Page title background image

Cleveland Guardians News

CENTRAL
Chase DeLauter  • RF  •  Guardians

Chase DeLauter Lands on Injured List With Rib Fracture

The Cleveland Guardians placed rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter (rib) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to June 14) on Wednesday with a right side rib fracture and recalled outfield prospect Kahlil Watson from Triple-A Columbus in a corresponding move, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. DeLauter suffered the injury over the weekend and will now be sidelined until at least June 24. With outfielder Angel Martinez (foot) and star third baseman Jose Ramirez (hand) also going on the IL this week, rookie Kahlil Watson, who has an intriguing power/speed profile, could see plenty of playing time to close out June in Cleveland. With a small crack in his rib, fantasy managers looking to stash DeLauter shouldn't be surprised if he doesn't make it back before the All-Star break in mid-July. The 24-year-old former 16th overall pick in 2022 out of James Madison University got off to a strong start to his rookie campaign in 2026, but he has cooled off recently and is currently slashing .263/.337/.408 with seven home runs, 34 RBI, 24 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 240 at-bats. In 10 games in June, DeLauter went 8-for-35 (.229) with a double, two RBI, two runs, three walks, and 11 strikeouts. He's now rostered in fewer than half of Yahoo leagues (44%).
2 days ago   
Kahlil Watson  • LF  •  Guardians

Guardians Promote Prospect Kahlil Watson to Majors, Worth a Speculative Add?

The Cleveland Guardians recalled outfield prospect Kahlil Watson from Triple-A Columbus on Wednesday and placed rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter (rib) on the 10-day injured list with a right side rib fracture in a corresponding move, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. Watson, the team's 12th-ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline, could absolutely be worth a pickup in deeper fantasy leagues for his power/speed upside, with DeLauter, third baseman Jose Ramirez (hand), and outfielder Angel Martinez (foot) all going on the IL this week. The 23-year-old first-round pick by the Miami Marlins in 2021 gets his first call to the big leagues after hitting .255/.370/.491 with an .861 OPS, 12 home runs, 12 doubles, a triple, 35 RBI, 15 stolen bases, and 44 runs scored across 56 games and 254 plate appearances at Columbus. Watson has played all three outfield spots in the minors, giving Cleveland plenty of options to get his bat in the lineup. Making contact could be a problem in his first taste of the big leagues, but fantasy managers in need of outfield help shouldn't ignore his power/speed upside if he plays regularly.
2 days ago   
Ralphy Velazquez  • 1B  •  Guardians

Ralphy Velazquez Turning the Corner at Triple-A, Holding Sneaky Stash Upside?

Cleveland Guardians first base prospect Ralphy Velazquez has begun to break out of his early slump at Triple-A Columbus. Velazquez began the 2026 season with Double-A, but a hot start propelled him to the top club in the minor leagues. Over his last 20 games with Columbus, Velazquez has posted a solid .225/.295/.450 line with four home runs and a home run. This is a notable improvement compared to the .205/.279/.282 line he posted during his first 10 games at Columbus. Earlier in the campaign, Velazquez was flashing high-end talent at Akron, holding a .317/.414/.566 line with a stellar .980 OPS and seven long balls (over just 36 games). Given that the Guardians have lacked consistent production at their first-base position, Velazquez could push for an early-second-half debut if he were to maintain this pace at Triple-A.
2 days ago   
Angel Martínez  • LF  •  Guardians

Angel Martinez Placed on Injured List With Fractured Foot

The Cleveland Guardians placed outfielder Angel Martinez (foot) on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a non-displaced fracture in his left foot, according to Cade Cracas of Sports Illustrated. In a corresponding move, the team recalled outfielder Petey Halpin from Triple-A Columbus. Martinez suffered the injury on Saturday when he fouled a ball off his foot, and now he'll likely miss more than the required 10 days on the IL. The 24-year-old Dominican switch-hitter has hit just .239 (54-for-226) on the year, but he has already matched his career high with 11 home runs in 66 games (243 plate appearances), adding 33 RBI, nine stolen bases, and 28 runs scored for the Guards. With rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter (ribs) currently dealing with a rib-cage contusion, David Fry has been needed to play the outfield in the last two ballgames. Martinez cleared the fences twice in 11 games in July, but he was hitting .220 (9-for-41) with a walk and 12 strikeouts before getting hurt on Saturday. It's unclear how long he'll be sidelined, but it could be up to around a month, meaning Martinez probably won't be back before the mid-July All-Star break.
3 days ago   
Chase DeLauter  • RF  •  Guardians

