Cleveland Guardians News

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Cooper Ingle • C • Guardians

Cooper Ingle Remains a High-Upside Waiver-Wire Target Despite Slow Start

Cleveland Guardians catcher/outfielder Cooper Ingle has gotten off to a slow start since making his MLB debut on June 26, logging just two hits in his first 24 big league plate appearances. However, Ingle is one of the highest-rated prospects in the Guardians system and was having an excellent year at Triple-A before his promotion, hitting .284/.416/.551 with 12 home runs, 41 RBI, 33 runs scored, and one stolen base across 221 plate appearances. Cleveland has deployed Ingle exclusively in either left field or at designated hitter since calling him up, which gives him more playing time upside than a typical fantasy catcher. The 24-year-old also demonstrated elite plate skills during his time in the minors, posting more walks (86) than strikeouts (85) across 510 plate appearances in 2025. Despite his early struggles, Ingle remains a priority waiver wire candidate for fantasy managers in search of power upside.

Yesterday

Kahlil Watson • RF • Guardians

Is Kahlil Watson an Emerging Power/Speed Threat on the Waiver Wire?

Across 62 plate appearances since making his MLB debut on June 18, Cleveland Guardians outfielder Kahlil Watson is hitting .233/.258/.333 with one home run, nine RBI, three runs scored, and six stolen bases. With Guardians outfielder Angel Martinez (foot) currently on the injured list due to a fractured foot, Watson has emerged as a near-everyday player for Cleveland. The 23-year-old's underlying plate skills are concerning, as he's logged just a 3.2% walk rate while striking out in 35.5% of his plate appearances. However, Watson owns a strong 10.5% barrel rate, and he posted a 49.7% hard-hit rate across 254 plate appearances at Triple-A this season before being promoted. Watson also stole 15 bases in the minors, so he carries some power/speed upside for fantasy managers. In deeper league formats, Watson could be worth taking a flier on as a waiver wire pickup.

Yesterday

Ralphy Velazquez • 1B • Guardians

Ralphy Velazquez No Longer a Stash Candidate Ahead of the Second Half?

Cleveland Guardians first base/outfield prospect Ralphy Velazquez is adjusting nicely to two minor league levels this season, combining to hit .296 between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus with 10 homers and 42 RBI. Velazquez, a former first round pick, is the top prospect in the Guardians system and could be looking at a promotion before the end of this year, but Cleveland could also be patient and wait until 2027 to promote their biggest minor league prize. With Kyle Manzardo and Rhys Hoskins, the Guardians have adequate coverage of first base this season and could play it safe and wait to get a look at the 21-year-old Velazquez until next season. While Velazquez has shown a solid bat, he still has some development to do and fantasy managers in leagues of all sizes may want to wait a bit to add his services to their roster.

2 days ago

Joey Cantillo • SP • Guardians

Joey Cantillo Remains Strong Waiver-Wire Target Despite June Slide

Guardians left-hander Joey Cantillo has put together a strong 2026 campaign, posting a 3.86 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 89 strikeouts across 91 innings in 18 starts. The 26-year-old looked like one of the American League's biggest breakout pitchers early in the season before encountering some turbulence in June. Cantillo recorded a 4.50 ERA during the month, with his 11.5 BB% contributing to the inconsistency. Even so, he has consistently shown the ability to make adjustments and rebound from difficult stretches. His strikeout upside and overall body of work continue to support his fantasy value. Managers searching for rotation help should view Cantillo as a high-upside waiver wire addition in all league formats.

4 days ago

Angel Martínez • LF • Guardians

Angel Martinez Takes Batting Practice for First Time

Cleveland Guardians outfielder Angel Martinez (foot) took batting practice on Saturday for the first time since landing on the 10-day injured list on June 16 with a fractured left foot, according to MLB.com. An MRI exam and CT scan showed a non-displaced fracture after Martinez left the game on June 13 against the division-rival Detroit Tigers. At the time, he was estimated to need four to six weeks to recover. Barring a setback, Martinez could return to the big-league roster at the end of July. The 24-year-old had his walking boot removed last week. Before his foot injury, the 24-year-old Dominican switch-hitter was batting .239 (54-for-226) with 11 home runs, 33 RBI, 28 runs scored, and nine stolen bases in his 66 games in his third year in the majors. Martinez was struggling in 11 games in June before fracturing his foot, going 9-for-41 (.220) with two homers, two doubles, four RBI, four runs, one steal, one walk, and 12 strikeouts. He's walking just 2.9% of the time in 2026, so Martinez's plate discipline must improve for him to gain more traction off the waiver wire when he's healthy. He's currently rostered in just 15% of Yahoo leagues.

