Chase DeLauter didn’t look like a player easing back into things on Sunday.
The Cleveland Guardians outfielder returned after a small rib fracture suffered on June 13, and the rust never really showed. He went 2-for-5 with a run and two RBI in a needed win for Cleveland, then followed it up Monday with two more hits, including an 110-mph double and a 107-mph single.
That kind of pop makes one thing pretty clear: the rib is holding up just fine.
Manager Stephen Vogt was quick to point out what’s been behind the rookie’s sharp return to the lineup. “You take two weeks off, it can mess with your timing, can mess with your rhythm, but Chase is just such a natural hitter.
Just a testament to how hard he worked when he was on the IL. He’s looking really good right now,” Vogt said.
It’s the kind of reminder that gets lost sometimes when a player comes back from injury and looks good immediately. There’s work in that.
A lot of it. DeLauter didn’t just show up and pick up where he left off by accident; he came back prepared and ready to contribute.
That matters for a Cleveland team still trying to piece things together without Jose Ramirez and Angel Martinez. With the Guardians battling neck-to-neck with the Chicago White Sox for the division, every run production burst counts, and DeLauter’s return gives them a real lift.
The numbers tell the story too. For the season, DeLauter is hitting .269/.341/.414 with seven home runs, 13 doubles, a triple, 37 RBI, and a 113 wRC+.
And even with all that production, the ceiling still feels higher. Much higher.
In Other News...
Josh Naylor's Ugly Guardians History Just Took Another Turn
Kyle Manzardos go-ahead homer on Sept. 16 gave the Guardians a late lift, and Josh Naylor was right there at home plate celebrating the moment with his teammate. It was a reminder of the kind of energy Naylor has brought since arriving in Cleveland in 2020, even as his time with the club has been defined by more than just big swings and loud celebrations.
There has also been no shortage of friction along the way, and a recent on-field exchange with Austin Hedges only added to the sense that the relationship has not always been smooth. The tension traces back through a roster shuffle that sent Aaron Civale away in the deal for Manzardo and included the move of Josh Bell, leaving Naylors place in the organization feeling more complicated than it once did. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Slide Sends A Worrying Message During Jose Ramirez Absence
The Guardians have spent the last stretch trying to keep their footing while key injuries pile up, and the latest reminder of that strain has shown up in the standings and in the national power rankings. With Jose Ramirez sidelined, Chase DeLauter and Angel Martinez also working back from injuries, Cleveland has dropped in Bleacher Reports latest rankings and now sits a game behind the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central.
It is the kind of slide that feels bigger than one bad week because the division has tightened around them. Cleveland went from holding a half-game edge on June 13 to chasing from behind now, with Minnesota also hanging close, and the Guardians need some stability before the absence of Ramirez starts to define the race for them. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Injury Update Just Raised The Stakes Against Texas
The Guardians and Rangers head into Tuesdays matchup in Texas with the kind of pregame uncertainty that tends to shape a late-June series. Cleveland is still trying to sort through its roster health while preparing for a marquee pitching duel, with Tanner Bibee lined up against Jacob deGrom in a game that already carried plenty of weight before the injury news started to pile up.
For Cleveland, the timing matters because every lineup decision feels amplified when the opposing starter can change the tone of a game by himself. The projections point to a close one and even hint at a higher-scoring finish than you might expect, but for the Guardians the bigger question is whether they can absorb the absences, stay competitive early, and keep themselves within striking distance against a Texas club that has a little more room to lean on its top-end arms. [Read more 🡒]