After 'freak accident', Armstrong back at Trop pitching in playoffs

CLEVELAND -- The Guardians’ arrival at Tropicana Field this week marked a full-circle moment for right-hander Shawn Armstrong.

When he took the mound and tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series against the Rays on Tuesday, Armstrong couldn’t help but feel a sense of gratitude.

“To get back out there in any playoff games, obviously, it’s a true blessing to be here,” he said.

When the Guardians signed Armstrong to a one-year deal last December, it was easy to envision him as a reliable presence in Cleveland’s bullpen, certainly in October.

Armstrong has come up big for manager Stephen Vogt this postseason, but his path there was hard to envision two and a half months ago. Armstrong’s season was marred by injuries, including a left calf strain he sustained July 24 at Tropicana Field.

Armstrong’s calf injury initially looked like a potentially devastating non-contact injury. He came up limping while backpedaling behind home plate on a Chandler Simpson sacrifice fly. He avoided an Achilles injury, but a moderate-to-high grade left calf tear was nonetheless a setback.

“When we got here,” Armstrong said this week of The Trop, “Beth [Mignano], our massage therapist, was like, ‘I brought sage, if you want to go sage home plate.’ I'm like, ‘We don't have to do that. But I appreciate it.’ It was a freak accident.”

The Guardians placed Armstrong on the 15-day IL on July 25 and transferred him to the 60-day on Aug. 3. It meant he would miss most of the remainder of the regular season. His window to return was tight.

The Guardians mapped out a plan to get Armstrong back during the final week of the season. He made four rehab appearances with Triple-A Columbus and was activated Sept. 23.

Armstrong has been rolling in October. He’s allowed just one hit in 5 1/3 innings over four scoreless appearances. His performance in the Guards’ 9-5 win over the White Sox in Game 4 of the ALDS was crucial.

Armstrong entered for Parker Messick in the third inning, after the rookie issued a one-out bases-loaded walk. He allowed a sacrifice fly, but kept the deficit at 2-0 and tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

“He's been phenomenal,” Vogt said. “To his credit, he kept himself ready, knowing that, ‘Hey, I'm not going to be back till the last week of the season, and hopefully I impact a postseason run.’ Boy, is he doing that and then some. We’re really thrilled that [Armstrong] is back and healthy."

Armstrong’s road ahead was a question mark at The Trop in July. Now, he’s focused on one path forward.

“I’m just very fortunate to be back here and trying to help get us to the World Series,” Armstrong said.

Who’s catching?
When it came down to it Tuesday, the Guardians didn’t want to mess with what has worked all season. Not in Game 2 of the ALCS.

Austin Hedges has now caught 34 of Messick’s 35 starts in 2026, when the left-hander emerged as an AL Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year contender. Patrick Bailey, meanwhile, has not caught Messick once since the Guards acquired him from the Giants on May 9.

Bailey has hit well this postseason (.350, two home runs, 1.059 OPS over seven games), and the Guardians discussed having him catch Messick on Tuesday to get his bat in the lineup. They deferred.

“When it came down to it, it was, ‘What puts us in the best position to win this game?’ That's for Parker to be the best version of him,” Vogt said. “I'm sure [Bailey] catching him would be just fine. It's more of, ‘Do we want to disrupt what Parker's been doing all year today?’”

Messick was charged with three unearned runs on six hits and two walks over five innings in the 3-1 loss.

Vogt acknowledged the Guardians put a lot of stock in how Bailey hasn’t caught Messick this year. There are intricacies Hedges has that Bailey doesn’t because of his rapport with the lefty. Not wanting to disrupt what has worked all season makes sense.

That Cleveland didn’t get Bailey some action with Messick before the playoffs, however, was avoidable.

Holderman undergoes surgery
Colin Holderman underwent surgery Wednesday for right wrist tendinitis, to address an issue that has impacted him the past four seasons. He’s expected to do his regular offseason throwing program and be ready for Spring Training.

Holderman landed on the 15-day IL on Sept. 4 with wrist inflammation. The 31-year-old (who’s arbitration-eligible through 2028) logged a 2.73 ERA in 52 2/3 innings over 54 appearances with the Guardians this season.