ANAHEIM -- How to best handle a nagging left hamstring is a simple equation for both Chase DeLauter and the Guardians. The 24-year-old being out of the starting lineup for a couple of games is entirely preferred to risking this becoming a season-defining problem.
“We’re just trying to be smart at this point in the year,” DeLauter said. “If you have even the smallest of a tear anywhere, it will probably end the year for most players at this point, with a month to heal and that.”
DeLauter said he was doing well Wednesday morning, though the recurrence of his left hamstring tightness this week prompted his absence from the Guardians’ starting lineup for a third straight game. He was initially a late scratch from the Guardians' starting lineup on Monday.
DeLauter, however, felt good enough to pinch-hit for the second straight game Wednesday. His one-out single in the ninth inning sparked a two-run rally, in the Guardians’ 4-3 win over the Angels at Angel Stadium.
“He’s been one of our best hitters all year,” manager Stephen Vogt said postgame Wednesday. “He just continues to stay ready."
DeLauter’s hamstring was not put to the test on the basepaths when he pinch-hit on Tuesday (he struck out on five pitches) or Wednesday (Petey Halpin pinch-ran for him). His running is what the Guardians are most concerned with right now.
Nonetheless, DeLauter being available in any capacity was a good sign. The hope is he will be back in the starting lineup on Friday against the Royals at Progressive Field.
“I’m feeling solid,” DeLauter said pregame Wednesday. “I just felt a little tight the other day, met with the staff and decided the best plan moving forward. I think a big part of it was making sure I am available every day and I feel available, and just kind of going from there.”
DeLauter’s hamstring tightness first popped up on Aug. 16. He exited after two innings against the Padres in the aftermath of a three-hour, 11-minute rain delay. He underwent imaging that showed nothing alarming, but the Guardians held him out of the lineup for their following three games against the Giants.
DeLauter started all three games against the Rockies over the weekend, and he acknowledged a combination of factors likely played into the recurrence of this issue. The Guardians traveled to the West Coast and dealt with the elevation in Denver. DeLauter’s running workload was limited for much of last week, and then it spiked on Sunday. He went 3-for-4 with two triples in a 7-2 win over the Rockies.
DeLauter figured he’d be called upon to pinch-hit again on Wednesday. He began to get his hamstring ready with the training staff in the fourth inning and then transitioned to the batting cage.
The Guardians trailed, 3-2, heading into the ninth and were facing right-hander Ryan Watson. After switch-hitter Angel Genao grounded out, Vogt sent DeLauter to the plate to pinch-hit for catcher Austin Hedges. DeLauter smashed a single up the middle.
"I can't speak for pitchers,” DeLauter said postgame. “But they see a pinch-hitter come in, and I feel like they want to attack the zone early and get ahead. Typically, that doesn't go well for pinch-hitters after that. So for me, it was just get something out early, be on the heater, get something up, and put it in play.
Halpin scored the tying run three pitches later, on a Steven Kwan ground-rule double.
How the Guardians have handled this issue is in line with what they outlined for DeLauter heading into the season. He dealt with myriad injury setbacks in the Minor Leagues from 2023-25, and Cleveland entered ‘26 knowing it would need to keep a watchful eye on his workload.
To his credit, DeLauter has already set a career high in games played, with 111. But the Guardians would rather be safe now than sorry down the stretch. DeLauter has logged a .289/.363/.451 slash line with 22 doubles, 13 home runs, 59 RBIs and 50 walks with 67 strikeouts in an impressive rookie season.
“Obviously we want Chase in the lineup every day,” Vogt said. “He and the medical staff have done a great job of just communicating. The thing we're trying to avoid is a major injury, and sometimes that means you’ve got to get uncomfortable and keep him out of the lineup for a few days to make sure that he's as close to 100 percent as possible.
“We’re really hoping that giving these three days [combined] with the off-day tomorrow, that he’s ready to go on Friday.”