4 days ago

Tanner Bibee • SP • Guardians

Tanner Bibee Succeeding With Greater Sinker Usage

Since allowing seven earned runs (five home runs) in three innings in a loss to the Washington Nationals on May 25, Cleveland Guardians right-hander Tanner Bibee has leaned more on his sinker, and in his six starts since, he's posted a 2.29 ERA with just eight walks and 28 strikeouts in 39 1/3 innings for a 2-2 record. Through his rough outing against the Nats, Bibee's sinker usage was at 15.8%. In his six starts since, he's used it 37.2% of the time as his primary pitch. "The sinker last year, the start of this year," said Bibee, "it was kind of like a surprise pitch. But now it just feels like a real weapon, where I can really lean on it to get quick outs, like I've been getting. Or I still can have guys freeze on it. It opens up a lot of stuff." In his first 13 starts, Bibee's opponents hit .313 against his four-seam fastball, with a 56.1% hard-hit rate, and hit .295 with a 47.8% hard-hit rate against his cutter. In his last six starts, opponents are 1-for-21 against his four-seamer with a 26.7% hard-hit rate and 3-for-28 against his cutter with a 26.1% hard-hit rate. The 27-year-old has slightly tweaked his changeup as well, so that it mimics his cutter more. Fantasy managers have to like what they've seen from Bibee as the second half of the season quickly approaches.

4 days ago

José Ramírez • 3B • Guardians

Jose Ramirez Hitting Off a Tee, to Return Before All-Star Break?

Cleveland Guardians All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez (hand) has started hitting off a tee and will progress to overhand batting practice in the coming days, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. General manager Chris Antonetti said that Ramirez has met each checkpoint so far in his recovery from surgery to fix a fractured hamate bone in his hand, but he still has more boxes to check. The Guardians remain hopeful that J-Ram can return before the All-Star break from July 13-16. The 33-year-old Dominican switch-hitter had the stitches removed from his surgically-repaired left hand earlier this week and is making good progress. Ramirez hasn't lived up to his lofty expectations so far in 2026, but if he's healthy in the second half, he still can carry a fantasy team. Through his first 72 games (314 plate appearances) in 2026 in his 14th year in the league, Ramirez is slashing .239/.339/.418 with a .757 OPS, 10 homers, 33 RBI, 24 steals, and 42 runs scored. J-Ram should be stashed in all fantasy baseball leagues.

4 days ago

Chase DeLauter • RF • Guardians

Chase DeLauter a Must-Add After Strong Return From Injured List?

Cleveland Guardians right fielder Chase DeLauter (rib cage) has picked up where he left off since coming off the 10-day injured list on June 28. He has started all seven games since returning and gone 10-for-31 (.323) with three runs, five RBI, and one steal. The 24-year-old is now batting .269/.336/.410 with seven home runs, 39 RBI, 27 runs, and three steals through 271 at-bats. The plate skills are more convincing than the power so far. DeLauter has a 13.3% strikeout rate and 10.4% walk rate, while his 40.5% hard-hit rate and 5.9% barrel rate are solid rather than dominant. He is rostered in 51% of Yahoo leagues, and RotoBaller recommends him in 12-team formats. That is the right range. DeLauter should be rostered in leagues of that size, but seven homers and three steals do not support a five-category label.

4 days ago

Travis Bazzana • 2B • Guardians

Travis Bazzana Too Productive to Leave on the Waiver Wire?

