Chase DeLauter has already lived one version of October baseball, but this one feels a whole lot different.
A year ago, the Guardians brought him up for the AL Wild Card round, and he made his MLB debut in the postseason. That put him in a tiny slice of baseball history - the sixth player ever to play his first major league game in the playoffs, and only the third to do it after a non-shortened season.
This time, though, he’s not arriving as a late add-on. He’s been with Cleveland since Opening Day, and the full-season grind has changed everything about the way he’s experiencing the moment.
“So special, so special. It seems like it’s becoming a tradition. So, to be a part of it, unbelievable all year long,” DeLauter said.
That sense of belonging comes after a season that started with fireworks. DeLauter opened 2026 by blasting four home runs in his first three games, then added another in Cleveland’s home opener.
The power came and went after that, but his overall production stayed steady, and he found another gear after the All-Star Break. August was especially loud, with a .363/.440/.538 slash line.
Even with some injuries, DeLauter has played 131 games, which is nearly as many as he logged across his three minor league seasons combined. For the year, he leads the Guardians with a .287 batting average and an .813 OPS. He’s also second on the club with 140 hits, 15 home runs, and 65 RBIs.
There’s more to the profile than the bat, too. DeLauter has 11 stolen bases, and his 81 strikeouts in 487 at-bats stand out as a strong mark for a young left-handed hitter. Batting almost exclusively second or third, he’s handled one of the most important spots in the order and delivered.
Last season, injuries limited his minor league work and kept him from what likely would have been his regular-season debut. Cleveland still turned to him when it needed offense in the first round against the Detroit Tigers, and he appeared in two games of that best-of-3 series, going 1-for-6.
Now he’s back in the picture with a much bigger sample behind him. If the Guardians hold on to first place in the AL Central over the final three days, their postseason run would start in the ALDS, and DeLauter would head into it with a full year of MLB experience under his belt.
In Other News...
Guardians Survived A Wild Royals Fight And Kept Control Of The Central
The Guardians walked into Kauffman Stadium and found plenty of resistance from the Royals, but they still left with a 12-9 win and their grip on first place in the AL Central intact. It was the kind of game that had swings throughout, with Cleveland answering Kansas Citys punches and getting important production from Angel Martinez, David Fry and Jose Ramirez to stay in front of the division race.
Gavin Williams did not have a smooth night on the mound, which only added to the tension in a game that kept changing hands. Cleveland will have to keep sorting through the pitching side as the series moves on, with Michael Wacha and Tanner Bibee scheduled to face off in the next game and another chance for the Guardians to protect that narrow lead. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Bullpen Depth Just Put One Reliever In A Tough Spot
Connor Brogdon cleared waivers and accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Columbus after being designated for assignment by the Guardians, a move that quietly underscores how much bullpen depth has changed around Cleveland in recent weeks. Brogdon had spent the first six weeks of the season in the major league relief mix, but injuries pushed most of his year back into the minors, leaving him in a difficult spot as the roster has gotten healthier and more crowded.
Brogdon will stay around the organization for Cleveland's stay ready camp now that the minor league season is over, which gives him a chance to keep working while his immediate role remains unsettled. He is also expected to become a free agent this offseason, so the next stretch may be less about finding a lane with the Guardians and more about proving he still belongs in the picture somewhere. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Survived A Wild Scare With The AL Central At Stake
The Guardians spent most of the night trying to turn a messy, walk-heavy game into something manageable, and the offense finally did enough late to keep the division race alive. Cleveland outlasted the Kansas City Royals 12-9, a result driven by patience at the plate and a rally that changed the shape of the night in a hurry. Jos Ramrez, Chase DeLauter, Petey Halpin and Angel Martinez all helped fuel an attack that kept the pressure on from start to finish.
What made it so important was the timing. Cleveland drew 13 walks overall and six more in the ninth, then cashed in with five runs in the frame to protect a win that keeps the Guardians firmly in the AL Central picture with two games left and a magic number of two. It was the kind of escape that can swing a pennant race, and now the Guardians have put themselves in position to see whether this kind of stubborn offense can finish the job. [Read more 🡒]