Chase DeLauter Sitting With Ribs Injury on Tuesday

Cleveland Guardians rookie outfielder Chase DeLatuer (ribs) is absent from the team's starting lineup on Tuesday on the road in Milwaukee against the Brewers, according to MLB.com. David Fry is starting in right field and will bat cleanup versus Brewers left-hander Robert Gasser. DeLauter is dealing with a rib-cage contusion that he suffered on Saturday when he crashed into the outfield wall, and he'll be missing a second straight game on Tuesday. The 24-year-old should be considered day-to-day for now. Check back to see if he's available to play in Wednesday's contest in Milwaukee. After a strong start in 2026 in his first year in the big leagues, DeLauter has cooled off at the plate and is now slashing .263/.337/.408 with a .745 OPS, seven home runs, 34 RBI, 24 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 240 at-bats. In his first 10 games in June, DeLauter has gone 8-for-35 (.229) with a double, two RBI, two runs scored, three walks, and 11 strikeouts.
3 days ago   
José Ramírez  • 3B  •  Guardians

Jose Ramirez Undergoes Hand Surgery, Expected to Miss 5-7 Weeks

Cleveland Guardians All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez (hand) underwent surgery to fix a broken hamate bone in his left hand on Tuesday and is expected to miss five to seven weeks, according to Zack Meisel of MLB.com. Ramirez injured his hand over the weekend against the division-rival Detroit Tigers, and he won't be ready to rejoin the big-league roster until after the mid-July All-Star break. Even though the 33-year-old seven-time All-Star and six-time Silver Slugger hasn't been performing up to his usual high standards in 2026, fantasy managers should consider him a must-hold in all traditional leagues while he recovers from hand surgery. The Dominican switch-hitting third baseman is currently slashing .239/.339/.418 with a .757 OPS, 10 home runs, 33 RBI, 24 stolen bases, and 42 runs scored across his 268 at-bats in 2026. Until J-Ram can return from his hand injury, utility infielder Gabriel Arias is expected to handle most of the playing time at the hot corner in Cleveland.
3 days ago   
Erik Sabrowski  • RP  •  Guardians

Erik Sabrowski Begins Rehab Assignment

Cleveland Guardians left-handed reliever Erik Sabrowski (elbow) was scheduled to begin his minor-league rehab assignment on Sunday with High-A Lake County, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. Lake County's game ended up getting rained out on Sunday, so the 28-year-old's next chance to make a rehab appearance will come on Tuesday. Sabrowski landed on the 15-day injured list with inflammation in his left elbow on May 25, but if he can avoid a setback in a couple of rehab games, he could be back in Cleveland's bullpen by the weekend. Although Sabrowski is merely a late-inning setup man for the Guards in front of closer Cade Smith, he has become relevant in deeper fantasy leagues that reward holds for his dominant performance so far in 2026. Before injuring his elbow, the Canadian hurler went 2-1 with a 1.71 ERA (1.87 FIP) and 0.95 WHIP with 39 strikeouts and 13 walks in 21 innings out of the bullpen. He's currently rostered in 18% of Yahoo leagues. Despite missing time with an injury, Sabrowski is tied for the major-league lead in holds (17) with St. Louis' JoJo Romero.
3 days ago   
Travis Bazzana  • 2B  •  Guardians

Travis Bazzana Still Worth Rostering After Recent Cold Stretch?

