ANAHEIM -- Perhaps the Guardians and Chase DeLauter could have given it a go Monday night at Angel Stadium. But Cleveland was not going to risk anything after the 24-year-old reported pregame that he was feeling some left hamstring tightness.
DeLauter was a late scratch from the Guardians’ starting lineup ahead of their 4-2 win over the Angels due to the hamstring issue. The club made the announcement about 30 minutes before the scheduled 6:38 p.m. PT first pitch.
DeLauter was set to hit second and serve as the designated hitter. Jo Adell moved from right field to DH in the updated lineup, while Angel Martínez entered the starting nine in right field.
“We can't chance that,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said of DeLauter's hamstring issue. “He probably could have DH’d, but if he has to leg out a triple, a double, we just didn't want to take that chance.”
The hamstring issue is not a new development for DeLauter, who exited a 5-0 loss to the Padres on Aug. 16 after two innings due to what the Guardians called “mild” left hamstring tightness. That followed a three-hour, 11-minute rain delay, but it led to him missing the entirety of the Guardians’ ensuing three-game series against the Giants at Progressive Field.
“That's why he didn't play,” Vogt added postgame Monday. “We have to be really smart. We're hoping he's back in there [Tuesday]. We're going to see how he's feeling, but we can't take any chances with him and with any of our guys."
DeLauter returned to action Friday and started all three games against the Rockies at Coors Field over the weekend. He went 3-for-4 with two triples in a 7-2 win on Sunday.
Beyond an 11-day stint on the 10-day injured list in June due to a right rib cage fracture and the hamstring issue, DeLauter has remained quite durable as a rookie this season. He has played 110 games, which is his new career high at any professional level after he dealt with injury setbacks from 2023-25 while in the Minor Leagues.
As he has continued to post, DeLauter has continued to produce. He entered Monday slashing .288/.363/.450 with 22 doubles (team high), 13 home runs and 59 RBIs, with 50 walks and 66 strikeouts.
DeLauter has been especially stellar in August, reaching base in 16 of his 17 games this month while recording a .348/.442/.530 slash line.