Cleveland Guardians rookie second baseman Travis Bazzana has quickly become a useful contributor across the board for fantasy managers. He's hitting .255/.347/.420 with seven home runs, 27 runs, 27 RBI, and 12 steals across 212 at-bats. He has also taken over the leadoff spot, where his patience and speed give him a steady path to runs and stolen-base chances. Bazzana has added four hits, two walks, and two RBI over his last two games. The power may not climb much higher without better contact quality. Bazzana owns a 4.3% barrel rate and 37.0% hard-hit rate, so his value is built more on volume and category balance than a looming home-run surge. That is still plenty useful. RotoBaller recommends him in leagues with 10 or more teams, yet he remains rostered in only 44% of Yahoo leagues. Managers looking for help across every hitting category should be aggressive while he is still available.

5 days ago

Franco Aleman • RP • Guardians

Guardians Promote Franco Aleman After Stellar Showing at Triple-A

The Cleveland Guardians recalled right-handed pitching prospect Franco Aleman from Triple-A Columbus on Friday, a source told Francys Romero. Aleman has been outstanding for Columbus this year, posting a 0.32 ERA with 43 strikeouts over 28 1/3 innings pitched. The 26-year-old Cuban hurler made his big-league debut with Cleveland earlier this year and allowed a solo home run with a walk and a strikeout in 2 2/3 relief innings. The former 10th-round pick in 2021 out of the University of Florida has been as dominant as they come out of the bullpen in the minors this year, although he will most likely be utilized in more of a middle-relief role in his return to the majors, limiting his overall fantasy upside. Aleman is not listed among the Guardians' top-30 prospects, per MLB Pipeline, and he's had a 4.36 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 293:77 K:BB in 198 1/3 innings over 151 outings (eight starts) over his five minor-league seasons.

6 days ago

Cooper Ingle • C • Guardians

Cooper Ingle a Prospect to Add Despite Slow Start?

Cleveland Guardians catching prospect Cooper Ingle, who is ranked as the team's No. 3 prospect by MLB Pipeline, was recalled from Triple-A Columbus last week after he hit .284 (50-for-176) with 12 homers, 41 RBI, and 33 runs scored in 51 games in the minors. The 5-foot-8, 190-pound left-handed-hitting backstop has the power upside and plate discipline to become Cleveland's catcher of the future after he was selected in the fourth round in 2023 out of Clemson University. Fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper leagues should be stashing him, but should managers in redraft leagues be doing the same? The 24-year-old North Carolina native has been slow to adjust to big-league pitching so far in his first four games, going 1-for-11 at the plate with two RBI, a run scored, three walks, and seven strikeouts, and he also had a brain fart in the outfield on Tuesday and forgot how many outs there were. That's not going to help his cause for more playing time with manager Stephen Vogt. Still, Ingle has the kind of offensive upside you don't find often in catchers, making him at least a watch-list candidate in deeper single-year leagues going into the second half of the season if he remains with the Guards. Ingle is rostered in just 2% of Yahoo leagues.

7 days ago

José Ramírez • 3B • Guardians

Jose Ramirez has Stitches Removed, Could Resume Swinging Soon

Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (hand) is making good progress after having surgery to fix a fractured hamate bone in his left hand, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. Ramirez had the stitches removed from his hand on Tuesday, is feeling good, and could soon resume swinging a bat in his rehab process. The 33-year-old was previously able to resume gripping a bat and has been doing fielding drills while throwing at 140 feet. The seven-time All-Star and six-time Silver Slugger winner broke his left hamate bone against the Detroit Tigers on June 13 and was placed on the 10-day injured list the next day. The Guardians said he'd miss around five to seven weeks of action, with this Tuesday marking the two-week mark since J-Ram had surgery. Assuming Ramirez has no setbacks, he's still another three to five weeks away from returning to the big-league roster. Although his numbers are down compared to his lofty standards, Ramirez must be held in all fantasy formats. He's still logged a .757 OPS with 10 home runs, 18 doubles, 33 RBI, and 24 stolen bases while appearing in each of the team's first 72 games.