In his first 30 major-league games since being called up on April 28, Cleveland Guardians second base prospect Travis Bazzana, the first overall pick in 2024 out of Oregon State University, went 32-for-109 (.294) with three home runs, eight doubles, 11 RBI, eight stolen bases, 13 runs scored, 15 walks, and 24 strikeouts in 126 plate appearances. The Aussie has been in a bit of a rough stretch since the calendar flipped to June, though, going 6-for-42 (.143) with a homer, a double, a triple, six RBI, three runs scored, three steals, five walks, and 11 strikeouts in 11 games played to drop his season slash line to .252/.345/.404 in his first 174 plate appearances. At one point, the 23-year-old left-handed hitter had a stretch of zero hits in 17 at-bats. Nobody was expecting Bazzana to light up the league like a seasoned vet from start to finish in 2026. The good news is that he's still only striking out at a 20.1% clip while walking 11.5% of the time. Plate discipline and patience have always been a strong suit for Bazzana, who is still worth rostering in deeper fantasy leagues that count on-base percentage. He's rostered in only 42% of Yahoo leagues.
4 days ago   
Angel Martínez  • LF  •  Guardians

Angel Martinez Not Ready to Return on Sunday With Bruised Foot

Cleveland Guardians outfielder Angel Martinez (foot) is out of the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against the division-rival Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field, according to MLB.com. Daniel Schneemann is starting in center field for Cleveland and will bat fifth against Tigers right-hander Casey Mize (groin), who is making his return from the injured list. Martinez will take a seat after fouling a pitch off his left foot in the team's victory on Saturday. Thankfully, X-rays came back negative, and manager Stephen Vogt hinted that Martinez would be available off the bench on Sunday. With an off day coming on Monday, Martinez has a good shot at returning to the starting lineup for Tuesday's series opener on the road against the Milwaukee Brewers. The 24-year-old Dominican switch-hitter has already tied his career high with 11 home runs in 66 games in 2026 and is slashing .239/.276/.442 across 243 plate appearances. Schneemann is hitting .182 with a .455 OPS and an RBI in 11 career at-bats against Mize.
5 days ago   
Chase DeLauter  • RF  •  Guardians

Chase DeLauter Out on Sunday With Rib Contusion

Cleveland Guardians rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter (ribs) is not in the team's starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against the division-rival Detroit Tigers, according to MLB.com. David Fry is starting in right field for Cleveland and will bat sixth against Tigers right-hander Casey Mize (groin), who is making his first start back from the injured list. DeLauter was forced to exit Saturday's game against Detroit early with a right rib-cage contusion after he crashed into the outfield wall. For now, fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day. With the team scheduled for a day off on Monday, DeLauter will hopefully be ready to return for Tuesday's series opener in Milwaukee against the Brewers. In his first MLB season, the 24-year-old former 16th overall pick in 2022 out of James Madison University is batting .263/.337/.408 with a .745 OPS, seven home runs, 34 RBI, 24 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 240 at-bats. The left-handed-hitting outfielder has been cold so far in June, going 8-for-35 (.229) with a double, two RBI, two runs scored, three walks, and 11 strikeouts.
5 days ago   
Angel Martínez  • LF  •  Guardians

Angel Martinez Suffers Foot Contusion

Cleveland Guardians outfielder Angel Martinez (foot) was forced to make an early exit from Saturday's game against the Detroit Tigers. Martinez suffered a left foot contusion when he fouled a ball off his foot during the first inning of this contest. He stayed in the game for a bit, but was replaced by Steven Kwan in the third inning. The X-rays on his left foot came back negative for any fractures. For now, fantasy managers should consider Martinez as day-to-day. He's the second Guardians outfielder to go down during this game, with Chase DeLauter (ribs) leaving as well. The Guardians will need to make some roster changes if neither player can get back in the lineup within a few days.
5 days ago   
Chase DeLauter  • RF  •  Guardians

