Cleveland’s Chase DeLauter is dealing with the same problem that has shadowed much of his pro career: the injuries keep interrupting the production.
The Guardians outfielder was out of the lineup Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field after his right wrist tightened up again. It comes after he had just returned last Wednesday and played every game leading into Monday’s 7-3 loss to Chicago.
MLB.com beat reporter Tim Stebbins reported that the issue flared up again late in DeLauter’s final at-bat on Monday. “DeLauter felt the right wrist issue again in his final AB last night.
Came in sore today. Vogt said day-to-day,” Stebbins said.
Stebbins later posted: “DeLauter felt the right wrist issue again in his final AB last night. Came in sore today. Vogt said day to day.
Martínez also day to day. Belief is he avoided something major. https://t.co/r8vUSgt3zN”
The setback is the latest in a year that has already included a brief stay on the injured list in June with a small rib fracture, followed by another wrist injury on September 4 that sidelined him for almost a week.
For DeLauter, the frustrating part is how often the timing has worked against him. He has spent big stretches of his minor league career missing time with injuries, and that pattern has carried into his first season in the majors. Just when he starts to build momentum, something has slowed him down.
There is still no update on whether he will need tests or imaging next. For now, the Guardians are treating him as day-to-day, but the wrist issue is clearly something to watch as Cleveland continues its push for a postseason spot.
Even with the missed time, DeLauter’s first full-time major league season has been strong. He is hitting .289/.362/.453 with 28 doubles, 14 home runs, 11 stolen bases, and a 130 wRC+. Had the injuries not cut into his season, he would have been in the mix for a lot more AL Rookie of the Year attention.
In Other News...
Guardians Suddenly Face A Much Bigger Problem Than Chicagos Lefty Openers
The White Sox have been trying to throw Cleveland off balance with left-handed openers, a clear attempt to blunt a Guardians lineup that leans heavily left at the top. It is the kind of tactical wrinkle that can matter in a short series or a late-season stretch, especially for a team trying to keep its offense from getting boxed into uncomfortable matchups.
Angel Martnez leaving Mondays game with right flank inflammation, though, is a far bigger concern than any Chicago pitching game plan. Clevelands home run leader has been one of the key pieces holding the offense together, and any extended absence could ripple through a playoff push that is already sensitive to every lineup decision. The Guardians may have to look at roster adjustments depending on how serious the injury proves to be. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Let One Brutal At-Bat Flip The AL Central Race
The AL Central race tightened in a hurry at Progressive Field, where the White Sox beat the Guardians 7-3 and moved into a 1 1/2-game lead with 11 games left. Chicagos sixth inning changed everything, and it began with a grinding plate appearance from center fielder Tristan Peters that stretched to 18 pitches before the inning finally broke open.
For Cleveland, it was the kind of night where one long battle seemed to drain the edge right out of the game. Gavin Williams worked five innings and allowed two runs, but he also had to labor through a season-high 113 pitches, and the Guardians never fully recovered after Chicagos six-run burst put the pressure back on their side in the standings. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Suddenly Face A Joey Cantillo Decision For The Stretch Run
Joey Cantillo has become one of the more interesting workload questions on the Guardians roster as September approaches. After logging 148 innings with a 3.89 ERA across 31 games this season, he has shown the kind of value that can steady a staff over the long haul, and his recent relief outing behind an opener only added another layer to his case by giving Cleveland four scoreless innings with eight strikeouts.
The issue now is how the Guardians balance what Cantillo has given them against what he might have left for the stretch run. He is coming off a career-high number of starts, and the club has to account for control issues that surfaced in the second half, which makes his usage a real decision point rather than just a matter of filling innings. [Read more 🡒]