Jul 1

Joey Cantillo • SP • Guardians

Joey Cantillo Emerging as a Priority Waiver-Wire Target

Across 86 innings (17 starts) in 2026, Cleveland Guardians left-hander Joey Cantillo has recorded a 6-3 record with a 3.87 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and 85 strikeouts. The 26-year-old's WHIP is elevated by his 10.8% walk rate, which limits his value to fantasy managers to some degree. Still, Cantillo has limited opposing batters to a 36.6% hard-hit rate and has been a reliable innings-eater for the Guardians so far this season. Cantillo has also demonstrated a higher upside in recent outings, recording a 28.7% strikeout rate and 7% walk rate across 28 innings (five starts) in June. Especially in more favorable matchups, Cantillo profiles as a quality starting pitcher streamer. His next scheduled start will come on Wednesday against the Texas Rangers in Cleveland.

Jun 30

Angel Martínez • LF • Guardians

Angel Martinez No Longer Wearing a Walking Boot

Cleveland Guardians outfielder Angel Martinez (foot), who is on the 10-day injured list with a non-displaced foot fracture, is no longer wearing a walking boot and has been hitting off a tee and playing catch in between rounds of treatment, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. The Guardians said on June 16 that the 24-year-old is expected to miss four to six weeks with his injury. Martinez said on Saturday that he's feeling "way, way better." His timeline could line up for him to return in mid-to-late July, between the All-Star break (July 13-16) and the trade deadline on Aug. 3. The good news for Cleveland is that they reinstated fellow outfielder Chase DeLauter (ribs) from the IL on Sunday. Martinez will be returning to a .239/.276/.442 slash line with a .719 OPS, 11 home runs, 33 RBI, 28 runs scored, and nine steals in his 226 at-bats. His 11 home runs tied his career high set just last year. Martinez has dropped his strikeout rate slightly from 2025 to 21.8% this year, but his career-low 2.9% walk rate doesn't make him a candidate to help in average or on-base percentage. He's rostered in only 16% of Yahoo leagues.

Jun 28

Chase DeLauter • RF • Guardians

Chase DeLauter Reinstated From Injured List on Sunday

The Cleveland Guardians announced on Sunday that they reinstated rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter (ribs) from the 10-day injured list and optioned outfielder Petey Halpin to Triple-A Columbus in a corresponding move. It's unclear yet if DeLauter will be back in Cleveland's starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against the visiting Seattle Mariners and right-hander Emerson Hancock. DeLauter was given the green light to return to the big-league roster after he took batting practice on the field on Saturday with the team. The 24-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder is returning from a fracture in his right rib cage that kept him sidelined for two weeks. At the very least, he should return to an everyday role between right field and designated hitter against right-handed pitchers for the Guards. The former 16th overall pick in 2022 out of James Madison University got off to a strong start in his first MLB season in 2026 before fading a bit. He's returning to a .263/.337/.408 slash line with a .745 OPS, seven home runs, 34 RBI, 24 runs, and two steals in his 240 at-bats. DeLauter hasn't hit the ball hard consistently, but his plate discipline has been impressive as a first-year player with a 13.3% strikeout rate and 10.4% walk rate. He's rostered in only 37% of Yahoo leagues.

Jun 28

Cooper Ingle • C • Guardians

Cooper Ingle Batting Fifth in MLB Debut, a Must-Add Ahead of Friday's Contest?

Cleveland Guardians catching prospect Cooper Ingle has been called up from Triple-A Columbus and will serve as the designated hitter while batting fifth in his major-league debut in Friday's series opener against the visiting Seattle Mariners and veteran right-hander Luis Castillo, according to Zack Meisel of The Athletic. The 24-year-old left-handed-hitting backstop is considered the Guards' No. 3 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and he gets the call after hitting .284/.416/.551 with a .967 OPS, 12 home runs, 41 RBI, 33 runs scored, and a stolen base in 51 games at Columbus this year. The former fourth-rounder in 2023 out of Clemson University could also receive playing time in the outfield in Cleveland and is certainly worth a look for fantasy managers desperate for help at the catcher position. Ingle has recently started developing more power at the plate, and he's an intriguing upcoming offensive player due to his excellent discipline at the dish. He's only rostered in 2% of Yahoo leagues right now.