Chase DeLauter Dealing With Rib-Cage Contusion

Cleveland Guardians outfielder Chase DeLauter (ribs) was removed early during Saturday's game against the Detroit Tigers. DeLauter suffered a right ribcage contusion when he crashed into the wall during the first inning. He stayed in the game and singled in his lone at-bat of the game in the bottom of the inning. DeLauter was pulled for Daniel Schneeman after showing signs of discomfort while running to first base. It's unclear at the moment if DeLauter will be forced to miss additional time from this injury. For now, fantasy managers should consider DeLauter as day-to-day until more information on his status is available.
5 days ago   
José Ramírez  • 3B  •  Guardians

Jose Ramirez Heading to Injured List with Fractured Hamate Bone

Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (hand) made an early exit from Saturday's game against the Detroit Tigers. Ramirez was pulled in the sixth inning with an undisclosed injury. Now, Ramirez has been diagnosed with a fractured left hamate bone and will head to the Injured List. The Guardians haven't given a timetable for Ramirez, but he figures to miss at least a month of action. The expectation is that David Fry and Daniel Schneemann will see increased opportunities at the hot corner. The Guardians could turn to prospect Angel Genao, but that's likely dependent on how long Ramirez is going to be sidelined. This is a tough break for the Guardians and for fantasy managers who will be without the superstar slugger for an extended period of time.
6 days ago   
Daniel Espino  • SP  •  Guardians

Daniel Espino Worth an Add in Deep Leagues?

The Cleveland Guardians are set to call up flamethrowing right-handed pitching prospect Daniel Espino on Friday for what will be his major-league debut, according to MLB.com's Tim Stebbins. The 2019 first-rounder ranked as high as MLB's No. 16 prospect in 2023 but missed almost all of four seasons from 2022 through 2025 due to injury. Espino, 25, is currently ranked as the Guardians' No. 15 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. The former 24th overall selection in 2019 gets his first major-league call-up after posting a 5.30 ERA and 1.71 WHIP with 29 strikeouts and 15 walks in 18 2/3 innings over his 22 appearances (one start) at Triple-A Columbus this year. Espino's MLB debut has been delayed due to multiple shoulder surgeries, and he's now being used as a full-time reliever. He hasn't exactly been pitching all that well before his big-league debut, so expect Cleveland to use him in more low-leverage situations out of the 'pen initially. Don't be surprised if it's a short stay for the 6-foot, 225-pounder. The native of Panama has a high-90s heater and a devastating slider that give him some interesting long-term potential as a high-leverage bullpen arm.
7 days ago   
Ralphy Velazquez  • 1B  •  Guardians

Ralphy Velazquez Emerging as Stash Candidate for Power Upside

Cleveland Guardians first base prospect Ralphy Velazquez belted a home run at Triple-A Columbus on Sunday, his first since being promoted to the Clippers back on May 18. Though he's hitting just .241 in 14 games at that level, the left-handed slugger has turned it around as of late, going 5-for-15 (.333) with four of those five hits going for extra bases (two doubles, one triple, one home run). The former first-rounder is coming off a 22-home run season in 2025 and was slashing .317/.414/.566 with seven home runs through 36 games this season at Double-A Akron before his promotion. If he can build on the recent momentum, the Guardians' second-ranked prospect should receive a second-half call-up to the big leagues. Until then, the 21-year-old remains a stash consideration in deep leagues for his power potential.
Jun 9   
Travis Bazzana  • 2B  •  Guardians

Travis Bazzana a Must-Add Off Waiver Wire in On-Base-Percentage Leagues?

Cleveland Guardians rookie second baseman Travis Bazzana has absolutely looked like he belongs in the big leagues through his first 33 games with the Guards. While mostly serving as Cleveland's leadoff hitter and thriving atop the batting order, the 23-year-old left-handed-hitting Aussie has hit .273 (33-for-121) with three home runs, 15 RBI, eight stolen bases, and 13 runs scored across his first 139 big-league plate appearances. Bazzana was curiously dropped to the cleanup spot in Thursday's loss to the New York Yankees, but it was likely only because the Yanks had a tough left-hander on the mound. The former first overall pick out of Oregon State University in 2024 should return to the leadoff spot this weekend, where he has looked very comfortable despite his first taste of major-league pitching. Bazzana isn't going to offer a ton of power from the left side at the keystone, but he's an extremely patient hitter who will get on base frequently and take advantage of his plus speed. In OBP leagues, he should be scooped up now. Bazzana is somehow still available in just over half of Yahoo leagues.
Jun 5   
José Ramírez  • 3B  •  Guardians

