become the team's new starting catcher, as the club optioned the struggling Bo Naylor to Triple-A Columbus as a corresponding move. At the very least, he would be in a timeshare for playing time with new teammate Austin Hedges, who isn't much of a threat offensively. While Bailey does not have the strongest track record as a hitter, his elite defense should provide him with plenty of opportunities to play.

May 9

José Ramírez • 3B • Guardians

Jose Ramirez Making an Impact Despite Low Batting Average?

Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez's basic offensive statistics have taken a step backward so far this season. For now, fantasy managers are dealing with a low hit and high strikeout output from the veteran third baseman. After a brief stretch where it looked like he was turning things around, Ramirez has fallen back into a mini-slump, hitting 1-for-11 with a single, a walk, and a strikeout over his last three games. The bad news is that Ramirez is hitting just .221 with a 12.7% strikeout rate, which is his worst since 2021. The good news is that he owns a .343 OBP with a 15.7% walk rate, six home runs, and 115 wRC+. That's his lowest wRC+ mark since 2019, but at least he remains above league average. More hits will provide more value in fantasy baseball, but the Guardians can't complain about his walk and power rates, even if the batting average is ugly. He's also remained a threat on the basepaths, swiping 11 bags to this point.

Apr 29

Angel Martínez • LF • Guardians

Angel Martinez Stepping Up as a Top Waiver-Wire Addition

Cleveland Guardians second baseman/outfielder Angel Martinez offers both power and speed potential as he continues to earn playing time in the Cleveland lineup. He's hit near the top of the order lately, giving him even more run production upside, and he has hit .318 (21-for-66) over his last 18 games with four doubles, five homers, four stolen bases, and a .398 wOBA. Martinez remains ultra-aggressive at the plate and did not draw a single walk in those 18 games, with just three walks all year to go with his 18 strikeouts. While he remains aggressive in his approach, he has still managed to make good contact in those 18 games, with a 45.3% hard-hit rate and 13.2% barrel rate. If he continues hitting near the top of the order, he has intriguing potential with five homers and five stolen bases in his first 27 games. The 24-year-old switch-hitter has only played the outfield this season, but still has infield eligibility in some formats, making him an even easier option to slide around your roster to fill in holes. As long as he keeps hitting near the top of the order and providing big-play production, he's definitely worth a look in standard-sized leagues.

Apr 28

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