Jun 26

Travis Bazzana • 2B • Guardians

Travis Bazzana Heating Up, an Emerging Rookie to Target on Waiver Wire

Cleveland Guardians rookie second baseman Travis Bazzana went through a cold spell early in June for the first time in his major-league career, but he has snapped out of his funk of late and is attracting interest again on the waiver wire in fantasy baseball leagues. The 23-year-old left-handed hitter from Australia is batting .261/.357/.446 overall with an .802 OPS, seven home runs, 24 RBI, 24 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases in just 50 games and 213 plate appearances as Cleveland's starting second baseman. The former first overall pick in 2024 out of Oregon State is not known for his power, but rather his speed and mature approach at the plate. He's as patient a young hitter as you'll find, and he rarely chases outside of the strike zone early in counts, making him a solid asset in on-base-percentage leagues. After slumping earlier in the month, Bazzana has gone 10-for-30 (.333) with three home runs, two doubles, seven RBI, eight runs scored, and a steal in his last eight games. You could do much worse in fantasy at the second base position, and Bazzana is only rostered in half of Yahoo leagues at the moment.

Jun 26

Cade Smith • RP • Guardians |

Cade Smith • SP • Yankees

Do Fantasy Managers Have a Buy-Low Window on Cade Smith Amidst His Rough June?

Cleveland Guardians closer Cade Smith has been one of the best closers in baseball so far in 2026, recording a 3.22 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 55 strikeouts, and 24 saves across 36 1/3 innings (34 games). However, the 27-year-old has run into some issues in June, pitching to a 5.19 ERA across 8 2/3 innings. Command has been an issue for Smith, whose walk rate has leaped to 13.2% this month. Still, Smith's underlying metrics for the season as a whole remain elite. The hard-throwing right-hander owns a 36.9% strikeout rate and a 30.2% K-BB rate. He's also been victimized by an unusually high opponent batting average on balls in play of .370, which suggests that Smith has experienced some poor luck. In any league where Smith's value may have dipped due to his rough June, fantasy managers should look to buy low.

Jun 25

Cooper Ingle • C • Guardians

Guardians to Promote Top Prospect Cooper Ingle, a Top Add in All Leagues?

According to the team, the Cleveland Guardians are promoting top-ranked catching prospect Cooper Ingle to the major leagues. Ingle is considered the No. 70 overall prospect on MLB.com and the No. 3 overall prospect in the team's system. Ingle is a primary catcher but has recently begun to see time in the outfield, which has opened the door for him to join the major-league roster. With Triple-A Columbus, Ingle has carried a strong .284/.416/.551 line with a stellar .967 OPS. Over this 51-game stretch, Ingle has launched 12 home runs while holding an impressive 50:41 K:BB. With the Guardians, Ingle could quickly carve out a role behind the dish and potentially in the outfield, with Angel Martinez and Chase DeLauter both on the injured list. Given his impressive play at Triple-A this season, Ingle is a worthy pickup in all 12+ team leagues ahead of his MLB debut on Friday night as he should see close to every day at-bats.

Jun 25

Parker Messick • SP • Guardians

Parker Messick Continues Excellent Stretch, Strikes Out 10 Against White Sox

Cleveland Guardians left-hander Parker Messick continued to pitch well in a hard-luck loss on Tuesday night in a 2-1 game on the road against the division-rival Chicago White Sox. In fact, Tuesday was one of Messick's most dominant performances of the year. The 25-year-old southpaw allowed two earned runs on three hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out a career-high 10 hitters in 7 2/3 innings pitched. Messick threw 63 of his 95 pitches for strikes and got 17 swings and misses in the outing. The former second-round pick in 2022 out of Florida State University is having a breakout season in just his second year in the big leagues, and he's now 7-4 with a 2.67 ERA (3.16 FIP), 1.05 WHIP, and 101:29 K:BB in 94 1/3 innings across 16 starts. Messick has allowed more than three earned runs just once in his last nine starts and has a 2.89 ERA (3.25 FIP), 57 strikeouts, and 19 walks in that span in 53 innings. He's allowed two or fewer runs in seven of his last nine starts and is now rostered in over 90% of Yahoo leagues.

Jun 24

Cleveland Guardians News

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