Jose Ramirez Remains an Elite Third Baseman Despite Underwhelming Production

Across 276 plate appearances entering play on Thursday, Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez had hit .245/.351/.433 with nine home runs, 32 RBI, 36 runs scored, and 21 stolen bases. While the 33-year-old's .784 OPS this season still represents above-average production, it's well below the .868 OPS he posted across back-to-back top-five finishes in the American League MVP vote in 2024 and 2025. Still, Ramirez's 7% barrel rate is right in line with his career norms, and his 44.8% hard-hit rate is actually the best mark of his career. Ramirez's plate skills also remain elite, as he's drawn 39 walks on the season and struck out just 35 times. Ramirez is already an elite source of speed, and there's plenty of reason to believe that the rest of his fantasy profile will return to elite status over the remainder of 2026.
Jun 4   
Ralphy Velazquez  • 1B  •  Guardians

Should Ralphy Velazquez Be Viewed as an Elite Stash Target?

Cleveland Guardians first base prospect Ralphy Velazquez is off to an excellent start to the 2026 season in the minor leagues, hitting .298/.389/.521 with seven home runs, 31 RBI, 28 runs scored, and one stolen base. The 21-year-old's production has slowed down a bit since being promoted from Double-A Akron to Triple-A Columbus on May 20. Still, Velazquez has progressed rapidly through the Guardians' farm system since opening the 2025 season at High-A and could be on the fast track to the big leagues. Cleveland has gotten decent production from the first base/designated hitter combination of Kyle Manzardo and Rhys Hoskins, but neither represents a major impediment for Velazquez if he continues to produce. In deeper leagues, fantasy managers may want to consider stashing Velazquez off the waiver wire.
Jun 4   
Angel Martínez  • LF  •  Guardians

Angel Martinez Back From Foot Injury on Tuesday

Cleveland Guardians outfielder Angel Martinez (foot) is starting in right field on Tuesday and will hit fifth against the hosting New York Yankees and right-hander Cam Schlittler in the Bronx, according to MLB.com. Martinez returns to the fold after suffering a right-foot strain during Saturday's contest versus the Boston Red Sox. The 24-year-old Dominican outfielder will be looking to bust out of a slump at the end of May that saw him go 5-for-37 (.135) with a double, triple, four RBI, one run scored, no walks, and eight strikeouts in 10 games since May 19. After the recent cold stretch, Martinez is slashing .243/.281/.449 with a .729 OPS, nine home runs, 29 RBI, eight steals, and 24 runs scored in 55 games across 200 plate appearances in his second full season in the majors. Martinez isn't much of an option for average or on-base percentage, but his power/speed profile makes him a nice asset for outfield depth in deeper mixed leagues. He's currently rostered in 33% of Yahoo leagues.
Jun 2   
Steven Kwan  • LF  •  Guardians

Steven Kwan Activated and Starting in the Bronx on Tuesday

Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan was activated from the bereavement list and is starting in left field and hitting seventh for the Guards in Tuesday's tilt in the Bronx against the New York Yankees and right-hander Cam Schlittler, according to MLB.com. It's the first time that Kwan will be active for Cleveland since he was placed on the bereavement list last Thursday. The 28-year-old former fifth-rounder in 2018 out of Oregon State University is having the worst year of his career in 2026 after back-to-back All-Star appearances in 2024 and 2025. Kwan rejoins the action on Tuesday riding a weak .207/.329/.259 slash line with a .588 OPS, one home run, 12 RBI, 25 runs scored, two stolen bases, 34 walks, and 25 strikeouts in 54 games across 234 plate appearances. Fantasy managers still hanging onto Kwan may want to continue to keep him on their bench until he can break out of his season-long funk to this point.
Jun 2   
LEGEND