The Guardians were back to adjusting on the fly Monday, and the reason was sitting in the opposing dugout: the Rangers were expected to start the first game of the series at Progressive Field with an opener.
That meant Cleveland was once again preparing for a game that could quickly turn into a bullpen-heavy night. It was at least the third time in about a month the Guardians had seen that kind of pitching setup, after facing Alexander in Texas on June 7 and then seeing left-hander Chris Murphy open for Erick Fedde with the White Sox in Chicago last week.
Stephen Vogt responded by reshuffling his batting order, with Travis Bazzana moving back into the leadoff spot. Vogt said the decision was tied almost entirely to the uncertainty around Texas’ pitching plan, as Cleveland tried to build a lineup that could handle a bullpen game.
The move also reflected how much the Guardians have had to improvise over the last month as the roster has changed dramatically. Steven Kwan had been back atop the order for the final two games of the Seattle series, going 1 for 8 with a walk, a strikeout and a run scored in nine plate appearances. Cleveland won both of those games, and it was the first time Kwan had led off for Vogt since May 22.
Bazzana entered the day leading the Guardians in hits with 50, batting average at .273 and RBI with 24 since May 2. He also ranked among the American League rookie leaders in steals, walks, doubles and extra-base hits.
“The lineup here is never set in stone,” Vogt said. “I’m guessing how many games have we played?
Eighty-four. We’ve probably had 80 different lineups so far this year, so we’re going to continue to play with it with the 13 guys that are here.”
In Other News...
Austin Hedges Had A Heated Message For Josh Naylor In Reunion
A familiar face and a tense moment gave Clevelands win over Seattle a little extra edge, with Austin Hedges and Josh Naylor getting into a verbal back-and-forth after a pitch-related incident. The flare-up came in a game the Guardians needed, and they got enough from Gavin Williams, Matt Festa and Cade Smith to leave with a 6-5 victory and move to 44-40 on the season.
The matchup also served as a reminder of how quickly old connections can turn sharp when emotions run hot. Cleveland heads into its next series against the Texas Rangers with some momentum, but the Hedges-Naylor reunion added a jolt of drama that lingered well beyond the final inning. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Face A Deadline Test That Will Define This Contender
The Guardians keep finding themselves in the same place every summer, close enough to contend to make July matter and imperfect enough to keep the front office busy. At 44-40 and tied for first in the AL Central, Cleveland is in a familiar spot for a team trying to balance present urgency with long-term restraint, especially with offense that has come and gone and a pitching staff that has been stretched thin.
Help should arrive as injured players work back into the mix, but the deadline still looms as a real test of how far this group can go. Clevelands biggest question is not whether it belongs in the race, but whether it will stay conservative or use what it has to strengthen a roster that needs more punch and more stability if it wants to make a serious playoff push. [Read more 🡒]
Chase DeLauter Just Gave Guardians Fans The Jolt They Needed
Chase DeLauters return from the injured list gave the Guardians a timely spark Friday night, and it came in a game Cleveland badly needed. In a 5-4 win over the Mariners, DeLauter delivered key hits and helped steady an offense that had been searching for a lift, turning a tense night into a series-clinching victory.
The biggest swing came late, when DeLauter put together the kind of at-bat that can change the mood around a clubhouse in a hurry. His two-run ground ball tied the game and opened the door for Cleveland to grab the lead for good, a result that carried extra weight as the Guardians picked up their first series win since losing Jose Ramirez. [Read more 🡒]